December 9, 2010 2Corinth 13-Galatians 1-4:11

Paul concluded his second letter to the Corinthians. He told them they needed the evidence of two witnesses to uphold an accusation against someone. Paul told them that everyone will be judged by Christ. He encouraged them to put themselves to the test and judge themselves to find out whether they were living in faith. Paul hoped they would clean up their acts before he got there, so he wouldn't have to be harsh with them. Paul ended with hope that they would be kind to each other and have fellowship through Jesus.

Galatians
Paul greeted the Galatians with a statement that he was called to be an apostle by Jesus Christ and God the Father. He wished them grace and peace. Paul was surprised at the Galatians because they were abandoning the gospel they were taught and accepting another version from false teachers. Those who would preach a different gospel should be condemned to hell. Paul was following orders from God. Paul shared some details of his own personal story and how he became an apostle.

Fourteen years later Paul returned to Jerusalem with Barnabas and Titus. During this visit circumcision was discussed. Some thought that Titus, who was Greek, should be circumcised, but he was not. The group of believers had been infiltrated by people who tried to convince them they needed to do these things. Paul was given the task of preaching to the Gentiles, while Peter, James, and John worked among the Jews. They shook hands with Paul and Barnabas as a sign that they were partners. Paul rebuked Peter in Antioch because he was being hypocritical about Gentiles. Paul reminded them that everyone is a sinner and put right with God only through faith in Jesus Christ, not by doing what the Law requires. Paul had died with Jesus on the cross, but he was alive because Jesus lived in him. If the Law had been all we needed to be put right with God, then Christ died for nothing.

Paul asked them if they received the Holy Spirit by following the Law or by believing in Jesus? Does God work miracles for you because you are good and obey the Law or because you believe in Him? Remember Abraham, he simply believed in God and God loved him and blessed him. Jesus Christ died for everybody, not just Jews. God made a covenant with Abraham and promised to keep it. 430 years later, the people needed to understand what was wrong living according to God, so He gave them the Law. The Law kept people in line until Christ came and put us right with God through faith. Believing in Christ makes you a descendant of Abraham and allows you to receive what God has promised.

We began as slaves, and when God decided the time was right He sent His Son. Jesus lived under the Law, but He came to redeem those under the Law so they could become God's people. Now that you are God's children, He will give you all He has. Paul expressed his concern for those people who had been convinced that the Law was the way and he was worried about them.

Tomorrow read finish Galatians & Ephesians 1:1-14