Today in the Word DevotionalI’ve heard professors explain to student preachers that there are some biblical principles over which you can “pat the pulpit.” These “patable” points are helpful, even important, but may be less central to the faith. But there are other truths—foundational truths, essential truths—that should compel you to “pound the pulpit.”
In today’s passage, Paul is pounding the proverbial pulpit on the doctrine of justification. In verses 17– 18, Paul may be continuing his direct rebuke to Cephas (Peter). Or he may be providing his Galatian readers with further commentary on that account. Regardless, he continues the theme of justification by faith in Christ alone.
Paul points out the fault in Peter’s hypocritical treatment of the Antioch Gentiles (vv. 12–13). Through Christ’s death, both Jews and Gentiles were justified and declared right before God. Therefore, Jewish believers, who lived in fellowship and community with Gentile believers, would not bring disgrace to the name of Christ, would they? Paul answers his own question in this way: “Absolutely not!” (v. 17).
Paul was passionate about laying a foundation of unity in the early church. He feared that Peter and others—if they rejected the Gentile Christians or insisted on their circumcision—would rebuild the walls of division and slavery to the Law that Christ’s death had torn down (v. 18).
Paul said that not only should justification in Christ bring unity between Jewish and Gentile believers but it should change the entire way we live. Death to the Law means a new life for God (v. 19). Being “crucified with Christ” means dying to self and sin and shame (v. 20). It means relinquishing a lifestyle that depends on human accomplishments. It means living a new life by faith—through the power of Jesus’ sacrificial love (v. 20).
In Galatians 217 through 21, Paul is pounding the proverbial pulpit on the doctrine of justification. Here he continues the theme of justification by faith in Christ alone. Welcome back to today in the word. The devotional for Moody Bible Institute. I'm Donna Leland. Paul points out the fault in Peter's hypocritical statement of the Antioch Gentiles through Christ's death. Both Jews and Gentiles were justified, declared right before God. Therefore, Jewish believers who lived in fellowship and community with Gentile believers would not bring disgrace to the name of Christ, would they? Paul answers his own question. Absolutely not. Paul was passionate about laying a foundation of unity in the early church. He feared that Peter and others, if they rejected the Gentile Christians or insisted on their circumcision, would rebuild the walls of division and slavery to the law that Christ's death had torn down. Paul said that not only should justification through Christ bring unity between Jewish and Gentile believers, but it should change the entire way we live. Death to the law means a new life for God. Being crucified with Christ means dying to self and sin and shame. It means relinquishing a lifestyle that depends on human accomplishments. And it means living a new life by faith through the power of Jesus sacrificial love. Today, in the word we read in Galatians 220, I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. It's our hope here today in the word. As you read these devotionals based on the book of Galatians, that you're enjoying a new freedom, a new awareness of who you are and what you have in Christ.
