1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:05,520 Speaker 1: Let us pray for do I now persuade men or God? 2 00:00:06,519 --> 00:00:09,880 Speaker 1: Or do I seek to please men? For if I 3 00:00:10,039 --> 00:00:13,800 Speaker 1: yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. 4 00:00:15,280 --> 00:00:19,919 Speaker 1: Galatians one ten. Free me, Lord from my brothers and 5 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:23,279 Speaker 1: sisters in Christ who are more focused on their own 6 00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:28,200 Speaker 1: works than on their faith. Free me from the legalistic 7 00:00:28,280 --> 00:00:32,880 Speaker 1: Christ followers who are bent on justifying themselves through the law. 8 00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:38,599 Speaker 1: Thank you, Jesus, that by your sacrifice, I am saved 9 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:43,280 Speaker 1: by faith and not by my works. Thank you that 10 00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:46,800 Speaker 1: I can walk in complete freedom and enjoy my walk 11 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:52,040 Speaker 1: with You, free from the opinions of others. Continue to 12 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:54,360 Speaker 1: allow the fruits of the Spirit to be evident in 13 00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 1: my life. I decree and declare that in Christ Jesus, 14 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:05,240 Speaker 1: I am free and unchained. By decree and declare that 15 00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:11,160 Speaker 1: I serve You Lord by devotion and not obligation. As 16 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:15,200 Speaker 1: I work out my faith in love, I will walk 17 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:20,399 Speaker 1: in freedom and in step with the spirit. Where the 18 00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:24,160 Speaker 1: Spirit of the Lord is, there is always freedom. There 19 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:29,319 Speaker 1: is no bondage in Christ. So Lord, I thank you 20 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:32,480 Speaker 1: that I don't have to earn my way into heaven. 21 00:01:33,600 --> 00:01:37,400 Speaker 1: But because I place my trust and love in You, 22 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:42,360 Speaker 1: you will guide me in the way everlasting in the 23 00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:49,240 Speaker 1: name of Jesus. Amen. Listening to these daily prayers strengthens 24 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:52,960 Speaker 1: your relationship with God. Continue hearing from the Lord by 25 00:01:53,040 --> 00:01:56,640 Speaker 1: listening to to day's Bible in a Year, brought to 26 00:01:56,680 --> 00:02:07,919 Speaker 1: you by Bible in a Year dot com. 27 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:13,720 Speaker 2: Dear Galicia. In our last story, we learned about certain 28 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:18,360 Speaker 2: Jewish believers forcing Gentiles to be circumcised to be accepted 29 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:22,280 Speaker 2: into the Family of God. Outraged by this, Paul and 30 00:02:22,360 --> 00:02:25,279 Speaker 2: Barnabas held a council of all the leaders in Jerusalem. 31 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:28,720 Speaker 2: They debated whether Gentiles should be forced to follow the 32 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:32,280 Speaker 2: Jewish customs laid out in the Law. The consensus was 33 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:36,560 Speaker 2: a resounding no. Now we listen in on a letter 34 00:02:36,639 --> 00:02:40,000 Speaker 2: Paul wrote to the Galician church. Paul wrote to the 35 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:43,200 Speaker 2: Galatians because they had men in their midst teaching them 36 00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:47,560 Speaker 2: that all Christians should be circumcised to be saved. Paul's 37 00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:50,520 Speaker 2: words would reflect the heart of Jesus as he defends 38 00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:54,120 Speaker 2: the grace given by Jesus on the Cross. Inspired by 39 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:56,040 Speaker 2: the Book of Galatians. 