GALATIANS

1.    Strengths and weaknesses in the church
The Galatian church consisted mostly of Christians from Gentile people. The Christians in this church had clearly heard the gospel of righteousness by faith in Jesus Christ - only. But somebody came and preached that they had to add something more: Circumcision and the law also belonged.

What we are reading about in Galatians chapter 1 and 2 are also described in Act 9.

2.    Main idea of this epistle

Paul makes it clear that the gospel - which God himself has revealed, is without works of any kind. Justice and salvation is only by the grace of God! (3:8-9)

Paul says that believers don’t need to be under the law to lead ethical lives (5:1-6:16). The Holy Spirit will empower them to live the way God wants (5:16-17).

3. Character and Nature of God

- God has no favorites (2:6)
- God declare the Gentiles to be righteous because of their faith (3:8).
- God graciously gave the inheritance to Abraham as a promise (3:18).
- Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.(6:2)
- You cannot mock the justice of God (6:7).
- May God’s peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle (6:16)

 
Personal Application:
For me is Galatians 2:20 a foundation in my Christian walk. To see my self not longer alive by myself, but by Christ living in me, give me rest and peace. When the devil will accuse me, I can quote this verse, and he can not accuse one who is dead for the sin, but alive in Christ. Also when life is troubled and I feel that I am failing in different aspects in my life and “don’t fix it”, this verse gives hope and works as an anchor for my soul. 

“My old self has been crucified with Christ^. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me”.

Point of passion:

My point of passion during my DBS is the Shan-people in Thailand:

I am still thinking of the 6 students who are attending the first DTS started in Chiang Mai, and my hope for them is that God has revealed His Father Heart to these students during the course, so that He can use them to reflect His glory to the Shan in South East Asia.

It is often said that a good Shan-people is a Buddhist, and generally a Buddhist believe that there are many paths to one God. They denies that we have a soul or personality, so a personal understanding of God is an alien idea. Jesus is understood to be a spiritual master similar to Buddha, but most Buddhists have either not heard the gospel or have not understood it.

When reading Galatians, the scripture in 6:9: spoke to me when I was thinking of the Shan-people:

“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up”.

I will especially pray for the 6 students that they not shall lose their hope and give up in their work to spread the Good News  – because in the right time they will reap the harvest.

Many Buddhists are today questioning their beliefs or they are feeling disillusioned. Stories are told of dreams, visions and prophecies which have occurred in isolated or ‘closed’ areas, preparing people for Christian witness, and I pray that these 6 students shall be used as harvest-workers among them.