Here is what we have in Galatians 4:
1. To be under a Jewish system of law is to be under bondage to things that kept us in elementary school (1-3)
2. To adhere to a system of law as that which grants us acceptance with God and others is the same thing as going back and worshiping false gods (vs 7-9).
3. To require what God has not required of others leads them into slavery. Conversely, by following such we walk ourselves back into slavery.
4. Sonship (daughtership!) is the opposite of slavery. Full adulthood and freedom comes only through Christ (4-7).
5. Key verse is verses 4-6: Part one: "But when the fullness of time came": At the right time in history, according to God's plan, when the time for God to birth to the Messiah (from a pregnant Israel-Rev 12). Part Two: "God sent forth His Son": the most monumental event in all of history to date which changed everything. Part Three: "Born of a woman": He was fully human which means that he was fit to be our human representative before God (replacing Adam-Romans 5). Part Four: "Born under the Law." Hmmmm. This must be important. Part Five: "so that (a purpose towards us) He might redeem those who were under the Law": Boom, set free from a way of living that never was intended to set us free. Part Six: "that we might receive the adoption as sons." There it is . . . finally . . . a release from slavery into full rights as a child of God. Released from custody to the law and now a free child and heir. Part Seven: "God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying 'Abba, Father.' This intimate relationship with God is not possible through law but only through Christ and the subsequent/simultaneous gift of the Holy Spirit.
6. It is the gift of the Holy Spirit that brings the freedom that life by mere law can never give. It is the key to all for Paul and one much neglected. To be "in Christ" is to be possessed by the Spirit--and thus now able to have intimacy with God. It is the Spirit who lets us know all the things freely given us by "Daddy" as well as the dynamic key to all that we do in the Christian life.
7. Being known by God is emphasized as more important than knowing God-- verse 9 and 1 Corinthians 8:3. Do I know God? Perhaps so. More importantly, Does God know you? The knowledge here is the knowledge of experience, not intellect. God and I experience one another now due to the gift of the Holy Spirit which He has initiated in me! No Holy Spirit = no experience of Him, no intimate relationship with Him.
8. Paul fears his labor is in vain (vs 12-20) and he is perplexed because they are turning from God and trying to live the Christian life by laws and customs--rather than by the Spirit. They had bought into the lie (they were following the Jewish calendar because they thought they must) that they had to become of a Jewish flavor to be accepted by God and their Christian Jewish brothers and sisters.
9. The relationship between Paul and the Galatians is now strained (vs 12-20) because they have turned fro the simplicity and freedom offered by the gospel. They have added to Christ other requirements that God has not added.
10. In verses 21-31 Paul uses the OT (in images of Hagar, the law, Jerusalem, etc.) to show that those born of the Spirit, through Christ, by faith are the children of freedom and not those who are following the system of law which has now given way to a better life in the Spirit. The children of flesh are those trying to find acceptance with God and others by law-keeping.
11. To be a child of promise, a descendant of Abraham through Isaac, a free child, a person of the Spirit . . . all this comes only through Christ by faith plus nothing else.
12. The Christian life is a life of love and service lived under the direct power of the Holy Spirit--this is the subject of chapter 5! It was for freedom that Christ set us free: Galatians 5:1
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Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Galatians 3:15-29: One People of Promise
In these verses Paul gets to the heart of the matter as to why we don't impose on others certain standards of living the Christian life which we prefer for ourselves. The Jewish Christians demanded the Gentile Christians to practice Christianity the "Jewish way." Paul says no and here he lays down the hammer.
In Galatians 3:15-18 Paul uses the Covenant with Abraham to blow away all arguments against the message he is preaching. He uses Genesis 12, 13, 15, 17, and 22 to show that the Messiah, Jesus is the seed of Abraham to whom all the promises were made. They are fulfilled in Jesus and thus all who become "in Christ" also inherit these promises. This is significant because it means that the promises of land and expansion of the people of God flow only through union with Jesus, the seed of Abraham. This is the point of Gal 3:29 where we are told that we who belong to Christ are Abraham's seed, heirs (of all that was promised) according to the promise given to Abraham through the Messiah. (Note: We see Matthew 5 (the meek shall inherit the earth) and Romans 4 (Abraham heir of the world) that a tract of land in Israel was just the beginning. God had in mind to give the family of God the whole earth--all the land. Who is the land promise for? Jew and Gentile together.)