40 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:01,440 Speaker 3: I'm so glad you joined us on the Bible in 41 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:05,799 Speaker 3: a Year podcast today, But before we get to today's episode. 42 00:03:05,960 --> 00:03:08,400 Speaker 3: I want you to know that I would absolutely love 43 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:11,640 Speaker 3: to send you my daily devotional that will give you 44 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:16,480 Speaker 3: fresh encouragement every single morning and day from the moment 45 00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:19,200 Speaker 3: we wake up to the moment our head finally hits 46 00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:23,400 Speaker 3: the pillow. There are thousands of things demanding our attention, 47 00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:26,280 Speaker 3: but it's in the midst of all this crush and 48 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:29,160 Speaker 3: hustle and bustle that you and I need peace and 49 00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:32,160 Speaker 3: truth in God's Word. That's why I want to help 50 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:36,120 Speaker 3: you spend time each day growing in God's life giving, 51 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:41,160 Speaker 3: life changing Word by sending you my free daily email devotional, 52 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:45,960 Speaker 3: PowerPoint Today. So visit Jagraham dot org to sign up 53 00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:51,840 Speaker 3: for your PowerPoint Today devotional. That's Jagraham dot org. Jack 54 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:55,800 Speaker 3: Graham dot org. In our previous time together, we heard 55 00:03:55,800 --> 00:03:59,280 Speaker 3: how the Counsel of Apostles and Elders in Jerusalem, along 56 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:02,960 Speaker 3: with Paul and Arnabus, affirmed that gentile believers were not 57 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:06,720 Speaker 3: bound to Jewish customs outlined in the law, but should 58 00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 3: focus on abstaining from things that would hinder their relationship 59 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:14,280 Speaker 3: with God in Christ, such as sexual immorality and food 60 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:18,280 Speaker 3: sacrifice to idols. Today, we'll hear Paul's words to the 61 00:04:18,400 --> 00:04:22,240 Speaker 3: Church in Galicia and his affirmation of their freedom in Christ, 62 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:26,360 Speaker 3: not because of obedience to the law and things like circumcision, 63 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:30,640 Speaker 3: but because of faith and the grace of God. Let's 64 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:34,560 Speaker 3: hear now the reading from Paul's letter to the Galatians. 65 00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:38,560 Speaker 2: To the Church in Galicia. Grace and peace to you 66 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:41,840 Speaker 2: from our Lord. I am amazed that you would turn 67 00:04:41,880 --> 00:04:45,159 Speaker 2: from grace so quickly to adopt another gospel, one of 68 00:04:45,200 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 2: bondage and works. Let me tell you this, Even if 69 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:52,839 Speaker 2: you see an angel coming down from heaven preaching another 70 00:04:52,880 --> 00:04:57,120 Speaker 2: gospel to you, it is false. I tell you this honestly, 71 00:04:57,520 --> 00:05:00,040 Speaker 2: since I do not seek the approval of man, but 72 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:03,560 Speaker 2: of God. If I simply sought to please you, I 73 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:07,040 Speaker 2: would not be a servant of Christ. I need you 74 00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:10,320 Speaker 2: to know this, brothers, that the gospel preached by me 75 00:05:10,480 --> 00:05:14,040 Speaker 2: to you is not a gospel forged and penned by man. 76 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:16,360 Speaker 2: It is from the heart of Christ himself. 