Category Archives: Redemption

Battles, Bible, Crucified, Death, Flesh, Forgiveness, Redemption, Scripture, Sin

CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST

GALATIANS 5:24

“Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

The idea of being crucified does not appeal to me. How about you? You’ve probably read a lot about the agony of that. Christ suffered greatly. The pain must have been unbelievable. Yet He did it all for you and me. Why? Why would any sane person go through that for someone else? Because He was following the Father’s plan of redemption for us. Look at what Paul says about how that affects us.

Paul says a statement here that is repeated throughout the New Testament, in one way or another. He says if we are in Christ, we have “crucified the flesh.” That act of crucifixion means death. Paul is saying our flesh should be dead. Its passions and desires should be irrelevant. Dead men don’t have passions and desires, right? Let’s see some other references to this gift from our Lord.

APPLICATION

Of course, just back a few chapters, we find Galatians 2:20 (my life verse). It says we have “been crucified with Christ.” The verb there is sustauroo from sun and stauroo, which means to impale in company with, to crucify with. When Christ’s physical body died on that cross, our flesh died with it. Sin no longer has a hold on us. Do we really understand that?

Romans 6:6-7 say, “6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7 for the one who has died is freed from sin.” The same Greek word is used there for “crucified with.” We don’t have an excuse for sin. We can’t blame our sin nature. It has been nailed to the cross.

What is our excuse for sin? Simply, our choice to sin. My former brother-in-law used to say, “Before salvation we chased sin. After salvation sin chases us.” We should be pursuing Jesus every day. We should be chasing righteousness. Paul told Timothy that in 1 Timothy 6:11. “But flee from these things (fleshly things), you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.” What are you chasing today?

O Lord, I run to You. I have You in my sights and am pursuing You. 

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Adoption, Bible, Chosen, Family, Joy, Love, Redemption, Scripture

ADOPTION

GALATIANS 4:5

“so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons and daughters.”

I have a lot of friends and some family who have chosen to adopt children. Some did it because they were unable to conceive a child. Others did it because they wanted to give a child a home. But both chose a child. Both made a choice. Some of my friends even celebrate their child’s “chosen day” each year. I can’t imagine the joy the child feels when they have been chosen.

As believers in Christ, we have all been chosen by Christ. In today’s verse, Paul is still addressing those who have been under the Law, those Judaizers who were trying to influence the Gentile believers. He tells them Christ has saved them from the struggle of trying to keep the Law and has given all believers the joy of “adoption as sons and daughters.” What joy!

APPLICATION

What will you do with your adoption? Some children who are adopted truly flourish in their new homes. They take full advantage of every part of being in a new family. Others don’t and hang on to the past hurts and rejections from their birth families. We are the same spiritually. Some of us grow and mature as believers. Others hang on to the past and refuse to let go.

The Greek word for adoption is huiothesia, which comes from huios (son) and tithemi (to place) – to place as son. It is interesting to me that the word huios is used since that is the word used to describe Jesus every time in Scripture. We have the same sonship in the family. God has placed us as sons (and daugters) into His heavenly kingdom with all the benefits He can offer.

We have a choice to make. Will we take advantage of all those benefits, all those gifts of the Spirit or will we cling to our past and stay chained to our sins? Let me close with this passage from Ephesians 1:3-5. Then you can make your decision how you will live as adopted sons (and daughters) of the King.

“3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,” 

Thank You, Lord, for adopting me as Your child into Your kingdom. I want to enjoy my new family to the fullest.

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Answers, Bible, God's Will, Prayer, Redemption, Salvation, Scripture, Time

RIGHT ON TIME

GALATIANS 4:4

“But when the fullness of the time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,”

Right on time, just in time! That’s part of a quote my brother-in-law used to make at the end of every service in the church where he pastored. The congregation would join him in the “cheer” signifying their agreement. It almost always made everyone smile.

When Paul penned the words of today’s verse, he was speaking of the perfection of God’s timing. Why did God wait so long to send Jesus? We won’t know that until eternity. We have to trust that His timing was exact.  When He saw mankind was ready to receive His Son, He was sent to redeem mankind. Even though Jesus was “born under the Law,” He superseded the Law.

