The Lord Vindicates His People

Isaiah 66:10-16

The city of Jerusalem is a very old one, with some estimates stating that it goes back to around 3,000 BC or so, with its beginnings being a settlement around the Gihon Springs which are at that location.  It has been ruled by many different peoples and religions over the millennia, including pagan Canaanites, Jews, Christians, and Muslims.  If its walls could talk, they would tell of the many, many wars and battles they have seen over the many centuries of their existence.  God’s plan for Jerusalem has not ended. In our Old Testament Scripture for this week, we read some of God’s final dealings with Jerusalem, His people, and the world.

Today’s Old Testament Scripture comes from the final chapter of the Book of the prophet Isaiah.  As our passage begins, the Lord renews His promise that He will abundantly bless Jerusalem’s future.  Those who love the city can rejoice in her future restoration.  God will fulfill His promises to His people.

The prophet Isaiah gives two vivid descriptions of the future of this city.  One is a picture of Jerusalem like a mother.  God’s people will be able to come to her and be figuratively held in her arms, just as a mother holds her little children in her arms (vs. 11-13).   Over the many centuries of its history, Jerusalem has often been under attack and under siege.  Her citizens and residents have often had to live in fear of attack, going about their day with the thought in the back, and sometimes at the forefront of their mind, whether they and their homes will survive to the next day.  However, now Isaiah foretold that the Lord promised they will be able to rest like a child sleeping in his mother’s arms or playing in her lap.

The second description that Isaiah gives here is that of a peaceful river stream (vs. 12).  This symbolic picture shows how the Lord will abundantly bless the City of Jerusalem and her people.  It also speaks of the inclusion of the Gentiles in God’s plan.  Though many of the people tried to deny it, it was always God’s plan to include the Gentiles for salvation and His blessings.

Both of these images show a tender portrait of God’s care, showing that He is both just and compassionate.  God promises to extend comfort to His children.  Just like a parent, He is tender, trustworthy, and diligent in His efforts to calm and comfort us.  When we are weary or upset, He carries us affectionately in His arms.  As our Father and Creator, He knows us intimately.  When the troubles of this world weigh heavy on our hearts, we can find comfort in the knowledge that God protects and fights for us, His children, as a loving parent.

The second half of this message from Isaiah concerns God’s visible blessing and judgment on mankind, and His fiery return is also briefly described (vs. 14-16).  In the future end times, God’s favor will be evident to believers, to the faithful, and our hearts can rejoice then.  But His wrath against His enemies is also evident.  There will be a clear distinction between the righteous and the wicked.  In God’s future plans, there will be a literal, future judgment of all unbelievers, along with the vindication of His people.  

Isaiah closes with a vivid prophecy of the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ in judgment.  We are not the only ones who look out at the world today, seeing the terrible evil and sin that abounds, and are angry.  God is angry, too!  His judgment on those who continue to perpetrate such sin against Him and His Word will be done in anger and fury.  This brief description here is echoed in more detail in Revelation 19:11-21, where a greater description of Jesus’ return to judge the nations is given.  This is not just symbolic.  It is a literal event where Jesus will execute judgment, and fulfill His role as the righteous Judge.

In closing, we see that God is faithful to His plans.  He is faithful to His plans to bless Jerusalem, to bless, redeem, and vindicate His people, and to His plans to judge the wicked who mock Him and His Word.   We see here two pictures of God, one of a loving Parent who cares for His children, and one of the Righteous Judge who will come to judge and destroy evil and those who participate in it.  Into which hands would you rather fall?  Those of the loving Parent, or those of the Judge?  The choice is yours, but you should not delay in making that choice, as we do not know what day He will return.  It could be today.  Choose the Lord Jesus as your Savior, and come into His loving hands.

