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GALATIANS
Galatians 1:1-5
I, Paul, as God’s chosen apostle, am sending this letter to the churches in Galatia and asking God’s blessings on you.
Iamdisappointedthatyouare believing amessagethatisnotthegoodnewsabout Christ, andIaskGodtoeternallypunishthosewhoareteachingsuchamessage.
ItwasJesusChrist, notanyhuman, whorevealedthemessagethatIproclaim.
For 17 yearsafterGodshowedhisSontome, Ihadnocontactwiththe apostles.
Finally, when I returned to Jerusalem and told Peter, James, and John what I always proclaim, they agreed that Barnabas and I were preaching the same message and serving the Lord just like they were.
LaterIrebukedPeterfornotbehavingaccordingtothe gospel, inthathewas encouraging non-Jews to adopt Jewishlawsand rituals.
Because you trusted in Christ, not because you obeyed the laws God gave Moses, you received the Holy Spirit and now experience his working among you.
ItisthoseJewsand non-Jews whotrust Christ whoareAbraham’sspiritualdescendants, becausethosewhoseektobejustifiedbyobeyingthelawsthatGodgaveMosesarecondemnedbyGod.
Christ wascondemnedinsteadofus, sothatGodmightblessthe non-Jews justasheblessedAbraham, andsothatwemightreceivetheSpirit.
BygivinghislawstotheJews, GodhasnotcanceledwhathepromisedtoAbrahammuchearlierconcerninghisdescendant, Christ. JustlikeGodgavehisblessingstoAbrahamjustbecausehepromisedtodoso, hefreelygiveshisblessingstous.
GodgavehislawstosuperviseussinfulJewsuntil Christ, Abraham’spromiseddescendant, wouldcome.
Becauseofour relationship with Christ, weareAbraham’sspiritualdescendants, andGod’sheirs, nolongerlikeslaves.
Each of you is no longer like a slave, but a child of God and an heir of what he has promised.
IpleadwithyoutodoasIdidwhenIwaswithyou, andnotobeyalltheJewishrulesand rituals.
Becauseofour relationship with Christ, wearenotsubjecttoMosaiclaw; beingAbraham’sspiritualdescendants, wearefreefromsuchbondage.
Reject the false teaching that you must be circumcised, and do not become enslaved to rules and rituals again, otherwise Christ will not benefit you at all.
Althoughsomeonehasconfusedyou, Iamsurethatyouwillnotaccepthisfalseteaching, andthatGodwillpunishhim.
AlthoughyouarefreefromhavingtoobeyJewishrules, insteadofdoingwhatyour self-directed nature desires, loveandserveeachother.
LetGod’sSpiritdirectyou, andthenyouwillnotdowhatyour self-directed nature desires.
ThosewhothinkevilthoughtsanddoevilthingswillnotreceivetheblessingsofGod’srule, butGod’sSpiritproducesmanygood qualities inourlives.
Gently correct anyone among you who is sinning, and help each other without thinking you are better than others.
Weshouldnottireofdoinggood, butinstead, weshoulddogoodtoeveryone, especiallyto believers.
SomepeoplewantyoutobecircumcisedonlysothattheywillnotbepersecutedforproclaimingwhatChristaccomplishedforusonthecross, butthatistheonlythingthatIwillboastabout.
IhavesufferedenoughfordeclaringthetruthaboutJesus, sodonottroublemeagain.
IpraythatGodmayactkindlywithinyou.

© Copyright © 2008-2017 Ellis W. Deibler, Jr.