Paul makes this urgent plea: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Gal. 5:1) This plea is relevant today because, despite the passage of time and the changes of culture, the human heart remains susceptible to the subtle lie that our salvation depends upon our own moral and religious record (and not upon Jesus alone).

In Galatians 3, Paul points out that the doctrine of justification by faith had been right under their noses all the way through biblical history. Paul draws from the story of Abraham and quotes from the book of Genesis: “Consider Abraham: ‘He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.’” (verse 6). Paul is showing here that the gospel of salvation by faith first appeared in the opening pages of Scripture.

God planned our salvation, He achieved it by his Son, and it is all for His glory. What a contrast this genuine gospel is to the worldly, human-centred, works-based gospel that the Galatians had heard from impostors. And what a contrast this genuine gospel is to the religious systems we encounter around us today!

The healing touch of Jesus knows no limit. He achieves a comprehensive restoration, and issues a comprehensive invitation. And he shows us these things in order that we might turn to him in complete trust – that we might live to bring him glory. He shows us these things, that we might find in him our everything, and give to him our all in all. What will your response be today?

Psalm 102:28 declares, “But you [LORD] remain the same, and your years will never end.” This unchangeability or “immutability” of God is the glorious truth upon which we can rely in changing times. Moses referred to God as “the Rock” (Deut. 32). Since God is constant, He is the stable Rock to which we can cling in the storms of life. He is immovable and thus utterly dependable.