Verse of the Day (December 12, 2019)

Verse of the Day (December 12, 2019) #BMSeminary – Prior to God taking the initiative to make himself known to the Galatians, they had been enslaved to idols (vv. 8–9). The reference to days and months and seasons (v. 10) indicates that the Galatians had worshiped fertility gods connected to the movements of the sun and the moon. But Paul is not suggesting that the Galatians were now turning back to these idols; rather, they were turning to a new slavery expressed in Jewish annual feasts such as Passover and Booths, as well as new moon festivals and weekly Sabbaths. It is hard to see why the Galatians would be attracted by slavery except that the perversity of the fallen human heart wants to do something itself to contribute to being justified before God. We have here in these verses not only a window into the Galatians’ thinking but also a mirror into our own heart, for we too are strongly inclined to contribute something toward our justification. The scandalous freedom of the gospel rejects all such self-generated contribution. Christ has accomplished everything. (Gospel Transformation Study Bible)