ImpactHS#3 Gal 3:1- 5, 10 – 14
Redemption: “Delivered from law – The tyranny of the should”
Having focussed on Justification and Reconciliation last week, we
are ready for Redemption this week. Redemption means to save.
Modern shopping uses the term to explain how you can redeem a
product through the use of a voucher, or exchanging empty bottles
and cans for cash.
Paul gets to the heart of the tension with organised religion and
faith, by focussing on the reality that people will often drift towards
LAW and RULE rather than focus on relationship with God.
Vs 7-8 Habakkuk had it right: “The person who believes God, is set
right by God—and that’s the real life.” Rule-keeping does not
naturally evolve into living by faith, but only perpetuates itself in
more and more rule-keeping…” Message Translation
Read Luke chapter 11 to get a sense of some of the conflict Jesus
was having with the religious leaders of his day, as he tried to move
them from simply following rules to understanding that the heart of
the law was relationship with God… not rigidly following rules.
Jesus died so we would be redeemed, saved from immersing
ourselves in laws that limit our experience of God. While we may
not have 613 laws governing our religious life today, modern
people are immersed in a different sort of law: “The Tyranny of the
Shoulds.”
Q. How does Jesus save us from the Tyranny of the Shoulds?
Q. Are you aware of what your “shoulds” look or sound like?
Peace – Rev DJPrior
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