View source for Free of Evil

{{Message Ideas Box
|chapter=Galatians 1
|verse=3-5
|occasion=General
|audience=Adults
|theological tradition=Wesleyan
|topic=Sanctification
|author=None Given
|direction=We can be free of evil and live in grace and peace, we can be sanctified.
|how to get there=*Paul greets these people with grace and peace, it is attainable, but only from God, Paul emphasizes this. It doesn't come with salvation, Paul was writing to a dedicated church
*We live in a sinful, fallen world where these things are not easily found, how they are found is verse four, because Christ gave himself.
*Why Christ gave himself is to rescue us. The verb here is not future, but indicates a present reality. Christ gave himself to rescue us right now.
*So we can be free of this age right now, free from the evil of this age at least. And this act of Christ was according to the will of God the father. God wants us to be free of this evil age, and to have grace and peace, and it's possible through Christ.

|things to watch for=*Make sure you do some word studies to know what Paul used “grace” and “peace” to mean so you don't misinterpret what we receive
*Check other introductions of NT letters to see how their greetings compare with Galatians'.
*Look up the form of “exeletai” or “free” in verse four. A lot hinges on that verb, especially on its voice and what that means for our involvement.
*Check some good commentaries on this passage and especially on how the verses relate to one another.
*Make sure you know what the standard form of a Greek letter of Paul's day was so you can know how he diverges or sticks with it.

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