In Galatians 3:17-18 Paul is immersed in the covenant ceremony of Genesis 15 to show that God ratified the covenant by walking alone through the cut of pieces of animals. God was guaranteeing all the promises (swearing an oath on Himself) and requiring nothing of mankind in terms of fulfillment of the promises. This covenant ceremony was 430 years prior to Moses receiving the law. Thus, inclusion in the family of God and being an heir of promises has nothing to do with keeping the law or certain standards of living. God's covenant is eternal and irrevocable.
Paul often anticipates our questions (compare Romans 8 on election) and here is no exception. We might say then that the law is bad, obsolete . . . we can throw it away. Absolutely not says Paul. Then he explains that the Law (shown inferior to the Abrahamic covenant by verse 19) was a temporary custodian (not teacher). The purpose of the Law is to give us a realization of sin and drive us to acceptance by God through faith alone. The law does lead to blessing but not in the way those with a Jewish background thought. They would have argued that they were the only seed of Abraham and that as such the way to blessing was by keeping the law. No! The law only leads to a curse because we cannot keep it. It is holy, righteous, and good-- the Law contains the standards of a holy God for a redeemed people. However, we cannot attain a not guilty verdict and acceptance with God through law-keeping. We are now free through Messiah who has become a curse for us. The fact is, as Paul will elsewhere show, that the Spirit is the key to the Christian life, not the Law. Ironically, the Spirit takes the law and writes it on our hearts as part of the new covenant. We see this in Hebrews and are thus shown that we do not and cannot throw away the moral requirements of God.
Remember what is at stake here. Jewish believers were not accepting Gentile believers because they were not following their God-given customs--circumcision, Jewish calendar, food laws, etc. Paul is saying that all are equally members of the body of Christ and that to go back to this Jewish law system as the way of living leads only to bondage for all. There is something better now-- the Messiah has come and He has given us the Holy Spirit so that now we want to do the things that are pleasing to God. But as far as acceptance with God and family membership--these are obtained by faith and not by keeping laws.
Let us not insist that others be just like us in the way they practice their Christianity. We are ALL sons of God through faith in Christ. We are ALL baptized into Christ (and baptized with the Holy Spirit) and we are ALL clothed with Christ. All the old distinctions, inequalities, and prejudices are gone now. In Christ ALL are equal. We should then be ALL ONE, not divided just because some of our practices and preferences are different.
Let us then accept others in the family of God who look and act differently than we do and not impose on them what God is not requiring. To require others to look, smell, and act just like we do in their Christian living smacks of high arrogance. God has accepted them . . . it is about time that we do also. All that God requires is that all come to the Messiah by faith and live by the power of the Holy Spirit . . . who is a God of great variety in terms of gifting, effects, and ministries.
In Galatians 3:15-18 Paul uses the Covenant with Abraham to blow away all arguments against the message he is preaching. He uses Genesis 12, 13, 15, 17, and 22 to show that the Messiah, Jesus is the seed of Abraham to whom all the promises were made. They are fulfilled in Jesus and thus all who become "in Christ" also inherit these promises. This is significant because it means that the promises of land and expansion of the people of God flow only through union with Jesus, the seed of Abraham. This is the point of Gal 3:29 where we are told that we who belong to Christ are Abraham's seed, heirs (of all that was promised) according to the promise given to Abraham through the Messiah. (Note: We see Matthew 5 (the meek shall inherit the earth) and Romans 4 (Abraham heir of the world) that a tract of land in Israel was just the beginning. God had in mind to give the family of God the whole earth--all the land. Who is the land promise for? Jew and Gentile together.)
In Galatians 3:17-18 Paul is immersed in the covenant ceremony of Genesis 15 to show that God ratified the covenant by walking alone through the cut of pieces of animals. God was guaranteeing all the promises (swearing an oath on Himself) and requiring nothing of mankind in terms of fulfillment of the promises. This covenant ceremony was 430 years prior to Moses receiving the law. Thus, inclusion in the family of God and being an heir of promises has nothing to do with keeping the law or certain standards of living. God's covenant is eternal and irrevocable.
