Galatians. .Week 4. .Fast Fact

Hey, hey!! Wednesday already. .

Just a couple of little tidbits for you this morning. . 

I will guess that you were all a little intrigued about Galatians 6:11. .
and if you didn’t have a study bible with notes to allude to what was going on with Paul in his closing statements. .
you might find the following interesting. .
This commentary came from my chronological study bible. .

Galatians 6:11 Paul’s comment about “what large letters I use” is interesting to note. The point is that they indicate an extraordinary difference between Paul’s handwriting and that of the amanuensis (the secretary). As was typical in ancient times, the author of a document usually dictated the body of the epistle to an amanuensis and then took stylus in hand to personally write out the concluding remarks. We know that Paul used an amanuensis for the epistle to the Romans, namely Tertius (Rom 16:22) and we can assume that the did so for at least four other epistles because he specifically mentions that he provided the concluding salutation in his own handwriting (1 Cor 16:21, Gal 6:11, Col 4:18, and 2 Thes 3:17) If we had the autographs of these epistles, we would see Paul’s actual handwriting? Instead, we have very early copies, so we have to imagine what that handwriting looked like.

I think that Galatians 5:13 hits on the concept of not using our freedom for the flesh, but to serve God. .
The last little article that I had copied off CARM.ORG last week while studying justification. .
follows. .to show us. .
that just because we are justified by belief once. .
and that we are free from the law thereafter. .
that we can NOT. .
use that excuse. .to do whatever we want to do thereafter. .
We are a new creation (6:15). .
one that was designed to follow Christ wherever He leads us. .

Does this mean those justified by grace can sin as much as they want?

Romans 6:1-2 says, "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?  God forbid.  How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer in it?"

1 Thess. 4:7 says, "God has called us not for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification."

The Scriptures teach us that we are to live holy lives and avoid sin (Col. 1:5-11).  Just because we are saved and eternally justified before God (John 10:28), that is no excuse to continue in the sin from which we were saved.  Of course, we all sin (Rom. 3:23).  But the war between the saved and sin is continuous (Rom. 7:14-20) and it won't be until the return of Jesus that we will be delivered from this body of death (Rom. 7:24).  To seek sin continually, and use God's grace to excuse it later, is to trample the blood of Christ underfoot (Heb. 10:29) and to reveal the person's true sinful, unsaved nature (1 John 2:4; 2:19).  Other verses worth checking out are: Heb. 12:14; 1 Pet. 1:14-16; and 1 Pet. 2:21-22.

Soooo. .Today's Fast Fact. .

Briefly. .or otherwise. .Tell us about something you are thankful for!!

 I'm thankful for a lot of things. .many of the same things you are. .

God, family, friends, health, comfortable home. .

But in thinking outside of the box a little. .I am really thankful for technology. .

On one hand it can be a real curse for me, as well as our society. .

technology can be a distraction from important things. .

a new way to take sin to a whole different level by way of what we have access to

(porn, unlimited shopping opportunities, pinterest which leads me to covetousness, Facebook which can lead me into looking for gossip or a whole new method of passing judgment upon people). .

 

When used in a way that is glorifying to God. .

It opens a whole new world of information. .

study opportunities. .

things that people a hundred years ago would have had difficulty accessing (I think anyway).

I am excited that we can team together from all over our great state. .

and even across the oceans. .

and study God's word together in community!!

We have access to great teachers via instant streaming or CDs. .

we have access to great teachers via books and journals and articles. .

some that are available to us in seconds to download and take on the run. .

And while Satan can certainly keep us busy and distracted from God by using these tools. .

God can use those same tools for good and for advancing His Kingdom by putting them into the hands of His children!!

I hope that you are taking full advantage of technology to serve Christ in your lives!!

 Happy, HAPPY Thanksgiving tomorrow. .Remember to shout out your thanks to God. .and let us know what you are thankful for too!!