Have you ever heard people say things like: “The Bible doesn’t really have much to say about anything that affects me. What the Bible talks about doesn’t have any bearing on the future. It’s just a lot of stories that might make some good points, but it’s really nothing to be taken too seriously. In fact, I don’t think the Bible can be trusted. It’s just an outdated book.”

Today as we continue to study Daniel chapter 8, I want to talk about a few things that you will be able to share with friends or family who think the Bible can’t be trusted or that it is irrelevant. Please listen to this audio carefully from beginning to end.

This is a touchy subject. By the grace of God I pray this audio is helpful.

1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. 2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. 4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. 7 You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is. 11 And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. 12 I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off!

21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, 24 which things are symbolic. For these are the[d] two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— 25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— 26 but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren, You who do not bear! Break forth and shout, You who are not in labor! For the desolate has many more children Than she who has a husband.” 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. 29 But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free. (Galatians 4:21-31 NKJV)

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Have you ever noticed that even professionals (those seen as the best of the best) sometimes fumble, trip, fall, and make major mistakes?

It's the same with the "heroes of the faith" including Abraham to whom "the promise" was made.

15 Brethren, as a man I say [it], even of man a confirmed covenant no one doth make void or doth add to, 16 and to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed; He doth not say, `And to seeds,' as of many, but as of one, `And to thy seed,' which is Christ; 17 and this I say, A covenant confirmed before by God to Christ, the law, that came four hundred and thirty years after, doth not set aside, to make void the promise, 18 for if by law [be] the inheritance, [it is] no more by promise, but to Abraham through promise did God grant [it]. 19 Why, then, the law? on account of the transgressions it was added, till the seed might come to which the promise hath been made, having been set in order through messengers in the hand of a mediator -- 20 and the mediator is not of one, and God is one -- 21 the law, then, [is] against the promises of God? -- let it not be! for if a law was given that was able to make alive, truly by law there would have been the righteousness, 22 but the Writing did shut up the whole under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ may be given to those believing. 23 And before the coming of the faith, under law we were being kept, shut up to the faith about to be revealed, 24 so that the law became our child-conductor -- to Christ, that by faith we may be declared righteous, 25 and the faith having come, no more under a child-conductor are we,
26 for ye are all sons of God through the faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for as many as to Christ were baptized did put on Christ; 28 there is not here Jew or Greek, there is not here servant nor freeman, there is not here male and female, for all ye are one in Christ Jesus; 29 and if ye [are] of Christ then of Abraham ye are seed, and according to promise -- heirs. (Galatians 3:15-29 Young's Literal Translation)

1) O thoughtless Galatians, who did bewitch you, not to obey the truth -- before whose eyes Jesus Christ was described before among you crucified? 2 this only do I wish to learn from you -- by works of law the Spirit did ye receive, or by the hearing of faith? 3 so thoughtless are ye! having begun in the Spirit, now in the flesh do ye end? 4 so many things did ye suffer in vain! if, indeed, even in vain. 5 He, therefore, who is supplying to you the Spirit, and working mighty acts among you -- by works of law or by the hearing of faith [is it]?
6 according as Abraham did believe God, and it was reckoned to him -- to righteousness; 7 know ye, then, that those of faith -- these are sons of Abraham, 8 and the Writing having foreseen that by faith God doth declare righteous the nations did proclaim before the good news to Abraham -- 9 `Blessed in thee shall be all the nations;' so that those of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham, 10 for as many as are of works of law are under a curse, for it hath been written, `Cursed [is] every one who is not remaining in all things that have been written in the Book of the Law -- to do them,' 11 and that in law no one is declared righteous with God, is evident, because `The righteous by faith shall live;' 12 and the law is not by faith, but -- `The man who did them shall live in them.' 13 Christ did redeem us from the curse of the law, having become for us a curse, for it hath been written, `Cursed is every one who is hanging on a tree,' 14 that to the nations the blessing of Abraham may come in Christ Jesus, that the promise of the Spirit we may receive through the faith. (Galatians 3:1-14 YLT)

"I do not make void the grace of God, for if righteousness [be] through law -- then Christ died in vain. O thoughtless Galatians, who did bewitch you, not to obey the truth -- before whose eyes Jesus Christ was described before among you crucified? This only do I wish to learn from you -- by works of law the Spirit did ye receive, or by the hearing of faith? So thoughtless are ye! Having begun in the Spirit, now in the flesh do ye end?" (Galatians 2:21-3:3 YLT)

"With Christ I have been crucified, and live no more do I, and Christ doth live in me; and that which I now live in the flesh -- in the faith I live of the Son of God, who did love me and did give himself for me; I do not make void the grace of God, for if righteousness [be] through law -- then Christ died in vain." (Galatians 2:20,21 Young's Literal Translation)

What does that mean for you and me?

"...only, of the poor that we should be mindful, which also I was diligent -- this very thing -- to do.  And when Peter came to Antioch, to the face I stood up against him, because he was blameworthy, for before the coming of certain from James, with the nations he was eating, and when they came, he was withdrawing and separating himself, fearing those of the circumcision, and dissemble with him also did the other Jews, so that also Barnabas was carried away by their dissimulation. But when I saw that they are not walking uprightly to the truth of the good news, I said to Peter before all, `If thou, being a Jew, in the manner of the nations dost live, and not in the manner of the Jews, how the nations dost thou compel to Judaize? we by nature Jews, and not sinners of the nations, having known also that a man is not declared righteous by works of law, if not through the faith of Jesus Christ, also we in Christ Jesus did believe, that we might be declared righteous by the faith of Christ, and not by works of law, wherefore declared righteous by works of law shall be no flesh.' And if, seeking to be declared righteous in Christ, we ourselves also were found sinners, [is] then Christ a ministrant of sin? let it not be! for if the things I threw down, these again I build up, a transgressor I set myself forth; for I through law, did die, that to God I may live; with Christ I have been crucified, and live no more do I, and Christ doth live in me; and that which I now live in the flesh -- in the faith I live of the Son of God, who did love me and did give himself for me; I do not make void the grace of God, for if righteousness [be] through law -- then Christ died in vain." (Galatians 2:10-21 Young's Literal Translation)

"But, on the contrary, having seen that I have been entrusted with the good news of the uncircumcision, as Peter with [that] of the circumcision, for He who did work with Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, did work also in me in regard to the nations, and having known the grace that was given to me, James, and Cephas, and John, who were esteemed to be pillars, a right hand of fellowship they did give to me, and to Barnabas, that we to the nations, and they to the circumcision [may go], only, of the poor that we should be mindful, which also I was diligent -- this very thing -- to do." (Galatians 2:7-10 Young's Literal Translation)

So many of us are looking for peace. The peace of knowing we are loved by God, accepted by God, welcomed by God, and will one day be with God. Yet, with all the religious activity, hard work, commitment, etc. for so many peace is still not found? Is there a piece of the puzzle missing? What is it? The Apostle Paul tells us what it is in his letter to the Galatians.

A written transcript will hopefully be online soon.