This Is the New Testament is part of a twelve-week thematic overview of the entire Bible. As we read, we’ll gain a broader understanding of the redemptive story of Scripture. Each day we’ll read a thematic selection from a different book of the Bible, along with supplemental passages that show how the theme of that day’s main reading is found throughout Scripture. We’ll also read a brief summary of each book and a reflection on how the book fits into the larger story of Scripture. This week, we move from the Gospels and Acts into the Pauline Epistles.
The Book of Galatians: Galatians is a letter written by Paul to churches in Galatia to clearly communicate the gospel message. He wrote that sinners can be justified, or moved from a state of sin to a state of righteousness, through faith in Jesus Christ. This faith, rather than obedience to the law, is what allows for godly living.
How Galatians Fits into the Story: In Galatians, we find a summary of the true gospel: Salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ alone and not the law. In this letter, Paul taught extensively about the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in the Christian life, including commands to “walk by the Spirit,” “be led by the Spirit,” and to “keep in step with the Spirit.” This submission to the Holy Spirit in every moment is what empowers us to live godly lives and carry out the work of the gospel.
Reflection Questions:
1. What does today’s reading from Galatians say about living by faith?
2. How does today’s reading shape your understanding of the story of redemption?
Take time to reflect on your responses and share what you are learning with others in the community in the comments.
Leave a Reply
54 thoughts on "Galatians"
Galatians tells us to live by faith through submission to the Spirit. The Spirit guides us through life and helps us to learn, understand, and grow as Christians.
Amen
First we need to understand and know also to understand and truly walk with Jesus. We can do that through the guideness of the Holy Spirit. Galatians talks about the relationship between the relationship between faith and works we are justifed or made right with God. God gave the Spirit of His Son to guide us and help me and you to walk in faith with God.
❤️
Heavenly Father, thank you that even though we don’t know what is next, we don’t know what’s ahead you are already there. Your Word tells the Truth of your character, your nature, your heart and the presence of Holy Spirit that gives us assurance of Salvation and confidence to walk by faith and keep our eyes on you to lead, guide and show us your ways and may our faith in your grow as look to you. Amen ❤️
Reflection Questions:
1. What does today’s reading from Galatians say about living by faith?
That we need to know, understand, and walk with Jesus. And we can do that through the help of the Spirit.
2. How does today’s reading shape your understanding of the story of redemption?
Jesus and the Spirit are here to help us walk in faith.
“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love”. Freedom to serve in Love. ❤️ Not freedom to satisfy the flesh’s nature.
SHARON JG- continued prayers that you will find your stone.
CHERYL B- for your son’s serious legal situation and for him to find Jesus.
RHONDA J- comfort and strength for your grief, for Donna, Scott and Collin. Hugs.
.
Be blessed dear sisters.
ABBA Father!! I am no longer a slave to sin! I am forgiven. I am a child of God! It was for freedom My Jesus set me free!! No longer burdened by the yoke of slavery. Thank you Jesus! Happy Thursday sweeties! Joining you this morning from Sacramento near the airport. Dropped off my Tia last night and I don’t do well driving at night and was able to stay at an Airbnb near by. Great coffee shops here, looking forward to it with my daughter before heading home.
❤️
We live by faith, every day by faith. Our salvation is received by faith and grace. In Jesus, through Jesus, by Him alone!
SONG SHARE:
Mylon Lefevre – Without Him (Lyric Video / Live At Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN/1995)
.
Love, hugs, and prayers! ❤
“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.”
Like Michelle P, I think of other religions that have a zeal for God but it’s not based on knowledge of the scripture.
.
I often slip the name of my town into Paul’s prayer – My heart’s desire and prayer to God for Ramsey is that they may be saved.
.
Yesterday I met a woman who stopped by our church as she is involved in an organization from our town that uses some of our empty rooms. She noticed I was scouring the parking lot and asked if I was looking for something. I told her yes, I lost my diamond and hoping that by some miracle I’d find it. She then asked if I said a prayer to Saint Anthony. I said no, I didn’t – I prayed directly to God, as He knows right where it is.
It made me sad that people pray to saints – who will never hear their prayer, instead of praying directly to God through Jesus. There are so many people out there that have a zeal for God but it is just not based on scripture. If they would only open up the Bible for themselves and see what God has for them, Oh what a difference it would make!
.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Amen!
.
I am no longer a slave to sin, I am a child of God. Amen!
.
I am not a slave but an heir – Praise God!
—
Still sad that I didn’t find my diamond. I heard a sermon today that gave Romans 8:28, “all things work together for good” and I wondered how losing my diamond could be worked for good? Maybe God will let me know, maybe He won’t, but either way I do want to have peace about it.