Half An Effort

Luke 9:51-62

I am writing this particular blog entry two days before it will be put online.  As I opened my computer this morning, I saw a notice that today is called “Halfway Day”, that it marks the day when we are halfway through the year.  It also mentioned that today some people like to only put in 50% effort in what they do, only half an effort.  Really?  Only half an effort?  How could people feel good or satisfied with themselves if they only put in half an effort in what they did?  In our Scripture for today we read about how committed, how much effort, the Lord wants us to put in to be a follower, a disciple of His.  Would a halfway person with half an effort qualify?  Let’s take a look.

As our Scripture opens, Jesus and His disciples had been in Galilee, which is in northern Israel.  He was on His way to Jerusalem, which was in Judah, southern Israel (vs. 51).  This wasn’t a pleasure trip.  Jesus was headed for the cross, where He would be the sacrifice for our sins.  Though this was something that was awful for anyone to contemplate, and He could have turned away at any time, Jesus “steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem.”  As Isaiah prophesied centuries earlier, Jesus set His face “like a flint” (Isaiah 50:7).  He was giving all, not a halfway effort.

This journey would take them through the territory of the Samaritans, which was between Galilee and Judah.  The Jewish people and the Samaritans despised each other, and usually Jews traveling to Jerusalem would go miles out of their way to avoid Samaria, but not Jesus.  However, this day the Samaritans made it plain they did not want Jews to stay in town (vs. 52-53).  So what did the brothers James and John say?  They asked Jesus if they could bring hell-fire down on the village! (vs. 54).  They had been with Jesus for almost three years, and they still did not understand His message.  Jesus did not want to destroy them (vs. 55-56) .  His mission is not judgment (yet), but salvation.  He did not come to condemn but to save (John 3:17).  The best way to defend Jesus is to live like Him.

The second half of our Scripture passage gives the account of three individuals who expressed an interest in following Jesus, along with what was holding them back from a full commitment.  The first of the three came to Jesus, and excitedly told Him that he wanted to follow Him (vs. 57-58).  Jesus reminded the young man that he needed to count the cost of discipleship (Luke 14:25-33).  During His ministry, Jesus did not have His own home or bed, had few clothes or belongings, and either slept in friends’ homes or outdoors.  Following Jesus means denying our selfish goals in life (Matthew 16:24).  It means embracing discomfort and sacrifice.  There is no promise of earthly security, only eternal reward.

The second person who claimed he wanted to follow Jesus, said that he first wanted to go bury his father.  Jesus told him to let the dead bury the dead, and he should preach the Gospel (vs. 59-60).  This young man wasn’t simply asking to bury his father.  If his father had just died, why was he there in the crowd to begin with?  In that day, in that culture and climate, burial was usually done quite quickly.  He was focusing on “dead” worldly desires.  This is not a dismissal of family duty, but a call to prioritize the eternal over the temporal.  Spiritually “dead” people can handle earthly matters.  The spiritually alive must proclaim life.  We can’t pursue worldly goals and still follow Jesus (I John 2:15-17).

The third want-to-be disciple told Jesus he first wanted to go back and tell his family good-bye (vs. 61-62).  This man was hesitant.  Jesus lets us know that half-hearted, lukewarm faith is unacceptable (Revelation 3:14-16).  Discipleship demands undivided loyalty.  Looking back implies divided affections.  We see this in the example of Lot’s wife who looked longingly back at Sodom, and the early Christian Demas (II Timothy 4:10).  We need to count the cost, give up worldly goals, and come wholeheartedly.

These three must have thought it was Halfway Day, as they were only giving half an effort.  Jesus gave fully, 100%.  After the resurrection, eleven of the twelve disciples gave all of their effort, too.  What about you?  Are you willing to commit to giving Jesus 100% of your effort, or do you have more in common with the three men in today’s Scripture, who only wanted to give partial effort?  Faithfulness to God often invites rejection, even from those close to us.  The call to proclaim the Gospel outweighs all earthly concerns.  True followers must count the cost and forsake all for Jesus Christ.

Who Are You Feeding?