77 00:05:17,360 --> 00:05:18,400 Speaker 3: You know my past. 78 00:05:19,120 --> 00:05:22,159 Speaker 2: You know that I was once a zealous pharisee, held 79 00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:25,240 Speaker 2: bent on the destruction of the Church. I held the 80 00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:29,400 Speaker 2: law tightly and honored it my whole life. But Jesus 81 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:33,200 Speaker 2: called me into grace, so I fled to Arabia, and 82 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:37,640 Speaker 2: then Damascus, then to Jerusalem. I wanted to know what 83 00:05:37,720 --> 00:05:41,159 Speaker 2: was happening to my heart. I wanted to know Christ. 84 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:46,080 Speaker 2: Those who saw me change glorified Christ. It was not 85 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:49,000 Speaker 2: because I followed the law, but because I was changed 86 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:53,160 Speaker 2: by grace. Fourteen years had passed and I was traveling 87 00:05:53,200 --> 00:05:56,360 Speaker 2: to Jerusalem with Barnabas and Titus, who was a gentile. 88 00:05:57,120 --> 00:06:00,200 Speaker 2: We did not force him to be circumcised. Yet foss 89 00:06:00,279 --> 00:06:02,960 Speaker 2: brothers tried to bind him into slavery to the old 90 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:07,400 Speaker 2: Covenant law. We did not yield in submission to them. 91 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:09,880 Speaker 2: To do so would have been to deny the power 92 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:12,839 Speaker 2: of the Gospel. It started to become clear to me 93 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:15,279 Speaker 2: that I was to be an apostle of the Gentiles, 94 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:18,880 Speaker 2: just as Peter was called to the Jews. I want 95 00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:21,040 Speaker 2: to tell you something about Peter so that you might 96 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:24,479 Speaker 2: learn from him. Peter would eat with the Gentiles and 97 00:06:24,560 --> 00:06:27,760 Speaker 2: fellowship with them, but when his Jewish brothers were present, 98 00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:30,400 Speaker 2: he would not speak to them or eat with them. 99 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:34,279 Speaker 2: This was too faced and not honoring to Christ. So 100 00:06:34,480 --> 00:06:37,960 Speaker 2: I opposed him to his face. Peter was supposed to 101 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:41,000 Speaker 2: be an example to us, and instead his conduct was 102 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:44,200 Speaker 2: not in step with the truth. I told him that 103 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:46,960 Speaker 2: if he, being a Jew, was able to live like 104 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:49,720 Speaker 2: a gentile, then he should not force gentiles to live 105 00:06:49,800 --> 00:06:53,720 Speaker 2: like Jews. It was simple, and Peter received his correction. 106 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:58,839 Speaker 2: Let me make one thing clear. We are Jews by birth, 107 00:06:59,080 --> 00:07:01,920 Speaker 2: but it is not our tradition or race that makes 108 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:05,400 Speaker 2: us justified. Our faith in the work of Jesus on 109 00:07:05,480 --> 00:07:09,159 Speaker 2: the Cross makes us justified. It is not by works 110 00:07:09,160 --> 00:07:11,080 Speaker 2: that we attain favor with God. 111 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:12,520 Speaker 3: For He is pleased with us. 112 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:15,840 Speaker 2: In Jesus. We must die to the law so we 113 00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:19,560 Speaker 2: can live in Christ. I have been crucified. With