Day 343

By Faith Alone

Read: Galatians

Galatia was an area in what is now Turkey, which included such churches as Lystra and Derbe. After Paul founded them and left, others came along insisting Gentiles had to adhere to the law of Moses, including circumcision. Paul writes this letter to counteract this false teaching and to reemphasize that we are saved by faith in Christ alone. Galatians was one of the biblical sources which caused Luther to emphasize that central truth and thus begin the Reformation.

While we are not saved by good works, such faith leads to a life lived according to the highest ethical standards. Although we are free from keeping the Old Testament law, “Be careful that freedom does not become mere opportunity for your lower nature. You should be free to serve one another in love” (5:13 Phillips). The lower nature is the sinful nature with which we are born, and which struggles with the new nature to dominate our lives. The works produced by this old nature are things like “sexual immorality . . . rivalries . . . drunkenness,” concerning which Paul added that “those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (vv. 19-21 ESV).

We are to be filled with the Spirit, who will cause us to abound in “love, joy peace, patience” (5:22). Let us examine our lives to see that we are trusting in Christ alone and controlled by his Spirit.

PRAYER
Father, give us grace that, trusting in Christ, we may abound in the fruit of the Spirit. In Christ’s name. Amen.