Camden First United Methodist Church Beth A. Waldrup

In the Fifth Chapter of Galatians, Paul is challenging the church to a journey of faith and hope, led by the Holy Spirit. This chapter is the most persuasive argument of the church's need to be spirit led.

Paul challenged the Galatians by telling them the missionaries from Jerusalem were wrong.  They did not need to being in good standing with the Old Covenant to become mmbers of the New Covenant. So I'm wondering if it is wrong to tell LGBTQ individuals they must become straight before they are fully included in the New Covenant.

The new kingdom Jesus presents in not the resurrection of the old kingdom of God found in the Hebrew Bible. The old Kingdom was a physical kingdom with boundaries and politics. The new Kingdom has no boundaries. It expands only when Jesus changes a heart and mind.

If you do not understand the story of Abraham, you will not understand Paul's theology. Abraham was not redeemed by the Law; he was redeem by faith.

Paul began his ministry as a Pharisee, sworn to abide by and protect the law then he encountered Jesus. Paul's call was to the Gentiles. Paul's call was to preach salvation by faith alone in the grace of Jesus Christ. Peter knew this but took heat from the church in Jerusalem where they followed Jesus and kept the law. It is a debate we have been having for 200 years.

In every letter of Paul, both the seven certain and the two maybes, there is a greeting followed by a prayer of thanksgiving except one - Galatians. Why is Galatians different? That is what we will be learning in this seven week series.