Galatians 5:14-17

If you’ve ever seen two people fighting, and if you’re not inclined to break up the fight, or if there are two people wrestling, you might wonder who is going to win.  If they are about the same size, one not markedly bigger than the other, either one might stand a chance.  Of course there are other factors besides size.  Has either one had any sort of training in fighting or wrestling?  Are they physically fit, or is one sickly, weak, or malnourished?  If so, then that one is at a disadvantage.  The other fellow is more likely to win that fight.  We are in a fight in our Christian life, a fight between our two natures.  Which one is going to win?  Let’s take a look today at what the Apostle Paul has to say to us about this matter.

St. Paul wrote his letter to the churches in Galatia in response to the false teachings that were being spread among the believers that one needed to keep the Old Testament Law in order to be truly saved, which is false doctrine.  Some people had come into the churches there stating that in addition to accepting Jesus as Savior, one needed to be circumcised in order to be saved, one needed to eat a kosher diet, strictly keep the Sabbath, etc.  Paul countered that by stating that was not true teaching.  Salvation is strictly by faith in the Lord Jesus, not by keeping the Law, not by any works we do.  Now, as his epistle is drawing to a close, Paul states that our showing love to each other is the fulfillment of the Law (vs. 14).

Jesus had taught that the greatest commandment is loving God with all of our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourself (Matthew 22:35-40).  This echoes what we read in Leviticus 19:18.  The moral heart of the Law is not abolished by Paul’s teachings, but is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, and expressed through Spirit-led love.  This is not to teach that keeping the Mosaic Law will save anyone.  It won’t.  Believers who are already saved by faith in Jesus, if they are walking in the Spirit, will show love to others.

Paul continued his teaching by addressing the internal fighting and squabbling that the Galatians had among each other (vs. 15).  False teachings need to be corrected, but done in love.  And fighting about minor issues needed to stop.  In churches today there are legalists who want to live by a bunch of laws, from what clothes one should wear to how long or short one’s hair should be.  Then there are those who say that we should live and act any way we want, any way that feels good.  Both legalism and fleshly living lead to strife.  Very soon they are biting and devouring one another.  Often this leads to pride and self-righteous thinking on the one hand, or doctrinal compromise along with living and thinking like the world on the other.  Such fighting starts to tear the church apart.

Now, God’s Word commands, not suggests, but commands the believers to start walking in the Spirit (vs. 16).  This means daily submitting to the Holy Spirit’s leading, and being grounded in the Word of God, the Bible.  When we are living like that, we are much less likely to start following the desires of the flesh.  We will separate ourselves from sin, not by our human efforts which will fail, but by yielding to the Holy Spirit.

The only cure for a self-focused life is to walk in the Spirit.  We cannot live a godly life apart from the Holy Spirit, but instead let Him guide our life (vs. 17).  Then we won’t do what our sinful nature craves.  There is a constant battle in believers between the old nature and the new one.  Our flesh or old nature was not eradicated when we were saved.  The old nature is active and uses all the weapons in its arsenal against the newly saved Christian.  That old nature needs to be crucified daily (Galatians 2:20).  The new nature will use what it has, such as prayer, faith , hope, and love to cast, to resist, and destroy evil.  These two opposing natures will never stop struggling as long as we are in this world.

The flesh cannot be changed or tamed.  We must stop “feeding” our flesh nature, stop accepting what the world says is right and going along with what they do.  Instead we “feed” and exercise our Spirit nature by reading and obeying God’s Word.  Like mentioned above, which fighter or wrestler do you want to win?  That is the one that you feed, that you exercise and train.  Do we spend time in prayer and Bible reading, or in listening to the world and its evil philosophies?

In closing, we need to start each day by asking the Lord Jesus to help us walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh.  Remember, the flesh and the Spirit are in opposition.  Victory comes through submission to the Spirit.  We need to be careful who we are enabling in this fight.  Are we feeding the old flesh nature by following what the world tells us, and giving in to temptations?  Or are we feeding the new nature, the Spirit in our life by being in the Bible daily and by prayer?  Feed which one you want to live!

