Proclaim Hope Daily | Week 45

Below is a short summary or synopsis of the Bible reading for the day. Use it as a helpful tool to think through the Scripture. There are also some cross references to study other passages of Scripture to highlight or better understand that passage.

A significant aspect of being grateful for the Lord’s protection is not only acknowledging the benefits of the rescue, but recognizing the calamity that could have been. This psalm of ascent, one of sincere thanksgiving, sings praise to the Lord for his continued refuge. Many times throughout history Israel had been miraculously spared from destruction, particularly as they were grossly outnumbered and surrounded. The psalmist (king David) reminds the nation of Israel how they have profited by the divine hand of the Lord and calls them to glorify his name. As their political and spiritual leader, David understands that both he and the nation (Israel) are totally dependent upon the Lord. They are truly blessed for their God is both sovereignly high above the earth, but also near, dwelling with them and intervening on their behalf.

(Exodus 25:8; Leviticus 26:12; Psalm 34:7, 118:10-11, 125:2; Isaiah 8:9-10; John 14:23; Acts 17:27; Romans 8:31; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Hebrews 13:5-6; Revelation 21:3)

These words of wisdom from the Preacher seek to communicate the importance of living a life of prudence, working with intention and direction, especially because the future is uncertain. Planning ahead and being properly prepared are vital to stewarding what the Lord has given. Because we do not always know what tomorrow holds or understand the mysteries of life, taking chances and trusting God is also key to a fulfilled life. Many can get bogged down in the planning, attempting to wait until what seems to be the perfect moment; however, this often leads to what is called “paralysis by analysis.” At the end of the day, faith in the sovereignty of God can provide a great sense of peace and assurance. Whether the plans of man are blessed or failures ensue, God is still good and has promised to sustain his people. He has promised to work all things together for the good of those who are called according to his purpose. Therefore man should seek to honor the Lord with their efforts, trusting in Him for the increase, even finding joy and purpose in the midst of trouble.

(Psalm 90:12; Proverbs 4:25-27, 14:15, 16:9, 21:5; Romans 8:28; 1 Corinthians 4:2, 10:31; Ephesians 2:10, 5:15-16; Colossians 3:17, 23-24; 1 Peter 4:10)

Paul endearingly calls the Galatians foolish, and rightly so. They had received such grace and freedom, complete forgiveness of sin, a life fulfilled with joy and purpose in Christ. But now, Paul says, it appears that someone has cast an evil spell on them, deceitfully entrancing them into forfeiting liberation for chains of imprisonment. Old Testament history makes it abundantly clear that the law never had the ability to give life, but was intended to communicate humanity’s reliance upon God for salvation. Even Abraham, the patriarchal pinnacle of Judaism, was found righteous before God because of faith and not by any works. But yet the Galatians were willing to choose a life of striving to achieve the unachievable. The law is like a double sided mirror, reflecting both God’s perfect righteousness and man’s inability. On one side it defines the holy nature and perfectly pure standard of God. The other side of the mirror exhibits mankind’s incompetence to meet such an impeccable and sacred standard. Paul was perplexed how the Galatian believers could experience the supernatural movement of the Holy Spirit in their lives and then think that they could sustain or improve upon that by any effort of their own. By faith in Christ, believers become inheritors within God’s family, therefore receiving salvation as a gift of inheritance, not as if it was earned or achieved.

(Genesis 15:6; Ezekiel 18:24; Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 4:3-5, 10:4; 1 Corinthians 1:23-24; Ephesians 2:4-10; Titus 3:7; Hebrews 7:19, 11:8, 17-19)

In order to combat the heretical Judaizers and firmly root the Galatian believers in sound teaching, the apostle Paul draws out the truth of the gospel, pure doctrinal salvation. All mankind is born into sin and therefore born under the curse of the law, separated from God. Strive as they may, complete adherence is utterly impossible, rendering all humanity unable to obtain the glory of God. To put it simply, mankind cannot appease God by living a “good” life, all are incapable of saving oneself. Therefore, God sent his son into the world to identify with sinners, although he himself was without sin, accomplished what man could not, upholding the fullness of the law. Jesus Christ bridged the gap between perfect God and sinful man, making reconciliation possible. This is the gospel, the good news that can be proclaimed in victory by those who have faith in Jesus. This refers to the doctrine of penal substitution, substitutionary atonement, or what is also called the great exchange. Exchange meaning that Christ took the sinner’s place. When God the Father looked down at the cross, He saw the sin of man, and now when He looks at those of faith, He sees the righteousness of His Son. Often the word GRACE is used as an acronym to describe this exchange: God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Because those of faith become eternally connected to His Son, they are then adopted by God the Father into His eternal family.

