Truswell

Yes. Moses married the daughter of, I thought she was the daughter of a Canaanite priest, but I may be wrong, anyway she was the daughter of a foreign priest. Then, in Exodus 6:3 we read “I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name 'The LORD' I did not make myself known to them.” It was a subtle name change. After that, we read about the LORD not the I AM, and they turned to idol worship and other horrible things. .

Which wife was the daughter of a Canaanite priest?

Do some research and find out who Moses married, despite Moses telling the people not to marry people of other nations. Neither should we forget they called the idols they worshipped 'LORD.'

Galatians, chapter 4 from the Berean Standard Bible Sons and Heirs 1 What I (Paul) am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he is the owner of everything. He is subject to guardians and trustees until the date set by his father. So also, when we were children, we were enslaved by the basic principles of the world. But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law so that we could receive our adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” So, you are no longer a slave, but a son, and since you are a son, you are also an heir through God. Comment The word adoption designates the privilege of sonship (sons of God and children of God). It is an adoptive sonship that the believer never possessed by natural birth, but which springs from the new birth through the redemption of Christ. With this new position come the attendant rights and obligations of sonship. Believers are predestined to sonship (Romans 8:29, Ephesians 1:5–11), and while it is theirs now, it extends to the transformation of their bodies at the resurrection because: (1) Adopted children are objects of their Father's love (John 17:23; 1 John 4:7–11). (2) They bear his image (Romans 8:29; 2 Peter 1:4). (3) They are indwelt by his spirit (4:6). (4) They bear his name (1 John 3:1). (5) They are dealt with and chastised as sons (Hebrews 12:5–11); (6) They are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17; 1 Peter 1:4) Paul’s appeal against a return to bondage 6 Previously, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who, by nature, were not gods. But now that you know God, or rather, are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? You are observing special days, months, seasons, and years! I fear for you that my efforts for you may have been in vain. I beg you, brothers, to become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong. 13 You know that it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you. And although my illness was a trial to you, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus, Himself. What, then, has become of your blessing? I can testify that had it been possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given me them. (Eyesight would have been what troubled him.) Have I now become your enemy, by telling you the truth? 17 Those people are zealous for you, but not in a good way. Instead, they want to isolate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them. Nevertheless, it is good to be zealous if it serves a noble purpose—at any time, and not only when I am with you. 19 My children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone because I am perplexed about you. 21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not understand what the law says? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born through the promise. (Genesis 21:9–21) 24 Now this is an allegory: Hagar and Sarah represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery: She is Hagar. Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to present-day Jerusalem because she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have never travailed; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.” 28 Now we brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. At that time, however, the son born by the flesh persecuted the son born by the Spirit. It is the same now. But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman and her son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.” Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman. Galatians 4:31 So then, brethren, this is the conclusion of the whole allegory, or the mystical interpretation of Agar and Sarah and their sons. We are not children of the bondwoman, the figure of the first covenant, which gendered to bondage and typified the Jews in a state, and under a spirit of bondage to the law; New Testament saints are not under it, are delivered from it, and are dead unto it. But of the free; of Sarah, that was a type of the new and second covenant; and answered to the Gospel church, which is free from the yoke of the law; and whose children believe in Christ by whom they are free from all thraldom and slavery; so, the children of the mistress and the maidservant are opposed to each other. The Vulgate Latin version adds to this verse from the beginning of the next chapter, "with the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free" and the Ethiopic version, "because Christ hath made us free" and begins the next chapter thus, "therefore stand, and be not entangled" and so does the Alexandrian copy and three of Stephen's. (Tzeror Hammor, fol. 152. 1. And John Gill’s commentary.) Paul’s summing up of salvation by works. 1) They lose the blessing of their inheritance as children of God as they return to the bondage of ceremonialism (Ch. 3:26 to Ch 4:11). 2) They have lost the sense of appreciation for the labour performed on their behalf (Ch. 4:11-16). 3) They are in danger of becoming children of the flesh, instead of the children of promise (Ch 4:19-31). 4) They lose their spiritual liberty, and Christ's sacrifice is of no avail. Ch 5:1-6. Blessings.