—
Praying for …
@Michelle P
@Kira H (Debbie & Kevin)
@Margaret W (Becca)
@Mercy
@Traci
@all other requests that I come upon
—
Have a blessed day ladies, as Tina would say – wrapped in hugs. ❤️
Sharon- so sorry about your diamond! I lost my tiny one many years ago. It wasn’t even a fourth of a carat so I never expected to find it, but I was walking from our house to the shop and saw it lying in the gravel.The sun hit it just right for me to notice it.
Have you checked inside your purse or Bible bag? A friend of mine had that happen. She and her daughter searched exhaustively only to find it unexpectedly as she was getting something out of her purse!
Trash cans- did you dry your hands with paper towels at home or church? Just a couple of random thoughts!
Oh, and use a bright flashlight! ❤
That is such a great MIRACLE to find such a small diamond!!! Wow! He cares about the “little” things.
But regardless…But God he is bigger than all the diamonds in the world.
This actually reminds me that I was boating and in the water when a friend said oh my gosh, your diamond isn’t in your ring well, it looks as it’s gonna fall out! I immediately took it off and put it away. It stayed in my dresser for years b/c I didn’t want to spend the 400 dollars to get it fixed!(I don’t really like the weight of them on my finger anyway and barely wore it!) I did finally get it fixed last year, but don’t wear it. lol. I just wear my band. They both belonged to my husband’s grandmother. So mainly I want to pass them down to his daughter’s daughter for her to have. My husband doesn’t wear his band either b/c of work hazard.
Rhonda, we never got mine reset either; no budget for that! That will be a precious treasure for the granddaughter!❤
I searched the parking lot on Tuesday and yesterday morning – then the landscapers came. :-( I didn’t have my purse or Bible with me, but I will go back and check my pockets! Thank you for your prayers!
❤
What a great answer to the St Anthony question! I also often wonder what good could be working in my current circumstances, but God…
Prayers that meaningful and costly stone will be found, and soon. Peace either way. ❤️
Yes, agreed! I was sure to tell them that in jail yesterday that Jesus is our intersession, and him alone! I think it’s important we are actively pointing that out!
Sharon,
I am sorry about that diamond. I think that the Lord, very well could’ve used that for you to speak with that woman. Otherwise you would not have. Maybe it will get her to thinking about what you said.
Praying that it shows up and/or it gives you more opportunities to share Jesus. Hugs from northeastern PA. ❤️
The joy and hope we have is that not only are we justified by the blood of Christ—we now are give the power to live godly lives in the power and under submission to the Holy Spirit! May we ever keep ourselves in submission and in step with Him!
Amen!
“For I bear then witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.”
In reading Romans 10:2, I think about the many in Islam who have a zeal for “Allah” but it is misplaced. I know in this context Paul is talking about Jews still following the law instead of Christ, but Muslims are not that different from this way of being. Praying for their eyes, hearts, and ears to be tuned to truth and led away from falsehood.
@Sharon – hoping you still find your diamond and that even if you don’t, you have comfort and peace from Jesus.
Thank you Michelle.❤️ I haven’t found it, but still hoping and praying. And yes, praying that God will give me peace about it and let it go if it’s not His will that I find it.
I have been praying for Muslims too lately. It’s amazing how many Muslims are seeing Jesus in their dreams. They know Jesus is a prophet but I don’t believe this is any kind of Christian propaganda because they are not seeing any other “prophets” in their dreams just Jesus.
I get lost in Paul’s run-on sentences and paragraphs often, and when I try to read slower it is almost harder to comprehend. Yet I do get the whole through studies over the years and grip what he’s laying down. We are not under the law, it is not by it we are counted righteous. Although it is still relevant and important. But only through Jesus can we become justified. A child of God ONLY through adoption and co-heir of Jesus, the son sent to do just so. The old testament always pointed to this.
But although we are saved by Jesus, we still have to be sanctified (transformed) by the word, a relationship, prayer, meditation and meeting with other believers. Although through the sinner on the cross, we know belief gets us into heaven, but if we KNOW what has been given to us, and do nothing with it? Well, if you got married, but never spent time with your new spouse, never grew to know him better, never sought him in your problems or afflictions, you don’t have a relationship. You have the license that makes it real, but you aren’t making sturdy and strong, and you might just want out. It might break easily.
What do I do with what I know? We will give an account one day? It is the saddest thing not to do what God has planned for us, the fabulous, wonderful things he has for us! There is just nothing better! If he has such fierce love for us, a lost sheep- found, we too, in turn should have fierce love for the other lost sheep! To give someone water dying of thirst. To feed a starving person. To give the cure to dying cancer patient. That IS what you are doing even though it could be a smile for someones hard day, a prayer when needed, a hug of comfort, a word of encouragement. But to actual talk to someone about Jesus and lead them to asking him in their heart….and the angels rejoice in Heaven…now there is nothing more profound and amazing! Knowing all the angels are rejoicing over the one. God lets us have some part in this profound thing.
Loving others NEVER fails. And that is what we are told to do. Amen!
