Here are a few of my ponderings from Galatians 3:
One of the things that I love about Christianity – that distinguishes it from other “religions” – is that the salvation that is offered is not based on what I do or don’t do. It is based on what Christ did and on the promises of God. This is not a New Testament thing. It goes all the way back to Abraham when God called out a people to be His own and gave this promise in Genesis 12…
“I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.”
It wasn’t until years later that Moses and The Law came about. The Law was given, as Galatians 3 discusses, to lead God’s people to Christ, The Promised One. (3:24) Living under The Promise is so much better than living under The Law. When Linda and I got married I did not give her a list of things she needed to do for me in order to earn my love. No, I promised her that I would love her “for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health…”
John Piper has said, “The key that unlocks the treasure chest of God’s peace is faith in the promises of God.”
And one thing that I know to be true is this… God is a promise keeper!
Here are a few questions to help get you thinking as you ponder Galatians 4 this week:
v 4 – What does Paul mean by “when the time had fully come?”
v 5 – What does it mean to be redeemed?
v 6 – What is the significance of the word “Abba”?
v 8 – Describe in what ways we were slaves?
v 9 – Why does Paul differentiate between knowing God and being known by God? What’s the difference?
v 15 – Why is the question that Paul asks here a great question: “What has happened to your joy?” When is the appropriate time to ask it?
v 20 – What does this verse reveal about how Paul felt about the Galatians?