Galatians chapter 3 Faith and Belief O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes, Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3Are you so foolish? After starting in the Spirit, are you now finishing in the flesh? Take a look at your forefathers: 4By faith, Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith, he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith, he still speaks, even though he is dead. 5By faith, Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6And without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. 7By faith, Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith, he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. The Faith of Abraham and Sarah 8By faith, Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went without knowing where he was going. 9By faith, he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11By faith, Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child because she considered Him faithful, as He had promised. 12And so from one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. 13All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14Now those who say such things show they are seeking a country of their own. 15If they had been thinking of the country they had left; they would have had the opportunity to return. 16Instead, they were longing for a better country, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. 17By faith, Abraham, when he was tested, offered Isaac on the altar. He who had received the promises was ready to offer his one and only son, 18even though God had said to him, “Through Isaac, your offspring will be reckoned.” 19Abraham reasoned God could raise the dead, and, in a sense, he did receive Isaac back from death. The Faith of Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph 20By faith, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future. 21By faith, Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and worshipped as he leaned on the top of his staff. 22By faith, Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his bones. The Faith of Moses 23By faith, Moses’ parents hid him for three months after his birth, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were unafraid of the king’s edict. 24By faith, Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25He chose to suffer oppression with God’s people, rather than experience the fleeting enjoyment of sin. 26He valued disgrace for Christ above the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his reward. 27By faith, Moses left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw Him, who is invisible. 28By faith, he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch Israel’s own firstborn. 29By faith, the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land, but when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were drowned. The Faith of Many 30By faith, the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days. 31By faith, the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient. 32And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, 33who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34quenched the raging fire, and escaped the edge of the sword; who gained strength from weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight. 35Women received back their dead, who were raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused their release, so they might gain a better resurrection. 36Still others endured mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they were put to death by the sword. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, oppressed, and mistreated. 38The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and they hid in caves and holes in the ground. 39These were all commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised. 40God had planned something better for us, so that together with us they would be made perfect. After being a people of faith, the Galatians turned to the law, under which there is no salvation. Paul’s Greeting to the Galatians Chapter 1 1Paul, an apostle — sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead — 2and all the brothers with me. To the churches of Galatia: 3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. No Other Gospel 6I am amazed how quickly you are deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ, and are turning to a different gospel, — 7which is not even a gospel. Evidently, some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ. 8But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one, we preached to you, let him be under a curse! 9As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be under a curse! Paul Preaches the Gospel 10Am I now seeking the approval of men or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. 11For I certify to you, brothers, that the gospel I preached was not devised by man. 12I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. (Behold, he whose soul is not upright in him shall fail, but the righteous shall live by faith. The Jewish Talmud states Habakkuk reduced the 613 commandments of Moses to one: “the righteous shall live by faith.” This is quoted not only in Habakkuk, but in Romans 1:7, Galatian’s 3:11, and Hebrews 10:38-39. Again! “The righteous shall live by faith.” Not by law. 13For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism — how severely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by His grace, was pleased 16to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not rush to consult with flesh and blood 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to the apostles who came before me, but I went into Arabia and later returned to Damascus. 18Only after three years did, I go up to Jerusalem to confer with Cephas, and I stayed with him fifteen days. 19But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. 20I assure you before God that what I am writing to you is no lie. 21Later, I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22I was personally unknown, however, to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23They only heard the account: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24And they glorified God because of me. Comment Faith had underlain the commencement of the Ephesians Christian life Gal_3:1-5. They had found peace with God through faith. Through faith, they had received the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Faith had been the means, too, of Abraham’s acceptance with God. From the first, the gospel of faith had been proclaimed to him by the divine Spirit. Long before he had become a Jew by the initial rite of Judaism, he had been a humble believer in God’s promise, on the basis of which he was reckoned righteous. Simple faith was the only condition he had fulfilled, and the promise that all flesh should be blessed through him had been given when he was still a believing Gentile. Surely what had sufficed for the father of the faithful was good enough for his children! Let each reader see that he does not merely believe about Christ, but believes in Him, so as to be no longer under the curse but within the blessing. (F. B Meyer) Purpose of the Law Galatians 3:19 19Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the seed to whom the promise referred. It was administered through angels by a mediator. 20A mediator is unnecessary, however, for only one party, but God is one. It was added because of transgressions. It was given that we might know our sinfulness and the need we stood in for the mercy of God. The law is the right line, the straight edge, that determines the obliquity of our conduct. See the notes on Rom_4:15 (note), and especially on Rom_5:20 (note), where this subject is largely discussed and the figure explained. Till the seed should come: The law was to be in force until the advent of the Messiah. After that, it was to cease. It was ordained by angels. The ministry of angels was certainly used in giving the law; see Psa_68:17; Act_7:53; and Heb_2:2; but they were only instruments for transmitting; Moses was the mediator between God and the people, Deu_5:5. THE LAW LEADS TO CHRIST Galatians 3:20-29 20A mediator is unnecessary, however, for only one party, but God is one. 21Is the law, then, opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come from the law. 22But the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin, so that by faith in Jesus Christ, the promise might be given to those who believe. 23Before this faith came, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. 24So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. 25Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. Sons through Faith in Christ 26You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27For all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise. The Mosaic law was not designed to be the final code of religious life, but to prepare the soil of the human heart to receive Jesus Christ in all the fullness of His salvation. It was the tutor of the Hebrew people, to enable them to become the religious teachers of mankind. It could not, therefore, take the place of the great covenant of grace, which had been initiated with Abraham before he received the rite of circumcision, and when he thus stood for all who believe, whether Jew or Gentile. The mistake of those against whom Paul contended was that they treated as permanent a system that was temporary and parenthetic in its significance. With many individuals now, as with the Hebrew race, there is often a period in which the conscience is confronted with the holy demands of God’s law, which men cannot keep, but when they discover the full grace of God in Christ, they no longer suffer at the hand of the schoolmaster, but become children in the Father’s home. They put on Christ, stand accepted in the Beloved, and understand that they are in unity with all who believe. Theirs are all the promises that were made to Abraham, and as his spiritual children, they claim their fulfilment. F. B. Meyer Galatians 3:29 And if ye be Christ’s, – if you belong to the Messiah and are interested in his work, then are ye Abraham’s seed – the promise made to Abraham related to the Messiah. It was a promise that, in him, all should be blessed. Abraham believed in that Messiah and was distinguished for his faith in him who was to come. If they believed in Christ, therefore, they showed that they were the spiritual descendants of Abraham. No matter whether they were Jews or Gentiles, whether they were circumcised or not, they had the same spirit which he evinced and were interested in the promises made to him. And heirs according to the promise – See Rom_8:17. Are heirs of God. You inherit the blessings promised to Abraham and partake of the felicity to which he looked forward. You have become truly heirs of God, and this is in accordance with the promise made to Abraham. It is not by the obedience of the law; it is by faith — in the same way that Abraham possessed the blessing — an arrangement before the giving of the law, and therefore one that may include all, whether Jews or Gentiles. All are on a level, and all are alike, the children of God, and in the same manner and on the same terms that Abraham was. (Albert Barnes) Paul urged them to return to their Christian faith by reminding them Abraham was justified by faith. The law is a schoolmaster, but has no redeeming power, and neither can it award the golden crown.

