Musick-al note # 53
In appreciation and thanks to Larry Walker who sent this note to me about three years ago. It deserves a reading by all who love truth. Gordon
Paul was astonished that the Galatians were deserting the One who called them to live in the grace of Christ and were turning to a different gospel (which was really no gospel at all) (1:6). The Galatians had accepted the gospel that Paul had preached to them. (Paul explained that the preaching of another Gospel would be under God’s curse). They should remember that they had been baptized into Christ and clothed with Christ (3:27). They had also been given son-ship and the Spirit of God according to Christ’s promise when they believed and obeyed the Gospel of Christ. (Acts 5:32).
Paul explained to them that his preaching was not of man’s design but by revelation from Christ Jesus. His conversion from his past life set him apart from Judaism and following the Law to live by faith in Christ. He expected all believers to know and he showed that this position was correct when he opposed Peter before the church in Antioch. Peter had begun to separate himself from Gentile believers after false teachers taught that Christians had to be circumcised to be justified before God. No wonder that Paul strongly upbraided the Galatians for he had taught that they were justified by faith and that the Law could not justify anyone. Even so, we must put our faith in Jesus and not in works for justification is by grace which is received by faith. Paul was perplexed because they were trading the blessing they had in Christ for an ineffective system of laws which Christ had taken away on the cross. To counteract the teaching of being circumcised, Paul taught that if they followed the false teachers to be circumcised, they would be obligated to obey the whole Law (Galatians 5:3-4), resulting in being alienated from Christ and falling from the Grace of God.
The good news for the Galatians and all gentiles is “circumcision has no value”. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. (Galatians 5:6). It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Let us stand firm and not let ourselves be burdened by a yoke of slavery, but do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh, rather serve one another humbly in love for the entire law is fulfilled in keeping the command, “Love your neighbor as yourself”, for if you bite and devour each other, you will destroy each other. (Galatians 5:15-16). Advice for how to live the Spirit filled life that Christ has freed us to live is given in Galatians 5:16-6:18). If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law, but are free to walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Keep in step with the Spirit (5:26).
WHILE WE ARE NOT LIKELY TO BE TEMPTED TO TRADE CHRIST FOR THE LAW, WE MIGHT BE TEMPTED TO TRADE OUR FREEDOM FOR MAN-MADE RULES AND REGULATIONS.
Larry Walker
Musick-al Notes 