Christ, 114 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:23,320 Speaker 2: I am no longer living. It is Jesus who lives 115 00:07:23,320 --> 00:07:26,080 Speaker 2: in me. The life we are to live should be 116 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:29,560 Speaker 2: by faith in Jesus. He has loved us and gave 117 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:32,640 Speaker 2: his life for us. If we gained our righteousness from 118 00:07:32,680 --> 00:07:35,360 Speaker 2: our good deeds or following the law, then why would 119 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:40,400 Speaker 2: Christ have died for us? You foolish Galatians? Who has 120 00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:42,440 Speaker 2: cast a spell on you that you would turn from 121 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:45,760 Speaker 2: this glorious truth. Some of you saw with your own 122 00:07:45,840 --> 00:07:50,720 Speaker 2: eyes Jesus being crucified. Let me ask you this, did 123 00:07:50,720 --> 00:07:53,080 Speaker 2: you receive the Holy Spirit by being perfect? 124 00:07:53,840 --> 00:07:53,920 Speaker 3: No? 125 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:56,880 Speaker 2: Are you so dumb that you would now try and 126 00:07:56,960 --> 00:08:01,560 Speaker 2: be perfect after receiving grace. Was called righteous because of 127 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:06,080 Speaker 2: his faith, not his ability to follow rules. The truly 128 00:08:06,160 --> 00:08:08,680 Speaker 2: righteous ones are the ones who look under Jesus and 129 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:12,640 Speaker 2: have faith in him. The righteous live by faith. Let 130 00:08:12,640 --> 00:08:14,720 Speaker 2: me give you an example of what the law is 131 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:19,880 Speaker 2: for picture a contract. Every human contract can be annulled 132 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:23,880 Speaker 2: or ratified, but not with God. He keeps his promises 133 00:08:23,920 --> 00:08:27,400 Speaker 2: despite our failures. So what good is the law? Well, 134 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:30,560 Speaker 2: the law was our tutor until Christ came. The law 135 00:08:30,640 --> 00:08:33,400 Speaker 2: was an image of the perfect character of God. That 136 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:37,400 Speaker 2: character was fulfilled in Jesus, so we look to follow him, 137 00:08:37,640 --> 00:08:40,520 Speaker 2: not the law. That way, the Gospel is not only 138 00:08:40,559 --> 00:08:42,640 Speaker 2: for Jews who follow the law, but for people of 139 00:08:42,679 --> 00:08:47,040 Speaker 2: all nationalities who believe in Jesus and follow him. A 140 00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:49,840 Speaker 2: child is no freer than a slave until he becomes 141 00:08:49,840 --> 00:08:53,040 Speaker 2: a man. So the child must be looked after and protected. 142 00:08:53,679 --> 00:08:56,120 Speaker 2: That is what the law did for us. It took 143 00:08:56,200 --> 00:09:00,520 Speaker 2: care of us until we were ready to step into maturity. Sons, 144 00:09:00,720 --> 00:09:04,520 Speaker 2: daughters and heirs to all the gifts of Jesus. To 145 00:09:04,640 --> 00:09:07,680 Speaker 2: know Jesus is to be free. So it concerns me 146 00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:11,920 Speaker 2: that you are all trying to enslave yourselves to the law. Stop. 147 00:09:12,640 --> 00:09:14,800 Speaker 2: I am afraid that all your effort and labor to 148 00:09:14,840 --> 00:09:18,120 Speaker 2: be perfect is all in vain. Brothers and sisters, I 149 00:09:18,160 --> 00:09:22,840 Speaker 2: beg you be like me. Let go. We were close ones. 150 00:09:23,360 --> 00:09:25,680 Speaker 2: You would have laid down your life for me. But 151 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:27,880 Speaker 2: now I feel like I am your enemy. Just because 152 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:31,120 Speaker 2: I preach to you the truth. I am perplexed and 153 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:34,840 Speaker 2: disturbed by you. Christ has set us free to walk 154 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:37,840 Speaker 2: in liberty. The ability to do what is good and 155 