Chris May - August 20, 2017
Part 9
In 'Part 9' of our series we find that Christianity is not about rule keeping; though people have reduced it to that. It's about Christ.
The understanding for Christians, then, isn't about what rules there are but who Christ is and how we relate to Him. This is because rule based religion is miserable. It reminds you every time you mess up. There is always pressure in the back of your mind about what you need to do and what you can't do.
Christ gave His all to redeem us and we are all now 'sons' (which refers to the ancient legal term for obtaining inheritance). This means that as children of God, male and female, we are made co-heirs with Christ of God's mercy and glory.
Heirs with God share the greatest identity and common ground there is: Christ and the Kingdom. The Ground at the Foot of the Cross is Level.
Scripture References: Galatians 3:27-7
From Series: "Galatians"
Real Life is starting in a multi-week series through the book of Galatians, Paul's great Epistle (pastoral letter) to the churches near and around Galatia. Paul's primary concern is bring the church back to an understanding that the Gospel not only brings people to salvation, but the Gospel is the very essence of Christianity everyday for every Christian. You don't graduate from the Gospel. This particular church was very quick to add things to the Gospel. Such as new and old rules that would have caused the church to find reconciliation with God through their good doing instead of Christ's (Jesus') atoning work on our behalf. They were flipping the need to good deeds and works with their need to be changed and saved by the Gospel. This Epistle serves as a reminder, even to the modern church, that Jesus is enough. The Gospel is good news yesterday, today, and for the rest of life here on earth.