In Galatians 4, Paul begins by highlighting the transition from slavery to sonship that comes through faith in Christ. He reminds the Galatians that they are no longer slaves but heirs of God's promises. This shift in identity is crucial for believers to grasp, as it shapes how they live out their faith. By emphasizing their new status as sons and daughters of God, Paul encourages them to embrace the freedom that comes with being part of God's family.
Furthermore, Paul warns the Galatians against returning to a life under the law. He points out that observing religious rituals and customs will not bring them closer to God or earn them salvation. Instead, true freedom is found in Christ alone. This message is just as relevant for us today as it was for the Galatians. We must resist the temptation to rely on our own efforts or external practices to earn favor with God. Our salvation is a gift of grace that we receive by faith.

The traditional understanding of the location of Mt. Sinai has for the most part been one of several locations on the Sinai Peninsula. None of them are positively identified as Mount Sinai by evidence. Archaeologists have searched and searched without finding evidence of the location until they dug into God’s Word and found what we will read today. . .

We have witnessed in the media a wonderful example of what it means to train up children. From the days of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, there are lessons to learn from then Prince Charles and Princess Diana, to now just King Charles as he raised up Prince William, and Prince Harry. The training and grooming took to Prince William, and was rejected by Prince Harry. . .

As we continue our study in Galatians chapter 3, Paul continues to explain to the Galatians, that Christ redeemed believers from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for them, and that those who have faith in Christ are heirs of the promise made to Abraham. The law, introduced later, didn't invalidate the promise but rather served as a temporary guide, confining people to sin until Christ's arrival. Through faith in Christ, believers are united as one in Him and are all children of God.

Inherent within The Law is a problem that is nearly insurmountable. While it adds some substance to the Jewish faith, it also obliterates “faith!” The Abrahamic Covenant is integral with the Jewish faith. It is impossible to separate the two, but not because the Law has added anything to God’s promises within the covenant. . .

With a defense of his apostleship behind him, Paul spends the next two chapters defending the gospel he received by revelation. It is a gospel which proclaims justification by faith in Christ, not by keeping the works of the Law.

In last week’s teaching, The Apostle Paul exposed the hypocrisy of the Apostle Peter when Judaisers from Jerusalem came to Anteeok, dispatched from the Apostle James. The cultural morals held by the Jews at that time were to not eat or share a meal with non-Jews. But Peter, as well as Barnabas, Paul’s companion in ministry, both fell away from the truth, and left eating with new Gentile converts to eat with the visiting Jews. This is “the fear of man,” and Paul confronted Peter face-to-face.

This week, we are finishing up in Galatians Chapter 2, beginning with verse 14. We will explore Paul’s powerful message about the true gospel of grace.
In Antioch, a significant event unfolded involving Apostle Paul and Peter, recorded in Galatians 2. Paul confronted Peter for his inconsistent behavior regarding Gentile Christians. Peter initially ate with Gentiles, but then separated himself when individuals from James (brother of Jesus) arrived, fearing their judgment. This action contradicted the principle that salvation comes through faith in Christ, not adherence to the Mosaic Law. Paul publicly rebuked Peter for this hypocrisy, highlighting the importance of maintaining unity and consistency in the early church's message of grace.
Here we see God’s omnipotent, omniscient hand take the failure of Peter to stand firm on the truth of the Gospel and to use Peter’s failure as the launching pad into the great doctrine of justification by faith alone in Christ alone.