00:09:37,880 --> 00:09:41,480 Speaker 2: noble comes from a place of freedom, not bondage. Do 156 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:45,000 Speaker 2: not be slaves to mindless devotion. If you decide that 157 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:48,040 Speaker 2: one must be circumcised to be saved, then you put 158 00:09:48,040 --> 00:09:51,360 Speaker 2: yourself under the bondage of the whole law. You cannot 159 00:09:51,360 --> 00:09:54,840 Speaker 2: pick and choose. You either follow the whole law or 160 00:09:54,840 --> 00:09:58,480 Speaker 2: you follow the one who has made you righteous. It 161 00:09:58,559 --> 00:10:01,560 Speaker 2: is not about being circumcised. It is about working out 162 00:10:01,600 --> 00:10:06,880 Speaker 2: your faith in love. You are doing so well. Tell 163 00:10:06,920 --> 00:10:09,880 Speaker 2: me who has whispered lies in your ears, who has 164 00:10:10,080 --> 00:10:14,040 Speaker 2: hindered you from speaking the truth? Know this that a 165 00:10:14,040 --> 00:10:17,040 Speaker 2: little bit of leaven can ruin the whole loaf of bread, 166 00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:21,800 Speaker 2: The same as with people. Honestly, I wish that those 167 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:24,920 Speaker 2: who told you you needed to be circumcised were just 168 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:28,679 Speaker 2: cut off their privates altogether. For you were called to freedom, 169 00:10:28,840 --> 00:10:32,760 Speaker 2: and they have set you back. Walk in freedom. Do 170 00:10:32,800 --> 00:10:36,199 Speaker 2: not use your freedom as an opportunity to sin. Serve 171 00:10:36,280 --> 00:10:39,440 Speaker 2: one another, for the entire law is truly fulfilled in 172 00:10:39,480 --> 00:10:43,840 Speaker 2: these words. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. But 173 00:10:43,920 --> 00:10:46,880 Speaker 2: if you insist on devouring one another, take heed lest 174 00:10:46,920 --> 00:10:50,839 Speaker 2: you all consume yourselves into oblivion. If you keep in 175 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:53,560 Speaker 2: step with the Spirit, you will have no need of laws, 176 00:10:53,840 --> 00:10:56,640 Speaker 2: for he will guide you. For the desires of the 177 00:10:56,679 --> 00:10:59,440 Speaker 2: Spirit will oppose the flesh. For the fruit of the 178 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:05,719 Speaker 2: flesh is obvious fits of rage, rivalries, division, envy, drunkenness, selfish, 179 00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:10,160 Speaker 2: sexual gratification, jealousy, idolatry, and all sorts of rage that 180 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:13,720 Speaker 2: break instead of build. But the fruit of the spirit 181 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:21,120 Speaker 2: is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and 182 00:11:21,160 --> 00:11:24,560 Speaker 2: self control. If you have these things, you have no 183 00:11:24,679 --> 00:11:28,840 Speaker 2: need of law. Yet we all fail, we all fall 184 00:11:28,920 --> 00:11:32,480 Speaker 2: in some way. So let us restore one another in gentleness. 185 00:11:33,080 --> 00:11:36,400 Speaker 2: If anyone is caught in sin, let us help bear 186 00:11:36,520 --> 00:11:39,800 Speaker 2: one another's burdens and take heed of your heart, for 187 00:11:39,880 --> 00:11:42,640 Speaker 2: whoever thinks they have reached the heights of holiness are 188 00:11:42,679 --> 00:11:45,920 Speaker 2: sure to be brought low. Take care of one another. 189 00:11:46,720 --> 00:11:48,800 Speaker 2: As you can see, I have written this letter with 190 00:11:48,880 --> 00:11:51,760 Speaker 2: my own hand, for my eyesight is failing me, and 191 00:11:51,800 --> 00:11:55,520 Speaker 2: the words are large on the page. Understand these large 192 00:11:55,520 --> 00:11:58,600 Speaker 2: words of mine. Far be it from me to boast 193 00:11:58,679 --> 00:12:02,200 Speaker 2: except in the cross of Jesus Christ. From now on, 194 00:12:02,320 --> 00:12:05,600 Speaker 2: let no one cause anybody else to stumble. May the 195 00:12:05,640 --> 00:12:07,880 Speaker 2: grace of the Lord Jesus be upon you. 196 00:12:08,880 --> 00:12:14,719 Speaker 3: Amen. We begin today's reading with Paul's surprise at how 197 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:17,600 Speaker 3: quickly the believers in Galicia had lost the point of 198 00:12:17,600 --> 00:12:20,520 Speaker 3: the gospel, and we're trying to add requirements to the 199 00:12:20,559 --> 00:12:25,160 Speaker 3: grace of God in Christ and subject themselves again to bondage. 