GALATIANS CHAPTER TWO (The Maga Charta of the church) Introduction The Galatians were personal acquaintances, among whom Paul had worked (chapter four verses 13-15.) Paul’s letter was prompted by the inroads made into the churches by Jewish Christians (Judaizers), who insisted that Gentile converts to the Christian faith should submit to the Jewish rite of circumcision and respect other ritual distinctions between pure and impure foods. They also attacked Paul personally, saying he was not a true apostle, and thus not on the same footing as the original twelve, whose authority and prestige they claimed. Paul’s gospel, in their eyes, was not the true gospel. Evidently, their attempts met with considerable success among the inexperienced Galatians. Impressed by their arguments and awed by their teachers, they succumbed to the demands of the Judaizers. Some, submitting themselves to Jewish legalism (4:21), began to observe Jewish religious feasts (4:10 – 11) and Jewish legalism (4:21) and accept circumcision (5:2 – 6). Confronted with this grave danger to the spiritual welfare of the Galatian Christians, Paul wrote warning, expounding, and pleading with them to resist the blandishments of the Judaizers. Chapter 2 verse 1-10 Then fourteen years later, I again went up to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus with me. I went in response to a revelation, and in a private meeting with the reputed leaders, I explained to them the gospel that I am proclaiming to the gentiles. I did this because I thought I was running or had run my life’s race for nothing. But not even Titus, who was with me, was forced to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. However, false brothers were secretly brought in. They slipped in to spy on the freedom we have in the Messiah Jesus, so that they could enslave us. But we did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might always remain with you. Now those who were reputed to be important added nothing to my message. (What sort of people they were makes no difference to me, since God pays no attention to outward appearances.) In fact, they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel for the circumcised. For the one who worked through Peter by making him an apostle to the circumcised, also worked through me by sending me to the gentiles. So, when James, Cephas, and John (who were reputed to be leaders) recognised the grace given me, they gave Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship, agreeing that we should go to the gentiles, and they to the circumcised. The only thing they asked us to do was to remember the destitute, the very thing I was eager to do. But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly wrong. Until some men arrived from James, he was in the habit of eating with the gentiles, but after those men came, he withdrew from the gentiles and would not associate with them any longer because he was afraid of the circumcision party. The other Jews also joined him in this hypocritical behaviour, to the extent that even Barnabas was caught up in their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were not acting consistently with the truth of the gospel, I told Cephas in front of everyone, “Though you are a Jew, you have been living like a gentile and not like a Jew, so how can you insist that the gentiles must live like Jews?” Commentary Observe the apostle's faithfulness in giving a full account of the doctrine he had preached among the Gentiles, and was still resolved to preach, that of Christianity, free from all mixture of Judaism. This doctrine would be ungrateful to many; however, he was not afraid to own it. His care was, lest the success of his past labours should be lessened, or his future usefulness be hindered. While we simply depend upon God for success to our labours, we should use every proper caution to remove mistakes, and against opposers. There are things which may lawfully be complied with, yet, when they cannot be done without betraying the truth, they ought to be refused. We must not give place to any conduct, whereby the truth of the gospel would be reflected upon. Though Paul conversed with the other apostles, yet he did not receive any addition to his knowledge, or authority, from them. Perceiving the grace given to him, they gave unto him and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, whereby they acknowledged that he was designed to the honour and office of an apostle as well as themselves. They agreed that these two should go to the heathen, while they continued to preach to the Jews; judging it agreeable to the mind of Christ, so to divide their work. Here we learn that the gospel is not ours, but God's; and that men are but the keepers of it; for this we are to praise God. The apostle showed his charitable disposition, and how ready he was to own the Jewish converts as brethren, though many would scarcely allow the like favour to the converted Gentiles; but mere difference of opinion was no reason to him why he should not help them. Herein is a pattern of Christian charity, which we should extend to all the disciples of Christ. Chapter 2:11-14 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not gentile sinners, yet we know that a person is not justified by doing what the Law requires, but rather by the faithfulness of Jesus the Messiah. We, too, have believed in the Messiah Jesus, so that we might be justified by the faithfulness of the Messiah, and not by doing what the Law requires, for no human being will be justified by doing what the Law requires. Now if we, while trying to be justified by the Messiah, have been found to be sinners, does that mean the Messiah is serving the interests of sin? Of course not! For if I rebuild something that I tore down, I demonstrate that I am a wrongdoer. For through the Law, I died to the Law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with the Messiah. I no longer live, but the Messiah lives in me, and the life that I am now living in this body I live by the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not misapply God’s grace, for if righteousness comes about by doing what the Law requires, then the Messiah died for nothing. Commentary Notwithstanding Peter's character, yet, when Paul saw him acting so as to hurt the truth of the gospel and the peace of the church, he was not afraid to reprove him. When he saw that Peter and the others did not live up to that principle which the gospel taught, and which they professed, namely, That by the death of Christ the partition wall between Jew and Gentile was taken down, and the observance of the law of Moses was no longer in force; as Peter's offence was public, he publicly reproved him. There is a very great difference between the prudence of St. Paul, who bore with, and used for a time, the ceremonies of the law as not sinful, and the timid conduct of St. Peter, who, by withdrawing from the Gentiles, led others to think that these ceremonies were necessary. Chapter 2:15-21 We ourselves are Jews by birth, and not gentile sinners, yet we know that a person is not justified by doing what the Law requires, but rather by the faithfulness of Jesus the Messiah. We, too, have believed in the Messiah Jesus so that we might be justified by the faithfulness of the Messiah and not by doing what the Law requires, for no human being will be justified by doing what the Law requires. Now if we, while trying to be justified by the Messiah, have been found to be sinners, does that mean that the Messiah is serving the interests of sin? Of course not! For if I rebuild something that I tore down, I demonstrate that I am a wrongdoer. For through the Law I died to the Law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with the Messiah. I no longer live, but the Messiah lives in me, and the life that I am now living in this body I live by the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not misapply God's grace, for if righteousness comes about by doing what the Law requires, then the Messiah died for nothing. Commentary Paul, having thus shown he was not inferior to any apostle, not to Peter himself, speaks of the great foundation doctrine of the gospel. For what did we believe in Christ? Was it not that we might be justified by the faith of Christ? If so, is it not foolish to go back to the law, and to expect to be justified by the merit of moral works, or sacrifices, or ceremonies? The occasion of this declaration doubtless arose from the ceremonial law; but the argument is quite as strong against all dependence upon the works of the moral law, as respects justification. To give the greater weight to this, it is added, But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ the minister of sin? This would be very dishonourable to Christ, and also very hurtful to them. By considering the law itself, he saw that justification was not to be expected by the works of it, and that there was now no further need of the sacrifices and cleansings of it, since they were done away in Christ, by his offering up himself a sacrifice for us. He did not hope or fear any thing from it; any more than a dead man from enemies. But the effect was not a careless, lawless life. It was necessary, that he might live to God, and be devoted to him through the motives and grace of the gospel. It is no new prejudice, though a most unjust one, that the doctrine of justification by faith alone, tends to encourage people in sin. Not so, for to take occasion from free grace, or the doctrine of it, to live in sin, is to try to make Christ the minister of sin, at any thought of which all Christian hearts would shudder. Commentaries by Matthew Henry IN CONCLUSION Paul stands firm against all attempts to shackle Christian freedom with Jewish legalism. Christ’s death meant that the law is not a means of salvation, and in sharing his death, believers also die to the law, for if the law is the means of salvation, then Christ's death was useless. (3:13, 14; 2:20, 21) Even Abraham was justified by faith, not by works of the law (3:6–9), and it was the prophet Habakkuk (Hab 2:4) who declared that life belongs to him who has been justified through faith (3:11). The law was never a means of justification: Abraham was justified by faith four hundred and forty years before the law (3:16–19), and we are his spiritual descendants, sons, and heirs (3:29–4:7). Christ gives us freedom; let us stand fast and not fall under the yoke of slavery! (5:1) Amen.