APPLICATION

Jesus spoke of His coming in John 16:28. “‘I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father.’” I love how John writes about this in John 1:14. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

At the right time! Not too early, not too late. Just right! Think of the times in your life when God came through at just the right time. I can think of numerous times when He has done that for me. He revealed my Amyloidosis at just the right time through an emergency gallbladder surgery. If it had gone undiagnosed, I probably would not be here now. Right on time!

 
What are you waiting for right now? What are you asking the Lord to answer? Waiting is hard, I know. My wife and I are waiting on something right now. It is hard, but we have to trust Him. We have to know that He is more than capable of making anything happen – when it’s time. Until then, we wait. God is always right on time.

Lord, give me patience and give it to me now! Forgive me for thinking that, Lord. I will wait.

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Bible, Children, Freedom, Guardian, Law, Obedience, Redemption, Scripture

GUARDIANS AND MANAGERS

GALATIANS 4:2

“but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father.”

Have you ever seen the movie, Mary Poppins? It’s a story about a governess who is hired to care for and teach the children of a family. Julie Andrews plays the key role and does a magical job with the children. Her duties embodied the same duties discussed in today’s verse. However, back in Paul’s day there wasn’t as much magic used, lol.

Continuing the theme from yesterday, Paul explains how the minor child could not do as they pleased with their father’s estate. Normally a slave who was trustworthy would have been put in charge of the children for instruction. These same individuals may have often handled the family assets, thus controlling the disbursement of funds. This would probably have continued if the master of the home had passed until the minor child reached the age set by his father.

APPLICATION

The Law served as our guardian, dictating what we could and couldn’t do. There were strict rules to follow – what to eat, what to wear, etc. These can be found in the Old Testament books of Leviticus and Numbers, as well as other books. For the sake of time, we won’t read all of that. But let me encourage you to take the time, if you haven’t read these books, to dig into them. They are also part of God’s Word and should be read.

However, all those laws have been fulfilled through the atoning death of our Savior. He tells us in Matthew 5:17-18, “17 ‘Do not presume that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. 18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter shall pass from the Law, until all is accomplished!’”

Romans 10:4 says, “For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” That’s the “age set by the father” to be released from the guardianship of the Law. When we accept Jesus, at whatever age that is, we are freed from the requirements of the Law. For me, that was at age 16. I am now an heir of the father’s estate and have full access to all He offers. Praise the Lord! Hallelujah!

O Father, You are far too good to me. May I bring Your honor and praise each day.

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Bible, Power, Promises, Redemption, Scripture

PUT IN IDLE

GALATIANS 3:17

“What I am saying is this: the Law, which came 430 years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.”

A lot of people have no idea how to use a clutch in a vehicle unless they have driven a manual transmission car or truck. Pushing that clutch down takes the vehicle out of the gear it is in and allows the driver to shift to a higher or lower gear. It is also pushed when you want to come to a stop so that the engine does not stop. Putting a vehicle in idle essentially makes it powerless while that clutch is depressed.

Okay, enough about auto mechanics, lol. The reason I used that example is because of the word “nullify” in today’s verse. It is the Greek word katargeo. It means to make completely inoperative or “to put out of use,” according to TDNT. Paul is telling the Galatians that the Mosaic Law which came 430 years after God’s promise to Abraham does not throw that promise into idle. It does not make that promise powerless. Those promises are still in effect.

APPLICATION

How does this apply to us? As I mentioned in yesterday’s blog, The Seed, we are still tied to those promises made to Abraham which came to fruition through Jesus. Just what were those promises? In Genesis 12:1-3 we read, “1 Now the LORD said to Abram,

‘Go from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you; 2 And I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing; 3 And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.’”

So, how does this promise apply to us? It was through the line of Abraham that Jesus came. Just go to Matthew 1:1-17 and read the genealogy of Jesus. It culminates with this statement in verse 17. “So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations.”

That’s why God’s promises to Abraham are not thrown into idle by the Mosaic Law. His promises were kept to Abraham through the birth and eventual death of the Messiah. Because of Jesus all the nations of the world have been blessed with the offer of salvation. Have you claimed that promise for yourself? Have you offered that to anyone else?

O Lord, nothing can render You powerless, nor any of Your promises.

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Abiding, Bible, Covenant, Eternity, Faithfulness, God's Will, Redemption, Scripture

COVENANT KEEPER

GALATIANS 3:15

“Brothers and sisters, I speak in terms of human relations: even though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it.”

