Sonship is a study of Paul's letter to the Galatians. But it is not a verse-by-verse dissection of the text as much as it is a study of the heart of sanctification. Our works as Christians are the result of a GREAT WORK OF GOD in our hearts. Our "law keeping" is the result of a perfect law keeper convicting us of the truth of the gospel.

So far the metaphor that has spoken to me the most is that of the gospel being music to my soul's ears. As I hear the music I hum the tune, tap my foot, dance, and sing. I'm picturing my son Oak dancing to Barney more than Michael Jackson at this point...joyful and a bit strange but satisfying to watch...I can tell he's having a good time!

It seems cavalier to throw off all sense of my own responsibility for becoming more like Christ. Can't I do something to make myself a better Christian? Doesn't my work for Him matter? Can't I judge (discern) who is a strong Christian by looking at what they do? On a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being legalistic law keeping and 1 being hedonism, what is the responsible and accurate level of my effort? How do the passages in the Book of James connect to those here in Galatians, especially those that talk about showing my faith by my deeds?

The study I am in attempts to answer these questions from the perspective of a practitioner of the faith in the real world of temptation, loss, failure and death in which we are to shine like stars in the universe.