Prayers.

Basically, Judaism is salvation by keeping man-made laws and traditions. There are over 300, and it is impossible to go through life without breaking them.

Galatians Galatians, Chapter 1 Greetings verses 1–5 Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—and all the brothers with me, to the churches of Galatia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. ~~~~~~ To the churches of Galatia: This was not written to a single church in a single city. For example, 1 Thessalonians is addressed to the church of the Thessalonians (1Th_1:1). But this was addressed to the churches of Galatia, because Galatia was a region, not a city, and there were several churches among the cities of Galatia. Grace to you and peace: This was Paul’s familiar greeting, drawing from the traditional greetings in both Greek culture (grace) and Jewish culture (peace). Paul used this exact phrase five other times in the New Testament. “These two terms, grace and peace, constitute Christianity.” (Martin Luther) “These words, ‘who gave himself for our sins’, are important. He wanted to tell the Galatians straight out that atonement for sins and perfect righteousness are not to be sought anywhere but in Christ. So glorious is this redemption that it should ravish us with wonder.” (Calvin) ~~~~~~ NO OTHER GOSPEL VERSE 6-10 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting him, who called you in the grace of Christ, and are turning to a different gospel—not that there is another, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preach to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, now I say again: if anyone preaches a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. Am I seeking the approval of men or God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. ~~~~~~ Galatians has been called the “Declaration of Independence of Christian Liberty.” The great reformer Martin Luther especially loved this letter. He called Galatians his “Catherine von Bora” after his wife because, he said, “I am married to it." Leon Morris wrote, “Galatians is a passionate letter, the outpouring of the soul of a preacher on fire for his Lord and deeply committed to bringing his hearers to an understanding of what saving faith is.” (David Guzik) ~~~~~~ GOD CALLS PAUL VERSES 11-24 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel preached by me is not man’s gospel. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. You have heard of my former life in Judaism and how I persecuted the Church of God violently and tried to destroy it. And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when he, who set me apart before I was born and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me to preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone. Neither did I go up to Jerusalem with those who were apostles before me. Instead, I went away to Arabia and returned to Damascus. Then, after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him for fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea, who are in Christ. They only heard, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they glorified God because of me.

What is the New Covenant? | GotQuestions.org

Then why teach Old Testament traditions? .

