Day 27 - Faith Alone!

-

Prayer Suggestion |

Set us free, O God, from the bondage of sin, and give us the liberty of the abundant life which you have made known to us in our Savior, Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

The St. Helena Breviary | Church Publishing Inc. | © 2006 | ISBN 978-0-89869-516-8


Bible in Time |

Monday | First Full Week in Lent |
New Testament Study, Day 27 |


It’s 50 CE/a.d.


Today: Background on Galatians


Tuesday 2/23/2021: Galatians 1


February Assignments Calendar


+++


Edwards has asked us to pause and read the Letter to the Galatians. In his way of thinking, this letter is the first piece of Christian literature that was written. Other scholars would place 1 Thessalonians as the first. Both are educated guess by people of faith.  The content of the Letter matters.


I am using Mark Powells Introducing the New Testament, First Edition, Chapter 15 - Galatians, pp. 306 - 321 as the source of this background for you.


“You foolish, Galatians!” is the main theme of Paul’s outrage at the Galatians for turning away from the Gospel/Jesus/God’s New Plan and going back to old ways. After Paul had come to them and gave them of Gospel of Christ, a group of people believing in Judaism (Jesus was a Jewish Messiah) teaches the Galatians that they must turn into Jews before receiving the Gospel of Christ. This makes Paul very mad.


Paul sees this change of faith as fundamental in who God and Jesus is and the route to salvation. They are deserting God and perverting the gospel of Christ. (1:6-7) This is a false message.


Paul says they are fools for allowing anyone to convince them that the Crucified Christ is insufficient for them. (Powell, p. 308)


Paul has defended all Gentiles and has gotten a decision from the Church in Jerusalem that Gentiles do NOT have to follow Jewish tradition but Christ alone.


The Gospel that Paul has received is from God so the Galatians should believe it.


According to Powell, Paul says the issue I s do you need to become a Jew to be a Christian? His answer is NO!


Paul’s answer to this is:

  • People are saved and justified by faith in Jesus Christ

    • Anything else nullifies the grace of God

  • God’s grace is now universal in scope and not confined to one group of people or tradition. 

    • All distinctions have been removed for all in Christ (3:28)

  • God had brought in Jesus something brand new. The old is gone and we are made new in Jesus. (Powell, p. 315)

  • The Holy Spirit overrides anything old and the effect of the Law. It is the Spirit that transforms and will do this continuously. (Powell, p. 371)

  • The Spirit indwells and produces new fruit- love, joy, peace, kindness, gentleness, and self-control. (5:22-23)


You are made new so get with it!


Other materials -

Map | First Missionary Journey

Map | Second Missionary Journey

(great review at bottom of page)


Invite your friends to our journey.


In Christ,


Dave Eitland

deitland@gmail.com


Note: “Revo.”, “Revolutionary”, “Edwards” refers to our textbook “Revolutionary Bible Study” by Gene Edwards, ISBN 978-0-97975157-8, © 2009.


Also used notes from the New Oxford Annotated Bible, 5th Edition, © 2018. (NOAB5)


Posted to blog - 2/9/2021

Image Credit via Google Images - 

https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/paul-controversial-apostle

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Parables - New Wineskins

-
Image
Dear Friends, Grace and peace from our loving God. Let us pray … Kindle in our hearts, O God, the flame of love that never ceases, that it may burn in us, giving light to others. May we shine forever in your temple, raging set on fire with your eternal light, even your Son Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. Amen A Celtic Liturgy - Morning Prayer, p. 21;  Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 2008, ed. Today’s Parable - Wineskins / Luke 5:37 Jesus in this scene is having a party with known sinners after the conversion of a tax collector. Some religious people are critical of this action. They point to the disciples of John the Baptist and whose piety is fasting and prayer and why is Jesus not doing it their way. Kendall points to this parable of Jesus as a calling of established and mature religious people to create themselves as new wineskins for new wine. (If you put new wine in old wineskins, it will explode because of fermentation.) The Holy Spirit constantly inspires and
Read more

Day 25 - Blowing It Big Time - Exodus 31:1 - 34:35

-
Image
Moses and Ten Commandments 2024 Read the Bible in a Year January 25, 2024 +++ Please note! Dear partners in this study.  I have gotten behind in the posting of reflections. I will be back-filling the past few days as I keep up with those who are following the calendar. So I will be doing one posting of the calendar reading and also back-fill the past days that need reflections. Peace+  DE +++  Readings for Today: Exodus 31:1 - 34:35 Day 25 - Blowing It Big Time Prayer: Oh God, we do really blow it sometimes.  We sometimes forget about you. We sometimes think of ourselves more than anything else.  Sometimes we are not very loving to anyone. We humbly pray and ask Your forgiveness.  Give us the ability for us to think beyond ourselves so that we might enjoy the life that you have given us by you being with us, and we being with the world and the people we come in contact with. In the name of Jesus, By DE. Background & Reflections: Well I am glad I am not the only one who “blows it” i
Read more

Day 91 - There and back ... a geneology of God's people

-
Image
  2024 Read the Bible in a Year April 2, 2024 Tuesday of Easter Week Readings for Today: Day 91 - 1 Chronicles 1:1 - 9:44 See the animated overview of the Chronicles above. Prayer: Loving God, dissolve the barriers of suspicion that divide us from one another. Fill us with your love that casts out fear. Clothe us in your light and grace, that we may be agents of hope and encouragement for those who despair and have lost their way. Help us each find our particular way to proclaim the good news of your saving love in our daily lives and work. We pray that our government and leaders at every level of authority may be strengthened to heal the structures that bruise your people. God, hear our prayers. Amen (All Saints Episcopal Church - Pasadena prayers - 27 Oct 2019 worship) Reflection:  Today’s reading is everything you wanted to know about the genealogy from Adam to the return of leaders from the Exile. It is interesting reading that we can directly follow God's work via each person
Read more