Paul often anticipates our questions (compare Romans 8 on election) and here is no exception. We might say then that the law is bad, obsolete . . . we can throw it away. Absolutely not says Paul. Then he explains that the Law (shown inferior to the Abrahamic covenant by verse 19) was a temporary custodian (not teacher). The purpose of the Law is to give us a realization of sin and drive us to acceptance by God through faith alone. The law does lead to blessing but not in the way those with a Jewish background thought. They would have argued that they were the only seed of Abraham and that as such the way to blessing was by keeping the law. No! The law only leads to a curse because we cannot keep it. It is holy, righteous, and good-- the Law contains the standards of a holy God for a redeemed people. However, we cannot attain a not guilty verdict and acceptance with God through law-keeping. We are now free through Messiah who has become a curse for us. The fact is, as Paul will elsewhere show, that the Spirit is the key to the Christian life, not the Law. Ironically, the Spirit takes the law and writes it on our hearts as part of the new covenant. We see this in Hebrews and are thus shown that we do not and cannot throw away the moral requirements of God.
Remember what is at stake here. Jewish believers were not accepting Gentile believers because they were not following their God-given customs--circumcision, Jewish calendar, food laws, etc. Paul is saying that all are equally members of the body of Christ and that to go back to this Jewish law system as the way of living leads only to bondage for all. There is something better now-- the Messiah has come and He has given us the Holy Spirit so that now we want to do the things that are pleasing to God. But as far as acceptance with God and family membership--these are obtained by faith and not by keeping laws.
Let us not insist that others be just like us in the way they practice their Christianity. We are ALL sons of God through faith in Christ. We are ALL baptized into Christ (and baptized with the Holy Spirit) and we are ALL clothed with Christ. All the old distinctions, inequalities, and prejudices are gone now. In Christ ALL are equal. We should then be ALL ONE, not divided just because some of our practices and preferences are different.
Let us then accept others in the family of God who look and act differently than we do and not impose on them what God is not requiring. To require others to look, smell, and act just like we do in their Christian living smacks of high arrogance. God has accepted them . . . it is about time that we do also. All that God requires is that all come to the Messiah by faith and live by the power of the Holy Spirit . . . who is a God of great variety in terms of gifting, effects, and ministries.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Galatians 3:1-14: Removing Family Obstacles
In Galatians 3 Paul begins to unfold his argument that a not guilty verdict before God and membership in the family of God does not require us to all look or act the same.
Early on Paul calls them the primarily Gentile Galatians foolish because they had begun so well but are now giving into those advocating a different gospel. They have been "bewitched" according to Paul, believing those that are saying they must practice a Jewish flavored Christianity in order to be: 1. Acceptable to God 2. Members of the Christian family.
Did they receive the Spirit (at the moment of turning to Jesus) because they took on Jewish practices? It would be like us requiring folks to sing in a certain way, to worship by our preferred form, to be baptized just like we were, to do church like we do church, etc. If they follow God like I do (because my system is the best one) then they will be more blessed. Did the miracles among them and their experiences of the Holy Spirit come by anything other than faith in Jesus the Messiah? (Note: The Holy Spirit is meant to be experienced and the preferred reading of verse 4 is "Did you experience so many things . . ." rather than "Did you suffer so many things) .
Paul asks six questions to show the Galatian Christians that they have gotten away from the basics and are now submitting to things that are not required by the Lord. Others say they are required and now they are confused. What practices are we requiring of others so that we accept them? What must others do in our mind which makes them acceptable to God and legit family members. Have we added some things (ex. speak in tongues, have a daily quiet time, wear certain clothing, etc.). You see, the legalism here has to do with good things that the Jews did-- keeping the sabbath a certain way, following the Jewish calendar, being circumcised, etc--and not merely about things some may not allow (drinking, smoking, wearing dresses etc.)
Beginning in verse 6 Paul breaks out OT texts to show his opponents (and the Galatians) that a Jewish flavored system of Christian living was not God's intent for everyone. Abraham (Gen 12) was accepted by God due to His faith and not by following a God-given way of living which was given to the Jewish people. Those who rely on faith alone are sons of Abraham. Those not of faith are not his children--even though they may even have the blood heritage. In fact, the gospel was proclaimed in Genesis 12--the Great Commission of the OT. It says that Abraham and his family was to be a blessing to all the nations. From the beginning God planned to rescue people from every nation, tribe, and language (Rev 5, 7) by faith. However, Israel failed in bringing this about and became internally focused and misunderstood God's purposes as if to say that all must follow as they did--by adherence to a temporary system of religion.