A Dire Warning From Jude, servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James — to those who have been called by God, who live in the love of God the Father and the protection of Jesus Christ: May mercy, peace, and love be yours in full measure. My dear friends, I was doing my best to write to you about the salvation we share when I felt the need to encourage you to fight for the faith God has given his people once and for all. Some godless people have slipped in unnoticed among us, persons who distort the message about the grace of our God to excuse their immoral ways. They reject Jesus Christ, our Master and Lord. Long ago, the Scriptures predicted these deceivers would be condemned. For even though you know all this, I want to remind you of how the Lord once rescued the people of Israel from Egypt, but afterwards destroyed those who did not believe. Remember, the angels who exceeded their proper authority, but abandoned their own dwelling place: they are bound with eternal chains in the darkness below, where God keeps them for that great Day on which they will be condemned. Remember Sodom and Gomorrah, and the nearby towns, whose people acted as those angels did and indulged in sexual immorality and perversion: they suffer in eternal fire as a plain warning to all. In the same way, these people also have visions that make them sin against their own bodies. They despise God’s authority and insult the glorious beings above. Not even the chief angel Michael did this. In his quarrel with the Devil, when they argued about who would have the body of Moses, Michael did not dare condemn the Devil with insulting words, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” But these people attack with insults anything they do not understand; and those things they know by instinct, like wild animals. These are the very things that destroy them. How terrible for them! They have followed the same way as Cain. For the sake of money, they have given themselves over to the error Balaam committed. They have rebelled as Korah rebelled, and like him, they are destroyed. With their shameless carousing, they are like dirty spots in your fellowship meals. They only care about themselves. They are like clouds carried along by the wind, but bringing no rain. They are like trees that bear no fruit, trees pulled up by the roots. They are completely dead. They are like wild waves of the sea, with their shameful deeds showing up like foam. They are like wandering stars, for whom God has reserved a place forever in the deepest darkness. It was Enoch, the seventh direct descendant from Adam, who long ago prophesied this about them: “The Lord will come with many thousands of his holy angels to bring judgment on all, to condemn them all for the godless deeds they have performed, and for all the terrible words that godless sinners have spoken against him!” These people are always grumbling and blaming others; they follow their evil desires; they brag about themselves and flatter others to get their way. But remember my friends, what you were told in the past by the apostles of our Lord, Jesus Christ. They said to you, “When the last days come, people will appear who will make fun of you, people who follow their own godless desires.” These are the people who cause divisions, who are controlled by their natural desires, and who do not have the Spirit. But you, my friends, need to continually build yourselves up in our most sacred faith. Pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and keep yourselves in the love of God, as you wait for our Lord Jesus Christ in his mercy to give you eternal life. Show mercy toward those who have doubts; save others by snatching them out of the fire; and to others show mercy mixed with fear, but hate their very clothes, stained by their sinful lusts. To him who can keep you from falling, and who can and will bring you faultless and joyful before his glorious presence — to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, might, and authority, from all ages past, and now, and forever and ever! Amen. (Jude 1:1-25)

Philippians chapter 4 Chapter 4:1-9 So then, my friends, how dear you are to me and how I miss you! How happy you make me, and how proud I am of you! This, dear friends, is how you should stand firm in your life in the Lord. Euodia and Syntyche, please, I beg you, try to agree as sisters in the Lord. And you too, my faithful partner, I want you to help these women; for they have worked hard with me to spread the gospel, together with Clement and all my other fellow workers, whose names are in God’s book of the living. May you always be joyful in your union with the Lord. I say it again: rejoice! Show a gentle attitude towards everyone. The Lord is coming soon. Do not worry about anything, but in all your prayers, ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart. And God’s peace, which is far beyond human understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus. In conclusion, my friends, fill your minds with virtuous and holy things that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honourable. Put into practice what you learned and received from me, both from my words and from my actions. And the God who gives us peace will be with you. Comments What a strong and faithful heart Paul had! Poor and despised though he was, he had both joys and crowns, of which no hostile force could deprive him. He lived in the encompassing atmosphere of eternity, as we may. Clearly, these two Christian women could not have withstood this tender exhortation unless their names were written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Joy and peace are the subjects of the next paragraph. How wonderful that these struggling little churches were drinking springs of living water about which the princes and citizens of Greece and Rome knew nothing. There are conditions, though. We must be moderate in our ambitions and gentle in our behaviour. We must live as though Jesus is always watching us, because he is. Furthermore, we must leave our troubles in the Father’s infinite care, leave them with Him, and forget them. We must thank Him for the past and count on Him for the future. While we pray, the Angel of Peace will descend to stand as a sentry at our heart’s door. But we must possess the God of peace and the peace of God; the one condition is that we must earnestly pursue all things that are true, just, pure, and lovely. (Philippians 4:10-23) In my life in union with the Lord, it is a great joy to me that, after so long, you showed again how much you care for me. I do not mean you had stopped caring for me; you just had no chance to show it. And I am not saying this because I feel neglected, for I have learned to be satisfied with what I have. I know what it is to be in need and what it is to have more than enough. I have learned this secret, so that anywhere and at all times, I am content, whether I am full or hungry, whether I have too much or too little. Furthermore, I have the strength to face all conditions through the power that Christ gives me. But I am delighted that you helped me with my troubles. You Philippians know that when I left Macedonia in the early days of preaching the Good News, you were the only church to help me; you were the only ones who shared my profits and losses. More than once, when I needed help in Thessalonica, you sent it to me. It is not that I just want to receive gifts; I want to see profit added to your account. Here, then, is my receipt for everything you have given me, and it has been more than enough! I have all I need now that Epaphroditus has brought me all your gifts. They are like a sweet-smelling offering to God, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to him. And with all his abundant wealth through Christ Jesus, my God will supply all your needs. To our God and Father, be the glory forever and ever! Amen. Final Greetings Greetings to each one of God’s people who belong to Christ Jesus. The believers here with me send you their greetings. All God’s people here send greetings, especially those who belong to the Emperor’s palace. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Comment: Every saint, every member of the Philippian congregation, is remembered in the final salutation of the apostle. Being believers, they are saints, cleansed and sanctified by the blood of Christ. The brethren in Rome also wanted to be remembered. Although they were not acquainted personally with the Philippian Christians, they felt themselves united with them in the fellowship of a common faith and love. Especially the Christians that belonged to Caesar’s household, with whom Paul undoubtedly was most intimately acquainted and whom he saw oftener individually than many others, sent their greetings. In the very palace of the emperor, who hated the Christians, the news of Christ had spread and made converts. Whether servants only were included or whether some members of the emperor’s family had also been gained for Christ, as tradition has it, cannot be determined from this passage. The apostle closes with the earnest wish that the grace of Jesus Christ the Lord, the supreme gift and blessing of salvation, shall be with the spirit of his readers. See Gal_6:18; Rom_16:24; 2Co_13:13. (Comments from Paul Kretzmann) If Paul were preaching in a large auditorium today, he might well have a large sign on the wall behind him with the words: Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” John 14:6 Amen

