In today’s Bible reading from James 2, we see the issue I mentioned yesterday about a supposed contradiction between James and Paul on the basis of our justification before God. Paul says that we are justified by grace alone (Ephesians 2:8-9) and James says we are justified by works (James 2:24). So which one is…
When someone confides that they’re having an issue with one sin or another, it’s easy to throw a few Bible verses at them, recommend a book to read on dealing with that sin, send them to a Bible study — or throw the Book at them, condemning them for what they have just bared their…
A few days ago, I used this graphic and I feel that today’s devotional demands that I re-use it. Today’s Bible reading discusses this very thing in Galatians 4. In Galatians 4:6–7, Paul brings out the fact that believers are not servants; they are sons. There is a tremendous difference between the responsibilities of a…
Today’s Bible reading is Galatians 3. In it, Paul asks, who bewitched you into believing this horrible lie? (Galatians 3:1) He looks back to Abraham, the father of the Jewish Nation who was justified by his faith, not by obedience to the Law (the Law wasn’t even given for 430 years after Abraham). God promised…
Today’s Bible reading is Galatians 2. Paul continues his tirade against the “gospel” of the Judaizers which has been fully embraced by the church at Galatia. The key to understanding Chapter Two — and the key to the entire book of Galatians, and even the very message of the gospel — is the last half…
Today’s Bible reading is Galatians 1. Paul wrote the letter to the Galatians to counter a dangerous theology that added to Jesus’ once-for-all sacrifice. A group of Judaizers (not just “Jews”) said that Jesus’ death was sufficient for our forgiveness, but in order to be a good Christian, you have to be a good Jew,…
