Paul makes it clear that faith absolutely is foundational to the Christian life. It is the means by which we lay hold of the promises we have in Christ. But what is faith exactly? What does it involve? What do the following texts teach us about the origin of faith? Gen. 15:5; John 3:14-16; 2 Cor. 5:14-15; Gal. 5:6. Genuine … Continue reading –>
“And be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith” (Phil. 3:9, NKJV). We should not assume Jewish Christians were suggesting that faith in Christ was not important; after all, they were all believers in … Continue reading –>
Paul says three times in Galatians 2:16 that a person is not justified by “works of the law.” What does he mean by the expression “works of the law”? How do these texts (Gal. 2:16-17; Gal. 3:2, Gal. 3:5; Gal. 3:10; Rom. 3:20; Rom. 3:28) help us to understand his meaning? Before we can understand the phrase “the works of the law,” we first need … Continue reading –>
In Galatians 2:15, Paul writes, “We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners” (ESV). What point do you think he was making? Paul’s words need to be understood in their context. In an attempt to win over his fellow Jewish Christians to his position, Paul starts with something they would agree with — the traditional distinction … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Gal. 2:15-21; Eph. 2:12; Phil. 3:9; Rom. 3:10-20; Gen. 15:5-6; Rom. 3:8. Memory Text: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself … Continue reading –>
Since 1981, when I began preaching in high school, I have preached in many churches from Chiclayo, Peru, to Torrington, Connecticut. I have spoken to large and small congregations with various needs. I have illustrated to some conservative churches the need to be a little more liberal, and to liberal churches, how to be a … Continue reading –>
“The danger has been presented to me again and again of entertaining, as a people, false ideas of justification by faith. I have been shown for years that Satan would work in a special manner to confuse the mind on this point. The law of God has been largely dwelt upon and has been presented … Continue reading –>
The river had been well past flood stage for days, and as darkness settled on the streets and rooftops of the city that night, the wind picked up and howled its fearful message that destruction had arrived. A board worked its way loose outside Sam’s apartment on second floor and crashed against the street light. … Continue reading –>
One of the main accusations against Paul was that his gospel of justification by faith alone encouraged people to sin (see Rom. 3:8,6:1). No doubt the accusers reasoned that if people do not have to keep the law to be accepted by God, why should they be concerned with how they live? How does Paul respond to … Continue reading –>
Key Thought: Sinners can be justified in God’s sight only by accepting what God has done for them in Christ. Through faith we may die to self and let Christ live His life in us. Lesson for October 22, 2011 1. Have a volunteer read Galatians 2:15-17 A. Ask class members to share a short … Continue reading –>