200 00:12:26,040 --> 00:12:29,400 Speaker 3: There were Jews among them who insisted that believers needed 201 00:12:29,400 --> 00:12:32,200 Speaker 3: to also follow the requirements of the law in order 202 00:12:32,280 --> 00:12:37,319 Speaker 3: to be saved, and Paul is unequivocal in his words, 203 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:41,240 Speaker 3: anything different than the gospel of God's grace through Christ 204 00:12:41,280 --> 00:12:45,400 Speaker 3: and Christ alone is a false gospel. To make this 205 00:12:45,480 --> 00:12:49,000 Speaker 3: point even stronger, Paul told them that even if an 206 00:12:49,040 --> 00:12:52,240 Speaker 3: angel were to come down and give them a different gospel, 207 00:12:52,640 --> 00:12:56,880 Speaker 3: that angel would be cursed. The reminder to the Galatians 208 00:12:57,080 --> 00:13:00,440 Speaker 3: is ones that we should heed today as well. If 209 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:03,160 Speaker 3: you try to add to the Gospel, whether you're subtracting 210 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:05,400 Speaker 3: it or adding to it, you end up with a 211 00:13:05,480 --> 00:13:11,120 Speaker 3: lie is subtraction or its addition or subtraction by addition. 212 00:13:12,120 --> 00:13:15,280 Speaker 3: As Paul told these believers, he of all people would 213 00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:19,840 Speaker 3: know that following the law does not save, and to 214 00:13:19,920 --> 00:13:22,640 Speaker 3: be saved means to know God and to be forgiven 215 00:13:22,679 --> 00:13:26,160 Speaker 3: of sins and to know eternal life. So how is 216 00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:29,440 Speaker 3: one saved not by works of the law. Before his 217 00:13:29,559 --> 00:13:33,880 Speaker 3: conversion he was an example of piety and zealousness among 218 00:13:34,040 --> 00:13:38,160 Speaker 3: Jewish believers. Paul knew the Law backwards and forwards, inside 219 00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:40,920 Speaker 3: and out. He followed it to the letter, and even 220 00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:44,480 Speaker 3: persecuted those who preached the gospel he is now advancing. 221 00:13:45,559 --> 00:13:48,040 Speaker 3: Paul argued that if the law could have made him 222 00:13:48,200 --> 00:13:51,840 Speaker 3: justified before God, it would have, but it did not 223 00:13:52,240 --> 00:13:56,720 Speaker 3: because the law cannot save. His life was changed because 224 00:13:56,760 --> 00:13:59,640 Speaker 3: he embraced Jesus Christ as his Lord and savior and 225 00:13:59,679 --> 00:14:03,840 Speaker 3: God grace in order to save him. He then gave 226 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:07,040 Speaker 3: the example of Titus a gentile, a Greek man who 227 00:14:07,080 --> 00:14:09,800 Speaker 3: came to faith in Christ and joined Paul and Barnabas 228 00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:13,640 Speaker 3: on their missionary journey. There were Jewish believers who tried 229 00:14:13,679 --> 00:14:17,640 Speaker 3: to impose the burden of circumcision and Jewish law on Titus, 230 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:20,560 Speaker 3: but Paul defended him and refused to let him be 231 00:14:20,600 --> 00:14:23,960 Speaker 3: subject to the bondage of legalism, which would strip away 232 00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:28,400 Speaker 3: the power of the Gospel. Paul even confronted Peter, an 233 00:14:28,440 --> 00:14:31,760 Speaker 3: apostle and the leader of the church. Paul had witnessed 234 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:35,040 Speaker 3: Peter eating with gentiles when Jews were not around, but 235 00:14:35,200 --> 00:14:38,760 Speaker 3: separating himself from them when Jews were present. By his 236 00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:44,000 Speaker 3: hypocritical actions, Peter was creating a division between Jews and Gentiles, 237 00:14:44,040 --> 00:14:47,840 Speaker 3: and this