Day 14 - When I Don't Want to do NT40

In today's reading we go through the entire book of Galatians.  Another letter written by Paul.  This letter dealt mostly with the Old Testament law and it's place now that Jesus has come.

Old Testament Supervisor
I always looked at the Old Testament law as being something that the people were bound to.  They were "under" the law.  They were "limited" by the law.  They were "restricted" by the law.  But I like the way that Paul puts in chapter 3.  Here's a snippet of my favorite three verses from chapter 3:

"Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. So the law was put in charge of us until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law." Gal. 3:23-25

I never thought of the law as being "in charge", or being a "supervisor" of the people, but it makes sense. The law was there to not only restrict us (which has a negative connotation to it), but to guide is (which sounds a lot nicer!).

OT Salvation
While reading this book, I started to wonder if the people who had died before Jesus died for our sins were going to Heaven or not.  What if they followed the law perfectly (including sacrificing for sins)? What if they tried, but failed?  What if they didn't even try?  Will any of these people to to Heaven?

This seems to be a great debate.  Some believe that if the person believed in God and had faith that God would send a messiah and followed the law (observing the various festivals and performing the various sacrifices), then those people will go to Heaven.  I don't think this is one of those questions that can be firmly answered though.

Here are a couple of links to some resources (the Yahoo! answers one is funny/interesting):

http://www.biblebell.org/otsaints.html
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060822060219AANQm3t


When I Don't Want to do NT40
I found a passage from Galatians that explains what's going on inside me when I want to watch TV or play a game or go to bed or not wake up early, instead of do my NT40 reading and journaling:

"So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. " Gal 5:16-17

I don't know that it explains it, per se, but it relates to that struggle a little.  "Should I do what I want? Or should I go do my Bible study?"  I'm not saying that I don't always want to do my Bible study, but I do have my days.  That's how I got so far behind on my journaling in the first place.

Helping the Sinner
Paul writes some more about helping people caught in sin.  This time, Paul is saying to help, but with a word of warning.

"Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted." Gal 6:1

Wrap it up!
That's it for Day 14 and Galatians.  The next two days worth of reading is from Romans.  I am almost caught up.  It is Day 17 and I haven't done my reading or journaling for today, but I can do that tonight.  I only have Day 15 and 16 (Romans) to journal and I'll be all caught up!