Galatians 6:1-5 | "Household of Faith Pt. 1 - The Law of Christ" | 2024/04/14 (Sermon Only)

Paul’s life was forever changed by an encounter with the risen Jesus. He had believed in the holiness of Israel as a people set apart from the Gentiles. He had performed zealous service for this cause and dedicated his life to the Law given through Moses. As we resume our series in Galatians, we come to the final chapter of this impactful letter and everything is different. Paul is now the Apostle to the Gentiles. They are being grafted into Israel and they have become part of God’s family WITH Israel. Jews and Gentiles now form a new “household of faith” (v9) together! Paul deeply cares for his new family. This was demonstrated in how passionately he pleaded with them in chapter 1. Frequently in this letter, Paul has addressed the Galatian believers as family (“brothers” in the Greek, but rendered as “brothers and sisters” in the CSB). In our passage this Sunday (and next), Paul will conclude this letter with a series of commands or “house rules” that show us how we should live together as a new household built on a new covenant following a new law. The Law of the Old Covenant has been fulfilled in the person and ministry of Christ. Now Paul calls the Galatian Christians to fulfill a new law: something he calls “the Law of Christ”. This new law calls for a different way of living based on God’s grace and fueled by the promised blessing of the Holy Spirit. This law comes from within. It is written on the hearts of all who belong to the Family of God.