New Testament / Galatians

  • Paul’s View of the Apostles

    Galatians 2:6

    Critical to today’s passage is the understanding that the Jerusalem apostles added nothing to Paul’s gospel. Paul was called later, but that did not make his preaching deficient. At any rate, in the final analysis there are no ...Read More

  • Paul the Pharisee

    Galatians 1:11–14

    Paul’s conversion is as miraculous as any in Scripture or throughout Christian history. Yours may not have been nearly as dramatic, but it represented just as radical a change of direction for you. Take time to reflect on the ...Read More

  • Receiving the Word

    Galatians 4:12–14

    In our celebrity-oriented culture, it is easy to seek out pastors for their good looks, speaking styles, success in building large congregations, or other such factors. Scripture, however, commends for the pastorate those men who are faithful to the Word ...Read More

  • Remembering the Poor

    Galatians 2:10

    Martin Luther comments, “After the preaching of the gospel, the office and charge of a true and faithful pastor is to be mindful of the poor.” Our pastors and leaders must lead the people of God in assisting the impoverished ...Read More

  • Resisting the Sinful Nature

    Galatians 6:1–18

    As we finish our study of Galatians, consider anew Paul’s defense of the Gospel. All in whom the Spirit has worked must continue to fulfill the law of Christ. We are not redeemed to live independently. God gave the ...Read More

  • Rightly Directed Zeal

    Galatians 4:18–20

    Other people may know us as zealous for the truth, but are we also known for being zealous for the good of others? Telling the truth is something that we should never compromise, but let us never be happy that ...Read More

  • Saved and Sanctified by Faith

    Galatians 3:1–14

    The wonderful blessings that come with new life in the Spirit are not earned. They are God’s gifts to enable us to live the Christian life. When we act as if we have to earn them, we are actually ...Read More

  • Severed from Christ

    Galatians 5:2–4

    Martin Luther says that Galatians 5:2 “is a touchstone, whereby we may most certainly and freely judge all doctrines, works, religions, and ceremonies of all men.” Any of these that promise righteousness and salvation through them are to be ...Read More

  • The Abrahamic Blessing

    Galatians 3:1–9

    Apart from Christ we were without hope in this world, but in Him we will inherit the very best our God has to offer. Understanding this truth should make us long for the day when He returns to consummate His ...Read More

  • The Birth of Islam

    Galatians 1:6–9

    Mohammed did have contact with some Christian groups whose orthodoxy was questionable on matters like the person of Christ. Is it just possible, looking at things from a human perspective, that Islam would never have been established if someone was ...Read More

  • The Cry of the Spirit

    Galatians 4:6–7

    Some Christians have had bad experiences with their parents and find it hard to relate to God as their Father. But while the deeds of our parents influence our understanding of God’s fatherhood, we must always remember that He ...Read More

  • The Curse of the Cross

    Galatians 3:10–14

    We deserve the curse. We deserve to be cut off from the merciful presence of God. Our want of conformity and transgression of the Law brings the curse on our heads. But that curse has been borne for us. Christ ...Read More

  • The Curse of the Law

    Galatians 3:10

    Martin Luther comments on Galatians 2:17 that God’s law “requires perfect obedience unto God, and condemns all those who do not accomplish the same,” and on 3:10 he says that to follow God’s commandments is not ...Read More

  • The Curse of the Law

    Galatians 3:6–14

    The curse to which Paul refers is nothing less than exposure to the unmitigated wrath of God Almighty. It is a frightful and dreadful thought, eclipsed only by the reality that this is the destiny of all those who do ...Read More

  • The Effects of Leaven

    Galatians 5:7–9

    John Calvin comments, “Satan’s stratagem is, that he does not attempt an avowed destruction of the whole gospel, but he taints its purity by introducing false and corrupt opinions.” The blatant heresy endorsed in many churches today did not ...Read More