PHILIPPIANS CHAPTER 3 verses 1-12 In conclusion, my friends be joyful in your union with the Lord. I do not mind repeating what I have written before, and you will be safer if I do so. Watch out for those who do evil things, those dogs, and those who insist on cutting the body. It is we, not they, who have received the true circumcision, for we worship God by means of his Spirit and rejoice in our lives in union with Christ Jesus. We do not put any trust in external ceremonies. I could, of course, put my trust in such things. If any of you think you can trust external ceremonies, I have even more reason to feel that way. I was circumcised when I was a week old. I am an Israelite by birth of the tribe of Benjamin, a pure-blooded Hebrew. As far as keeping the Jewish Law is concerned, I was a Pharisee, and I was so zealous that I persecuted the church. As far as a person can be righteous by obeying the commands of the law, I was without fault. But all those things that I might count as profit, I now reckon as loss, for Christ’s sake. Not only those things; I reckon everything as a complete loss for the sake of what is so much more valuable, the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord. For his sake, I have thrown everything away; I consider it all mere rubbish, so that I may gain Christ and be completely united with him. I no longer have a righteousness of my own making the kind that is gained by obeying the law. I now have the righteousness that is given through faith in Christ, the righteousness that comes from God himself. All I want is to know Christ and to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings and become like him in his death, in the hope that I myself will be raised from death to life. I do not claim that I have already succeeded or have already become perfect like the self-righteous Pharisees. I keep striving to win the prize, through Jesus Christ who has already claimed me for himself. Comments The false teachers who dogged Paul’s steps insisted on rigid conformity to Judaism, with its rabbinical accretions, as the condition of being saved by Christ. Paul’s answer was that he had gone through all the requirements of Judaism but had found it absolutely unsatisfactory and inefficient to subdue the sin of his soul. But in Christ, he had found everything he needed. That which he had gained previously now seemed like dross. He had found the pearl of great price and was only too glad to sacrifice all else to purchase and keep it as the talisman of complete victory. Back to Paul. Verses 13-21 Of course, my friends, I really do not think that I have already won it; the one thing I do, however, is to forget what is behind me and do my best to reach what is ahead. So, I run straight towards the goal in order to win the prize, which is God’s call through Christ Jesus to the life above. All of us who are spiritually mature should have this same attitude. But if some of you have a different attitude, God will make this clear to you. However, that may be, let us go forward according to the same rules we have followed until now. Keep on imitating me, my friends. Pay attention to those who follow the right example that we have set for you. I have told you this many times before, and now I repeat it with tears: There are many whose lives make them enemies of Christ’s death on the cross. They are going to end up in hell because their god is their bodily desire. They are proud of what they should be ashamed of, and they think only of things that belong to this world. We, however, are citizens of heaven, and we eagerly wait for our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come from heaven. He will change our weak mortal bodies and make them like his own glorious body, using that power by which he is able to bring all things under his rule. Comment on Philippians 3:13–21 May we be always prepared for the coming of our Judge; looking to have our vile bodies changed by his Almighty power and applying to him daily to renew our souls unto holiness; to deliver us from our enemies, and to employ our bodies and souls as instruments of righteousness in his service. (Matthew Henry)

