"Pressing Hard on the Issue"Galatians 3:1
You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.
Thoughts for Today:In our day and age, Paul would have been berated for his extraordinarily blunt and politically incorrect statements: "Where is his tolerance for alternate views? What about his sensitivity to those with lesser mental capacity? How could he be so mean-spirited?" Although there are many people who might disagree with Paul's approach (his harshness) -- there is a time for tough love -- when it becomes absolutely necessary to make clear, unequivocal, and uncompromising statements of Biblical truths. Some issues need to be pressed hard, and Paul viewed legalism as one of the greatest threats to the Gospel Message.
If we truly understand the message of the Cross, then we understand grace. Jesus didn't just make a token sacrifice for us. He paid the debt in full. There is nothing we can do to add to, replace, nor improve upon what Christ has already done. So any preaching that says our holiness is required to receive God's grace defies logic. And as far as Paul is concerned, anyone who turns away from grace and back to works is crazy, insane, or foolish! He left little room to doubt his position on the subject!
Questions to Ponder:What is your position on grace? It is just as resolute as the Apostle Paul's? Are you adding any of your own works as a condition of salvation?
You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.
Thoughts for Today:In our day and age, Paul would have been berated for his extraordinarily blunt and politically incorrect statements: "Where is his tolerance for alternate views? What about his sensitivity to those with lesser mental capacity? How could he be so mean-spirited?" Although there are many people who might disagree with Paul's approach (his harshness) -- there is a time for tough love -- when it becomes absolutely necessary to make clear, unequivocal, and uncompromising statements of Biblical truths. Some issues need to be pressed hard, and Paul viewed legalism as one of the greatest threats to the Gospel Message.
If we truly understand the message of the Cross, then we understand grace. Jesus didn't just make a token sacrifice for us. He paid the debt in full. There is nothing we can do to add to, replace, nor improve upon what Christ has already done. So any preaching that says our holiness is required to receive God's grace defies logic. And as far as Paul is concerned, anyone who turns away from grace and back to works is crazy, insane, or foolish! He left little room to doubt his position on the subject!
Questions to Ponder:What is your position on grace? It is just as resolute as the Apostle Paul's? Are you adding any of your own works as a condition of salvation?
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