Have Confidence in the Lord

Psalm 16

Today we are looking at Psalm 16.  There are several different questions that we can ask ourselves, questions which David gave the answers for in his own life in this psalm he wrote.  One question is, is there anyone whom we have unwavering trust in?  Another is, in whose company do we delight in?  David gives his answers in this psalm, along with stating his confidence in the resurrection, centuries before the coming of the Lord Jesus.  Let’s take a look at this psalm, and also see how answers to these questions compare in our own life.

Psalm 16 is one of the several psalms which were written by King David.  There is no real indication as to when the psalm was written, whether it was earlier in his life when he was fleeing the deadly attacks from King Saul, or later when he was king, and battling foreign nations.  Either way, David needed God’s protection, and knew he could trust in Him.  David prayed for God’s protection, but he wasn’t crying in fear and panic (vs. 1).  Instead, in Psalm 16 he was praying from a place of faith in his heart.  He knew that he could trust in the Lord for His help and protection.  He often had good reason to be afraid, as sometimes we do, but instead David put his faith and trust in God.

The king also knew that he had no goodness, no righteousness on his own (vs. 2).  The doctrine that man is inherently sinful is taught throughout Scripture.  The Apostle Paul clearly taught this in Romans 3:10.  Though he was king, and could demand the obeisance of the people, David knew that any good in him, apart from God, was nothing.  Years later the Prophet Isaiah would clearly state that all of our righteousness is as filthy rags in God’s sight (Isaiah 64:6).  Our only refuge is to cling to the Lord and accept the righteousness that He offers through His Son, Jesus Christ.

David continues by stating that he gets great delight from being around and with other believers, the “saints”, others who have put their faith and trust in the Lord (vs. 3-4).  He wants nothing to do with those who worship other gods.  His was a life set apart for God.  This is a principle that we also find in the New Testament.  II Corinthians 6:17 instructs us to separate ourselves from the ungodly.  In a world of spiritual compromise, we are called to stand with the saints, and reject all forms of idolatry, whether literal or modern, including the mixing of Christian worship with practices of pagan, Eastern, and false religions.

Continuing on, we read how David was satisfied with his life, and content with what the Lord had provided for him (vs. 5-6).  True, he was king, but that was not until after having spent many years in the wilderness, sleeping on the hard ground, running for his life.  And there is a chance that this psalm was written during those years.  David saw God, Himself, as his inheritance, which he felt was better than any land or riches.  He also knew that his future was not a matter of chance or luck, like casting lots (similar to rolling of dice).  The Lord held his lot, just as He holds ours.  God already knows the future of our life.  He holds it in His hands.  True contentment comes not from possessions, but from knowing the Lord as our portion.  Unlike things in life, He never changes.  When all you have is God, you have all you need!

When he needed guidance and counsel, David sought the Lord first of all, before that of any person (vs. 7-8).  His confidence was rooted in God’s presence, which he knew was right beside him, at his right hand.  When we keep God’s Word in our life, looking to it for guidance, we can have His peace and direction (Psalm 119:105).

As our psalm closes, David speaks a prophecy of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus (vs. 9-11).  As the Apostle Peter spoke centuries later, these words did not speak about David, as when he died, he remained dead and buried.  This spoke of the resurrection on the third day of Jesus from the dead (Acts 2:25-31).  Because Jesus rose, we have the hope of resurrection ourselves, and eternal joy in God’s presence.

In the final verse we read that in God’s presence there is fullness of joy (vs. 11).  In order to be filled with one thing, everything else needs to be gone.  We cannot fill a glass with one thing if it is already filled with another.  We must become an empty vessel for God to pour His anointing into.  We need to refill our tank of joy.  The best way to do that is to spend time in the presence of God.  Pray constantly, read His Word daily, and get to know Him intimately.  The level of our joy is determined by the level of our closeness to Jesus.

The Consequences We Pay

II Samuel 11:26-12:15

Consequences. Whether we like it or not, every action we take will have some sort of consequence. Sometimes there are good consequences. We study hard, pay attention and do our work, and we get good grades in school and ultimately we can get a good job.  Practice hard and we learn a sport or musical instrument.  However, when we do wrong, there are bad consequences.  We might not see them right away.  We may cover our wrongdoing up and think we’ve gotten away with it, but eventually there are the consequences.  Sometimes they are quite severe.  Our Scripture today tells of a grave sin, a cover-up thinking they got away with it, and then the judgment, the consequences.  Let’s take a look.