Galatians reminded me that living by faith is trusting Jesus more than myself. It’s letting go of the need to earn God’s love and resting in the grace He freely gives.
Today’s reading also shaped my understanding of redemption by reminding me that the gospel is a gift. Jesus accomplished what I never could, and through faith in Him, I am welcomed into God’s family by grace alone.
Wow! That first line!! I’ll be thinking on that. Thank you ❤️
Q1 We are saved by grace not by works. Only our faith can save us, not the law. The law was given to reveal sin and to show us the need for a Savior. In my deeper dive today I read this: The Law cannot give life. Only Jesus can. The Law diagnoses the disease. Jesus provides the cure. Galatians 5:1 For freedom, Christ set us free. Stand firm then and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery.
Q2 – All throughout the OT, we are promised a Savior, and here he is. Our only way to freedom is thru Christ and what he did for us. I was thinking of how this letter would’ve been read at a small home church, and how radical it must’ve looked to have Jews, Gentiles, slaves, free, men, and women all sitting together under one roof, learning about God and worshipping together. This was about 20 years after Christ’s guests and resurrection – what a different world, mirroring the scripture in Genesis to Abram: “And all the nations of the earth will be blessed by your offspring because you have obeyed my command”. I pray this would be the same for our prodigals, that they would be blessed because of our obedience. Have a great day ladies! Beautiful day here on Long Island!
Amen
Grateful for our precious Jesus who redeems & saves us daily! I know I certainly couldn’t flee temptation without the help of the Holy Spirit which was given to us as a part of God’s redemption story. To God be all the glory!
Amen!!
I second that – Amen! ❤️
Amen❤️
❤️
As Paul taught the Galatians, living by faith is living in a way that leans on the Holy Spirit for guidance and wisdom, trusting His will bring us closer to being like Jesus.
.
Today’s reading reinforces that my redemption is based solely on what Jesus accomplished in His death and resurrection, not one lick of anything I have done or could do. My freedom from the judgment and punishment I deserve can only be had through the surrender of my will to His.
Amen! Yes surrender to his will. Not always easy!
“not one lick”- amen! ❤
I love how SRT has set up the hard copy of the Bible Study for the New Testament study and I am writing Galatians 5 22 into the notes section for today right now! ❤️
❤️
❤️
For freedom, Christ set us free. Stand firm, then, and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery.
.
Back in the day, looooooong ago, before any of us were a twinkle in our parents eyes, slavery was a buy and sell thing. Humans were bought and sold at auction, to be owned by another as property! There was no freedom for them and their lives were not their own, they belonged to the one who bought them!
We have modern slavery now, people being commodity..
Not their choice!
.
These people mentioned above, did not have a choice to be slaves, but we do, We, that walk freely to do life, making choices that are not an option for a ‘slave’, yet, we live in slavery to our own desires and what the world offers. We make ourselves slaves to sin, we CHOOSE that path of sin, we crave what is not ours to crave, we freely put ourselves in bondage ..
.
BUT GOD..
.
HE offers us a way out of our own self imposed slavery.. JESUS.
JESUS, bought, at a cost OUR FREEDOM,!
He took on our every debt in sin, every debt, in the piercing, the whipping, the crown of thorns, the nails in His hands and feet, the abuse, the shouts and accusations.. He carried it ALL, HE carried that cross, a once and for all payment.. and so now, we can come in repentance, to the Father, in our given hope, so as not to be enslaved by our sins.., So as not to be held prisoner by our wrongdoings.. but to be free, to live the life Father God has given us..
.
Living by faith, means we are guided in our daily choices and decisions and actions, by the Spirit, trusting GOD’S promises.. trusting the unseen.. in life’s storms, and the unknown. We hold fast, because we know with GOD ‘it is well’ always..
.
AMEN.
.
Happy Thursday my dears,! You know it, wrapped in love and covered in prayers..❤️
Amen! Beautifully said, tina. ❤️
Thank you for your words of encouragement today dear sister!
Thank you Tina, so beautifully said, amen! ❤️❤️
Amen ✝️
Tina, I have been grabbed by your comment questioning where we have self-imposed ourselves to slavery. Giving much thought to that with a prayerful spirit. Thank you.
Karen – that struck me as well. Wow Tina, you summed this up so beautifully and made it these passages really come to life for me. Thank you!
Thank you Tina-you have a beautiful gift of communication through writing. Your summary was exactly what I needed. Thank you for sharing your gift (with the Lord) and with us.
Well said, Tina! I thought of your focus yesterday on the word “STAND” when I read in today’s passage. Much love back to you, sister!❤
Once again, beautifully said – Amen!…I can hear you say this in your soft, sweet English accent. So glad I got to hear it in person, now I hear it every time I read your posts. ❤️
Amen Tina!!
❤️
Beautiful dear Tina! We were slaves to sin. By faith in God’s mercy and grace we are set free. And that freedom is to live for Him!