We have come to the end of this letter from Paul to the Galatians. Up to this point Paul has been dictating to his secretary, but now he takes the pen himself to add a P.S. On this occasion, he writes several final sentences in his own handwriting. Most commentators consider that he used large letters deliberately, ether because he was treating his readers like children, rebuking their spiritual immaturity by using baby writing or simply for emphasis; Lightfoot has written, “To arrest the eye and rivet the mind.”
What is it that Paul emphasizes? He emphasizes the principal themes of the Christian gospel. Once again he contrasts himself with the Judaizers, and so the two religious systems they represent. Reading his words, we are lifted out of the controversy between Paul and the Judaizers in the first century AD and are brought right into the twentieth century. We even catch a glimpse of the course on church history down the ages, in which these issues have been continuously debated.
Here are two questions about the essence of the Christian religion: Is the essence of the Christian religion outward or inward? And secondly, is the essence of the religion is human or divine? In other words, is the gospel fundamentally a matter of what we do for God or what He has done for us?
Featuring a sermon puts it on the front page of the site and is the most effective way to bring this sermon to the attention of thousands including all mobile platforms + newsletter.
Text-Featuring a sermon is a less expensive way to bring this sermon to the attention of thousands on the right bar with optional newsletter inclusion. As low as $30/day.
“ Great Sermon! ” Thank you Pastor Poss for preaching Christ and Christ alone. Many thanks for another excellent presentation of the truth of the Word.
lorraine (12/30/2008)
from morristown nj
“ thank u pastor bill ” its been a blessing to listen too. thank you, have a great new year
Matthew Delany (12/29/2008)
from Garfield,NJ
“ Thank you Pastor Bill ” It is so refreshing to hear about justification by grace through faith. I can never hear it preached enough. As Luther said: "If the article of justification is lost, all Christian doctrine is lost at the same time. And all the people in the world who do not hold to this justification are either Jews or Turks or papists or heretics; for there is no middle ground between these two righteousness: the active one of the Law and the passive one which comes from Christ. Therefore the man who strays from Christian righteousness must relapse into the active one, that is, since he has lost Christ, he must put his confidence in his own works."
Keep preaching justification by grace AND sanctification by grace. We can't hear too much of it.
#16 - Top Played Sermon (48-Hours) on 3/27/2009
