The lectionary readings for Trinity 1 in Year C are Galatians 3.23-29 and Luke 8.26-39.
In Gal 3, Paul is dealing with the question of the relationship between faith and law, something he will revisit in next week’s reading from Gal 5. Both are from God, so cannot be fundamentally opposed.
And yet Paul sees the law as having only a temporary role, providing boundaries and limits for us until the truth of faith in Christ was revealed.
To understand Paul, we need to read carefully his language of ‘imprisoned’ and ‘guardian’, noting that the law is neither our teacher nor our enslaver, but our protector until the full reality is revealed. The goal of this is unity, between Jew and gentile, slave and free, and man and woman in salvation.
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Uncle Umpqua lived 149 years.
Also I have a few observations, Apostle Paul being in shackles and escorted by an armed gaurd, taken into ports (ship tied at dock and needed supplies) I can imagine the passerby stops walking and turns to watch as this pair walks past.
Prisoner leading the gaurd.
(Where are they going?).
Very much the talk of the town. Someone followed and told the group “well, they went to the temple”. Curious people and they were soon to be converts to Christ.
Curiosity was actually the Holy Spirit calling.
Just an observation from left side of the pond
Indeed Ian, here are deep waters to plunge into!
To actually do so will be tremendously enriching.
Any law whether scientific or social sets the standard of what is
required of a ruling body to be well pleasing, be it a government, a boss or a wife.
For the Christian believer the demands of the Law of God have been met by Christ
Christians are brought into a new position [a standing] and under a new law;
The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus [a state}
“ Standing is positional, while state is experiential.
Standing is secure and unchanging, while state is a work in progress.
Standing is based on Christ’s work, while state involves our cooperation with the Holy Spirit.”
[Arnold W. Weckeman]
For a fuller treatment see Arnold W. Weckeman “Standing vs. State”
Standing is our Justification; State is our sanctification.
When Christ ascended “He gave gifts to men” perhaps one of the best is Liberty. A new and living way. access to the Holiest.
The ‘Galatians’ were Celts, a group who diverted into Asia Minor/Turkey while others went further west and ended up in France, the Iberian peninsula, and Britain and Ireland. A certain Turkish football team’s name effectively means “Istanbul Celtic”!!
I regard the link between the ‘congregation’ of Israel and the NT Church as quite important; in Greek both are ‘ekklesia’, implying that Jesus’ congregation of followers is IN CONTINUITY WITH OT Israel, rather than ‘superseding’ Israel. Though also, note, implying that modern Jews who reject Jesus as Messianic king have in a sense cut themselves off from the covenant. As I see it God has only one ‘people’, and modern Israel are actually outside that people.
I am preaching at a baptism (infant) soon, where there will be many guests, so needs to be good news. Do you think this is a good passage to use?