(Leviticus 17:11; Isaiah 53:4-12, 64:6; Matthew 5:17-18; John 1:12; Romans 3:23-25, 8:15; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13; Ephesians 1:5; 1 Peter 2:24, 3:18; 1 John 3:1)

Paul urges the Galatians to realize that there is no replacement for Christ, nor can there be found any other freedom apart from him. To return to the law null and voids the relevance of Christ in their life, because they are rejecting the complete efficacy of his atoning work. There is no alternative for or addendum to salvation, only Christ. The false teachers who plagued the Galatians did not understand that circumcision (which can be a metaphor for the whole law) does not have any value in and of itself. It is only an outward mark. Circumcision identified those as God’s people, set apart as his chosen. What really mattered was the faith on the inside, the commitment and obedience of God’s people towards him. Paul knows that if he can get the Galatians to stand firm in the righteousness of Christ, then a life that models Christ will be resulted. The opposite is also true; if they are are not firmly anchored with biblical truth, their lives and faith will be easy tossed to and fro, resulting in unstable works of the flesh. This is a clear sign with which they measure themselves, as well as the false teachers. Only a good and faithful tree, rooted in the truth of Christ, will bear good fruit. All others will bear rotten fruit.

(Deuteronomy 10:16, 30:6; Jeremiah 4:4; Matthew 7:15-20; Luke 6:43-44; John 15:4-5; Romans 2:28-29; Ephesians 4:14; Colossians 2:11-12; 1 Peter 5:9)

As the apostle Paul further opposes the notion that keeping the law produces salvation, he reverses it, by explaining that salvation actually produces a life that fulfills the law of Christ. When an individual professes faith in Christ, becomes justified by the sacrificial work of Christ, they are saved unto works. James argues this in his epistle, stating that good works are actually evidence of a saving faith, not the other way around. Faith is not the evidence or outcome of works. It is with this line of reasoning that he further exhorts the Galatians to examine themselves, to examine one another. This practice will produce a constant state of purification and reforming within their hearts, which naturally gives way to proper church discipline (v.1) and healthy Christian fellowship (v.2). The law that Christians should focus on fulfilling (the law of Christ) is mentioned in the previous chapter, which is quoted from Matthew 22, where Jesus says that the ultimate commandments are to love God and to love others. According to Paul, a genuine believer and follower of Christ will witness this fulfillment in their own lives, thus providing assurance and a solid foundation on which to stand. In closing, Paul assures his audience that the Judaizers do not pass this smell test. They expose themselves by way of their fruit, for they do not seek the good of those they teach, but to make much of themselves.

(Matthew 7:15-20, 22:37-40; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; Ephesians 2:10, 5:11; 2 Timothy 4:1-5; James 2:14-18; 2 Peter 2:1-3)

The apostle Paul opens this epistle with an earth-shattering force of theological truth. The bulk of the chapter (vv.3-14) is one continuous expression of the gospel that expands from eternity past into the eternal future, encompassing the cohesive work of the Triune Godhead. God the Father is seen initiating the work that is accomplished through Christ which is applied by the Holy Spirit. Predestination is one of the greatest, most misunderstood and widely hated doctrines of all scripture; nevertheless it is the thread that pulls all of these verses together. Paul views and describes this infamous doctrine as a sovereignly dispensed blessing and is the focus of his thanksgiving in the latter part of this portion of verses. Three variations of the word blessing are intentionally used in verse 3 to describe the source, the substance and the significance of what is in focus: the plan of salvation that was established before creation and accomplished at the appointed time. God the Father is praised (Blessed) for he is the source from which the blessing comes. The Son is the substance of the blessing, as he is the One sent to acquire it. The Spirit of God details the significance of the blessing as he applies the eternal, imperishable inheritance. Like it or not, predestination, or election, is the truth found in scripture stating that specific individuals are chosen in Christ before the world ever existed. Many despise this scriptural truth, primarily stating that it renders God unjust because he chose some and not others. This argument is nonsensical, for true justice would be that not one person is chosen, as all mankind falls short of God’s righteousness and deserve death. This serves to glorify the grace and mercy of God, in understanding that none deserve salvation, yet many are saved. For this reason God’s people are moved to glorify his name to the ends of the earth.

(John 6:44, 15:16; Romans 3:23, 6:23, 8:29-30, 9:11, 14-16; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 2:9; 1 John 3:2; Revelation 13:8, 17:8)