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We are reading Galatians Chapter 3 and we have focused on verse 6. When dealing with this crucial issue of legalism and licence in the Church of Jesus Christ Paul takes these believers in Jesus back to the Scripture. We looked at Genesis Chapter 15.

Experience and fads and fashions and whatever is new - no matter who brings them and no matter where they come from - is not good enough. Everything in the Church of Jesus Christ has to be based and grounded upon The Word of God.

Paul refers these disciples to Abraham. There are only two religions if we dare use that word - those based on trying - and faith in Jesus Christ which is based on trusting.

We are not here trying to be good - but trusting a good God. Paul had been brought up in the atmosphere of trying. He had become frustrated and even angry at trying to become good - then he met Jesus - and what he had been trying to achieve was given to him - salvation - and security - and also the mercy and grace and love and forgiveness of God.

Paul saw the truth. It was good news - which is more than good advice.

Someone came down from heaven to do what we could not do for ourselves - and because of what Jesus did He comes to us and offers us everything in such a simple way.

But some came saying - it is not enough to trust Jesus Christ - you have to try to be good by keeping the law.

We must be careful not to mix trusting with trying. If somebody comes and tells you to try to be good - he'll put you under a curse. That is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ - and this is what Galatians Chapter 3, in particular, is all about.

Paul has described in Chapters 1,2 how he got free from trying to be good and trying to keep the law - and now, all that he had tried to achieve, he received from Jesus.

Peter was on the verge of re-introducing the ‘trying legalistic approach’ - and that is why Paul argued with him. Now this is not exciting stuff. It is not something that people would find entertaining.

Delight was on the point of becoming a duty. Paul avoided our Christian faith becoming legalistic drudgery. But this passage - this letter - gives us the opportunity to love God with our minds, as Paul encourages us to think things through.

We feel we ought to be doing certain things - but the picture given us is that of our moving along not in a rowing boat but in a sailing boat - some want to row their way to God. Paul does not call it sinful - he calls it foolish - stupid.

Don't take down your sails! Let the Holy Spirit blow you along and inspire you and use you.

There is an argument here from their experience - and also from the Word. Now - both are needed - because you can have a false experience.

We need the Word of God to challenge any false experiences and correct any false beliefs.

Experience and Scripture go together. That is one great vital lesson in these verses.

Paul takes them back to the beginning when they first came to faith in Jesus Christ, with the question - how are you going to complete things - how are you going to continue? I fixed your eyes on Jesus - I placarded Christ - I pointed you to the Cross.

To get people right with God we need a clear vision of the Cross. Who has made you look elsewhere? Who has turned your attention away from the Cross?

When you came to the Cross and heard me preach about Jesus Christ and the Cross, you saw the truth, and God confirmed that by giving you the Holy Spirit. You believed what you heard - and you received what our generous God gave you.

They were on the point of abandoning something that was succeeding, for something that gave no satisfaction. Having begun with the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit, are you going to go on and try to finish it by trying to keep the law?

People do get to that point where they think they can manage it themselves and succeed spiritually, themselves. It is what God does and goes on doing that really matters.

Paul looks at a whole sweep of Scripture - referring to Abraham and Moses.

Abraham believed. Abraham trusted God that he would have a family to pass on the line. When he believed and trusted it was reckoned to him as righteousness.

Galatians - can you not see? We are descendents of Abraham when we come to believe. It is believing that matters - it is faith that matters - trusting God.

Verse 9,10 are so powerfully strong. You had to observe and keep everything in the law - but no man could do it. The law demands perfection - 100%. The law cannot cope with failure - and it cannot offer forgiveness. It was sacrifice after sacrifice to have one's sins dealt with. The law can only tell you what to do, and punish you if you break it. The law can only tell you that you are bad!

God in His Grace gave a promise to Abraham, 430 years before the law was given.

The promise was given to Abraham and to his seed - who is Christ.

At 33, Jesus Christ died - after having kept the law - and His Sacrifice was accepted by the Father - and He is able to lift from us any curse.

Jesus took the curse and paid the price of the ransom - our perfect sinless Passover Lamb. Jesus was punished as if He had broken every part of the law, so that we can be released and set free. This is the Gospel for the whole of mankind.

That night before Jesus went to the Cross He made His Will.

Turn to John Chapter 14: verse 25 - Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.

This is what Jesus offers. This is what we receive, and it can touch every part and area of our lives - the peace of God.

Give thanks to God that Paul fought this essential battle - and give thanks to God that Jesus Christ on the Cross did all that was required that we might be forgiven and released and set free and later anointed with the power of the Holy Spirit.

What we are reading of here is a cause for thanksgiving.

"Refreshment in Refuge" from Gina Burgess

3 steps to peace...