Sunday we will consider a powerful verse in Paul’s argument, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Paul is coming down strong on those who would withdraw from their Gentile brothers and sisters. He argues that all who believe are sons (daughters) of God, qualified to receive the inheritance of Abraham’s great descendant, Jesus. Now he draws the conclusion, we are all one in Christ Jesus. 
 
The context is critical for us to understand and apply this text. Paul has argued our unity under the law of God with every soul imprisoned under its judgment and curse. He has argued our unity as Abraham's children, because of our common faith in Christ. Now he draws the net, “for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” 
 
Does this verse teach equality and remove distinction? Is this verse limited or broad in its application? Can we miss the beautiful unity of the church around her Lord? Well, come Sunday and we’ll consider these questions.

As we move back into Galatians this Sunday, we pick up on Paul’s statement, “Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.” (Galatians 3:25). That supervision refers to the role of the law to hold us in a sinners' prison. But the law can no longer hold us because through faith, we’ve been justified, declared righteous by God. The promises of God’s covenant are ours in Christ.
 
Freedom from the law’s condemnation isn’t the end that God has in mind. He wants more for you! Paul highlights this in his climactic statement, “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” (3:26) We are children of God, because we are united with God’s one and only Son, Jesus.
 
So, come Sunday and consider your new status in Christ!

~Pastor Tim

Last week, we began looking at Jesus in Hebrews 10:1-18. The writer of Hebrews hits a major turning point in the letter at Hebrews 10:19. The theological arguments for the superiority of Jesus Christ have been completed. Beginning in verse 19 and going through chapter 12, the writer begins a series of exhortations based on these previously explored truths. Since Christ has done it all as the High Priest presenting himself as the perfect sacrifice as the God-man, and he has given us life, then live out your life on these truths. Let us join together this Sunday for the worship of our High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ, who has perfected us (total forgiveness) and opened the most holy place for us to commune with God.

The final exhortation from Pastor Tim's sermon last week directed us to look to Christ. This Sunday we will be looking at Jesus. Our text will be Hebrews 10:1-18 with the focus being on Christ who by a single offering, has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified (v.14). This verse summarizes the biblical doctrine of salvation applied to those who are the called in Christ Jesus. His sacrifice (atonement) alone is recognized and accepted by God as the payment for our sin and the purification of our sin, whereby we are holy unto the Lord. What an awesome Savior!

See you Sunday as we worship our Lord and King,

Pastor Paul

This week we’ll consider the law’s function as the warden of a prison. It’s an interesting illustration that begins in the previous verse, where Paul says that the whole world, “is a prisoner of sin.” Paul seems to mean that the law of God accurately accuses us all of sin and holds us in that state until we believe in Christ. The law refuses to exempt or parole law-breakers for good behavior.

 While the law holds us as guilty criminals, its purpose is not for us to feel condemned but to evangelize us by leading us to Christ. Paul says the law was put in charge for the purpose of leading us to Jesus. Wow, that’s a different perspective on the law.

The law leads us to Christ, because in him we can be released from the prison of sin! Through faith we are justified, no longer sinners, released from jail, not because of our good behavior, but because we’ve been declared righteous in Jesus.

So, come Sunday and hear the gospel of grace!

~Pastor Tim

Sunday we will continue to answer the questions, “If the law can’t give us life and it doesn’t alter or annul the covenant of grace, why did God deliver it? And how do I relate to it as a believer?” First, Paul establishes that the law comes after God’s covenant with Abraham and can’t alter it.

Second, as we’ll discover this week, Paul anticipates the question his audience is asking, “Why then the law?” (Gal.3:19) He says the law was, “added because of transgressions.” It was the pervasive sin of God’s people needed to be restrained and exposed by the law. The law of God is still useful in our lives for these purposes, as Paul says in Romans 7:7, “Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin.”

It’s our sin that makes the law necessary, but it’s our sin that makes the law powerless to save us. Praise God for his promised grace, received by faith alone.

So, join us Sunday to worship our Redeemer.

~Pastor Tim

Jesus took our judgment and shame so that we could be righteous before God and receive the living, life-giving Spirit. He hung exposed on a tree, testifying to the judgment of God upon him, instead of you and me. Praise the Lord! 

But how does the law play into the story? How do we relate to the law? Does the law change the promises God made? Does our obedience to God’s law effect our relationship with God? Did the law amend the covenant of grace so that promises are based on works? 

For the rest of chapter three, Paul will address these questions with important implications for our daily life!

So, come Sunday, and prepare to praise the Lord.

~Pastor Tim

Sunday we considered the first of two arguments Paul makes about how we come into God’s favor and receive the Holy Spirit. The first addresses how God dealt with Abraham, the great ancestor of the Jewish people. Abraham was counted righteous because he believed God. The sign of God’s covenant (circumcision) came after Abraham’s conversion. This established the principle of salvation by faith which God established and through it included the Gentiles.

 This week, Paul goes after the law the people of God received through Moses. They built their lives around their reception of and adherence to the law of God. An interaction with the religious leaders says it all. They were debating who people thought Jesus was and one of them said, “But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.” (John 7:49) While they thought not knowing the law brought judgment, Paul says, “For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse.” (Gal. 3:10)

 Paul masterfully undercuts their pride and self-righteousness as caretakers of the law of God. But he doesn’t stop there; he points them to Jesus, who redeemed them from God’s curse by becoming a curse for them. This is the gospel! Christ did this for you! Come Sunday ready to worship!

 ~Pastor Tim

Sunday we moved back into Galatians to examine the apostle’s argument that we are brought into the family of God by faith. The focus of his discussion is on a believer’s reception of the Holy Spirit, which comes through faith and not by obedience (works of the law). Having begun by the Spirit, we are made perfect—“completed”—by the Spirit, not by means of the flesh. He says it this way in Philippians 1:6: “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” The work of Christ on our behalf was finished on the cross.

This week we will consider the biblical example Paul gives: Abraham. Paul explains how God worked in the life of Abraham through faith. He says, “Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness” (Galatians 3:6 NIV). God made promises to Abraham as an act of grace to be received by faith. Those promises included a blessing to all who, like him, believe—which includes Gentiles. “Those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham” (Galatians 3:9).

It has always been God’s intention to redeem us from the curse of the law through faith. He redeemed us so that we could receive the Spirit along with Abraham by faith. This is crucial to Paul’s challenge to those who would require more than faith.

So come Sunday, and let’s consider God’s work of grace.

Sunday we will return to the letter to the Galatian churches. Paul writes to them because members of the community were arguing that now that they are believers, they must adhere to Jewish law. They weren’t arguing against salvation by faith, but against faith alone. 

Paul begins by defending his Apostleship and his teaching. Then, in Galatians 2:15-21, he presents two aspects of the gospel: a person is justified by faith, not the law; life as a believer unites us to Christ, not the law. The section we move to begins his development of these two thoughts.

Paul asks a summary question: “Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” (3:3) He actually answers this question in Philippians 1:6, where he writes, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

Here is a summary of the gospel of grace: Grace gets us in; grace keeps us in; grace finishes the work. 

Authentic Christianity is lived by faith in the finished work of Christ; looking to the Holy Spirit to finish the work he began. So join us Sunday and let’s consider what it means to live in the grace of God.