No Add-On's (Galatians 2 ESV)

 

The other day at the supermarket we were accosted by two neatly dressed, complete with tie, young men of likely about 18-20 years of age.  They greeted folks in very freiendly manner and according to the  respective language group they thought a particular shopper might be of.  They were energetic and lively.

These young men could well put fundamental Christians to shame.  They believed and trusted in their message and were eager to share it with one and all.

Alas!  Their message is flawed.  If asked, they'd likely say, "It's all about Jesus," or "It's Jesus alone."  But if you ever do a very cursory search to see some of their beliefs beyond that, you'll discover that they do not believe that God's grace and salvation through Jesus Christ is enough.

They add on, 'works.'  Thus their enthusiastic mission work as seen in front of that supermarket.  Or they show up in parks where people are jogging or enjoyoing the peace of the park's ambience, to share their message.

The truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ as delivered to the apostles and then Paul has been altered.  Take a look at the book of Galatians where certain factions were trying to stick their oar in where it should not have been.  They too, were "adding on."

Paul wrote,

"We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified" (Galatians 2:15-16 ESV).

We are justified by our faith, NOT by our works.  To insist that our own works must be part of the salvation equation is erroneous. When we realize this truth, the truth will set us free from the bondage of working to earn our salvation.

No doubt,  we are saved through faith and not through works,

"It is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8-9).

What's more, we learn from the book of Romans that,

"... we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law"                          (Romans 3:28 ESV).

Works, no matter how good and how well done they may be, do not save us, they do not justify us before God.  In fact, we are saved for the purpose of doing good works,

"which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10 ESV)

after our salvation experience.

So to coerced believers to believe they need to do works in order to earn complete salvation is false doctrine.  When folks want to add on to God's perfect plan of salvation, His free and perfect Gift of salvation through Jesus Christ alone, be wary.

Remember, it is

" ... not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mrecy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost"               (Titus 3:5 KJV).

Discern through Holy Spirit empowerment what the truth is.  As Paul wrote in Galations 2:21 ESV,

"I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose."

Let's not add on to God's truth.

                                                 ~  ERC  July 2026  ~

Based on Galatians 2 ESV.

Sing, In Christ Alone, along with Hadleigh Baptist Church. 

Lord's Day Devotion - Free Indeed (Galatians 4)

 How does a follower of Jesus Christ prove his or her devotion to Him and to the true gospel of salvation by grace and through faith in Him?  And, is this grace and faith actually enough to save us, to make us safe, sure and happy?

This is the gospel of Jesus Christ that Paul preached.  Those who trust in Jesus and His work of salvation never have to work to earn and/or keep our saved condition.  Any work we do for Jesus is only because of our faith, love and honor and gratitude for Him.  Absolutely none of our good deeds work to secure our everlasting life and salvation.  Of this we can be sure.

Another thing we can be sure of is that He will never leave us nor forsake us.  He never fails (see Hebrews 13:5 and Zephaniah 3:5).

So when the Judaizers began to bully the Galatians by saying they had to be circumcized, forcing them to kowtow to the Law that never saved them but only showed up their sins instead, Paul had to talk sense into them.

Confused and bewildered by the false teachers, Paul had to reassure them, you are sons and the Spirit of God's Son is in your hearts and cries "Abba Father".  Hang on to this, brothers and sisters-in-Christ!

"He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit"               (Titus 3:5-7 ESV).

We are Jesus' heirs

 "according to the hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:7 ESV).

Grab ahold and hold tightly on to this in your minds.  Let it trickle down to your hearts and bring you peace and assurance.  It's by faith alone.  All you had had to do was believe it for yourself.

Don't make yourself slaves again

 "we are not chidlren of the slave but of the free woman".  

We are children of the promise (see Galatians 4:31 ESV).

Let this knowledge seep into our core, loose the chains of the old creation.  Be set free in our minds and hearts because what the

"Son sets free, we are free indeed!"

This can change our whole outlook.  Live and move in the knowledge of this freedom in Christ!  This will show our devotion to Him and the true gospel of salvation by grace and through faith in Him.  Let the heavy burden down.

