Studies from the book of Galatians Part 2
Gal 1:4-5 GOD’S WORD
In order to free us from this present evil world, Christ took the punishment for our sins, because that was what our God and Father wanted.
The world is evil because it is under the power and influence of the evil one. Evil is characterized by sin. It is sin that made the world become totally evil. The order, arrangement and purpose of all that exists and are done in the world are to serve one purpose- sin. Jesus said, “… sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.’ In order words, evil is designed to fill the whole space in the world. There is no room for God or godliness. The spirit that controls the affairs in the world is evil and cannot do otherwise. The world is stained with this evil disease and has eaten deep into it. There is no hope for the world under the Devil.
The Bible tells us the evil world is a present thing. Yes, while this is what obtains in the present, there is a future world that is totally opposite. The present evil world may have existed for over 6000 years and things have been like this for that long, yet there is a glorious future world under the Messiah. In order words, this present evil age has an end. There is a time when Christ will take power over the earth and the kingdom will come under His Lordship. Satan will be banished first for a thousand years and then will be cast into the lake of fire together with all his hosts and supporters. The reign of Christ will last longer than what the earth has witnessed under the tyrannical headship of the Devil.
Those who will share in the future glory must have changed their allegiance while in this present evil age. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ must have been received by faith as something done on one’s behalf. The reason Jesus died is to set us free from the present evil age. There are two dimensions to that: Although we are presently in the world, we can live, but not under the power of the evil prince. We can live as strangers in this world. We can live in rebellion to the god of this world because we are subjects of the King of kings. Jesus actually sets us free from the power of sin which corrupts every living being. We are no longer slaves of sin but of righteousness. This is the prelude to the second experience of living with Christ in the future glory land.