The Friday after the Sunday within the Octave of the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord
Posted on January 3, 2025 by under
Scripture: Galatians 3:23-29 (NKJV)
3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Devotion
St. Paul writes to the churches in Galatia that the Law was given to be our tutor. It serves to show us our sin. It serves to prevent gross outbursts of sinful behavior in those who are guarded by the Law. It serves to guide us in what is pleasing to the Lord God, and what is not. In this way, St. Paul says it was meant to bring us to Christ. For having learned from the Law what poor, miserable sinners we are, we look for a Savior to redeem us from the penalty of breaking the Law.
When Jesus revealed Himself in our flesh at His birth, He is revealed as the source—the only source—of our salvation. The Son of God bearing our flesh would perfectly fulfill the Law of God because we are unable. The punishment that we deserve on account of our manifold sins and trespasses against the Law of God would be paid by the suffering of our Lord in our flesh. He would die in our place on the tree of the cross.
Now, all those who are baptized into His death have been gifted with faith to cling to the One who is our sole Redeemer and Savior. We cling in faith to His works of redemption for us. Therefore, we are Abraham’s seed, and as he was justified by faith in the promised Messiah, we too, are justified by faith in Him.
Collect: Almighty and Everlasting God, direct our actions according to Thy good pleasure, that in the Name of Thy beloved Son, we may be made to abound in good works; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