Before we look at our Scripture verses, we need to get the background of what had happened, which we find earlier in chapter 11.  There was a war going on between Israel and the nation of Ammon, and King David was supposed to be at the battle, leading his troops.  However he wasn’t there.  He left that to his generals, and was taking it easy at his palace in Jerusalem.  David was peeping at his beautiful neighbor while she took a bath.  Since he was the king, he had her brought to his palace.  Bathsheba was married to Uriah, one of the king’s top soldiers, but David didn’t want to think about that, and proceeded to have an affair with her.  Then when they found out she was pregnant, David tried to cover it up by having Uriah recalled from the battlefield, hoping that he could pass the child off as his.  Uriah was too honorable, though, to spend the night with his wife while his fellow soldiers were on the battlefield, so then David arranged to have Uriah killed in battle (II Samuel 11:1-25).  The king then proceeded to take Bathsheba as another of his wives.

Now, about a year later, our Scripture begins.  The baby has been born,  and David continues to act as if nothing was wrong.  He doesn’t seem concerned that he has committed adultery, gotten a woman pregnant, and then had her husband murdered.  This, the godly man David, who had walked so close with the Lord for so long, who wrote so many of the psalms!  What is wrong with him?  How did he get to this terrible spot?  Isn’t his conscience bothering him?  If it is, he isn’t showing it.  So God sends one of His prophets, Nathan, to confront the king.

Nathan must have been a brave man, and one who is strongly obedient to God.  Confronting a king about his sins is dangerous, but Nathan obeys God.  He uses wisdom, and does it by telling a parable (vs. 1-6).  When David gets righteously angry at the situation in the story, Nathan turns around, pointing his finger at the king, and declares he is that man!  Nathan was not going to let David forget or brush aside his sins.

The prophet proceeded to tell of God’s judgment for his sins (vs 10-12).  Violence would plague his family, and his wives taken by other men, which was later fulfilled during his son Absalom’s rebellion (II Samuel 16:22).  Thankfully, David’s heart became tender again, and he repented (vs. 13).  Unlike so many who make excuses for their sins, David humbly acknowledged his guilt.  Though God forgave David, the child born from his sin dies, demonstrating that sin has consequences, even when forgiven.

Sin is a direct offense against God.  It begins with temptation, and leads to greater wickedness, resulting in judgment.  We see here both the justice and mercy of God.  He will not overlook sin, and sin does have consequences, however if we confess and turn from our sin, God will have mercy.

Today, confronting sin in others, including in fellow believers, is not popular.  Christians love to say that we should never judge others, however, sometimes that is exactly what we need to do.  Nathan saw that the longer David’s sin was left unconfronted, the more damage was being done, not only to David himself, but also to the faith.  The Apostle Paul urged the early church to confront sin in their midst (Galatians 6:1).  We are to confront fellow Christians about their sin, not to tear them down, but to restore them to fellowship.

If God reveals sin in our lives, His ultimate purpose is not to condemn us, but to restore us, and to help us reconcile with those we’ve hurt.  Repentance clears the way for renewed closeness with God through the power of His forgiveness and grace.

Another lesson to be learned from this Scripture is that any godly man or woman can fall into grave sin.  We might think that there is no way that we would or could ever do what David did, and he probably thought the same thing a short while before this all unfolded.  David, and others who have similarly fallen, don’t do it overnight, but one step at a time.  David didn’t go from godliness to murder in one day.  He warmed up to it over time.  One bad decision led to another.  That second glance led to a lustful stare.  Then adultery, then attempts to cover it up, then ultimately murder.  We are either moving towards Jesus or towards trouble.  Big problems don’t develop overnight.  They break upon us gradually, one step at a time.

