Book Description

We live in a culture that thrives on performance and reward. If we study hard enough, we should get good grades. If we practice hard enough, we should win awards and trophies. If we work hard enough, we should get a promotion. It is easy to adopt this way of thinking in our spiritual lives. If our lives are good enough, we should get into heaven. If we just do more, God should be pleased. If we follow the rules, we should be better Christians. Nothing could be further from the truth.It is vital that we continually remind ourselves that the gospel is a gospel of grace. Why? Because it is easy to set aside the grace of God and live in a way that depends on us. We begin to rely on what we can do for ourselves, rather than what God can do, and has done for us through Jesus Christ. We continue to struggle with the truth that God's love is unconditional. Often we forget there is nothing we can do or have to do to earn it. We live less than abundant lives, thinking God is disappointed with us; that we don't measure up. As a result, believers end up living mediocre and passionless lives, trapped in the lie that they aren't good enough. Instead of choosing the freedom that is ours in Christ, like the Galatian believers, we choose slavery. Christians can make the serious mistake of believing that the gospel is reserved for salvation. The gospel is so much more than just about saving us. It is the hope that keeps us, while we wait for Jesus to return. It is what transforms us into Christ's image. The gospel is so powerful that we need to remind ourselves of it every day so we never take it for granted. Galatians is probably the harshest of Paul's letters. The dangerous position of the Galatian church and the critical nature of Paul's message drove him to write frankly and sharply to this group of Christians. For Paul, and for you and me, there is nothing more important than guarding the gospel of grace, because it is a serious offense to set aside the grace of God. Because "if righteousness came through the law, than Christ died in vain (Galatians 2:21)."So we do not set aside the grace of God. We cling to it. We stand on it. We hope in it. We grow in it. That's what Paul wanted for the Galatian believers, and that is what God wants for you and me. May this study cause you to live in the abundance of the one true gospel, the Gospel of grace!