What gets int he way of someone seeing Christ?
Galatians 3:1 ¶ Oh, foolish Galatians! Who has cast an evil spell on you? For the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture of his death on the cross. 2 Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. 3 How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? 4 Have you experienced so much for nothing? Surely it was not in vain, was it? 5 I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ. 6 ¶ In the same way, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” 7 The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God. (NLT)
What had happened to these Galatians?
Teachers had come along after they had received Christ and began to teach that they now were obligated to do certain things to prove their devotion and to continue experiencing the favor of God. They were being told they needed to perform certain righteous deeds in order to maintain the power of God at work in their lives.
These teachers were moving these Galatians away from the gospel they had received regarding Christ Jesus. They were putting the eyes of the Galatians on the horse as opposed to the rider.
Our hope and acceptance began in Christ and it remains in Him today, and into eternity!
Our lives are hidden with Christ in God! We are the righteousness of God in Christ!
About The Author
- Tim Atchley
- Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
- I currently serve as Senior Pastor of Harvest Church in Knoxville, Tn. I was sent out from Trinity Chapel of Knoxville in 1993 accompanied by my wife Sheila our four children Sarah, Hannah, Josiah & Isaac and a handful of bold, brave and committed believers determined to plant our first church. Pioneering is hard work but well worth the journey. That is why we desire to make disciples of Christ who will, like us, also embrace the call to plant churches.
