Out of Pawn

Monday, June 30, 2008: Galatians 3:11–14

But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.” Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Background: The letter to the Galatians was to explain that we are not bound to live the Law, but to live by faith.
What is the CURSE of the law? We were under its penalty. Christ has paid the price for us. We don’t have to pay the penalty and have the Holy Spirit.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008: Galatians 4:1–7

Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

What is the problem of being under the LAW? We have the presence of the Law above us. Christ has removed the presence of the Law from us. No longer slaves, we are sons of God. Ours is now the Law of Love!

Wednesday, July 2, 2008: Ephesians 5:15–20

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Colossians 4:5–6

Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one

What does redeeming the time mean? We spend our time earning money; with this we buy things. If we need money in an emergency, we pawn our possessions and buy them back when we can. Redeeming time is a metaphor: if we are wise, we make use of time by doing what God wants us to do. The opposite of this is getting so deep in debt that we take a second job just to meet payments, but have no life left.

Thursday, July 3, 2008: Isaiah 52:3

For thus says the Lord: “You have sold yourselves for nothing, And you shall be redeemed without money.”

Hosea 13:14

“I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death.
O Death, I will be your plagues! O Grave, I will be your destruction! Pity is hidden from My eyes.”

What does redeemed w/o money mean? The price paid by Jesus Christ for our sins was His death on the cross. His being raised from the dead implies that we are no longer under the penalty of death.

Friday, July 4, 2008: 1 Corinthians 15:51–57

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?”
The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

What is this mystery? Not all believers in Jesus Christ will suffer death. At the last trumpet, we shall put on incorruptibility and immortality!