Galatians 3:1-9;23-29

Is the Gospel of Inclusion also one of exclusion?  Yes it is.  For there are many things that are not compatible with the Gospel of Grace.  In our passage this week, Paul includes some of these in his exhortation to the Galatians that salvation is all of grace and not of the law.  Maybe this week you can read through the passage, even all of chapter 3, and see what is a “no” in the Gospel if Inclusion. 

But then, what about the Law?  Paul says the Law is a tutor, a disciplinarian, an instructor for us to know what is right.  As a young child has to be taught to say “please” and “thank you”, so the law gives us direction on how to behave.  The law is to teach how we are to love God with all our hearts, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.  Then when we come to Christ, we are fully formed as mature in Christ.  A mature one takes responsibility for his or her self and knows how to act toward others.  That is the goal of faith in Christ, to form us completely in Christ Jesus.

Pastor Greg