Paul's opponents would have said that to practice Christianity in the Jewish way is the way to the greatest blessing. On the contrary says Paul . . .requiring the Jewish expression actually brings a curse because one who lives by the Jewish law must keep all things written in it--which is impossible. Paul uses Deut 27:26 and Leviticus 18:5 to establish that human effort is no way to live and then shows that "by faith" is the way to live (according to Abraham and also what God says in Habakkuk 2:4). And of course, this practically means a wide variety of Christian practices are acceptable to God. One should read Galatians and be reminded of other things Paul has written regarding the way we live by faith-- don't want to eat meat . . . no problem. Want to celebrate one day as more important than another no problem. Want to have a drink of alcohol . . . no problem. Want to require a church membership class for potential members . . . no problem. Want to baptize by pouring . . . no problem. Want to require a uniform for those coming to church . . . no problem. Just don't require everyone else to do or not do what you do or don't do-- because the Lord doesn't! Accept others who practice different because they have different convictions or a different culture. They are just as equal a member of the family as you and have also been declared not guilty through the sacrifice of Jesus. This is the whole main point of Galatians.
Paul concludes this section by pulling the big stumbling block out of his bag, namely that the Messiah, Jesus was crucified as a criminal. As a result, according to God-given Jewish documents (Deut 21:23) the Messiah was under God's curse. The Jews had no framework to accept this (and had we been Jewish when Messiah came we may have also rejected the message of the cross). Why did Jesus become a curse? To remove the curse that comes about by all of our failures to live up to God's requirements! As a result of God's law we are all under a curse. However, it was the Father's will to crush His Son (Isa 53) and forsake Him (Ps
To conclude this section Paul shows that the blessing of Abraham (Gen 12) and the promise of the Spirit (from the OT) has come on all who respond to the sacrificial death of Jesus by faith alone. Gentiles are full members of the family--even though they don't follow a Jewish system of living. Jew and Gentile are now one family and one cannot be arrogant against the other. There is one way to family membership (through Jesus by faith). This was God's intent from the beginning. That which has divided peoples for thousands of years has now been torn down. What walls between yourself and others need to be torn down?
Early on Paul calls them the primarily Gentile Galatians foolish because they had begun so well but are now giving into those advocating a different gospel. They have been "bewitched" according to Paul, believing those that are saying they must practice a Jewish flavored Christianity in order to be: 1. Acceptable to God 2. Members of the Christian family.
Did they receive the Spirit (at the moment of turning to Jesus) because they took on Jewish practices? It would be like us requiring folks to sing in a certain way, to worship by our preferred form, to be baptized just like we were, to do church like we do church, etc. If they follow God like I do (because my system is the best one) then they will be more blessed. Did the miracles among them and their experiences of the Holy Spirit come by anything other than faith in Jesus the Messiah? (Note: The Holy Spirit is meant to be experienced and the preferred reading of verse 4 is "Did you experience so many things . . ." rather than "Did you suffer so many things) .
Paul asks six questions to show the Galatian Christians that they have gotten away from the basics and are now submitting to things that are not required by the Lord. Others say they are required and now they are confused. What practices are we requiring of others so that we accept them? What must others do in our mind which makes them acceptable to God and legit family members. Have we added some things (ex. speak in tongues, have a daily quiet time, wear certain clothing, etc.). You see, the legalism here has to do with good things that the Jews did-- keeping the sabbath a certain way, following the Jewish calendar, being circumcised, etc--and not merely about things some may not allow (drinking, smoking, wearing dresses etc.)
Beginning in verse 6 Paul breaks out OT texts to show his opponents (and the Galatians) that a Jewish flavored system of Christian living was not God's intent for everyone. Abraham (Gen 12) was accepted by God due to His faith and not by following a God-given way of living which was given to the Jewish people. Those who rely on faith alone are sons of Abraham. Those not of faith are not his children--even though they may even have the blood heritage. In fact, the gospel was proclaimed in Genesis 12--the Great Commission of the OT. It says that Abraham and his family was to be a blessing to all the nations. From the beginning God planned to rescue people from every nation, tribe, and language (Rev 5, 7) by faith. However, Israel failed in bringing this about and became internally focused and misunderstood God's purposes as if to say that all must follow as they did--by adherence to a temporary system of religion.
