Ancient Anglican

And from those who were reputed to be something (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who were of repute added nothing to me; but on the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised. Gal. 2:6-7

But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and had called me through his grace . . . Gal. 1:15

Am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ. Gal. 1:10

The Lord Jesus Christ gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age according to the will of God the Father. Gal. 1:4

Whereas Romans and Galatians cover the same subject matter, in the former Paul employs a loftier discourse and more sophisticated arguments, and in the latter, he addresses those who are “senseless” and “foolish” and adopts a style appropriate for censure and not instruction.

The discussion tonight is to help us articulate how we reach moral conclusions of right and wrong. Dr. Sosis will give us some contemporary paradigms to think through what it means to be moral and how to discover that which God has impressed upon our conscious. 

Paul’s letter acerbically refutes the teaching that legal obedience makes one a better Christian. Paul strongly affirms that we are made right with God through the faith of and in Jesus and that there are to be no divisions in the church based upon whether a person obeys the black-letter biblical laws.

Gentleness respects boundaries. Being gentle means allowing others to live their own lives and carry their own burdens. We are to be a healing presence to others, not their savior. 

The homework this week is to be aware of those situations in which we have been treated by others with the gentleness of Christ and how we have treated others with the gentleness of Christ. 

Sanctity is a process of subtraction. We need to subtract our sinful nature and our agenda in order to get us our of God’s way and allow him to work in us.

Our vocation is to see the world as God sees it and to bring the healing presence of the love of Jesus Christ to those in need. Our vocation is simply to be a healing presence to those around us.

Prayer should take us to that place of being both wholly within ourselves and with God. For as Jesus teaches, the Kingdom of God comes not with an observation so that we can say it is here or it is there, rather the Kingdom is within you. Luke 17:20-21.