was inconsistent with the Gospel, not only that 238 00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:51,520 Speaker 3: it was robbing the Gospel of its power. Paul called 239 00:14:51,560 --> 00:14:55,280 Speaker 3: on Peter to examine his own life and to experience 240 00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:58,680 Speaker 3: the freedom in Christ, the freedom that we have because 241 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:01,080 Speaker 3: of what Christ has done, not because of what the 242 00:15:01,200 --> 00:15:05,200 Speaker 3: Law has done. If Peter could enjoy his freedom, how 243 00:15:05,240 --> 00:15:08,920 Speaker 3: could he not allow others to experience that same freedom 244 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:12,960 Speaker 3: in Christ. It takes courage to stand up for the truth, 245 00:15:13,080 --> 00:15:17,080 Speaker 3: especially when a leader may be more mature and yet 246 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:19,520 Speaker 3: is wrong and acting in a way that undermines the 247 00:15:19,560 --> 00:15:22,800 Speaker 3: power of the Gospel. Paul was willing to confront Peter 248 00:15:23,040 --> 00:15:26,040 Speaker 3: for the sake of the advancement of Jesus Christ and 249 00:15:26,080 --> 00:15:29,760 Speaker 3: the message of the Gospel. Paul's example is one of 250 00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:33,440 Speaker 3: encouragement for all of us to stand boldally and courageously 251 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:36,680 Speaker 3: for the truth of God's word and the power of 252 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:41,080 Speaker 3: God's message. And as Paul continued his letter, he reminded 253 00:15:41,080 --> 00:15:45,640 Speaker 3: the Galatians just what that truth is. Justification does not 254 00:15:45,720 --> 00:15:49,240 Speaker 3: come from our human efforts, but by faith, and the 255 00:15:49,280 --> 00:15:52,560 Speaker 3: object of our faith is Jesus. It is our faith 256 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:55,640 Speaker 3: in Christ that makes us righteous, not our works. To 257 00:15:55,680 --> 00:15:58,280 Speaker 3: bring this point home, Paul said that if the Law 258 00:15:58,360 --> 00:16:02,600 Speaker 3: made people righteous, then Jesus died for nothing. Why then, 259 00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:06,200 Speaker 3: if we have righteousness through faith in Christ and Christ alone, 260 00:16:06,560 --> 00:16:10,120 Speaker 3: would these Galatians look to the law to make them righteous. 261 00:16:10,640 --> 00:16:15,000 Speaker 3: Paul then pointed back to the first patriarch, to Abraham himself, 262 00:16:15,040 --> 00:16:19,440 Speaker 3: to explain that righteousness by faith is nothing new. Righteousness 263 00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:24,320 Speaker 3: has always come through faith, not works. Abraham believes God, 264 00:16:24,400 --> 00:16:28,160 Speaker 3: and his faith was credited to him as righteous. The 265 00:16:28,240 --> 00:16:30,920 Speaker 3: Law was not given to make people righteous, but as 266 00:16:30,960 --> 00:16:33,800 Speaker 3: a guardian, a guide a teacher until the time when 267 00:16:33,880 --> 00:16:37,960 Speaker 3: Christ came to set all people free, not only Jews, 268 00:16:38,240 --> 00:16:42,280 Speaker 3: but people of all nations. Listen to what Paul writes 269 00:16:42,280 --> 00:16:45,240 Speaker 3: in Galatians three twenty five to twenty eight about what 270 00:16:45,360 --> 00:16:49,400 Speaker 3: Jesus has done for us. These are powerful words. But 271 00:16:49,560 --> 00:16:52,480 Speaker 3: now that faith has come, we are no longer under 272 00:16:52,520 --> 00:16:55,680 Speaker 3: a guardian. For in Christ Jesus, you are all sons 273 00:16:55,680 --> 00:16:59,040 Speaker 3: of God through faith. For as many of you as 274 00:16:59,080 --> 00:17:02,280 Speaker 3: were baptized and too Christ, have put on Christ. There 275 00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:06,240 Speaker 3: is neither Jew nor Greek. There is neither slave nor free. 276 00:17:06,680 --> 00:17:09,680 Speaker 3: There is no male and female, for you are all 277 00:17:09,920 --> 00:17:15,239 Speaker 3: one in Christ Jesus. Don't miss how profound this statement is. 278 00:17:15,760 --> 00:17:18,919 Speaker 3: We are the children of God. We are the sons 279 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:21,760 Speaker 3: and daughters of God, heirs to the promises of Christ. 