Daily Bread

10 Mar 2021

Galatians 3:2-This only I want to learn from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

The apostle having called them “foolish Galatians,” on account of their shift-away from the true Gospel, now sought to remind them of when they first became Christians. They had experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit upon giving their lives to Jesus Christ. This awesome and beautiful experience happened because of their faith in Jesus Christ alone, not by the works of the Law; and was fundamental proof of their justification in the eyes of God. If they had answered Paul’s question, as he posed to them here, they would have answered that they received the Holy Spirit through faith in Jesus, not by works of the Law.

His glory lasts forever!

John Lutz

9 Mar 2021

Galatians 3:1-O foolish Galatians! who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?

The apostle sharply reproved the Galatians for being seduced away from the truth of the gospel. When the Gospel of Jesus Christ was preached and the church established in Galatia by Paul, his message was to have faith in Christ alone-for the forgiveness of sins and the cleansing of all unrighteousness! Some of the Jewish converts wanted the Galatian believers to accept a watered-down version of the gospel, where works of the Law were upheld along with faith in Jesus Christ for justification. Yet, the Lord was crucified for our justification, that we may become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ alone!

His body broken for us!

John Lutz

8 Mar 2021

Galatians 2:21-I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.

The apostle sought to anchor the truth of the gospel in the hearts of the Galatians. For it is the work of the Holy Spirit, who comes to convict and bring repentance; with Godly sorry, at the hearing of the gospel. Repentance of then heart takes place and confession is made unto salvation! This is a work of God through grace, that all may come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior. For He is the way and the truth and the life, who died for the sins of the world.

His name shall be praised!

John Lutz

7 Mar 2021

Galatians 2:19-20-For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Paul has denounced his adherence to the Old Testament Law, and all its ordinances for the new and living way through faith in Jesus Christ! He became “dead to the law,” for the law was entirely fulfilled in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. What the Mosaic Law could not do, justification with God through animal sacrifice, came through the blood of Jesus, once and for all; that our sins may be forgiven! Paul had been born again through faith in Jesus Christ, and the Spirit of Christ was within him, giving him a new nature! His old sinful nature was “crucified with Christ,” nailed to the cross. It was no longer Paul who lived but Jesus Christ who filled his vessel and lived through him.

His Spirit abides in us!

John Lutz

6 Mar 2021

Galatians 1:7-18-But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we 0ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.

Paul had built the foundation of the gospel and salvation upon faith in Jesus Christ alone! The Mosaic Law of animal sacrifice, circumcision, and works of the law had been fulfilled in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Therefore, when Peter and the others from Jerusalem, when they refused to accept the Gentile Christians, it was inconsistent with the truth of the gospel and was sinful! Paul would not allow any form of false doctrine to pry its way into the purity of the one true gospel.

Jesus gives us new life!

John Lutz

5 Mar 2021

Galatians 2:15-16-We who are Jews by nature, and not sinner of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

Paul continued his reproof of Peter because of his outward behavior toward the Gentile believers. Paul noted that if adherence to the Mosaic Law was able to bring justification/forgiveness to a person’s soul, then faith in Jesus Christ would not be necessary. For Paul and Peter, as well as all the Jewish converts to Christianity, could not attain salvation through the Law of Moses-only through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, I am the truth, and I am the Life. No-one comes to the Father except through Me.”

So good a salvation!

John Lutz

4 Mar 2021

Galatians 2:14-But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?

The rebuke of Peter which Paul delivered publicly, was in response to his public behavior. Here, the apostle Paul recorded the very words which he used to reprove Peter when Peter turned fro the truth of the gospel; by avoiding and rejecting the fellowship he previously enjoyed with the Gentile Christians in Antioch. Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:14, “The patrician-wall between Jews and Gentiles has been ‘broken down’ by Jesus Christ, for He is the Lamb of God who takes aways the sins of the world!” Paul was not inferior, as an apostle or in character to the apostles, to the apostles who walked with Jesus.

His is our fortress!

John Lutz

3 Mar 2021

Galatians 2:13-And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.

The Lord Jesus Christ had spoke to Peter in a dream trance about calling ‘common’ unclean what God has ‘cleansed ‘by His blood (see Acts 10:8-16). Here, Peter responded to the outward pressures of the Christians from Jerusalem above what the Lord had revealed to him as true; that it is only by faith in Jesus Christ that a person is forgiven of their sins and cleansed from all unrighteousness! For their is no partiality with the Lord. His Spirit has been given to those who trust in Him, both circumcised and uncircumcised. Peter and the Christians from Jerusalem would not even eat with Gentile believers , holding to the Old Testament Law that prohibited such associations. Even Barnabas, Paul’s faithful partner in the faith was persuaded to turn from associating with Gentiles. Paul defended the Gospel against such behavior, that salvation is through Christ alone!

