On Sunday morning, we looked at Galatians 4:21 to 5:1 together. Paul here compares freedom in Christ to slavery using some Old Testament illustrations. The main one is with Abraham and his two wives, Sarah and Hagar. Sarah was promised a child whose birth was impossible. After waiting for some time, Abraham married Hagar to make the promise happen and she gave birth to Ishmael. Later on, Sarah did have the child of promise named Isaac. Paul compares Christians to Isaac and those who are trying to follow the law to be right with God to Ishmael. We never become Christians by our own effort; it is always God's work, always only grace. We need to remember that we don't impress God or become Christian by being good and following the law. We are saved through Jesus alone, and then we should want to honour God in response. Legalism is always a threat to us, and we need to constantly remind ourselves of grace. Take time today to thank God for his grace in saving you.

On Sunday morning, we returned to the book of Galatians by looking at Galatians 4:8-20. Paul describes being a Christian as knowing God, which is relational rather than following rules. Just like a child belongs to the family prior to obeying their parents, Christians belong to God prior to being obedient. This passage was more personal than others in the book; Paul recounts the warm welcome he received from the Galatians. One mark of Christians who understand grace is their welcome of others and joy in the gospel. If we focus on rules instead, we exclude people rather than welcome them. We should be passionate people, but passionate about Jesus and what He has done rather than how well we follow rules. Take time to thank God for Jesus this week.

On Sunday morning, we looked at Galatians 3:23 to 4:7. Paul used a series of illustrations to compare living under the law to trusting in Jesus. When we're under the law, it is like we are prisoners or schoolchildren. We are given instructions but we have an impersonal relationship with our Master. Yet when we trust in Jesus, it is like we have been freed or have grown up. We know that our freedom and maturity is due only to Jesus, and we now see our instructions as useful things we want to do. Likewise, Christians are like sons of God, not servants. Servants try hard to please their Master but can only, at best, be good servants. Sons are very different. Sons are secure and know they are already loved by their Father. They want to honour Him, not to get a reward, but because they already know they are loved. Remember this week that you are a son or daughter of God if you trust in Jesus. You are secure, and loved, and you can honour God with joy.

On Sunday morning, we looked at Galatians 3:15-22. In this section, Paul compared the promise given to Abraham to the law given many years later on to Israel. His main point is that the promise came first and is the primary thing that explains our relationship with God. God promised things to his people, and promises don't depend on us being good enough to earn them. Why did God give the law later on then? To show us that we could not earn it, and to point us to the One who could. Both the promise and the law lead to the person of Jesus, like signposts that we should follow. The focus is Jesus and what He did, not us and what we do. Whatever you do this week, take time to reflect on Jesus. If all we think about is what we need to do, our focus is in the wrong place.

On Sunday morning, we looked at Galatians 3:1-14 together. Paul uses this section to explain in depth that all Christians are saved only through faith in Jesus. We get in by faith, and we stay in by faith. The emphasis is always on what Jesus has done for us rather than what we do. Paul showed this in particular by looking at the example of Abraham. When God promised Abraham a child despite Sarah being well past child-bearing age, Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. In other words, God immediately credited his account with being right with God. This was before Abraham did anything to prove his faith; it was all the work of God. This means that being a Christian is not about following rules but about God changing our hearts. Our basic stance towards God should be one of thanks and deep motivation to live differently, not just changing on the outside to try to be good enough. This week, reflect on the fact that you are deeply loved already and don't need to prove yourself to God for God to love you.

On Sunday morning we looked at Galatians 2:11-21. This passage was prompted by a confrontation between Peter and Paul. Peter used to eat meals with Christians who were not Jewish, but he stopped doing it when some people from Jerusalem did not like this practice. The result was that a show of unity in the gospel was removed and the church was divided in practice. Paul argued strongly in this passage that because all people are saved by Jesus, not their ethnic background, we should be united in deep ways. We need to remember that we need Jesus, all of us. If we rebuild old walls between people, we are making out that what matters is our ethnicity or differences, not our unity in Jesus. Spend time this week thanking God for Jesus and the fact that He died for all kinds of people. Let's look for opportunities to eat meals with other Christians who are very different from ourselves.

On Sunday morning, we looked at Galatians 2:1-10. We looked at an important meeting between Paul, Barnabas and Titus and the leaders of the church in Jerusalem. They agreed that their message was united and was all about Jesus. And they noted that while they had the same message, they were aiming at a different audience from one another. This emphasized two big ideas for us: freedom and unity. Christians are free, not bound by the law, and we should act like we are free. We should be thankful, grateful people! Likewise, we should be as united as possible with other Christians. Different churches and Christians live a little differently depending on their situation; we should do all we can to show our unity with those who trust in Jesus. Maybe you could spend time praying for those in different denominations and countries this morning, who are your brothers and sisters in Christ.