by Pastors Brian Fisher and Blake Jennings

 

Richard Longenecker, a respected commentator on the New Testament, said of the book of Galatians,

       "Paul's Galatians is, in fact, like a lion turned loose in the
       arena of Christians. It challenges, intimidates, encourages,
       and focuses our attention on what is really essential as    
       little else can. How we deal with the issues it raises and
       the teachings it presents will in large measure determine
       how we think as Christians and how we live as Christ's
       own."

 

This semester, we will turn that lion loose as we preach through Galatians at both campuses. Be forewarned, this series will be both challenging to the mind and convicting to the heart. Yet the challenge of understanding and responding to this book is well worth the price, for Galatians reveals to us in unsurpassed clarity the truths of the gospel and the fundamental doctrines of justification and sanctification by faith.

So clear is Paul's defense of justification and sanctification by faith in this book, that during the Protestant Reformation both Martin Luther and John Calvin turned to its teachings frequently. In fact, Luther so loved Galatians that he called it, "my own epistle, to which I have made my wedding vows; my Katie von Bora [the name of Luther's actual wife!]" The book earned his praise because Luther understood that, "if the article of justification be lost, then is all true Christian doctrine lost."

 

Nothing could be more important for us to study this semester than the truths of the gospel, especially the truth that God saves human beings through faith alone in Christ alone. Justification by faith, and sanctification by faith, bring healing to broken individuals, unity to broken churches, and hope to a broken world. So join us this fall as we challenge one another to walk by faith and to share the good news of salvation by faith with those who do not yet know our Savior.
 

Grace and Peace,
 
Brian and Blake 

 

 

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