I marvel that you are
turning always so soon
from Him who called
you in the grace of Christ,
to a different
gospel, which is not another;
but there are some
who trouble you
and want to pervert
the gospel of Christ.
But even if we, or an
angel from heaven,
preach any other
gospel to you
than what we have
preached to you,
let him be accursed.
Galatians 1: 6 -- 8
In our
study of Galatians and the letter of Paul that he wrote to them concerning
those things that he considered as being in contradiction to the gospel that
he had taught them, I have turned to Galatians to remind us what Paul wrote to
the Galatian churches. What Paul wrote
was also a letter that eventually sent to the Corinthian church, and it is what
what Paul addressed that some have today turned. Paul was
admonished by them and by his authority in this matter addressed these issues. It was not that people were teaching some sort of Hinduism, or
Buddhism, or Islamic religion, no, it was people who were using the gospel to
teach that which was not originally taught to them by Paul. This gospel contaminated by ideologies,
worldview, that resulted in a theology that was nothing more than a perversion
of the gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ.
It is not that the grace of the gospel had not been preached to
them. The problem is that they are Christians in name only, and have yet to possess the favor of grace
itself. Doing various things, even
under the guise of what is done is considered spiritual, or some sort of
revelation of faith, is wrong. Those gifts that
only the Holy Spirit to whomever He desires to give them. These antics, a
keeping of some sort of ritual, even the keeping of the law, does not remove
sins or make a person more faithful, only except by the grace of faith which works through love. It seems as though these doctrines are very
similar to the doctrines that the Judaizers were attempting to influence the
church to turn to, a keeping up some sort of works, and in their case it was
the law. All this was doing was putting
people under the burdens of the law, or putting Christians under some sort of
need to do things that they have not been given the right to do by the Holy
Spirit. Christians are under grace, and
they are earnestly assured that if they hadn't need to live by those works
which are not relegated, even though they may be desired, availed to nothing,
that is nothing if they did not do these rites. Paul was astonished by not only to the Galatian church, but also
to the Corinthian church. Paul
investigated these issues, and this he had every right to do before he was
appointed by Jesus Christ to be a special apostle to them. And then by his words written in his letters
he gives sufficient indication that those who use such persuasions are not of
God but of men. Yes, it is true of
Christians who have been recently born into the faith of Christ, they are
nourished with Milk, not on solid food, and are so often easily bewitched. therefore it is incumbent upon us to teach the truth. Paul asked the Galatian church, and this
question is for all Christian: "This
only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the
law, or by the hearing of faith? Are
you so foolish? Having begun in the
Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh" (Galatians 3: 2 --
3). The Judaizers, and I fear that
many who are present-day Christians, think that the Holy Spirit does not
suffice unless you are placed under the law;works which is nothing more than a form
of works. This is a reversal of the
gospel, that, since it is not good, is not the gospel although it is set forth
as such. These things that are being
done with reason is superfluous, and in yet, the superfluous is neither
beneficial even though considered not harmful.
But attention must be given that it may not tend to destruction. To do these things is not to rise up but to
fall down, and albeit some may not have yet fallen, they are already inclining
fall. So often when our doctrine is in
contradiction to the Holy Spirit then other doctrines are accepted and are also
in contradiction to the word of God.
You cannot expect that a little leaven will not leaven the whole
lump. Once again Paul explains that God
is by means of the Holy Spirit gives to whom He desired to give and the question is how
does he give it? I'll answer this
question: Therefore He who supplies the
Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the
law, or by the hearing of faith: (Galatians 3: 5). Notice that God supplies and He will only
supply by means of faith. Even Abraham
was accounted righteous before circumcision.
Too often in the circles of those who are performing such things as
"gibberish" sound, and go about trying to heal everyone, although you
do not see them in hospitals, even though they display some sort of Christian
religiosity, Bay, and we, must never fear losing anything from God except God. We are not to fear losing anything of
ourselves except ourselves, for we are to deny ourselves. In Christ alone is our true bliss and
perfection. Jesus Christ is invisible
to our carnal eye, yet He is worshiped in faith, and this as long as we live in
this flesh: "I have been crucified
with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life
which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved to
me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2: 20). Those who are not entirely justified pays
attention neither to those things which have a temporal reward, nor to those
things which have and eat journal reward.
Bose, however, who are justified by the works they do are not
necessarily justified before God, because he expects from temporal and
miserable advantage. Jesus Christ came
and redeemed us from the curse of the law, and became curse for us, therefore,
why are we attempting to keep some sort of law, or a doctrine of works? I pray.
A view, and if so, then you will turn back to the true words of Jesus
Christ in all that the Bible is teaching us that we are free, free in Christ,
it is the gospel that made us free, and it is the gospel that will make others
free.
He will sit as a refiner in a purifier of silver;
He will
purify the sun so Levi,
and purge them as gold and silver,
that they
may offer to the LORD
in offering in righteousness.
Malachi: 3: 3
You are free in Christ
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