Praise the One who died for you!  And this Lord's Day, remember Jesus.  Partake of the broken bread.  Drink from that cup of wine and so remember Him in His death and resurrection.  Bask in the freedom you have in Christ, then praise, worship and serve Him, until He comes.

                                                     ~  ERC  July 2026  ~

Based on Galatians 4 ESV.

Sing, Who You Say I Am, along with Hadleigh Baptist Church/Hillsong.

My Protection Source (Psalm 48 ESV)

 

Psalm 48 is a comforting psalm.  Verse 3 took my attention, especially.  Even though Zion and the city of the great King had citadels and was a fortress, the security and protection did not come from them alone.

NO.  The key Protection, or should we say, 'Protector,' was God Himself.  In this psalm, His name is also addressed as LORD, great King, and the LORD of hosts.  This is the source of power and protection that is established and will last forever and ever.  

And ...

"He will guide us forever" (vs 14 ESV).

Some trust in horses, or cars, in crops, money and possessions but we can trust in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  We trust and joy in our God who never fails (see Psalm 20:7; Zephaniah 3:5).

Lord, keep our hearts ever cleaving to You.  May we trust in You alone, and never be afraid.  You are our shield and protection in life and even in death because of the everlasting life You earned on our behalf.  Thank You!  It's only in Your precious name we pray Lord Jesus.  Amen.

                                               ~  ERC  July 2026  ~

Based on Psalm 48 ESV.

Sing, In Whom I Can Trust, along with Grace Assembly of God.

Be A - Lert! (Galatians 1: especially vs 23 & 24 ESV)

 May God's peace guard your heart.  May God's truth guide your heart.  May His love cocoon your heart and keep you ever on course towards Him and His people through the grace of your Lord Jesus Christ and the communion of the Holy Spirit (see 2 Corinthians 13:14 KJV).

And as we turn our eyes to the letter the Apostle Paul wrote to the Galatians may God's grace and peace continue to be with you.  Let's not be diverted from God's truth that will always set us free should we embrace it and guard against false teachings.

Let us not be diverted from the truth we originally were taught, instead, grow in the faith delivered to us to deliver us from this ...

" ... present evil world" (Galatians 1:4 ESV).

When those domineering or even passive agressive people come among a congregation of followers of Jesus Christ, demanding all to follow their way, don't become manpleasers.  This will turn you away from being a servant of Christ.

Your personality will not be so Christlike but become that personlike; that one, or group of false teachers'-like.  You are not free then.

What the Son reveals and sets you free from, don't become entangled in again.  Don't glorify those leaders who will lead you astray.  This is idolatry of another kind.  

Glorify God.

The apostle Paul went through many excruciating experiences as he strove to bring the truth to the Gentiles, the Galatians included.  His beginnings was that of a man who hated the Jesus people and he tried to exterminate them.  But He was arrested by God.  He was directed to Jesus!  He was humbled.  He was given his mission to preach Jesus to the Gentiles!

He received this commission,

"through a revelation of Jesus Christ" (Galatians 1:11-12).

And this was NOT a "man's gospel"!

His credentials, were pristine.  He'd become an apostle,

"not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father ... (Galatians 1:1 ESV).

What further proof of his authority and right to preach and teach and guide them into God's truth could they want?  After all that, how could they desert Paul and

 "turn to a different gospel" (vs 6) - 

and that, one that chained them up again!?

Furthermore, all the stories other churches of Judea had heard about Paul's former life - the life as a persecutor, but who was now

 "preaching the faith he once destroyed" (vs 23 ESV), 

and they marveled over it.

"And they glorified God because of [Paul]" (vs 24 ESV).

Was this enough evidence, do ya think?  It looks like Paul continued in the vein of establishing his credentials in order to kick some sense, graciously, yet firmly, into the Galatians hearts and minds.  He wanted them to think it through.  Whom had the unadulterated truth?  Was it what Paul brought and taught to them, or was it those trying to chain them up again with rules of which there may well have been many unwritten ones binding the believers in fear to keep them under the thumb of the domineering false teachers.  Like a power play to keep the rest subordinate and subservient.

I really like verse 24,

"and they glorified God because of me."

