Category: Galations

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

It is no mistake that Paul ends his treatise on salvation by faith and not by Law with teaching on works. We are saved unto good works. What works are emphasised by Paul to this congregation?

SJA Notes

* Dear Lord God, thank You for saving us from the penalty for our sin. Please teach us from Your word today.

“For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”

Here again we see Paul layering the two paths. Choices. The two ways to sow.

The flesh – which reaps corruption.

The Spirit – which reaps eternal life.

This can be both simple to grasp and hard to put into practice.

This is why Paul wrote letters, driven by and filled with the Holy Spirit!

This is why we have God’s word written down for us, a book like no other book.

This is why we have God in the Person of the Spirit writing God’s word on our hearts, for Him to plant it deep and grow it, that we might bear much fruit.

Because even though it is hard, the practice of sowing in the Spirit is not impossible in Jesus!

So we can cry with full assurance: Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

* Dear God,

Please strengthen us in our weakness so that we do not grow weary of doing good, of bearing Your Name well, of walking in humble obedience, pointing people to Jesus.

We would reap eternal life – Please help us Lord, to sow in Your Spirit!

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Freedom in Christ is freedom to serve one another in love. Love is fulfilling of the Ten Commandments in a manner that God defines. Read Jesus’ words on the Commandments in the Sermon on the Mount – Matthew 5:17-48.

SJA Notes

* King of kings, Lord God, thank You for Your word to us today – You are the true God, there is no other.

“If we live by the Spirit, let s also keep in step with the Spirit.”

This is some practical advice from Paul, and how convicting it should it be us!

We can often claim to be Spirit-filled, but instead are full of the works of the flesh.

How different the two lists in this passage are.

It is sobering to work through them.

For the list of the works of the flesh – Are we keeping in step with the Spirit by _not_ doing these things?

For the list of the works of the Spirit – Are we keeping in step with the Spirit by bearing these fruit, working them out in our thoughts, word and deeds?

Our claims must be backed up by our practice.

* Father God,

Your Spirit is life-giving, and You have given it to us – Thank You and Hallelujah!

Please help us to live in step with Your Spirit.

Please help us to flee from conceit and envy.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Freedom! Freedom is not freedom to be like God, to be the one in control. Freedom is freedom from sin through faith in Christ! Free to live with love, justice, courage, goodness, mercy, peace. Free to live without arrogance, manipulative behaviour, substance abuse, immorality, anger and malice.

SJA Notes

* Jealous and Holy God, please fix our eyes on You today, as we come to Your word to us.

“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.”

We can get the practice of holiness quite wrong, if we’re honest.

We can probably bring to mind people who take a limited view of the practice of holiness and try to restrict everyone around them into that view.

But deeper, we can also remember times when we have failed to be holy, to practice being holy, to point to the holiness of God.

Paul is clear.

When you get stuck on a tradition, letting a sign or a symbol supersede all else – be careful!

Circumcision on the body was a big important deal – You only have to read Abraham’s story to know that, or that of Moses’ wife Zipporah.

We know there is a deeper truth, a circumcision of the heart. A heavenly reality where the Spirit writes His law upon our hearts, planting His word deep within us so that we bear much fruit.

Faith working through love.

* Lord God,

You are our great God, we believe in You – Please help us in our unbelief!

Your love is steadfast and unfailing – Thank You for Your wonderful grace and mercy to us, undeserved!

Amen.