Paul's opponents would have said that to practice Christianity in the Jewish way is the way to the greatest blessing. On the contrary says Paul . . .requiring the Jewish expression actually brings a curse because one who lives by the Jewish law must keep all things written in it--which is impossible. Paul uses Deut 27:26 and Leviticus 18:5 to establish that human effort is no way to live and then shows that "by faith" is the way to live (according to Abraham and also what God says in Habakkuk 2:4). And of course, this practically means a wide variety of Christian practices are acceptable to God. One should read Galatians and be reminded of other things Paul has written regarding the way we live by faith-- don't want to eat meat . . . no problem. Want to celebrate one day as more important than another no problem. Want to have a drink of alcohol . . . no problem. Want to require a church membership class for potential members . . . no problem. Want to baptize by pouring . . . no problem. Want to require a uniform for those coming to church . . . no problem. Just don't require everyone else to do or not do what you do or don't do-- because the Lord doesn't! Accept others who practice different because they have different convictions or a different culture. They are just as equal a member of the family as you and have also been declared not guilty through the sacrifice of Jesus. This is the whole main point of Galatians.
Paul concludes this section by pulling the big stumbling block out of his bag, namely that the Messiah, Jesus was crucified as a criminal. As a result, according to God-given Jewish documents (Deut 21:23) the Messiah was under God's curse. The Jews had no framework to accept this (and had we been Jewish when Messiah came we may have also rejected the message of the cross). Why did Jesus become a curse? To remove the curse that comes about by all of our failures to live up to God's requirements! As a result of God's law we are all under a curse. However, it was the Father's will to crush His Son (Isa 53) and forsake Him (Ps
To conclude this section Paul shows that the blessing of Abraham (Gen 12) and the promise of the Spirit (from the OT) has come on all who respond to the sacrificial death of Jesus by faith alone. Gentiles are full members of the family--even though they don't follow a Jewish system of living. Jew and Gentile are now one family and one cannot be arrogant against the other. There is one way to family membership (through Jesus by faith). This was God's intent from the beginning. That which has divided peoples for thousands of years has now been torn down. What walls between yourself and others need to be torn down?
Monday, September 27, 2010
Shocking Truths from Galatians 2
Galatians 2 includes the main proposition of Paul which he unfolds in the ret of the book. The key passage is Galatians 2:15-21. It may not mean what you thought it did.
The problem in Galatia is that the insistence by some that Gentiles live like Jews is destroying the gospel Paul is preaching.
Gal 2:1-10: Paul, Peter, James, John, and Barnabas are united in their understanding of the gospel; however, they agree to different fields of work for Peter (Jewish) and Paul (Gentiles). False brothers have sneaked in the door and are imposing a Jewish flavor of Christianity on Gentiles. Paul refuses this due to the revelation of the mystery of the gospel which he has been given direct by Christ--that Jews and Gentiles are now one united family with all on equal footing. He unpacks this mystery in Ephesians.
Galatians 2:11-14: Paul rebukes Peter because he has walked against His theology for reasons of convenience and expediency. Peter has come to believe as Paul does due to his vision of the sheets coming down in Acts and his experience with the Gentile Cornelius. But now Peter is influencing others to separate the family of God into two-- his actions are encouarging the idea that one must follow Jewish ways to be fully Christian.
Galatians 2:15-21: Paul's main point.
* The failure of many to understand proper biblical teaching on freedom, law, the OT, etc. comes from a misunderstanding of the ways in which Paul uses the term "Law." In the context of Galatians he is defining law as a Jewish system of living based on the Torah, following the Jewish calendar, adopting even other laws that have been added to God's revelation (i.e. man-made Jewish rules and traditions).
1. All Christians at that time (whether Jew or Gentile) realized that being declared not guilty before God (Justified) was never based on the works of the law. In other words, neither the Old Testament nor Jewish life at that time believed in a salvation by works. The law was given to a people already redeemed, not as a means by which people could be "saved." This was generally understood then and is generally misunderstood by Christians today.
2. The idea of doing the law (or good works) in order to be saved is not a Jewish or biblical idea. It arose as a problem because Jewish Christians were imposing the law and Jewish lifestyle on Gentile Christians. The Gentile Christians, being confused, then began to dip into the bag of Judaism to try and please God--rather than live according to the freedom they really had which did not require them to be Jewish--adopt all the laws of the Torah, the Jewish calendar, etc.
