Galatians 3:14-27

For Reading and Meditation:     Galatians 3:1-25

The Christian Church has always struggled to get the balance right between faith and works. Romans is the great book on "faith" while James is the great book on "works." I know some Christians who never read the book of James, taking sides with Martin Luther who called it a "book of straw." Martin Luther may have been...

For Reading and Meditation:     Galatians 5:1-15

Permit me to pause in our meditations on the chief differences between the Christian faith and non-Christian religions to turn our eyes inward to the state of affairs within the church. We have not been as careful as we might in relation to this matter of vertical conversion. Oftentimes we have been more interested in...

God is, and must be, the eternal enemy of sin. He cannot be reconciled to it: it is the abominable thing which He hates. He cannot look upon it but with abhorrence.

How then can God receive, bless, or commune with us? Only through a Mediator. Jesus fills this office; He stands between God and us; He honours all the Father's perfections; and renders us and our services acceptable through His glorious righteousness and precious blood. God can only love us, receive us, commune with us, or...

The fatherhood of God is common to all his children. Ah! Little-faith, you have often said, "Oh that I had the courage of Great-heart, that I could wield his sword and be as valiant as he! But, alas, I stumble at every straw, and a shadow makes me afraid." List thee, Little-faith. Great-heart is God's child, and you are God's child too; and Great-heart is not one whit more God's child than you are. Peter and Paul, the highly- favoured apostles, were of the family of the Most High; and so...

The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God. They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one. § Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.To will is present with me, but how to preform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will do, I do not do; but the evil I will not do, that I practice. § We are all like an unclean thing, and all our...

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. § We are all like an unclean thing. § I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.As many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. § You have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him. § Not having my...

One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. § You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. § That in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.He is not ashamed to call them brethren. § Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother. § Go to My brethren and...

He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? § And to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good?As many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” But that no one is justified by the law in the sight...

Jesus … lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father.” § My Father and your Father.You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. § You did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are...