Humans have always divided themselves into “us and them”, for the sake of belonging and safety. The goal of the Kingdom, however, is not to strengthen your group at the expense of another. It’s the difficult work of expanding “us”.

In this passage, Paul radically defends against the type of faith that includes a small print. He says there are no disclaimers to the Gospel. It is a free gift received by faith alone. We are in a new era, a new Kingdom, and it’s good news for everyone, period.

In this talk, we discuss the things that cause division, and the challenge to be the type of community that is infused with grace. 

By Tavia Grubbs

It’s some of the densest, Pauliest, grittiest stuff we find in the New Testament, but chapter 3 of his letter to the church in Galatia is where Paul gets right to it: the entire story, the whole point, every bit of the law and the covenant show that it was always faith that He asked for.

From the beginning, He was a God who wanted to dwell among His people, and His plans for their rescue never changed.

By Hannah Flint

Our beliefs govern our behavior. Paul confronts Peter who has stopped believing in the fullness of the grace of Jesus. As a result, his behavior has become divisive and hypocritical. Paul reminds him and us of the truths of the gospel. When we believe the correct thing about God, ourselves, and the world, godly behavior will follow. We become people not bound by the law, but free to live lives of faith and of the Spirit.

By Ed Flint

With the noise and pressure mounting from others for the Galatians to take upon themselves more than just the grace of Jesus, Paul knows a secret: the grace of God is enough. It is enough to lead all of us on a journey into freedom - freedom from the prejudices of others, and ultimately freedom from the judgments we place upon ourselves.  Simply stated, the gift of God’s grace is freedom.

By Matt Yeoman

Do you know that you’re called? Do you know what you’re called to? It’s usually a subject that often raises some difficult feelings for many, for different reasons...

Paul understood his call in very simple terms: he was chosen by God to fulfill an ancient promise that the gospel of Jesus grace would go out to the gentiles. Not by them being brought into the Jewish way of life, but by Jesus spreading out and permeating there’s (which was causing quite the rift.) His willingness to accept the cost of his call brings us to a very important truth: we have different gifts, talents and work to do, but our call in Jesus is never really about us. It’s about being His witnesses, and loving Him enough to follow wherever He will lead. 

By Hannah Flint

There is no more important word for a Christian than the word ‘grace’. It is the beginning, middle and end of the Christian life. Its vital importance is seen in how passionately Paul responds to the Galatians who have had the gospel of grace polluted with gracelessness. We are all susceptible to doing something similar. So let us have the same no-holds-barred response of Paul. We should take no prisoners in our battle to hold the shocking grace of Jesus, in all his unconditional love, unconditional forgiveness, and unconditional rescue of us, at the very heart of our lives.

By Ed Flint