3. They and we are declared not guilty through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. This is a different reading of Gal 2:16 than in most of our translations which emphasize our exercise of faith. This translation here regarding the faithfulness of Jesus shifts the focus onto Him and all that He did. Do I have to follow Jewish law? No, Jesus faithfully kept the law--Jesus fulfilled the law. He did it! He kept it! He did what Israel failed to do. And He has forgiven us (and all OT saints prior to Jesus) for our failure to keep the law. Jesus is the Servant of the Lord. He is Israel. And so are all His people (those "in Christ.". . . Jew and Gentile.) This is the blockbuster truth, the mystery, that Paul unfolds in his writings--a teaching which was opposed both then and now. Simply put, family membership with God means we are all part of ONE family. The dividing wall of the Jewish law (requiring Gentiles to adopt a Jewish flavor) has been broken down. There is great freedom in the family--defined as Israel or the Church. Call the family what what you will. Israel and the Church are both clearly the same thing according to Paul.
4. What about the Jewish law or OT law then?
a. Jesus fulfilled it by perfectly doing it.
b. Law led us and leads others to Christ. The attempt to do "law" on our own leads to bondage, to woe is me, and eventually to repentance and a crying out to God for rescue.
c. The law of God is now internally in our hearts (Hebrews 10:16) because of the Holy Spirit and is now called the perfect law of liberty (James 1:25). Christians want to please God and we can do so by the power of the Holy Spirit. We now "do the law" by the power of the Holy Spirit.
d. The law as a religious system that is required for salvation has been abolished. The law as that which is holy, righteous and good is now something we want to do and can do because of the Holy Spirit.
e. Doing good (or doing law) still applies. It always has. If we call Him Lord and do not do what He says we are not part of the Kingdom. James says we are declared not guilty by works and not by faith alone. HUHHH? What?!!!!
f. God's law is His will. Doing it is evidence that we are truly God's people. We love Him and love people. Failure to do so means we are not legitimate children-- but fakes. This holy will of God is not a Jewish set of rules or codes or laws on paper that we impose on others. Rather, the law is holy living rooted in love. The fruit of the Spirit in Gal 5 is nothing less than Spirit-filled law keeping.
g. If law does not apply, let's trash the ten commandments and the Sermon on the Mount. One key to understanding these things is the Holy Spirit and what He does with the law--things not understood or taught in the church very well perhaps. Another key is that we are declared not guilty due to the faithfulness of Jesus who kept the law (often totally missed in Galatians 2:16 and elsewhere)
Practical Ramifications and summary:
1. We do not impose on other members of God's family a set of external rules by which they prove to us that they belong in the family: don't do this, can't do that, do this, gotta do that.
2. In our mission work and evangelism we don't require others to adopt our practices in order to be fully Christian. For instance, overseas we see lots of legalistic practices (no drinking, no pants for women, etc.) imported from Western legalistic Christianity. Or we want their churches to practice Christianity according to the models we have adopted.
3. It is simply not true that the law is bad or that the OT taught a salvation by works. Nor did Jews ever teach an idea of being rescued by doing good works. Legalism is a human invention that results when we impose on others an external way of displaying Christianity that God doesn't require.
4. Keeping the law still applies--not the system of law-keeping and regs as found among first century Jews nor a fast set of rules on paper. No, the perfect law of freedom as that Holy will of God, rooted in love, framed in the Ten Commandments, summed up as loving God and loving our neighbor. We want to keep it because the Holy Spirit has put in in our hearts now and given us the power to please God by doing good works (which we were rescued to do).
5. Galatians does not teach that freedom comes from abolishing the law. It teaches that an external system of law-keeping is not required to prove legitimate family membership. Law (doing good) still applies--people freed through Jesus and filled with the Holy Spirit live a life of faith working through love (Gal 5:6)
* The failure of many to understand proper biblical teaching on freedom, law, the OT, etc. comes from a misunderstanding of the ways in which Paul uses the term "Law." In the context of Galatians he is defining law as a Jewish system of living based on the Torah, following the Jewish calendar, adopting even other laws that have been added to God's revelation (i.e. man-made Jewish rules and traditions).
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Galatians 1:5-2:5: Distorting the Gospel
People and churches have been guilty of distorting the gospel. Do I? The trouble in Galatia was caused by folks that had good intentions and strong convictions. However, they stymied the gospel and disturbed the freedom of people in the community of faith. Galatians 2:4 tells us that false brethren secretly sneaked in to spy out the freedom that Paul and the Gentiles were enjoying--in order to bring them into bondage.
