Pastor’s Bible Reading Schedule: Psalm 94-96; Galatians 1
Devotional Thought:
It can be a frustrating thing to give someone truth and true biblical wisdom and have someone else come along and steer them astray. Paul had planted this church in Galatia as they had responded positively to the gospel. After Paul left, false teachers came in and worked to discredit the message as well as the messenger. Paul starts this book with a declaration and defense of his apostleship and the direct call that Jesus Christ had given to him. “Paul, an apostle (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead.) (vs. 1) After reiterating the gospel, Paul expresses his frustration over how quickly these Galatian believers embraced a false gospel upon his departure. He warns them to beware of those who are spreading deceit among the brethren and polluting the pure gospel of grace… “but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.” (vs. 7) These false teachers had polluted the gospel by adding to the grace of our Lord Jesus. A person is saved by grace alone, through faith alone in the precious, perfect, and efficacious blood of Christ. To add anything to that which is pure is to compromise and pollute the purity of it. These false teachers polluted the purity of the gospel by teaching that works were also necessary. They brought the Jewish tradition of being circumcised as necessary for salvation. Man has a pension to exalt himself (started in the garden) and create a dependence upon himself rather than live by faith in the revelation of Christ. While on a mission trip to Mexico many years ago, I witnessed one of the saddest pictures of my life. There was a tribe of Mexican Indians who had made their way from miles out of town to the Catholic Church. People of all ages (elderly, middle aged, and children) who sought to convince God of their willingness to help pay the price of their sin as they made the trip on their knees. Children crying and trying to walk on their feet, but being made to continue on their bloody knees in order to earn forgiveness. Paul admitted that he had once lived the life of trying to earn his acceptance of God, but God met him face to face and confirmed that salvation was by grace through faith. “For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (vs. 12) How we must thank God for the complete and satisfactory sacrifice of Christ that satisfied the demands of a Holy God for the price of our sin.
Personal Requests:
• Lord, please help me to never forget the great price of my sin, and the willingness of my Savior to pay it in full. Thank you Lord for loving me and saving me.
• Lord, thank you for your great plan of salvation that demonstrates your love, grace, mercy, and justice. Although salvation is free to me, I realize it cost you dearly.