I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20
Galatia was a place populated by gentiles that received the Gospel with great enthusiasm. When Paul, their minister, left to continue his missionary journey, Jewish teachers came and encouraged all new believers to take up the traditions of Judaism, namely, circumcision. Sadly, they taught that you had to be one thing, a Jew, before you could be another, a sinner saved by grace. These new believers complied, but when news reached Paul, he wrote this letter explaining that laws did not bring about salvation.
There are two great temptations at play in Paul’s world. One, to be ruled by law and two, to use law to rule others. Both paths lead to bondage of one sort or another. This is the very thing Christ died to end.
The Christian life is lived by faith, just as it began. Christ put His life aside that we might have life eternal. By faith and love we live for Christ. Please God with your faith and everything else will take care of itself.
Love,
Gretchen