280 00:17:21,800 --> 00:17:26,720 Speaker 3: We have been adopted into His eternal family, God's forever family, 281 00:17:27,040 --> 00:17:29,880 Speaker 3: and it's all because of what Jesus has done for us. 282 00:17:30,800 --> 00:17:34,440 Speaker 3: This adoption means that we are truly free and favored 283 00:17:34,480 --> 00:17:37,720 Speaker 3: by God. Paul calls the Galatians to not walk away 284 00:17:37,720 --> 00:17:40,560 Speaker 3: from this freedom, but rather to walk in it. It 285 00:17:40,680 --> 00:17:44,280 Speaker 3: is a freedom to love and serve god fully. But 286 00:17:44,320 --> 00:17:48,360 Speaker 3: Paul knew also he needed to caution against misunderstanding this freedom. 287 00:17:48,760 --> 00:17:51,240 Speaker 3: Our freedom in Christ is not licensed to live in 288 00:17:51,320 --> 00:17:54,040 Speaker 3: sin as we please. It is a freedom to live 289 00:17:54,119 --> 00:17:57,199 Speaker 3: by God's grace in the power of his Spirit. He 290 00:17:57,240 --> 00:17:59,919 Speaker 3: then explained what it looks like to live by God's Spirit, 291 00:18:00,359 --> 00:18:03,399 Speaker 3: giving us the fruit of the spirit, love and joy, 292 00:18:03,440 --> 00:18:07,200 Speaker 3: and peace, and patience, and kindness and goodness and faithfulness 293 00:18:07,200 --> 00:18:10,800 Speaker 3: and gentleness and self control. All of this flows out 294 00:18:10,840 --> 00:18:14,760 Speaker 3: of a life committed to follow Jesus Christ. The work 295 00:18:14,800 --> 00:18:17,840 Speaker 3: of the Holy Spirit is to fuel us for godly 296 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:21,280 Speaker 3: living and to fill us that we might produce the 297 00:18:21,320 --> 00:18:24,200 Speaker 3: fruit of the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is 298 00:18:24,320 --> 00:18:28,919 Speaker 3: Christ's likeness, and he reproduces himself in us by the 299 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:32,960 Speaker 3: power and the presence of the Holy Spirit. Finally, Paul 300 00:18:33,040 --> 00:18:37,160 Speaker 3: concludes by acknowledging that we will fail, and he impressed 301 00:18:37,240 --> 00:18:40,560 Speaker 3: upon the Galatians that they must support and encourage one 302 00:18:40,560 --> 00:18:44,359 Speaker 3: another and bear one another's burdens. The Christian life was 303 00:18:44,400 --> 00:18:47,040 Speaker 3: never meant to be lived alone. It was true then 304 00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:50,639 Speaker 3: and it's true today. Dear God, we thank you for 305 00:18:50,720 --> 00:18:53,760 Speaker 3: this powerful letter that Paul gave to the Galatians and 306 00:18:53,880 --> 00:18:56,600 Speaker 3: to us. We are so grateful that we are not 307 00:18:56,680 --> 00:18:59,479 Speaker 3: saved by our own works, because we could only fail. 308 00:19:00,240 --> 00:19:02,960 Speaker 3: By your grace. Through your cross. In the power of 309 00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:06,359 Speaker 3: your resurrection, we are saved from our sins. You live 310 00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:09,280 Speaker 3: in our lives, and we can live forever with you, 311 00:19:09,960 --> 00:19:13,000 Speaker 3: all because of Christ. God, help us to walk in 312 00:19:13,080 --> 00:19:15,600 Speaker 3: the fullness, in the freedom, in the favor that you 313 00:19:15,640 --> 00:19:18,199 Speaker 3: have given us in Christ. And may we live to 314 00:19:18,280 --> 00:19:23,200 Speaker 3: humbly serve you and point others to your Son in Jesus' name. Amen. 315 00:19:24,320 --> 00:19:27,560 Speaker 3: Thank you for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast. 316 00:19:27,880 --> 00:19:30,760 Speaker 3: I'm Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas, and before we go, 317 00:19:31,119 --> 00:19:32,879 Speaker 3: I want you to know that I would love to 318 00:19:32,920 --> 00:19:36,760 Speaker 3: send you my daily devotional to give you fresh encouragement 319 00:19:36,960 --> 00:19:40,440 Speaker 3: every single day. So visit Jack Graham dot org to 320 00:19:40,520 --> 00:19:44,639 Speaker 3: sign up for your PowerPoint Today devotional. That's Jack Graham 321 00:19:45,119 --> 00:19:45,680 Speaker 3: dot org.