Consider Abraham

     Paul, formerly known as Saul, a Jewish leader, tells churches in Galatia (and us) what they (and we) need to know. A two-fold question: Is faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior the only prerequisite for salvation? Or is obedience to certain practices and laws required?

     He wrote, "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel." He was shocked with the Galatians and called them "foolish." 

     In chapter 3, "I would like to know just one thing: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? (What is our answer?) Are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?"

     "Consider Abraham. He believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. Understand that those who believe are children of Abraham. Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: 'All nations will be blessed through you.'" 

     "It is written: 'Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.' Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because 'the righteous will live by faith.'"

     "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus...so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit." 

Tomorrow: Who was/is Abraham's seed?