Friday, June 28, 2013

Galatians 4:1-31

What is the theme of this chapter?

Justification by faith alone explained further.

What is the key verse(s) of this chapter? Verses 4-5

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

What can I apply to my life from this chapter (things to do/avoid)?

Same as last chapter:  I must be on my guard against telling others, or even smiling and agreeing with others, that salvation is through faith plus works, not faith alone.  So EASY to slip up on this!  

Additional observations/questions:

Interesting what Stam says about Lent.  And yet Lent seems to be a practice that is slowly creeping back into the evangelical church.  Not entirely sure why.  Probably because people always want to be DOING SOMETHING, whether it is denying themselves something for a limited period of time OR "giving themselves over to period of introspection and self-reproach."  But nowhere in Scripture do we find that the apostles or disciples ever observed, much less instructed to observe, Lent, or any comparable period of fasting and/or penitence, after the dispensation of grace was ushered in.  In fact, Paul condemns this lack of appreciation of Christ's all-sufficient redemptive work (Gal 4:9-11, 20; Col 2:20-22; cf. Heb 10:1-14).

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