In Ephesians 3, Paul explains God's "secret plan", which was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit. The revealed mystery was that "the Gentiles would have an equal share with the Jews in all the riches inherited by God's children". Paul says this was His plan from all eternity, to show his wisdom in joining together the nations together in His church. All who have faith in Christ, whether Jew or Gentile, can now come boldly before God, assured of His welcome. "By His mighty power at work within us, He is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope."

Ephesians 2 explains more about how we got to be where we are in Christ. Paul says that we all were living full of sin under Satan’s leadership, refusing to obey God and following only the passions and desires of our own evil selfish hearts. He describes our wretched condition as “dead”, since our many sins had destined us for a state of eternal doom. BUT because of His amazing love for us, our richly merciful God gave us the gift of eternal life with Him when he raised us up with Christ Jesus. God chose us for salvation not because of any thought, intention, or action of ourselves, but only by His mercy and grace. Paul says God saved us when we believed, but we can’t take credit for that either because even our faith is a gift from God. Paul says that God did all this for us “so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago”. Because of the blood of Christ, Jews and Gentiles alike are united in the body of Christ, the church. Paul says, “Now all of us may come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us”.

Ephesians 1 explains who we are as believers and how did we get where we are now. Like Paul's apostleship, we who are faithful in Christ are so "by the will of God". We were chosen by Him according to the kind intentions of His will, predestined to be His sons, redeemed by grace through Christ's blood, and "blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ". This position that we are now in has been "sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise", by the surpassing greatness of His power. I pray , with Paul, that the eyes of our hearts might be enlightened, so that we would know what is the hope of His calling, and understand the riches of the glory of His inheritance for us. We need to both 1) understand the position God had put us in and all that is ours in Christ, and also 2) be aware of our need for all that He has given us in Christ.

In Gal 6, Paul teaches us to examine your own work and test your own actions. Keeping in mind that we will reap what we sow, we should always sow unto the Spirit. We should always do good to all people, in a spirit of gentleness, bearing one another's burdens, and helping to restore those caught in any trespass. As Paul says, though, "may it never be that (we) would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ". Because of the cross, our interest in the ways of this world has been crucified. We have been transformed into a new creation with a new nature, by God's mercy and grace.

Gal 5 is about the freedom we have in Christ, no longer relying on obedience to the law in order to be made right with God. Our confidence is in the righteousness we have through faith in Christ, which allows us to live by the Spirit in eager anticipation of our inheritance promised by God. We have "been called to live in freedom--not freedom to satisfy our sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love". Paul advises to live according to our new life in the Holy Spirit, who gives us desires that are opposite from what our sinful nature desires. He says, "when you are directed by the Holy Spirit, you are no longer subject to the law". When the Spirit controls our lives, He produces in us love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. As Paul says, "let us follow the Holy Spirit's leading in every part of our lives" and rely on the Spirit's power to work through us, continually presenting ourselves and submitting ourselves for His purposes. Amen.

In Gal 4, Paul continues his defense of justification by faith, not works or obedience to the law. He gives an illustration of how young children are in the same position as slaves even if they are heirs to great wealth. They have to obey their guardians until they reach adulthood. Paul says it's the same way with us before Christ came. "But when the right time came, God sent his Son... to buy freedom for us who were slaves the the law, so that He could adopt us as His very own children... and everything He has belongs to you." Paul asks the Galatians, then, "why do you want to go back again and become slaves once more? ... trying to find favor with God by what you do or don't do ?" Paul says once more, "we are not obligated to the law, but are acceptable to God because of our faith". Life can be discouraging and even depressing if we dwell on thoughts of guilt or inadequacy because of our inability to perform perfect obedience to God. Rejoice in God's grace and know that our status before God depends only on our faith in Christ's greatness, not our ability to live up to the expectations or demands of the law or other people.

In Gal 3, Paul teaches that the true gospel proclaims justification by faith in Christ, rather than obedience to the law. Paul first appeals to the Galatians' personal experience, asking "Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing?". Then, once they acknowledged that they had begun with the Spirit, Paul asks them what are they now trying to attain then by their human effort? Next, Paul appeals to the scriptures to further explain justification by faith. He reminds them that Abraham was declared righteous because of his faith, and those now who have the faith of Abraham will also be equal heirs of the blessings God promised to Abraham. Paul says, "the scriptures declare that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe". Before Jesus came, we were held under the law, but now by God's grace we are made right with God through faith in Jesus and are no longer under the law.