Galatians 3

Our culture differs greatly from that of the Galatians. Most of the people in our culture do not believe in any gods, much less in the Christian God, the Father Almighty. Many Christians, while affirming their faith in God, see their faith as a means to a better quality of life, not a means to be in a right relationship with the God of the universe. I believe it is the DNA of Americans to be proud, rebellious and self-reliant. I saw this embodied in a quote from a journal of someone that was a part of a wagon train heading west, ‘We had proceeded only a few days travel, when the American character was fully exhibited. All appeared to be determined to govern, but not to be governed.”

With this in mind try to grasp how vitally important it was to the people in the Galatian congregations to be in a right relationship with God. This was not optional to them. It is not hyperbole to say it was a matter of life and death to them. As you read chapter three can you feel Paul’s frustration? Paul had proclaimed the Gospel to them and they had experienced the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives. They had entered into a right relationship with God by grace through faith in Jesus. Now, they were backing up and forcing their congregations to keep rules and laws in a desperate attempt to stay in a right relationship with God. Do you remember the third chapter of 2 Corinthians where Paul talked about the veil being removed? The Galatians were putting the veil back up, and Paul was doing his best to get them to remove the veil and live by grace not works.

At the end of the chapter Paul writes that when “you belong to Christ there is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.” This is impossible when you live by the law. This is reality when you live by faith in Christ.

By the way, I am convinced that if Paul was writing this letter to the churches in our era, he would write, there is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female, Methodist or Baptist, Presbyterian or Episcopal, Protestant or Catholic.

I think God wants unity more than He wants denominations.

I just saying.

What does today’s reading reveal to you about God?
What does it reveal to you about yourself?
Think about what God wants you to do or remember about this passage.

Does God want you to change anything in your life?