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Galatians 1:4a, "who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age..."

What is that "present evil age"? When the apostle Paul wrote this letter the present age he lived in was evil. And presently we live in the evil age as well. Things have not changed much in two thousand years. Is the "evil age" something out there? Is it them who are evil and not us who are good?

1John 1:1-4, "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched —this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete."

The law has occupied my mind for many years, and it almost killed me. I think, especially in many reformed circles, the law, rather than the person of Christ is the center of focus. We hear it said, "the Law is the rule of our life". But is that true?

As believers under the New Covenant we certainly do not discard and ignore the law, but we fulfill it, but as if to say, indirectly, by the Spirit's work within us, writing it on our hearts, changing us from within to love God and to love others - which also sums up the whole law.

The Purpose of the Law is:

1. TO MAKE US CONSCIOUS OF OUR SIN AND TO KNOW WHAT SIN IS - Romans 3.20b, "through the law we become conscious of our sin". and, Romans 7.7b, " Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law.

2. TO MAKE THE TRESPASS INCREASE AND OUR SINFUL PASSIONS AROUSED - Romans 5.20a, "The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase." and, Romans 7.5b, "the sinful passions aroused by the law".

Mark 6:51b-52, "They [the twelve disciples] were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened."

Romans 8:18, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."

Mark 14:37-38,
"Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” "

Have you ever been found by the Lord sleeping, when you know you were supposed to be watching and praying? I have, sadly and unnecessarily, many times, and have fallen into temptation.
Is one hour of fellowship in reading and pondering God's Word and talking with Jesus so much to ask from us? Yes and no!

Matthew 26:53,54, "Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”

I wonder what would happen, if Jesus did call on his Father to send him 12 legions of angels to help him.

It may have proved to his disciples that Jesus came to save Israel from the Romans. It may have convinced to the religious leaders that he is sent from God. Or, it may have pursuaded all Israel that Jesus is the Messiah!

After some time when Paul and Barnabas came to Antioch, to encourage the brothers in the faith, some teachers came form Judea teaching, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." This false teaching upset the minds of the Gentile believers, causing mental and emotional confusion and distress.

The sad story of Ahithophel in 2 Samuel 16.15-17.23 is given to us by God in the Holy Scriptures, so we may learn to humble ourselves before our holy and all knowing God, and not take pride in our knowledge, learning, wisdom and spirituality. May we realize that without a sincere and pure devotion to Jesus Christ, we are useless and foolish, and all our knowledge will come to nothing, in the end!