February 11, 2020 - The apostle Paul wrote a letter to the churches in Galatia concerning what appeared to be a turning away from the gospel of Christ which Paul had preached to them shortly beforehand.
Paul, in his usual blunt, upfront fashion gets right to the point of their being drawn away as he says,
"I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel - not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: "If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:6-9)
Paul then reassures the churches of Galatia of the authenticity of the gospel message that he and his followers had preached to them before as he says,
"For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it, through the revelation of Jesus Christ." (Galatians 1:11-12)
Again he verifies the truth that all who believe are justified, made clean of sin, by their faith in Christ Jesus. As the words he speaks to the Jews around him are also meant for us of today, for faith is for all who will come to the Lord seeking for redemption.
"We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, as we have also believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God.
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose." (Galatians 2:15-21)
"Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for the righteous shall live by faith." (Galatians 3:11)
"Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe." (Galatians 3:22)
And only to those who believe in Christ Jesus as Lord for it is as Jesus himself said,
"I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)
Will you come through him today, will you accept him as your Lord and Master, forever? It is time to choose, please, choose life in Christ, reject death in the world...
