Faith Working Through Love: Present Grace

Sunday we finish our series through Paul’s letter to the Galatian churches. He ends with a simple prayer that the grace of Christ be with us. That Paul wants us to live in the grace of God is understandable, since that’s been his message throughout, but a couple of items are curious.

First, he focuses the grace of God as coming through Jesus. This brings us back to how he opens the letter, saying, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (1:3) This comment focuses our attention on Paul’s next statement, “who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age.” (1:4) Is Paul drawing our attention back to the work of Christ to free us?

Second, he prays that grace will be with our spirit. He isn’t referring to the Holy Spirit but to our inner being. This requires that we try to understand Paul’s concept of our inner being.

So come Sunday, and let’s consider Paul’s ending prayer for us to live in the grace available to us through Jesus.