Some of the Jewish Christians that Paul was dealing with during this time were having a hard time coping with the "new" message that Paul was bringing (a message he repeatedly says he got by revelation direct from God). His message was that Gentiles do not have to be circumsised, do not have to follow the Jewish religious calendar, do not have to adhere to a Jewish lifestyle in accordance with laws the Jews held dear. Many of the Jewish believers were saying- "Oh, yes they do."
Are we guilty of limiting the grace and freedom of Christ by imposing the same limitations on others? We often do so in the name of fighting for pure theology. Here are some things commonly mis-understood about Paul in Galatians and his other writings:
1. Paul did away with the law for Christians: False. Rather, he pointed out that there is no way to come into a proper relation with the living God by keeping the law--as some of the Jewish converts were maintaining. The Holy Spirit empowers us to want to keep the law after we are saved by grace through faith. This is clear in Hebrews and in Paul's writings also. The law is holy, righteous, good. We that belong to Christ have been rescued by grace to do good works--i.e. we delight to please God by keeping His commandments. This new freedom through the Spirit changes the works of the law into what James calls the "law of perfect freedom." If you don't know Christ then the attempt to do the law only leads to bondage. The law leads us to Jesus and then presto-- by the infilling of the Holy Spirit we want to keep the law (here thinking of the moral law rather than the ceremonial and civil laws the Jews were insisting on.)
2. God has two tracks of redemptive work for two different people: one for the Jews and one for the Gentiles. False. Paul defines the mystery that was revealed to him in Romans and Ephesians as the fact that Gentiles and Jews are now one family. It can be called Israel or the Church. Choose whatever you like. The truth is that everything has always been by grace through faith (OT and NT). Furthermore, law factors in as applicable in OT and NT.
So, in Galatians Paul is insisting that this "new" message he is promoting is not according to man. He is not changing the game and setting up a distorted, false gospel--this is what Paul was being accused of. After all, he was not one of the original apostles. Thus Paul insists that the authority for his message was direct from the Lord by revelation (on the Damascus road and afterward). In fact, he was such a committed Jew that he would be the last one to want to preach a message damaging the faith. As a true Jew he has street cred! Nevertheless, God has told him things that ensure freedom for all people who come to Christ. All are rescued the same way and all are equal. There is no inequality for anybody and there are no special rules or hoops that someone has to go through to be reconciled to the living God--all are declared not guilty through faith in Christ Jesus. There are no additional requirements. Let us not add any ourselves to the people we are trying to reach.
Summary:
1. We distort the gospel when we impose on people required rules that simply do not apply.
2. There is one family of God and when someone comes to Jesus by faith they are a brother or sister.
3. The law still applies because the Holy Spirit puts it on our hearts. It is just that one cannot be rescued from sin by keeping the law.
4. Jesus the Messiah gave Himself for us so that we might have true freedom and proclaim a clear message that leads to real freedom for others.
5. Some Christians promote a false gospel that leads people back into bondage. What are you proclaiming?
Some of the Jewish Christians that Paul was dealing with during this time were having a hard time coping with the "new" message that Paul was bringing (a message he repeatedly says he got by revelation direct from God). His message was that Gentiles do not have to be circumsised, do not have to follow the Jewish religious calendar, do not have to adhere to a Jewish lifestyle in accordance with laws the Jews held dear. Many of the Jewish believers were saying- "Oh, yes they do."
Are we guilty of limiting the grace and freedom of Christ by imposing the same limitations on others? We often do so in the name of fighting for pure theology. Here are some things commonly mis-understood about Paul in Galatians and his other writings:
1. Paul did away with the law for Christians: False. Rather, he pointed out that there is no way to come into a proper relation with the living God by keeping the law--as some of the Jewish converts were maintaining. The Holy Spirit empowers us to want to keep the law after we are saved by grace through faith. This is clear in Hebrews and in Paul's writings also. The law is holy, righteous, good. We that belong to Christ have been rescued by grace to do good works--i.e. we delight to please God by keeping His commandments. This new freedom through the Spirit changes the works of the law into what James calls the "law of perfect freedom." If you don't know Christ then the attempt to do the law only leads to bondage. The law leads us to Jesus and then presto-- by the infilling of the Holy Spirit we want to keep the law (here thinking of the moral law rather than the ceremonial and civil laws the Jews were insisting on.)
2. God has two tracks of redemptive work for two different people: one for the Jews and one for the Gentiles. False. Paul defines the mystery that was revealed to him in Romans and Ephesians as the fact that Gentiles and Jews are now one family. It can be called Israel or the Church. Choose whatever you like. The truth is that everything has always been by grace through faith (OT and NT). Furthermore, law factors in as applicable in OT and NT.
