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.
I have confidence in
you, in the Lord,
that you will have no
other mind; but he
who troubles you
shall hear his judgment,
whoever he is.
Galatians 5:7:10
Lest we
misunderstand and misapply those words of Paul, allow clarification, to whom
and how those words applied in our present Christian life. After the release of
the Hebrews by Darius the king of Persia and their return to Israel many did
not return and many went to other places in the world, Egypt, Asia Minor, Rome,
etc., and in later years more Hebrews left Israel and dispersed throughout the
world. With those Hebrews came with them the Law, and even thought they
embraced Christianity there attempted to inject the Law, especially the Law of
circumcision upon all Christians. Paul is addressing them about such Judaizers.
Circumcision had its place in the law for pre–Christ people, and now that the
law, having been fulfilled by the life, death, and ascension to heaven by the
promised Messiah, circumcision was no longer necessary. Now, in our day many
also attempt and have done what the Judaizers were attempting to do, and that
is to insert into Christians legalism that is above Scripture and in many cases
heretical. Those who are doing such are subject to a judgment and their easy to
hear words, or easy to follow as though they are Scripture when they are not,
will not escape their judgment. Are you one who is following such so–called
theologians who speak easy words, tickling words to the ear, and those who seem
to have influence so great that many follow after them as though they have some
special word from God, words that are not found in Scripture? Are you being
hindered from the truth? Are you willing to leave false teaching and go to
where the truth is taught? Well, how would you know if you are being hindered
from the truth, or who is teaching the truth, if you, yourself do not take the
time to study the word of God, and to compare with Scripture those words of
men, and of women, to know what is actually being taught is truth or a lie? Do
you read only literature that is of your denomination, or leaning, or are you
willing to look at other writings by theologians, both past and present? If not
then you have no idea what is true or false, and your understanding is faulty.
Paul
speaking about those Judaizers and circumcision as though by doing this outward
performance and making that performance as being right with God making cause
for others who are not doing so to be unrighteous before God; now, apply that
to things that are being performed outwardly to be more “Christian” and
condemning, at least tacitly, others who believe or teach differently: “For
circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker
of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. Therefore, if an
uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his
uncircumcision be counted as circumcision” (Romans 2:25–26)? For the
ante–Christian Jew keeping the circumcision was profitable for this was their
law given to them by God and this pointed to more than some physicality: it
pointed to them that they had the need to remove all uncleanness pointing them
to a better circumcision by the Messiah. It wasn’t circumcision that was
profitable; it was keeping the law. Now, if a person was doing the things of
the law and where uncircumcised, this too was good and counted as circumcised.
How could this be? “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is
circumcision that which is outward in the flesh: but he is a Jew who is one
inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the
letter; whose praise is not from men but from God” (Romans 2:27–29). There
it is in a nutshcll! It is what is inside a person’s heart that determines
whether, or not, he has God’s approval. How often we are doing the very things
we speak against, those things that are hiding, in our hearts, and are sinful.
Oh! You
shout! I don’t harbor such sinful things, even read the Bible often, pray, and
study His word, even others. Yet, you run around as do those of this world,
back and forth, from this event to another. Making sure that you have the best,
best home, (that is good up to a point). Making sure our children are in
sports, or music, acting, etc., (those things are not all bad), and both
parents work to succeed in some profession as though this is so important; and
our children are left to themselves, to become involved in the culture of this
world? Not knowing your children’s friends, or what they do or go, all because
you are a “Christian” and you would not think of doing anything wrong. Are speaking
to your children about God? Taking them to Sunday School, Church, etc., all
outward appearance that you are a really good Christian: (Great!); but never
spending quality time with your children, being involved, not just in some
event, rather in your home, teaching them, playing with them, eating with them,
listening to them, and being involved in their lives. Is showing the world how
smart and how successful you are, more important to you than just being a
parent? Why do I speak this way? My fingers are pointing back to me: sadly! If
you or I are so caught up in this world and its culture, then those Judaizers,
that sinful leaven will leaven your children, even going so far as to leaven
the Church. It isn’t keeping the law that makes you to be approved by God if
your heart is not right with God. We are not of this world! We are temporary
residents! We are to be the light, the salt of the world! It is ok if we are
different from the world! We are to be the very image of Christ! Is this
important? YES!
Arise, cry out in the night,
At the
beginning of the watches;
Pour out your heart like water before the
Face of the
Lord. Lift your hands
Toward Him for the life of your young children,
Who faint
from hunger at the head
Of every street.
Lamentations 2:19
God will help you make the needed changes
Richard L. Crumb
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