The Vineyard- July 10, 2016

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. – John 15:5

Pray for God to speak to you through the reading of His word. 

Read Galatians 3:1-14

“Believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”

-          Abraham believed, or trusted in God, and for that reason he was counted as righteousness. 

-          This belief, this trust, lead him to follow God’s leading. 

-          Notice that Genesis doesn’t say that Abraham was perfect, only that despite his imperfections he trusted God. 

-          Are you trying to become righteous by living perfectly, or are you trusting in God and allowing him to guide your life?

-          Passages to Consider: Genesis 15:6

“The righteous shall live by faith”

-          This statement is made in the book of Habakkuk, where the judgment coming on Israel because of her failures has become evident. 

-          In the midst of God’s judgment, the prophet proclaims that the righteous live not by their own merit, but by trusting in God. 

-          Reliance upon ourselves leads to death, but faith and trust in God lead to life.

-          Passages to Consider: Habakkuk 2:4

“Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”

-          Even if we don’t rely on our own ability to follow the rules, we still have to deal with the fact that we break the rules sometimes.  We know we aren’t perfect, so what do we do with those imperfections. 

-          Paul uses a passage from Deuteronomy to demonstrate that Christ bore the curse of our sinfulness for us.  He was hanged on a tree, despite being innocent, and so bore the curse that should have fallen on us. 

-          Passages to Consider: Deuteronomy 21:23

Pray for the ability to trust in God, allowing him to guide you. 

Seek life by trusting in God, the only one capable of redeeming us.

Praise God for his Son Jesus Christ, who bore the curse of our sin!