SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT FOR TODAY (October 8, 2013) GALATIANS 3:6-14 BLESSED THROUGH FAITH NOT THROUGH THE LAW (Part 1) MEMORY VERSE: GALATIANS 3:6 “CONSIDER ABRAHAM, HE BELIEVED GOD AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” In the previous edition, we studied how Paul expressed his unhappiness at the sudden change of the minds of the Galatian believers. They changed their minds to follow the false teachers who came from Jerusalem. Paul was surprised that the Galatians who started in the Holy Spirit; received the Holy Spirit and saw miracles performed in the power of the Holy Spirit without circumcision could easily turn their backs on the gospel which saved them. Paul referred to their change of hearts as a foolish decision. WE MADE THE POINT THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH TODAY WHO STILL BEHAVE LIKE THE GALATIANS DUE TO THEIR SHALLOW-MINDEDNESS. They are shallow-minded because they do not continue to study God’s word. CHRISTIANS WHO DO NOT STUDY GOD’S WORD ARE THE ONES WHO CAN BE EASILY DECEIVED BY THE DEVIL. In today’s edition, we want to consider Paul’s teaching to the Galatians concerning faith. After asking them series of questions to draw their attention to the fact that they were not saved by works of the Law but by faith, the Apostle illustrated his point with the faith of Abraham. PAUL SAID THAT THE RIGHTEOUSNESS GOD CREDITED TO ABRAHAM (GEN 15:6) WAS NOT BY LAW, BUT BY FAITH. WHAT PAUL MEANT WAS THAT IT WAS NOT OBEDIENCE TO THE LAW WHICH JUSTIFIED ABRAHAM; RATHER, IT WAS HIS FAITH IN GOD. According to Genesis 15:6, “Abraham BELIEVED the LORD” and HE credited it to him as righteousness. THIS IS A VERY DEEP DEFENSE OF THE GOSPEL OF SALVATION BY FAITH AGAINST THE GOSPEL OF SALVATION BY LAW. It destroys the arguments of the Jews who claimed Abraham as their father, yet insist on obedience to the law as the means of salvation. It is very clear that before Abraham there was no law, yet Abraham was credited with righteousness. Paul is therefore telling the Galatians that their salvation by faith in Christ Jesus makes them children of Abraham straight away. So they do not need the law to make them righteous before God. This is a very strong message not only to Jews who insist on the TORAH PIETY, but to all Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists among others who insist on deeds as the means of salvation. There is only one way to salvation-FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS ALONE (SOLA FIDEI). If anybody tells you to do anything to be saved apart from believing that God sent his Son Yeshua HaMashiack to come and die for our sins so that through his death and resurrection we can be saved, CALL THAT PERSON A LIAR! Paul continued to teach that those who believe in Christ are the true children of Abraham. Biologically we all know that living things produce young ones of their own kind. Therefore, the true children of Abraham are those who have faith and not those who live by the Law of Moses. The simple reason is that Abraham was a man of faith who was saved by his faith and not by his works. By this, we can confidently say that all people with faith in Jesus Christ, irrespective of which part of the world they come from, their language, the color of their skin and other physical characteristics, are children of Abraham if and only if they believe in Jesus Christ. God told Abraham in genesis 12 that in him shall all peoples of the earth be blessed. I know Muslims and Jews claim their descent to Abraham. That is in the flesh. Yet they are not true children of Abraham until they come to faith in Christ Jesus. Let us not make any mistake about this. No one can have eternal life unless he or she believes in Jesus Christ. If you are not a believer in Jesus Christ and still think you can be saved, please stop deceiving yourself. In acts 16:31 when the jailer asked Paul and Silas what they must do to be saved, Paul replied simply: “believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” There is no other way, except through Jesus! Many people and religious groups try to teach how one can be saved. They may have very good intentions of trying to save the souls of men, but THERE IS NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE TO SALVATION EXCEPT THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. THIS IS THE PLAIN TRUTH. IF YOU HAVE NOT ACCEPTED HIM AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR, YOU ARE DELAYING. TAKE A DECISION BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE FOR YOU TO DO SO. IF YOU ALREADY HAVE JESUS IN YOUR HEART AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR, I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO STAND FIRM IN HIM (1 Cor 15:58). We must hold on to our faith strongly before we lose our love or stray from the faith because of the circumstances surrounding us. WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH THE BLESSING OF SALVATION GIVEN TO ABRAHAM THROUGH OUR FAITH IN YESHUA. LET US CONTINUE TO LIVE AND WALK LIKE CHILDREN OF GOD! THE WORD OF THE LORD!
Posted on: Tue, 08 Oct 2013 10:00:55 +0000
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