Galatians 5:7

As Paul writes to the churches in Galatia, who were being persuaded by false teachers to trust in the law and their works rather than in the grace of God alone, he reminds them of how well they were doing before they began to listen to these false teachers. He writes to them, “You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?”

They were running the race of faith so well, with their eyes on the grace of God. They were loving one another, bearing one another’s burdens, and not criticizing each other. Then the legalists came, saying, “Oh you’re a Christian? Are you keeping the law? Have you been circumcised? Are you praying three times a day? Do you tithe of all that you have? Well, if you’re not, you can’t really call yourself a true believer.” They hindered the new believers from obeying the truth of God’s word.

We are saved by grace, not by works; it’s a gift we have been given by God. So stay in the race, live by the grace of God, and as you obey the truth, you will finish well.

Pastor Doug Hardin