His blood makes us clean!

John Lutz

2 Mar 2021

Galatians 2:11-12-Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.

After his conversion, Paul continued his testimony about his relationship with the leading apostles! Paul did much to establish and grow the Christian church in Antioch, which became the dominant gentile (Non-Jewish) church of their day. Just as Jerusalem was the dominant church for those who converted from Judaism to Christianity. Paul and Peter were in harmony and agreement upon Paul’s departure from Jerusalem on matters of salvation requirements. It wasn’t until Peter’s visit to Antioch, that Paul opposed Peter for his behavior. Many gentiles were coming to Christ through Paul’s ministry with no concern or felt obligation of being circumcised in order to be saved. Peter agreed with this salvation by grace until other Christians from Jerusalem, converts from Judaism, came to Antioch. At which time Peter shied away from his association wth the Christian gentiles, possibly as a result of peer pressure.

His love breaks chains!

John Lutz

1 Mar 2021

Galatians 2:10-They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do.

The apostles in Jerusalem requested that the churches throughout the gentile nations be benevolent toward the poor. That they would endeavor to reach out to the destitute, the hurting, and those in need with the gospel and with provision; that the light of Jesus Christ would shine forth in the hearts of His people through acts of care, kindness, and love!

His was are always higher!

John Lutz

28 Feb 2021

Galatians 2:9-and when James, Cephas, and John who seemed to be Pilars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the gentiles and they to the circumcised.

Here, Paul gives an account of the apostles which he and Barnabas met with during his visit to Jerusalem. James, Peter, and John were the leading apostles, who oversaw the Christian Church from the start. They heard the testimonies of Paul and Barnabas, how they spread the Gospel, healed the sick, cast-out daemons, were delivered fro severe persecutions, and planted churches among the gentiles. The apostles in Jerusalem ‘perceived the grace’ given to Paul on behalf of the Gospel, and joyfully received them, extending love and fellowship as an apostle to the gentiles. For Paul was called bye the Lord Jesus Christ to suffer the sake of the gospel!

His grace abounds to us!

John Lutz

27 Feb 2021

Galatians 2:7-8-But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter (for He who worked effective in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me towards the Gentiles),

Paul was well received by the other apostles in Jerusalem, for they saw Jesus Christ using him mightily, being called to reach the Gentiles for Christ. Paul preached the gospel with power and authority, with the working of miracles confirming his messages of salvation. Therefore, they concluded that the gospel was “committed” to Paul to reach the gentiles (non-Jews), as it had been to Peter for reaching the Jewish communities. They embraced Paul as an apostle of Jesus Christ, as well as the doctrine he preached; that he would continue to tend to the harvest for those coming to Christ among the Gentiles!

His Word is living!

John Lutz

26 Feb 2021

Galatians 2:6-But from those who seemed to be something-whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God shows personal favoritism to no man-for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me.

The apostle continued to detail his conversations with Peter, James, and John, when he returned to Jerusalem with Barnabas and Titus. That although they held high positions in the church leadership (and rightly so), they did not call Paul into his role as an apostle and to preach the gospel, Jesus Christ did! In the eyes of the Lord, there is “no favoritism” toward anyone, regardless of their position, family or background. The gospel which Paul has preached throughout the Roman Empire was exactly right, in accordance with the apostles doctrine; for they “added nothing” to him in that matter. God qualifies those He calls!

Jesus is our fortress!

John Lutz

25 Feb 2021

Galatians 2:3-5-Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage), to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

Here, the apostle shared a time when “false brethren” sought to impose the Jewish ceremonial law of circumcision upon the Gentiles who turned to Christ. Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ is not reliant on having to be circumcised, as Paul wrote in Romans 2:29, “…circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter…” Therefore, Paul did not yield to these false Christians for one moment when they secretly tried to persuade Titus, who was a Christian Gentile, to become circumcised. For salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ alone!

There is no higher name!

John Lutz

24 Feb 2021

Galatians 2:1-2-Then after fourteen yearsI went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus with me. And I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain.