Have you ever made a comparison between two things that were kind of the same but not? I have. Some things just don’t have anything else to compare them to. They are so far beyond our finite minds it’s hard to find the words. I have heard all sorts of comparisons to the Trinity but none of them come close.

Paul attempts a similar comparison in today’s verse. A covenant between two people is similar to God’s covenant with us in that they are both covenants. But man’s covenant is finite. It ends. It does carry weight, but nothing like God’s eternal covenant He has made with us. It never ends. We are forever tied to Him through the shed blood of the covenant.

APPLICATION

Don’t you just love Deuteronomy 7:9? It says, “‘Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.’” God loves His children. He wants to keep us close, just as He longed for the people of Israel when Moses shared these words.

We have another beautiful example of God’s covenant in the sky after each rainstorm. Genesis 9:13 tells us, “‘I have set My rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.’” This sign of the covenant has been nabbed by some people to symbolize something that God does not ordain. Don’t let them fool you. God’s covenant sign never covers sin.

And, of course, we have the ultimate covenant I alluded to earlier. In Luke 22:20 Jesus says, “‘In the same way, after the supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.”’” This covenant was cut with us at great price, the life of God’s only Son, Jesus Christ. Do not take this covenant lightly. Remain close to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

I am so thankful Your covenant with me is everlasting. It never expires and I cannot break it. You have sealed it.

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Belief, Bible, Captivity, Escape, Freedom, God's Will, Redemption, Scripture, Witnessing

PURCHASED

GALATIANS 3:13

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written: ‘CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE’—”

Over 150 years ago here in the U.S., slavery was a part of the economic system. Slaves were purchased off the slave block as they arrived on ships. Most of these slaves came from Africa, but not all. Where they came from was not important. Where they were now was. The horrors of slavery have been told over and over. We should never forget it. The freedom for those slaves was purchased by acts of brave men who saw it as evil. These abolitionists even bought slaves in order to free them.

The word used in today’s verse for “redeemed” is exagorazó. It is not the usual word used for “redeem.” It is more general in nature. Albert Barnes explains the word this way. “It occurs in the New Testament only in this place, and in Galatians 4:5, Ephesians 5:16 and Colossians 4:5. It properly means, to purchase, to buy up; and then to purchase anyone, to redeem, to set free. Here it means, that Christ had purchased, or set us free from the curse of the Law, by his being made a curse for us.” One man for many!

APPLICATION

You and I do not have to do that today. We do not purchase people out of slavery. But we do have the privilege to show them a Savior who can set them free from all their sins. Acts 1:8 still has application for us today. “‘But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’” Do you believe that? I do.

How about 1 Peter 3:15? “But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,” You see, we still have a mandate from God to help execute this “purchase.” He is still using people like us to provide this ransom for their souls.

Will you commit to being part of this team? God wants to use us to see lost souls come to Jesus. Yes, God could part the skies and proclaim, “Repent now in Jesus’ name.” He could send every single person on earth a personal message. He can do anything. But He has chosen to use us in these last days to deliver the message. Let’s do this!

I am thankful You purchased me off the slave block of sin where I was doomed to an evil master.

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Bible, Gospel, Impossible, Redemption, Salvation, Scripture, Sin

FAR FROM IT!

GALATIANS 2:17

“But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Far from it!”

Some things are just not going to happen. I will never be a ballerina. Just the thought of that makes me roll with laughter. I will never land on the moon, but if NASA called today, I would suit up. Think of an impossibility in your life as we read today’s verse.

Paul gets forceful. I can just see him saying this to Peter and the crowd. I bet he raised his voice on those last few words. The Greek actually reads, “It cannot be.” These words have been translated as “God forbid,” “May it never be,” “It is not so” and several other ways. I really like how the NIV translates it, “Absolutely not.”

APPLICATION

But what is Paul so worked up about? Well, look back at the previous phrase, “is Christ then a servant of sin?” Whoa, no wonder he gets so forceful. Peter and the Jews, who had pulled away from the Gentiles, were implying by their actions that the Gentiles, who were justified in Christ alone, were sinning by not following Mosaic law. Paul says that is the same as saying Christ is enabling their “sin.”