Philippians chapter 2:1-11 Your life in Christ makes you strong, and his love comforts you. You have fellowship with the Spirit, and you have kindness and compassion for each other. I urge you, then, to make me perfectly happy by having the same thoughts, sharing the same love, and being one in soul and mind. Do not do anything out of selfish ambition or a cheap desire to boast, instead be humble towards one another, always considering others better than you. Look out for one another’s interests, not just your own. The attitude you should have is the one that Christ Jesus had: He always had the nature of God, but he did not think that by force he should try to remain equal with God. Instead of this, of his own free will, he gave up all he had and took on the nature of a servant. He became like a human being and appeared in human likeness. He was humble and walked the path of obedience all the way to his death on the cross. And so, in honour of our saviour, all beings in heaven, on earth, and in the world below will fall on their knees, and all will openly proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Comment In all Scripture — and indeed, in all literature — there is no passage that combines such extraordinary extremes as this. The apostle opens the golden compasses of his faith, placing one jewelled point on the throne of divine glory and the other at the edge of the pit, where the cross stood. Then he asks us to measure the vast descent of the Son of God as He came down to help us. Mark the seven steps: He was in the form of God, that is, as much God as He was afterwards a servant; being in the form of God took the form of a servant. He was certainly the latter, and equally so the former. He did not grasp equality with God, for it was already his. He emptied himself of His divine attributes to teach the meaning of absolute dependence on the Father. He obeyed, as a servant, the laws that had their source in Himself. He became a man — a humble man, a dying man, a crucified man. He lay in the grave. But the meaning of His descent was that of His ascent, and to all His illustrious names is now added that of Jesus, the Saviour. This must be our model, as we humble ourselves to be like him. F. B. Meyer. Philippians chapter 2:12-18 So then, dear friends, Paul wrote, as you always obeyed me when I was with you, it is even more important that you obey me now that I am away from you. Keep on working with fear and trembling to complete your salvation because God is always at work in you to make you willing and able to obey his own purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing so that you may be innocent and pure as God’s perfect children, who live in a world of corrupt and sinful people. You must shine among them like stars lighting up the sky as you offer them the message of life. If you do so, I shall have reason to be proud of you on the Day of Christ, because it will show that all my effort and work have not been wasted. Perhaps my life’s blood is to be poured out like an offering for the sacrifice that your faith offers to God. If that is so, I am glad to share my joy with you all. In the same way, you too must be glad and share your joy with me. Comment Paul’s life, in many ways, mirrored the life of Jesus, except for one major exception. Paul was a mere mortal, while Jesus was God with us in the image of man. He took on the form of a loving servant, and likewise, Paul, in his service to mankind, cared for others. Neither did Paul do anything for pride or vain glory and neither did Jesus. Jesus, on the other hand, could have grasped equality with God, for it was already his, but he did not. He emptied himself of His divine attributes, teaching us the meaning of absolute dependence on the Father. Jesus obeyed, as a servant, the laws that had their source in Himself. He descended so that He might ascend, and his humbling countenance led to his glorification, setting us an example so that we might follow in His steps since we have profited from His death. Let us humble ourselves likewise. (Yours truly) Philippians chapter 2:19-30 Paul continues. If it is the Lord’s will, I hope that I will be able to send Timothy to you soon, so that I may be encouraged by news about you. He is the only one who shares my feelings and who really cares about you. Everyone else is concerned only with their own affairs, not with the cause of Jesus Christ. And you yourselves know how he has proved his worth and how he and I, like a son and his father, have worked together for the sake of the gospel. So, I hope to send him to you as soon as I know how things are going to turn out for me. And I trust in the Lord that I myself will be able to come to you soon. I have thought it necessary to send to you our brother Epaphroditus, who has worked and fought by my side and who has served as your messenger in helping me. He is anxious to see you all and is very upset because you heard that he was sick. Indeed, he was sick and almost died. But God had pity on him, and not only on him but on me, too, and spared me an even greater sorrow. I am all the more eager, then, to send him to you, so that you will be glad again when you see him, and my own sorrow will disappear. Receive him, then, with joy, as a believer in the Lord. Show respect to all such people as he, because he risked his life and nearly died for the sake of the work of Christ, in order to give me the help that you yourselves could not give. Comment Paul speaks of Timothy as his son, and he describes Epaphroditus as his brother, a fellow worker, and a fellow soldier. God does not add sorrow to sorrow (Phil. 2:27). He tempers his wind with the sheared lamb. He cautions the accuser that he must not take Job’s life. During the trial, he finds a way to escape. He keeps his finger on the wrist while the operation is in progress and stays there as soon as the pulse flutters. Not sorrow upon sorrow! Note also that “hazarding” of life, Php_2:30, R. V., was a common experience in those great days of Christ’s suffering Church, Act 15:26. How strange it is today to watch the sacrifices that men and women will make in times of war, when men gamble everything for liberty, righteousness, and fatherland. Then compare this extravagant expenditure of blood and treasure with what we have done for Jesus. F. B. Meyer. Chapter three tomorrow God willing.

Phillipians 1:12-21. I want you to know, my friends, those things that have happened to me have truly helped the advancement of the gospel. As a result, the whole palace guard and all the others here know that I am in prison because I am a servant of Christ. My being in prison has given most believers more confidence in the Lord, so they grow bolder all the time to preach the message fearlessly. Some preachers are jealous and quarrelsome, but others do so out of genuine goodwill and love because they know that God has given to me the work of defending the gospel. The others do not proclaim Christ sincerely, but from a spirit of selfish ambition; they think they will make more trouble for me while I am in prison. It does not matter! I am happy about it, because Christ is preached in every way possible, whether from wrong or right motives. And I will continue to be happy, because I know that with your prayers and the help of Jesus Christ, I shall be set free. My deepest wish is that I will never fail in my duty. I want, especially now, to be full of courage. So that with my whole being, I shall bring honour and glory to Christ. Whether I live or die, for what is life? To me, it is Christ. Death will bring more. Comment It is clear from this paragraph that death is not an unconscious sleep. It is a gain. It is a release so that the soul can go forth on the broad ocean of God’s love. It does not interrupt our conscious fellowship with the Lord. The moment of absence here is the moment of presence there. To die is, therefore, to gain. (F. B. Meyer) The end of chapter 1. Chapter 2 next. Blessings.

