Claimed

I’m reading Galatians right now. I just finished 1 and 2 Corinthians and the topic switch is awesome. Paul is a brilliant follower of Christ, who God is allowing to change my life.

I have come to the conclusion that the Corinthians were confused idiots. They didn’t get the gospel. They didn’t get how their lives were supposed to reflect that of Christ’s life. They had many, many issues. But most unfortunately, many churches and individuals are modern day Corinthians. Paul goes from dealing with basic issues and questions that the Corinthians had, to defending his authenticity as an apostle of Christ, despite his sufferings and the thorn in his flesh. He pleaded with the receivers of his letters to support him in his work and to be unified among themselves. In Galatians, (one of my favorite books) he hammers the truth that we are not justified by works of the law, but that we are saved through faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He speaks of the freedom given to us, and instructions on how to live as followers of Christ. The people of Galatia were also a foolish, messed up people, confused and led astray by the old law. Paul rebuked them with that tough love of his.

“We know that a person is not justified by works of the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.” – Galatians 2:16

It is completely understandable how the law became such a stumbling block to the early believers. It is still a stumbling block to many people today. Paul explains the purpose of the law and why we are no longer under the law, therefore, we should no longer hold on to the law as if it will save us.

“Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary… Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. “ – Galatians 3:19-22

He goes on to say “before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. The law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.” (3:23-26)

It distresses me that some people still consider themselves under the law of the Old Testament because I know that if they follow this law, they do not have the freedom that followers of Christ have. I say “followers of Christ” to mean those who consider themselves free of the law, because anyone who feels otherwise does not know Christ. Paul explains this issue quite clearly to the Galatians who were struggling with the same problem. The law, that which acted as a guardian for a people led astray by sin, became a stumbling block when the Son of God came down to fulfill that law. Because he said he did not come to abolish it, but to fulfill it.

God is a God of kept promises. A God of freedom. A God of mercy. A God of second chances.

He is not a God of confusion. Or bondage. For if we are slaves, we are slaves of love and bound in the furthering of the faith to all nations. (Galatians 5:13.) But that bondage is a privilege. It’s a freedom, ironically. Because once we give our God our life without reservation, he then turns around and gives it right back to us, with blessings beyond what our pea-sized brains can think of.

We are the aroma of Christ to a dying and bereaved world. We are privy to the secret wisdom of God. We are free of the bonds of the law because Christ became cursed for our sake. (Galatians 3:13, 4:4-5) We are called for greater things. We are given another chance when true justice says we are condemned. We are children of a promise made by a God who invented honesty. We are sons and daughters of God, heirs in fact. Our Father claims us with the purest love.