Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—and all the brothers and sisters with me,
To the churches in Galatia:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all.
Galatians 1:1–7
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As Paul begins his letter to the Church in Galatia, he offers a powerful reminder of what Christ’s death and resurrection means for us. In verse 4, he writes that Jesus “gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age.”
Take a moment to let one word in that phrase sink in: the present.
Christ didn’t die solely to rescue us in the future for eternity—though that in itself is incredible. He died to rescue us today. In other words, His sacrifice wasn’t only about securing a place in heaven for us after death—it was about redeeming and transforming the way we live right now.
In fact, this is a truth that Paul returns to over and over again in his letter. He repeatedly invites believers to embrace the life Christ offers us today:
“The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God” (Galatians 2:20).
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free” (Galatians 5:1).
“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love” (Galatians 5:13).
Amazing, truly! Christ’s death and resurrection offers us more than just a future hope. They offer us freedom, purpose, and new life today.
But how often do we live like this is true? In the very next verse, Paul is astonished that so many are deserting Christ and the amazing offer of hope that He invites us to today.
May that never be said of you or me. We know that heaven is secured for us through our faith in Christ. But so is new life today—rescued from the present evil age.
Let us surrender our plans, our fears, our actions, and our desires to Him. And may we live in a way that brings glory to God in our words, actions, and relationships.
The gospel is not just a promise for the future; it’s an invitation to abundant life now.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus to rescue me—not only for eternity but also for today. Help me to live fully in the freedom, hope, and joy You offer. Help me to do that today and again tomorrow. Amen.