Paul's change of heart, and shall we loosely say, 'personality' because he'd gone through so much but still had become more and more like Christ, is what caused the churches of Judea to glorify God and how He'd worked it out in and through Paul.

Paul preached the faith he once persecuted.  Only God could have wrought such positive and permanent change in a person.

Do you feel like dancing and praising the Lord too?

After all, we benefit from this change in Paul.  We have the letters he wrote that have taught believers all down through the ages since Paul's time to ours!

God is so amazing to preserve all of this for us now.  We ought not to waste it.  Examine God's Word.  Let it change us from the inside out and then we can preach it.

Let it also alert us to the false teachers that creep into our lives and congregations.  Our churches need 'lerts'.

Be a - lert!

                                             ~  ERC  July 2026  ~

Based on Galatians 1 ESV.

Sing, All My Boast Is in Jesus Christ, along with Matt Papa and Keith and Kristyn Getty.

I Would! (Nehemiah 8:10 ESV)

 Would you like to be a joyful person? 

 I would.

Would you like to feel acceptance without having to 'perform' or achieve certain goals before you are accepted for who you are and not for what you can do?

I would.

Would you like to be granted unearned grace?

I would.

We can have this in Jesus.

Would you like to have a more thankful character?

I would but I think I have to intentionally practice gratitude and thankfulness on a regular basis.

We are worthwhile creatures in Christ.  He can change me into His likeness as we build our trust in Him.  

Would you like the joy of the Lord to be your strength to be more like Him and have such a precious relationship with Him?

I would.

In Him we can have it all.  

Praise the Lord.

                                           ~  ERC  June 2026  ~

Based on Nehemiah 8:10 ESV.

Sing, Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee, along with Reawaken Hymns.

Free - Flow (Philippians 4:7 ESV)

 Irritations such as other road users who don't drive as well as we do (ha,ha) or children who can make us frustrated and bring out our impatience and anger, can be hindrances to free-flow fellowship with our Lord and Savior.

I don't know about you but I'd like to have that free-flow of fellowship with my Heavenly Father like Abraham and even Moses once had with Him.  It seems like it was so natural and easy for them.  

So what holds us back from this today?

Actually, we need to grab hold of our faith and believing in God, that He can and will and has already, clothed me with His Holy Spirit.  In Holy Spirit's strength I can overcome the interruptions and irritations of the daily grind.

Do you feel any resistance and/or skepticism to this ideal idea because of those road users, children, annoying colleagues and the like?

There are times we need to give up our rights.  Our rights to uninterrupted time, to not having to slow down when some car driver cuts in, in front of us, or when someone is not punctual to an event, and so on.

Free-flow fellowship with our Abba Father would confess those frustrations and anger and impatience.  It would forgive the 'intruders'.

As difficult as it may be, let's make peace with all that and praise our God from whom all blessings flow.  Let's crawl up into His arms, rest our head on His shoulder and bask in His love, calling Him, "Abba Father."

And say, "OK Lord, what shall I learn from this?  May your peace and joy be a mantle upon me and may I go in peace."

We can choose.  It's our choice.

                                              ~  ERC  June 2026  ~

Based on Philippians 4:7 ESV.

Sing, Your Are My Peace, along with Faithful Sound.

Inside Out Personality Change (Galatians)

 Some people's personalities can change overtime.  They can change from sweet and carefree to troubled and grumpy, and the like.  What happens to make them thus?  Many things!!!

But let's look at some postivie direction in how our own persaonlities can change from the inside out.  But how they can change from not so good, to good, better and then best.

If you do a study of the book of Galatians, you could well have your mind renewed.  Operating less on ones own strength and more through the work of the Holy Spirit indwelling all followers of Jesus Christ.  In this way we can choose to allow the fruit of the Spirit to be released within us to full potential.  Indeed, we could then become ever more Christlike.

We can give our time and attention to working on these as we read through the book of Galatians and let the Lord work in our hearts as we apply its teaching.

Father God, in Your own time and way, bring this Holy Spirit change within me.  Let nothing prevent me from completing this journey from the inside out.  In Your Son Jesus' name, Amen.

                                             ~  ERC  June 2026  ~

Based on the book of Galatians.

Sing, Holy Spirit, along with Jesus Culture 2021.