The apostle had departed Jerusalem, from his first meeting with Peter, not to return again for fourteen years! Over the course of fourteen years, Paul continued in the work of an apostle and an evangelist, preaching the gospel and planting churches throughout the Roman Empire. The apostles in Jerusalem knew of his work among the Gentiles, and were supportive of his ministry. They did not try to correct Paul’s gospel, nor did they try to prevent his work among the Gentiles. Paul was given divine instructions, “revelation,” from the Lord to return to Jerusalem. This time Paul brought with him his fellow-laborers in the gospel, Barnabas and Titus; and privately shared the gospel message which he and his ministry team had been preaching throughout the world. This he did to confirm the gospel which he preached for so long had not been in error.

The Blood of Christ breaks chains!

John Lutz

23 Feb 2021

Galatians 1:21-24-Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. But they were heading only, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God in me.

Departing from Jerusalem, and his brief visit with Peter, the apostle Paul continued his ministry work in the regions of Syria and Cilicia. Paul’s testimony was shared throughout the churches in Judea, the region where Jerusalem was located; of how one who “formerly persecuted” believers, gave his life to Jesus Christ! The churches throughout the region of Judea praised and glorified the Lord because of Paul’s testimony. For it was a powerful witness of God’s grace, love and kindness toward those who repent and turn to Christ. How abundant are His riches and glory in Christ Jesus! Your life is a testimony to what Jesus has done for you.

His name shall be praised.

John Jutz

22 Feb 2021

Galatians 1:18-20-Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. (Now concerning the things which I write to you, indeed, before God, I do not Lie.)

Paul affirmed that his ordination was not from man but from Jesus Christ! The apostle did not seek to gain further instructions inn the Gospel of Christ from others, nor about his calling to the office of apostleship; but rather began preaching right after his conversion (see Acts 9:20-25). He only visited Jerusalem three years after his conversion to faith in Christ, and that for a brief fifteen days! While in Jerusalem, Paul spent his time in fellowship, conversation and prayer primarily with Peter, some with James, thee brother of Jesus Christ. He talked with no one other than the Lord Jesus Christ.

We recalled to follow Christ alone!

John Lutz

21 Feb 2021

Galatians 1:15-17-But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

The apostle revealed more of his personal testimony to the Galatians. Paul’s conversion was extraordinary, for Jesus Christ spoke directly with him and called him into His kingdom, all while traveling to persecute His church! It was the sovereign will of God for Paul to come to faith in Christ, and to make His name known throughout the Gentile nations. The Lord came with power on Paul’s life, by His Spirit, that he would reveal Christ in him! He shared with them that he did not go to visit the apostles in Jerusalem after his conversion; he instead went to Arabia, for a time; then returned to Damascus where met the Lord. Paul likely sought further revelation and divine instruction from the Lord Jesus Christ in Arabia before returning to Damascus.

His Power is revealed in us!

john Lutz

20 Feb 2021

Galatians 1:12-14-For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in m own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the tradition of my fathers.

The Apostle Paul tells the Galatians about his education, how he had previously excelled and advanced in the study of Old Testament Scriptures; and was “exceedingly zealous” for the traditions and doctrines of his people. He had a reputation of aspirations in the Jewish faith, of one day becoming a religious leader among his sect. Paul held fiercely to the “traditions” and the law of his fathers in the Jewish faith, and sought to persecute those who turned to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, for it was a threat to their way!

We are called to know Him,

John Lutz

19 Feb 2021

Galatians 1:11-12-But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Here, the apostle expanded further upon the purpose of his letter to the Galatians, to confirm the Gospel which the Church there received from him. The Gospel which Paul preached to them came to him directly from the Lord Jesus Christ, that salvation was only through faith in Him. Paul received the Gospel by divine revelation through Jesus Christ, not from another apostle, brother in Christ or missionary (see Acts 9). The Gospel of Jesus Christ was given to Paul, even in the midst of his war against the Church, to save even the “chief” among sinners (see 1 Tim. 1:15).

He has the power to save.

John Lutz

18 Feb 2021

Galatians 1:10-For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

Paul continued to support his declaration of apostleship, as well as the accuracy of the Gospel which he delivered to the Gentiles. The Lord Jesus Christ had called Paul to the office of apostle, to preach the good news of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and to live his life worth of his calling! Paul’s purpose was not to please or gratify people but to please the Lord. Paul was a faithful servant of the Lord Jesus Christ and sought to bring His kingdom on earth!

We are His own

John Lutz