Days 273 & 274: Galatians 1-6

Apparently there were some people being led away from the gospel of grace and back to their Jewish roots...and the tradition of keeping the law to earn their righteousness. Paul seems to be writing this letter to the Galatians to persuade them to keep their confidence in the gospel. Basically, he tells them that faith in Christ has transformed their relationship with God from that of a slave to that of a son.

What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world. But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir. (Galatians 4:1-7)

He reminds them (and us) that trying to keep the law is a lost cause. It's futile to try to live in such a way that we are declared righteous in God's sight.

You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. (Galatians 5:4-6)

I think that we are sort of afraid of freedom. We are afraid that, without rules and laws, we will follow our natural tendency to sin. And, indeed, I believe we would if it werent for the fact that the Spirit is alive and at work within us.

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. (Galatians 5:16-18)