Is there anything in your spiritual life that you have added to your salvation? Do you think doing certain things makes you more spiritual? We need to live right and do right, of course. But what do you base your salvation on? We’ll get to my favorite verse about this in a few days (Galatians 2:21). You can read ahead in you want. But spoiler alert – it might change your way of thinking.

Are you forcing certain expectations on others? Yes, we need to have a high bar of standards when it comes to living a holy life. But be careful you don’t put “your” standards on them. As Paul was telling Peter and the Jewish believers, all you need, all anyone needs is Jesus.

Instead of a closing prayer today, take a listen to the song by Keith and Kristyn Getty. 

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=in+christ+alone

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Accused, Bible, Blood, Conviction, Freedom, Redemption, Salvation, Scripture

SET FREE

ZECHARIAH 9:11

“As for you also, because of the blood of My covenant with you, I have set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.”

I have never been in jail or prison. I cannot imagine what it would be like to have my freedom of movement taken away. I cannot imagine being locked in a cell for months or years. I have visited a lot of prisons in my ministry. I have seen the loss of life in the eyes of the inmates. I went to bring hope to them in Christ. Some received – others didn’t. We all have that choice.

The Lord continues His discourse and in today’s verse proclaims freedom for the captives. He says, “I have set your prisoners free.” But notice how that is done. In the phrase right before that He says, “because of the blood of My covenant with you.” Only the blood could set them free. This truth continues to us today.

APPLICATION

How long were you enslaved before you were set free? Well Carl, I was never a slave to anything. I haven’t been put in jail or prison. Oh, that is not true. We are told we are either slaves to sin or slaves to obedience. We have been told that sin enslaves us. We are most definitely slaves to sin before salvation. We are doomed with an eternal sentence with no hope of parole.

But thanks be to God, He sent His Son to break those chains of bondage. Isaiah 61:1 says it most clearly. “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD anointed me to bring good news to the humble; He has sent me to bind up the broken- hearted, to proclaim release to captives and freedom to prisoners;” This has been described as Jesus’ job description.

The chains that once bound me to the yoke of slavery have been snapped by the blood of Christ. The moment I said “yes” to Him, the chains fell off. I have power over sin. Sin does not control me. As long as I continue to abide in Him, His Spirit will lead me away from the lure of sin and into His warm embrace. Are you free today? I pray you are. If you aren’t, come to Him today.

The power of Your Son’s blood has set me free, Lord. Thank You for loving me so much.

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Bible, Boundaries, Choices, Cleansing, Commands, Deceit, Devil, Evil, Flesh, God's Will, Holy Spirit, Redemption, Scripture, Sin, Wickedness

PUT A LID ON IT

ZECHARIAH 5:8

“Then he said, ‘This is Wickedness!’ And he thrust her into the middle of the ephah and threw the lead weight on its opening.”

Put a lid on it! You may have heard that expression in regard to asking someone to be quiet, to stop talking. It is usually used when someone keeps rambling on about something until someone gets tired of hearing it. Has that ever happened to you? Have you been told that or told someone else that? It happens to the best of us.

Zechariah watches as the angel “puts a lid on it.” He calls the woman “Wickedness” and shoves her back into the ephah and slams down the lead cover. Obviously, when the angel raised the lid in the previous verse to show Zechariah what was in the ephah, the woman tried to stand or escape. But that was not happening here. Slamming of the lead cover showed that God could and would restrain the sin of the nation. He was in control, not the wickedness symbolized by the woman.

APPLICATION

We need to “put a lid” on sin. Our sinful nature is more prone to let it run free. I remember all too well how sin controlled me. It truly is wickedness. But we can gain control of that if we allow the Holy Spirit to slam the lid on it. We are actually told to do just that.

In Romans 6:12-14 we are told, “12 Therefore sin is not to reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, 13 and do not go on presenting the parts of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead, and your body’s parts as instruments of righteousness for God. 14 For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under the Law but under grace.”

Well, you can’t argue with that, can you? We are not under the Law. We are under grace. Praise be to God! Sin has no more control over my life through Jesus. He paid the price. He paid off our debts to sin and its master. We are free to live a life away from sin. We still have that sinful nature in us, but the Holy Spirit can restrain that, if we let Him. Will you?

Lord, use Your Holy Spirit in my life to restrain me from sin, to put the lid on it.

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