In closing, let’s remember that sin has consequences, but God’s grace is sufficient for those who truly repent.

Who Do You Say Jesus Is?

Luke 9:18-24

At one time or another in their lifetime, people have to face the question of who they believe Jesus is.  Even if they don’t address that question while alive, they certainly will moments after their death.  In our Scripture today from the Gospel of Luke, Jesus presents the question to His disciples, along with another prediction of His crucifixion, and telling them the cost of being a follower of His.  Let’s take a look at this Scripture passage.

Shortly after the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus went off by Himself to pray when His disciples came and joined Him.  Jesus then asks His disciples about His identity, first asking what the general crowds say who He is, and then specifically who they say He is (vs. 18-20).  The disciples answered by saying that the crowds thought He might be one of the great prophets of the past come back to life, or that He might be John the Baptist come back to life.  The latter would be ridiculous, as John the Baptist and Jesus were together at the same time when He was baptized, and John had only recently died.  We can ask the same question today.  Who do people today say Jesus is?  Many would answer that He was a good man, a good teacher and philosopher, who unfortunately lost His life, but that He was no different than any other great philosopher and teacher from the past, no different than Buddha, Gandhi, Plato, or Aristotle.  And there are a lot who would say that Jesus was a crazy man who misled people.

Jesus then pointedly asked the disciples who they thought He was.  Peter quickly responded by saying that Jesus was the Messiah, promised by God (vs. 20).  Peter’s confession is foundational to salvation (Romans 10:9).  It is important that we correctly identify who Jesus is, not just intellectually, but with our heart and through faith.  This is a question that everyone will face at some point, either in their physical life, and for sure after their death.  Who do you say that Jesus is?  Do you believe that He was just some historical person who maybe had some good teachings, or do you believe that He is the Son of God, who brings salvation to those who believe?

As we continue reading, Jesus spoke to His disciples about His upcoming death and resurrection (vs. 21-22).  This was something that He spoke to them about on several occasions, though they either didn’t seem to pay attention to His words or to understand them.  Jesus’ suffering was not accidental, but was part of God’s sovereign plan for redemption (Isaiah 53:3-5).  Jesus’ death was substitutionary.  He bore the punishment for our sins, and those who call upon Jesus as their Savior have their sins forgiven and receive salvation.

Jesus also spoke about being rejected by the religious leaders of Israel.  We see this all throughout His ministry, where the Pharisees in particular, along with the Sadducees and Sanhedrin (the Jewish high court) opposed Jesus and His teachings.  This rejection by these religious leaders shows the blindness of human pride and self-righteousness.  The Pharisees in particular did not like that many crowds were flocking around Jesus, and felt they were holier and more righteous than He was.  The Bible teaches, though, that salvation is not found in religious rituals, but through faith in Jesus Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Jesus finished His teaching here by laying out the cost of discipleship (vs. 23-24).  There are far too many preachers today who teach the “prosperity gospel”, saying that our Christian life should be smooth sailing, and God will make us rich.  That is a false gospel!  Nowhere in the Bible is a message given like that.  Jesus taught here that true discipleship requires surrender.  We are to pick up our cross and follow Him.  The cross symbolizes suffering, rejection, and sacrifice.  We must forsake all of our worldly desires and live in obedience to Jesus (Galatians 2:20).  Clinging to earthly life leads to spiritual loss, but surrendering one’s life to Jesus Christ leads to eternal gain. 

As we close this Scripture passage, we are called to recognize that Jesus is the Messiah, understand His sacrificial mission, and commit wholeheartedly to following Him.  Jesus never called people to give Him a try and see if we like Him, like we would a new food.  He demands full surrender.  We cannot squeeze Jesus into one corner or segment of our life, and continue living as we please.  If we are truly following Jesus, then He is our whole life.

