One Hope Church

Today's Bible Brief. We continue this section on the Armor of God...

In Friday’s reading (Galatians 3:9), Paul concludes his line of reasoning in this section. Based on what he has said from verses 6-8 regarding Abraham, based on those OT Scripture references, Paul concludes that those who are of faith are not only sons of Abraham (3:7) but are also blessed with Abraham. So, the Galatian believers right then were already Abraham’s children & recipients of Abraham’s blessing they are among his heirs, a blessing to all nations (3:8). Exactly... how these believers are blessed is disputed. Some see the Church replacing Israel & thus the promises to Israel have been transferred to the Church & then those promises are spiritualized. I do not believe this is correct. Better to see that the Church (made up of believing Jews & Gentiles) is reaping spiritual blessings of the New Covenant (See Jer. 31:31ff). God’s promises to Israel will one day be fulfilled. For now, let us see Paul’s emphasis has been on faith Abraham believed; you too must believe to be a son of Abraham. Faith is the key as via faith people from every nation are included in those who are of faith. All the nations are being blessed in Abraham. We are part of that blessing, and we have the privilege of being used to see others included in that blessing. We are called to share the gospel with others in our words & in our deeds. See more

Today's Bible Brief. Don't miss it!

In Thursday’s reading (Galatians 3:8), Paul really drives home the necessity of faith for all people as well as the plan of God for it to be this way. Paul tells his readers that even in the days of Abraham, Scripture foretold that Gentiles would be justified by faith. When? Paul quotes Genesis 12:3 and substitutes the word families with the word nation. So, God promised this to Abraham & Paul says that what was happening in his days is the coming to fruition of this pro...mise, and it’s all there in Scripture Notice how Paul equates Scripture with God Scripture foresaw. So, what Scripture says is what God says it is the very voice of God. And Paul wants his Gentile readers to know that they were in the mind and purpose of God when God made His covenant with Abraham. Gentile inclusion, their justification occurred the same way as Abraham’s & was foretold by faith. God did not have to change or alter His plan to include Gentiles, to include you or me. God is fulfilling this aspect of His promise to Abraham every time a Gentile comes to Him by grace through faith. Like Abraham, we are reckoned as righteous by faith alone & the object of that faith has been clarified as Jesus Christ. Have you come to Jesus by faith? Have you been reckoned righteous? (Extra - it is not that you are made righteous but declared righteous in God’s sight by the imputed righteousness of Jesus justification; sanctification a progressive process whereby a person is being made more & more like Jesus, more & more righteous)

Today's Bible Brief. Cut out at the end...

In Wednesday’s reading (Galatians 3:7), Paul provides the natural conclusion to or consequence to verse 6. If verse 6 is true (& it is), then realize this is true too. So, Paul now clarifies who it is that is identified as a child of Abraham. The common family trait of faith is the decisive factor to determine the child of Abraham. The key response to God, to what He’s done, & to what He’s promised is faith. So, how is your life oriented? Do you rely on faith or on works i...n your life? What is the driving force in your Christian life? Have you been saved by God’s grace, but now live on your own merits? Paul says here that it is those who are of faith, who rely on faith that are sons of Abraham. And Paul is far from finished as this is the very point that he writes this letter. The Judaizers are trying to add particular works to salvation & thus are altering Paul’s gospel as simply stated in Eph. 2:8-9 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. So, does Paul not care how we live? Far from it notice all the commands in his letters or just read Ephesians 2:10 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. See more