The New Testament
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Devotional
Weekly Bible Devotion By Books
Nov. 27 - Dec.2, 2023
Enter the presence of the Lord-
(Men) Christ was pierced for our transgressions,
(Women) he was crushed for our iniquities;
(M) the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
(W) and by his wounds we are healed.
(M) After two days he will revive us;
(W) on the third day he will restore us,
(All) that we may live in his presence.
(M) He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us,
(W) and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
(All) He has come that we may have life and have it to the full.
(Isiah 53:5, Hosea 6:2 2 Corinthians 1:21-22, John 10:10)
Adoration:
Lord of salvation, we are marveled at your redemption plan and its fulliment in Jesus Christ. We are even more amazed at the great love that we are brought in. We are yours. We can live in your presence and receive your abundant life for us. Thank you.
Scripture Reading: Galatians
1: 14-16a, 1:17b, 21a, 2:1 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles,…. I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus. Then I went to Syria and Cilicia….. Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem,…
3:7, 9, 14 7 Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. 8 Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” 9 So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. …He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
3:16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ.
3: 23-26 Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. 24 So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith
4:4-7 4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,[c] Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
5:1, 6 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery…. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
5: 13-14 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
6:1,2,5,10, Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ…. for each one should carry their own load…. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.
6:15, Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation.
Thoughts to Share: The Way of Jesus Christ: The Cross and The Holy Spirit
The book of Galatians includes a critical portion concerning early churches' response to the Judea Judaism during the years after Jesus Christ’s ascension. Paul systematically and intellectually clarifies the way of Jesus Christ in contrast to the way of the law teachings. He singled out a few important elements in Jewish law teachings such as circumcision, keeping the law, and the heirs of God’s promised blessings to talk about.
We may better understand why the Galatian Christians were confused and Paul had to deal with it passionately if we put ourselves back to that time and culture. First, the Gospel of Jesus Christ was rooted in the ancient Jewish holy scripture. The Jewish law teachings were also rooted in the same holy Scripture. Secondly, the Gospel of Jesus Christ took apart from the time-honored law teachings. Didn’t we get confused? Didn’t some of us thought to mix them together? Would we ask: after all, what is the difference between two? What is the uniqueness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
Paul surely felt pain and disappointing for those Galatian believers' departure from the Gospel he preached to them. But he was not discouraged. He was well ready for such a pastoral moment.
Paul first established his authority over this topic. He shared how he became a Christ's follower and an apostle from being a well-trained and fully-devoted Jewish law teacher. He had seen enough about this type of struggle among Christian fellows and peers. By this time, it has been over 20 years since Paul first received Gospel of Jesus Christ and his calling to be a minister of the Gospel. He had thoroughly sorted out the distinctiveness of the gospel of Jesus Christ over the law. He knew clearly why and where he stood for – the truth of the Gospel. He knew that his calling was to preserve the Gospel of Jesus Christ and he had the mission particularly for the Gentiles.
Secondly, Paul explained the way of Jesus Christ. From the very beginning, we are justified by faith in Jesus Christ. That means, by believing Jesus Christ we are credited with righteousness. We are counted as the children of God, more than just the descendants of Abraham. Jesus Christ died for us and gave himself for us. It is the grace of God. Jesus Christ was the promised offspring of Abraham and the one who could receive the promises of blessings from God along with Abraham. So, We are the children of promises through Christ. Moreover, We are entitled to receive even the better inheritances of God: new life.
Thirdly, by our being crucified with Christ we might live to God. We are given the Holy Spirit, the personal presence of Jesus Christ, in our hearts. We become a new creation. The Holy Spirit becomes our guide and ability to our new way of living. The Holy Spirit gives us a new freedom to serve one another, to bear one another’s burden, to bear one’s own load, and to do good to everyone. Our new leading force of life walking is to be led by the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Walking by the Spirit will take us out of the natural tendency of reacting from our flesh.
Seeing through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Paul could see the insufficiency of the law teachings in three points. First, circumcision was set as a physical sign of being the children of Abraham. It did not address the life's biggest issue - sin. Secondly, the law itself was good. It demanded our own work and effort to live up to standard. But indeed none could reach that standard and so everyone fell under bondage and curse of God. The law did not produce a power of doing good to reflect God’s nature and character in our lives, including our cognitive, emotional and relational realms. Thirdly, the law teaching also failed to see that God gave the promise of blessings to Abraham because he believed in God, not because he kept the law. The law came 430 years later after this promise to Abraham. The law itself did not nullify the promise of the Lord toward Abraham and his offspring Jesus Christ.
Therefore, it is rather clear that the way of Jesus Christ is simple, pure, and effective. We are justified by faith in Jesus Christ and live by the Holy Spirit- the personal representative of Jesus Christ. Christian way is to live by faith all the way from beginning to eternal. So, the way of Jesus Christ is grace alone, and faith alone. There is no need any additional requirements.
As a matter of fact, all cultures have many good philosophies, values, meaningful customs and traditions highly regarded and cherished. They are the equivalent version of Judaism in the letter to Galatians. The letter invites us to come out of our cultures and to accept the pure Gospel of Jesus Christ. So we can become a new creation in Jesus Christ and to live in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Faith has come. In Christ, we all are the children of God. We all are one family. We are Christ’s. So we are heirs of God’s blessings for Abraham. More importantly, we have new life. Christ is above the culture and yet speak to and relate deeply to the core of our beings and lives. Christ is sufficient to produce a new way of feeling, thinking, and behaving to reflect whom we belong to. Let us stand firm on faith. Live well by faith. Run the life race well through faith.
Prayer Suggestions
Jesus Christ, my Savior and Redeemer, thank you that you came to me and for me. You were crucified for me and gave me the Holy Spirit. So that I can be your child. I can be a new creation. I will not be running out the life source. I am in awe in the wonderfulness of your salvation. Praise your love. Praise your wisdom. Praise your way of living. Help me to run my life race well by you and through you until that day I’ll face to face with you. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Prayer Request
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