Our new church; Harbor Community, is starting a series on Paul’s Epistle to the
Galatians. I am excited...more so than usual and looking forward to studying along
with our Pastor. This is a book I have read many times, but I get this feeling this
time is different; that there will be more. God’s word is that way you know; it
provides a lifetime of learning, growing, discovering.
Just to delve into it a little; Hendriksen reminds us: “ ‘The Epistle to the Galatians is
my epistle. To it I am as it were in wedlock. It is my Katherine.’ Thus spoke Luther,
who considered Galatians best of all the books in the Bible. It has been called ‘the
battle cry of the Reformation,’ ‘the great charter of religious freedom,’ ‘the Christian
declaration of independence.’ It is important because in any age it answers the basic
question asked by the human heart: ‘how can I find happiness?’”
Tim Keller says; “The book of Galatians is dynamite. It is an explosion of joy and
freedom which leaves us enjoying deep significance, security, and satisfaction – the
life of blessing God calls His people into.”
And finally, Martin Luther wrote; “I hope you are not ignorant of the meaning of
grace and peace, seeing that these terms are common in Paul and are not now
obscure or unknown. We have undertaken to explain this letter not because it is
necessary or because there is anything very hard in it, but so our consciences may
be strengthened against heresies yet to come, and so we will keep on repeating
things that at other times we teach, preach, sing and write about, for if we neglect
the truth of justification, we lose everything...These two words, grace and peace
include all that belong to Christianity. Grace releases sin, and peace makes the
conscience quiet.”
How would it even be possible to not be excited? As Paul writes in Chapter 1:3-5...
Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave
himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of
our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen!
Grace and Peace!
I have been reading through Romans and have found Chapter 2 very concerning.
This is a chapter on God’s judgment and the timing seems well just perfect as Easter
approaches.
Understanding the Cross, the ultimate and final sacrifice can be a little
intimidating, but it is so vital. It is vital to see the finished work of Christ as our only
hope of salvation. So how does this all relate to Chapter 2 of Romans?
Well I think Paul is breaking down our self-righteousness trying to get us to see
clearly our desperate need of rescue. Commenting on this passage, Tim Keller says;
“All face judgment, and all deserve wrath. It is only from this ground that we are
able to look at the cross and see it clearly. We cannot appreciate who Christ is
unless we first acknowledge who we are.”
Father, this Psalm Sunday...Thank you that you are God and thank you for your plan
for salvation through the finished work of Christ. Father, help us all to see clearly
our desperation, help us to know and appreciate our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
and the sacrifice made. Amen.
Grace and Peace!
There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes
were not content with his wealth. “For whom am I toiling,” he asked, “and why am I depriving myself of
enjoyment?” This too is meaningless - a miserable business! Two are better than one, because they
have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity
anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend
themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:8-12
There is so much in this passage, we see that we need relationship, we need fellowship, we need to serve
together, to persevere together, to do this thing called life together. In other words we need Church and a
Church family. But there is so much more...
In this passage from Ecclesiastes the “preacher” shows us the need we have for relationship. Even in this
world where we will be continually let down, make mistakes of our own, and generally just mess up, we
need and desire relationship. It is also so import to note the link to the gospel, to notice that while we may
be forsaken in some of our worldly relationships, we know that our Savior was most certainly forsaken in
His worldly relationships all the way to the cross, yet he loves us still and promises to never leave or
forsake us. (See Deuteronomy 31:6, Hebrews 13:5) Amazing!
Father, thank you for your amazing word, thank you for relationships and mostly thank you for Jesus who
will never leave us or forsake us. Now that is a relationship!
Grace and Peace!