The Law or Faith

Galatians 3:23-29

When someone makes a will, and leaves a lot of money, or perhaps a grand house or property to their heir, if that heir is still a child, a minor, that money and property is placed under guardianship.  The heir cannot have it, or at least full use of it, until they reach a certain age, perhaps eighteen or twenty, or sometimes even older.  We see this in school settings, as well, whether one attends traditional schools or has private tutors.  When the student is younger, they are more under the authority of the teachers, but as they advance through the grades, they obtain more privileges and freedom.  The Apostle Paul uses this figure as he explains to the Galatian church the purpose of the Old Testament Law in bringing believers to Christ and justification by faith.

The Apostle Paul wrote his epistle or letter to the Galatian church to address certain issues that had developed in that church, mainly whether believers, particularly believers from a Gentile background, needed to follow the Old Testament Law in order to be truly saved or not.  There were certain people who were going around the churches in Galatia, teaching the new believers, particularly Gentile believers, that in order to be genuinely saved they needed to follow the Old Testament Law in addition to having faith in Jesus Christ.  As soon as Paul heard about this, he wrote and sent this letter to correct that false teaching.  He taught that adherence to the Old Testament Law was not necessary for salvation at all.  So what was the purpose of the Law?

As Paul wrote in his epistle to the Galatians, he emphasized that before the Lord Jesus came, those who were believers and followers of Yahweh were under the guardianship of the Law, just like an underaged heir of a fortune is put under the guardianship of a protector.  However now, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, they are adopted as children of God and heirs to His promises.

As verse 23 begins, we read how we were kept under the authority of the Law, just like the young child is under guardianship, or a young student is under a tutor.  It was a form of confinement, keeping the people under its authority until the arrival of the Lord Jesus, whereby we have salvation through faith in Him.  Paul teaches that the Mosaic Law was temporary, just like a guardian or tutor is temporary, and prepared people for salvation through Christ.  He stated in verse 24 that the Law acted like a tutor, guiding people towards the realization that they needed a Savior.

We know from our own experiences that it is impossible to fully keep the laws of God on our own.  No one, even the holiest and most sincere person, can obey everything in the Bible.  Thus we need the sacrifice of the Blood of the Son of God, the Lord Jesus.  Salvation is by grace through faith alone, not by works of the Law (Ephesians 2:8-9).  Once the Lord Jesus came, salvation through faith in Him was established, and we are no longer under the Law’s authority (vs. 25).  The age of grace has replaced the age of the Law.

Paul continues by stating that one becomes a child of God when they have faith in Jesus Christ (vs. 26).  It is faith in Christ that makes believers children of God, not adherence to the Law, whether the Old Testament Law or any modern church regulations and dictates today.  We are saved through faith, not works.  Verse 26 goes along with Romans 8:15-17 in teaching about spiritual adoption.

As we continue in verse 27, the baptism mentioned here is referring to spiritual baptism, being saved, not water baptism.  We are not saved by being baptized.  That will never save us.  Baptism is important, and the Bible tells us we should be baptized, but it is only faith that saves us.  This spiritual baptism fully identifies us with Jesus, it unites us with Him.  As Paul says, we “put on” Christ.  When God looks at a born-again believer, He does not see us clothed in our sins.  He sees Jesus’ righteousness.  It is like we are wearing Him.  We are hidden in Him, we are covered by Him.

Paul continues by teaching that salvation is available to all, regardless of their race or national background, whether they are rich or poor, or whether they are male or female (vs. 28).  Jesus is the Savior for everyone, and anyone who calls out to Him in faith will be saved (Romans 10:13).

Our Scripture concludes with Paul teaching that Christians, followers of Jesus Christ, inherit the promises given to Abraham, not through physical lineage, but through faith in Christ (vs. 29).  This supports the doctrine of justification by faith, and the spiritual fulfilment of God’s promises.  The blessings of Abraham come upon the Gentiles, along with the Jews, and we both are joint-heirs and partakers of the promise.  We have been born again into royalty!

Looking back we see that the Old Testament Law was a temporary guardian but faith in Jesus brings true righteousness.  To become a child of God, one must be a believer of Jesus Christ through faith.  We learn that all believers, regardless of their background are equal in Christ Jesus, and as a believer in Jesus, we inherit the blessings of Abraham through faith.