Living In The Image Of Jesus Christ

You have become estranged from Christ,

you who attempt to be justified by law;

you have fallen from grace.

For we through the Spirit eagerly

wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

for in Christ Jesus neither circumcision

nor uncircumcision avails anything,

but faith working through love.

You ran well. Who hindered you

from obeying the truth?

This persuasion does not come

from Him who calls you.

A little leaven leavens the whole lump.

Galatians 5:4–9

            Remembrance is important here: Paul is not talking to unbelievers; he is talking to believers in Jesus Christ. The Galatians were being led astray from the truth and were becoming estranged from Jesus Christ. How? By following the Law, not the Ten Commandments as some would say is now fulfilled and not applicable to today, but those ceremonial laws; i.e. bringing sheep to be slaughtered, the priestly role in the religions life of the Israelites, etc. By returning to the Law and all its rites, precepts, and needs, and by returning to the works of the Law, those who were doing so had fallen from grace. The one work that being propounded by the Judaizers was circumcision as being necessary if one was to be a child of God. Paul makes it clear that circumcision as was done in the past is no longer necessary. There is no need for this outward working as in the past to be justified, or to be considered a member of God’s nation. It is easy to return to works to prove one’s faith, but this is not faith, it is doing what is no longer necessary. Faith works in love, first to the brothers and sisters in Christ and then extends to the world. It seems as though this practice is now reversed. The secular world gets first priority and the brothers and sisters second. The question is: are you doing all you can to aid your brothers and sisters; i.e., those in need of food, money, clothing, yard clean–up, house cleaning, having them over for lunch or dinner, etc., this is love working and it is true love if done by faith in Jesus Christ, following in His footsteps. Did not Jesus was the feet of the disciples at the Last Supper? Yes! Too often we go to Church and then not talk to anyone, leave as quick as we can, never really getting to know our brothers and sisters. But, we will work at things that are good and may be done in the love of Jesus Christ, but that work takes the place of doing work for our brothers and sisters. Can we do both? Yes! Don’t allow the work you do, such as working for the Rescue Mission, or some clinic to aid pregnant mothers, or to take food to the homeless in the park, or teaching Sunday School, or Vacation Bible Study, to seem good and acceptable to God, when all it is really doing is feeding pride, religious pride. Look, see, what I am doing is it not a good work and I must be acceptable to God for doing so, and maybe it is, but verify why you are working; is it by faith, out faith that your works have its basis? We do, as Christians, have work to do, that work is to be a witness for Jesus Christ, and we need to start at home, and from our home extend out to others, both in the Church and in our secular work. We must examine ourselves, our dress, our words, our bodies, and not allow ourselves to become: “But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak” (1Corinthians 8:9).  Our love is to be the love of Jesus Christ, not just a love to Him, rather a love that He demonstrated teaching us what love is acceptable to Him; it is love we have by our faith in Him as our securer of our future, our eternal destiny, given to us by God through His Son: “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love” (1Corithians 16:13–14).

            Are those who subvert the truth persuading you? Have you turned to a religion of works? Is your works do to your converted faith in Jesus Christ? Not just some decision for Jesus Christ, but a conversion that leads you by the faith given to you to do what we as Christians ought to do: love our brothers and sisters, and do good in this world. Not for some prideful reason, but because we are sold out completely to Jesus Christ and have taken up our cross and are following Him? The Law did not remove sin, only gave understanding as to what sin is, and how we are sinful and in need of a Savior. The Law did not diminish the promises of God. The Jews became accustomed to doing and though just the doing was being righteous but this blinded them from the truth that righteousness comes only through God and this by an intermediary because salvation, righteousness does not come by a person’s hand, only from this intermediary, Jesus Christ. The Law could not make a person alive. Only Jesus Christ can make a person alive, alive eternally, without sin, without an iota of sin to mislead a person from God. We are not of this world, even though we reside in this world, we are only temporary ambassadors for Christ. Easy? NO! Can it be done? YES! By the power of the Holy Spirit leading us we can overcome but not by being lazy, apathetic, we are admonished: “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy’” (1Peter 1:13–16).

For the eyes of the LORD

            Are on the righteous,

And His ears are open to

Their prayers;

But the face of the LORD is

            Against those who do evil.

                                    1Peter 3:12

Live in the image of Jesus Christ

Richard L. Crumb