Bible Fellowship – May 2, 2024

I hope this finds you well. It is nice to see the sun again. We continue our study on Galatians on Thursday at 6:00 at David and Cindy’s and on Zoom.

Our Bible References for the week are:

Galatians 2:11-3:29 (Paul Rebukes Peter at Antioch; Jews and Gentiles are Saved by Faith; Law or Faith; The Promise to Abraham; and The Purpose of the Law).

One of the themes in Galatians is justification by faith. The theological theme of justification by faith is the belief that individuals are made righteous in the eyes of God not by their own works or adherence to religious laws, but rather through their faith in Jesus Christ. This concept emphasizes that salvation is a gift from God, received through faith alone, and is not earned or achieved through human effort. It underscores the idea that humans are inherently sinful and incapable of achieving righteousness on their own, necessitating the grace of God and the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ for reconciliation with God. This theme is central to Protestant theology, particularly in the writings of reformers like Martin Luther, and it is derived from biblical passages such as Romans 3:21-26 and Galatians 2:15-21.

Paul says, “yet we know that a person is justified not by the words of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ.” Our Question of the Week comes from the Lutheran Study Bible. “How do you feel knowing that God loves people who don’t keep God’s laws perfectly? What encouragement does such love give to you? How can the church welcome people whose lives are messy?”