Galatians 1:4
who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
Truth to Learn
Jesus freely gave his life in perfect submission to God the Father as payment for our sins and as an example for us.
Behind the Words
The word translated “deliver” is the Greek word, exeletai which means “to pluck out, to tear out, to take out from a number, to select, or to rescue.”
Meaning Explained
It is interesting that Paul starts out this letter with an immediate statement of the central doctrine of Christianity, namely that Jesus Christ died for our sins. This is something that the Galatians had apparently forgotten, or it had become obscured by other beliefs as we will see in the third chapter of this letter. Notice two things about Christ’s sacrifice. The first is that He “gave Himself.” Jesus’ life was not taken from Him, He gave it up freely on His own. This is confirmed by what is written in the gospel accounts of His death:
And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. (Matthew 27:50)
And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into your hands I commit my spirit.’ “ Having said this, He breathed His last. (Luke 23:46)
So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. (John 19:30)
Jesus gave up His spirit, that is, He voluntarily died on our behalf.
The other thing to note about His giving up His life on the cross is the fact that, in doing so, He was acquiescing to the will of God the Father (“according to the will of our God and Father.”) Jesus gave Himself, not because He thought it was a good idea, but because it was what the Father wanted Him to do. Throughout His earthly life, Jesus was committed to doing the will of God the Father. In giving up His life He gave us all an example of submitting to the will of the Father.
And, by giving up His life, according to the present verse, Jesus delivered us from this present evil age. His voluntary death was the means by which Jesus rescued us from the condemnation that is coming on all those who reject Him. Through Jesus’ submission to the Father by giving up His life for us, we were reconciled to the Father.
Application
Are you submitted to the will of our Heavenly Father? Are you willing to do whatever God asks of you? Or are you running your life the way you want to, believing the things you want to instead of learning from the Bible what God the Father wants you to do?
Let me challenge you right now to submit your will to the Father by confessing your sins and seeking His guidance in all areas of your life!
In God’s service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2007 Will Krause. All rights reserved.
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