Ephesians 2

Paul reminded the Ephesians that they were once apart from God and that only by the sacrifice of Jesus were they brought into the family of God. Through the grace of God, they were adopted into the promise given to Israel because Jesus had torn down the wall of the law and was building a new temple to include everyone who believed in Him.

No one starts off life as a Christian. Before we come to know and accept Christ, we are all apart from God - rebellious. Once we accept Christ into our lives, He grafts us into the body of believers and begins to change us into something new. Only then do we have the promise of eternal life. This is a free gift that cannot be earned by anything we do. God gives it freely because of His grace and love for each of us.

Ephesians 1

Paul began his letter to the Ephesians by reminding them of the inheritance they had received from God. He also mentioned that he was praying for them to grow in wisdom and knowledge of the Lord.

We all need to be reminded from time to time about what God has done for us. It can be easy to lose sight of God's love and mercy toward us if we are not constantly reminded. We should always seek to know God more deeply. No matter how well we know Him and know His word, there is always more to learn. God has something new to teach you every day if you let Him.

Galatians 6

Paul said that we should bear each other's burdens and correct one another in gentleness. If we do so in the Spirit, then we will reap eternal life as a reward, but if we do so of our own accord, the only reward we get will come from ourselves.

More important than what we do is why we do it. If we want God to honor what we do, we must be sure to do it for Him. He does not reward us for doing the right thing for selfish or self-centered reasons. Do everything for the glory of God.

Galatians 5

Paul wrote that when we we try to earn redemption by following the law, we reject the work done by Christ and are no longer under grace. We are free from the law, but that freedom is tempered with a commandment to love one another. Paul called the evidence of that love in our lives the fruit of the Spirit and listed the qualities as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Just because we are no longer under the law doesn't mean we are not accountable. We are still to lead lives pleasing to God, but out of love and not obligation. We can see this love lived out in our lives and the lives of others when we see the fruit of the Spirit described by Paul.

Galatians 4

Paul wrote about being heirs to God's kingdom. Under the law, we are like children with an inheritance to come, but still under a set of rules. Christ came to offer us the full inheritance so we can fully receive His blessings and be set free from the burden of the law.

The law was meant to prepare the Israelites for the coming inheritance Jesus brought. Just like children have rules to follow that are meant to shape them for adulthood, so also was the law designed to shape God's people for receiving the ultimate gift of salvation. Putting ourselves back under the law makes us slaves rather than heirs to the kingdom of God.

Galatians 3

Paul wrote about how we are saved through faith and not the law. He showed that even Abraham was justified by his faith and not by keeping the law. The law was needed to keep order until God's ultimate plan was revealed in Jesus. Through Him, salvation has been made complete and there is nothing we can add to or take away from His work on the cross.

So many people want to work their way to heaven. They believe if they do enough good deeds or go to church once in a while or at least don't do anything really bad that if there is a God, He'll let them into heaven. God has quite a different view. His standard is perfection; a standard none of us could ever hope to meet. Christ is the only person who has ever or will ever live a perfect life on Earth and only through faith in Him does He extend that covering of perfection over us so that God can see us as holy through His Son. When we reject the truth of salvation through faith alone, we reject the One who set the standard as well.

Galatians 2

Paul recounted going to the elders in the Christian church at Jerusalem to tell them what he had been teaching to the Gentiles. He also told of how he handled a disagreement with Peter, another apostle.

Here are two good examples of how we should proceed in our lives. First, we should share what we are doing with someone whose opinion we trust so that our actions can be confirmed with a second party or we can receive counseling if we are going down a wrong path. Second, we need to learn the correct way to disagree with someone. We need to confront them and try to help them right their course. Most importantly, all of this must be done in love.