October 17, 2023 - Galatians 1-3

“Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father” (1:2). Right off the bat, it’s clear what Paul is writing about to the Galatians. We have eternal life and the forgiveness of our sins, and we are able to live godly lives only by trusting in Jesus, our Savior. But there were those, Paul wrote the Galatians, “who came in secretly to spy on the freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us” (2:4).

The freedom we have in Christ! There’s a phrase that many tough guys, or tough guy wanna-bes, have tattooed on themselves: “No Fear!” But they really don’t know what true freedom from fear is. That freedom is found only in Jesus. What a blessing to live life, day by day, with the absolute confidence that I have been cleared of my sins and that as this life progresses and draws to a close I have eternal life with Christ waiting for me! And all that because of Jesus and what he has done for me.

“And we have believed in Christ Jesus so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will be justified” (2:16). At the end of the day, whether it’s been a good one, spiritually speaking, or not, what a blessing to know that I am secure in Christ! Here is no license to sin, only a great assurance of God’s keeping love!

Not the labors of my hands

can fulfill thy law's demands;

could my zeal no respite know,

could my tears forever flow,

all for sin could not atone;

thou must save, and thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,

simply to the cross I cling;

naked, come to thee for dress;

helpless, look to thee for grace;

foul, I to the fountain fly;

wash me, Savior, or I die. --Augustus Toplady (1776)