|
|
Pathways Through Paul, Vol 2
Daily Devotional
January 2
Click on verses for Full Scripture
|
previous - - - - - - - - - -
next
|
Today's Pathway:
|
Yesterday we saw that the terms "grace" and "peace" had special significance for the Galatians because the Judaizers were influencing them with their doctrine that combined faith and works for salvation. Salvation is by the grace of God, and there is no real peace until one has peace with God by believing and accepting His grace. In verse 4 we see the basis for those things. It opens by stating that Jesus "gave Himself". No one forced Christ to die for mankind. He willingly came to this sin-cursed world that had rejected His Father and His Word, willingly suffered untold physical and mental anguish, and willingly died on the cross and took upon Himself the sins of the world. Philippians 2:7-8 puts it this way:
"But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."
What great love Christ has for us! Next in verse 4 we see that Jesus gave Himself "for our sins". He came to die as a sacrifice for all the transgressions that man has ever committed or will ever commit in the future. The word translated "for" carries the idea of "substitution". Thus, Kenneth Wuest wrote,
"Paul brings the doctrine of the substitutionary atonement which teaches that the Lord Jesus took our place with relation to our sins and gave Himself as the Sacrifice that would perfectly satisfy the just demands of God’s holy law which the human race has violated."
The third thing that we see in verse 4 is the effect of the cross. The obvious impact of the Lord's death is that it saves the soul of the man who chooses to accept it. However, there is more to it than that. Verse 4 says that He was crucified,
"that he might deliver us from this present evil world".
Many Christians seem to think that their salvation is only a benefit to them when they die. When we share the Gospel with others we focus on the importance of getting saved so that they can go to Heaven when they die. However, because of this we can lose sight of the fact that our salvation is not simply for our future, but it is for today as well. It not only delivers us from eternal death, but it delivers us from "this present evil world". The world is under the control of Satan, who is the "god of this world" (II Corinthians 4:4), and John tells us that it "lieth in wickedness" (I John 5:19). But through our acceptance of Christ we have been rescued from this world. We have been made new creatures in Christ (II Corinthians 5:17), and sin no longer has dominion over us (Romans 6:14). I John 5:4 tells us,
"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."
We have all that is needed to overcome the world because at the point of salvation we received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit Who guides us into all the truth of the Scriptures. Therefore, we have "all things that pertain unto life and godliness" (II Peter 1:3), and we no longer need to be the servants of sin. Paul wrote in Romans 6:22,
"But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life."
Christ's atonement allows us to bring forth fruit in this life, and gives us the assurance of eternal life as well.
Finally, verse 4 tells us that this was all accomplished by the will of God. Man's schemes and plans could not suffice; it took the grace and mercy of God, coupled with the sacrifice of His only-begotten Son, to rescue men from a life of bondage and an eternity of torment. Because of this, all glory belongs to God, and all praise must be given to Him.
Pastor Mark J Montgomery
|
|
You Are Here: 
