Bible Text: Galatians 5:1-26 | Preacher: Pastor Joe Ricchuiti | Series: Celebrate Freedom, Galatians

1.  Whereas Paul looked at the benefits of salvation from an individual point-of-view  in Ephesians 2:1-10, in 2:11-22 he looks at the benefits of salvation from a corporate viewpoint.

2.  Paul’s main points are that God, through the death of Jesus, provides:

-peace that overcomes division and alienation, vv. 11-13

-peace that makes reconciliation possible, vv. 14-18

-peace that makes possible a new living organism, the church, vv. 19-22

3.  Author Ralph Martin writes concerning this:  “The world we know is fallen divided and suspicious, Paul holds out the prospect of a reconciled, unified, amicable society, whose microcosm is seen in the church of God’s worldwide, transnational, and reconciling family.”

4.  Before the cross of Christ, Gentiles were without hope of a redeemer, were not accepted as full members into God’s people, were without covenantal promises from God, without hope because they were without God.  As Harold Hoehner writes:  “The Gentiles were in a desperate situation.  They had no meaning, hope, purpose, direction in life.”  This is the situation of anyone today who is without Christ as Savior.