“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 forever and ever. Amen” (Galatians 1:3-4).

Paul began his letter to the Galatians by establishing key truths about our relationships with God. Grace and peace come to us from God and Paul explained how that happens. Jesus “gave Himself for us.” Someone had to die for my sins and Jesus took my place and yours. That Jesus, who was sinless, died for our sins is at the heart of the gospel.

There is another truth that many people don’t grasp. Christianity is a “rescue” religion. It isn’t about pretty good people following the example He gave us. We weren’t capable of doing that. Christianity isn’t a plan of reformation; it is God’s plan of transformation. It is about humanity which is held in the clutches of sin finding a Rescuer who came to save us. “Rescue” is literally God “lifting us out” of the “present evil age.”

Some people have the idea that Jesus is good and loving, but the Father is stern and harsh. They see Jesus as actively working to convince the Father to be kind to us. Nothing could be further from the truth. Our salvation is certainly the will of Jesus. He died and came back to make it possible. Yet, it is as much the will of the Father. Add what the Bible says about the Holy Spirit and we complete the picture. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are committed to us. The entire Trinity is working for us.

What do we do? We believe that. Believing that truth is enough to change our lives.