Philippians Introduction by Chuck Smith Paul the apostle was arrested in Jerusalem and held in prison at Caesarea for two years until Caesar heard his appeal. While Paul was in Rome awaiting his appearance before Caesar, he was under house arrest. He was able to rent his own cell but was chained to a Roman guard twenty-four hours a day. There were in Rome some ten thousand elite soldiers whose chief duty was to protect the emperor. These men were chained to Paul on shifts, twenty-four hours a day, for two years. Paul saw that as a tremendous opportunity to witness, because they could not get away, and many of Caesar’s household came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. There was quite a revival there in Rome, while Paul waited for his appearance before Caesar. The church in Philippi took up an offering and sent him a generous amount of money, taken to Paul by Epaphroditus, who became extremely ill and almost died on the way. However, he got to Rome, and this letter is basically a thank-you letter to the people at Philippi. It is written not as from an apostle to the church, like most of Paul’s epistles, but as a friend to a friend. There is a warm, friendly feeling through the whole epistle; and its tone is one of joy and rejoicing, even though all this time, Paul was chained to a Roman guard in a Roman prison. It was like a cellar. Light came in from a window high up, but Paul always had the light within him, and he declares, “I have learned in whatever state I am in to be content. I know how to abound. I know how to be abased. I am content because my contentment does not lie in my circumstances. My contentment lies in my relationship with Jesus Christ, and that cannot change. My circumstances may change, I may be in tough physical circumstances, but my contentment is not in that. My contentment comes from knowing Jesus Christ.” So, Paul opens this epistle, and along with the little letter to Philemon and 1 Thessalonians, it is the only epistle where he does not begin by the affirmation of his apostleship. Usually, it is, “Paul an apostle by the will of God.” But he is writing now as a friend to a friend. Philippians, Chapter 1:1-11 From Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all God’s people in Philippi, including the church leaders and helpers. May God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. I thank God for you every time I think of you, and every time I pray for you all. I pray with joy, remembering how you helped me in the work of the gospel from the very first day until now. I am sure; Paul continues speaking from the depths of his spiritual experience, that God, who began this good work in you, will continue until it is finished on the Day of Christ Jesus. I will always have you in my heart. You have all shared with me the gospel of Jesus Christ that God has given me, both now that I am in prison and while I was free, to defend the gospel and establish it firmly. God is my witness, and I tell the truth when I say that my deep feelings for you all come from the heart of Christ Jesus himself. I pray your love will continue to grow more and more, together with true knowledge and perfect judgement, so that you can choose what is best. Then you will be free from all impurity and blame on the Day of Christ. Your lives will be filled with the perfect qualities that only Jesus Christ can produce, for the glory and praise of God. Comment The good work began in Paul by the grace of God, about which he says (1Cor 15:10), ‘By the grace of God, I am what I am.’ It is his sense of God’s work that makes him confident about the Philippians. He believes God will not allow even a small quantity of seed to be without fruit. But the apostle will not forget, nor have his readers forgotten, that though Paul may plant and Apollos may water, it is God who gives the increase. We read in Acts that “The Lord opened the heart of Lydia, who attended to those things spoken of by Paul.” To be continued:

In view of that, I'm pulling out of this debate. The beginning of John's Gospel makes it quite clear that Jesus is the pre-incarnate WORD who created heaven and earth. John 6:48-51 also.

1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 2 Peter 1:1 Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: Colossians 2:9-10 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. Hebrews 1:8 But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. Isa 47:4 As for our redeemer, the LORD of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel. Isa 48:17 Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go. Isa 49:26 And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I the LORD, am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob. Isa 54:8 In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer. Isa 60:16 Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob. Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Revelation 22:13 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Titus 2:13 Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, "Behold, I (Jesus) am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to the merit of his deeds (earthly works, faithfulness). [Isa_40:10; Jer_17:10; Mat_16:27; 2Co_5:10] I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End [the Eternal One]." [Isa_44:6; Isa_48:12; Joh_10:30] (Rev 22:12-13)

Do you think that maybe the I AM (JESUS) is punishing the people in the same way as he did in Old Testament times so they will return to him?

I am sure you are correct in everything you write, but you forget they departed from the I AM a long time ago and as yet have not returned to the fold. See here https://www.keepandshare.com/doc/4302607/pagan-israel?dn=y

This is what they were doing. “What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats.(Isaiah 1:11) Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations—I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly. (Isaiah 1:13) Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods. (Deu 12:31 KJV) All that is required is to: "love God with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." Mark 12:33 .

In my view, God fixes it with fire, brimstone, water, plague, etc, along with his chosen ones, like Judas and the hero of the Jews Moses, who led the Israelites to their own destruction. Only two of those who left Egypt entered the Promised Land, while the I AM got them out of Egypt without the people lifting a finger in anger. .

I believe God is unchanging, and no killing by mankind means precisely that. Malachi 3:6 “For I, the Lord, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed. Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. James 1:17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. Daniel 7:14 “And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.

I thought the I AM was unchanging, and no killing means no killing. So, from your reply, maybe Yahweh is not I am. Would you agree?