So, in Galatians Paul is insisting that this "new" message he is promoting is not according to man. He is not changing the game and setting up a distorted, false gospel--this is what Paul was being accused of. After all, he was not one of the original apostles. Thus Paul insists that the authority for his message was direct from the Lord by revelation (on the Damascus road and afterward). In fact, he was such a committed Jew that he would be the last one to want to preach a message damaging the faith. As a true Jew he has street cred! Nevertheless, God has told him things that ensure freedom for all people who come to Christ. All are rescued the same way and all are equal. There is no inequality for anybody and there are no special rules or hoops that someone has to go through to be reconciled to the living God--all are declared not guilty through faith in Christ Jesus. There are no additional requirements. Let us not add any ourselves to the people we are trying to reach.
Summary:
1. We distort the gospel when we impose on people required rules that simply do not apply.
2. There is one family of God and when someone comes to Jesus by faith they are a brother or sister.
3. The law still applies because the Holy Spirit puts it on our hearts. It is just that one cannot be rescued from sin by keeping the law.
4. Jesus the Messiah gave Himself for us so that we might have true freedom and proclaim a clear message that leads to real freedom for others.
5. Some Christians promote a false gospel that leads people back into bondage. What are you proclaiming?
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Introduction and Galatians 1:1-4
The churches of Galatia: There is some debate regarding the location of the churches of Galatia, some opting for the northern Galatia theory and others choosing the southern territory. We have chosen to believe that Galatians was written around 49 A.D. to churches that Paul established and visited during his first missionary journey as recorded in Acts 13-14-14:23
Importance of Galatians: Since this book is probably the first of Paul's writings understanding it is crucial to grasping the rest of Paul--particular in regard to his views on certain topics and words that come up throughout his writings--law, salvation, freedom, abrahamic covenant, etc.
Paul’s Opponents were Christian Jews from Jerusalem who thought it necessary to be circumcised, follow the Jewish calendar, be rightly related to the Abrahamic Covenant, and live the Christian life by a Jewish understanding of the law. They sought to undermine or discredit the authority of Paul. They wanted to avoid the persecution associated with the cross and wanted to boast in Gentile circumcision.
There are two extremes to which Galatians (and Paul) point. The first is a legalism which adds to the gospel things that God never intended to add. The second is libertinism which takes the liberty or freedom we have in Christ to an extreme which rejects or distorts the new role of the law of liberty. (A common misunderstanding of folks is that the law is completely done away with-- yet it is God's law that is written on our hearts by the Holy Spirit as part of the new covenant.)
Topics and Theology in Galatians (and Paul): The Family of God, the Law, God’s Covenants, Gospel, Grace, Freedom, Christian Living
Other NT Books mentioning Galatia: 1 Cor 16:2; 2 Tim 4:10; 1 Pet 1:1
Read Galatians 1: 1-2: This introduction is unique in Paul's writings and he is defending the authenticity of his apostleship and direct authority from Christ, speaking to and against his opponents.
F.F. Bruce speculates the following as to what the the Jewish Christians (Paul's opponents) may have been saying(pp xcvi and xcvii in Longenecker commentary): “The Jerusalem leaders are the only persons with authority to say what the true gospel is, and this authority they received direct from Christ. Paul has no comparable authority: any commission he exercises was derived by him from the Jerusalem leaders, and if he differs from them on the content or implications of the gospel, he is acting and teaching quite arbitrarily. In fact, Paul went up to Jerusalem shortly after his conversion and spent some time with the apostles there. They instructed him in the first principles of the gospel, and seeing that he was a man of uncommon intellect, magnanimously wiped out from their minds his record as a persecutor and authorized him to preach to others the gospel which he had learned from them. But when he left Jerusalem for Syria and Cilicia he began to adapt the gospel to make it palatable to Gentiles. The Jerusalem leaders practised circumcision and observed the law and the customs, but Paul struck out on a line of his own, omitting circumcision and other ancient observances from the message he preached, and thus he betrayed his ancient heritage. This law-free gospel has not authority but his own.”
A forgotten theme and topic in Galatians is that the gospel is for everyone and there can be no discrimination. There is one gospel. There is one family of God. There are not two people of God with two different plans (a Jew and a Gentile plan). The mystery of the gospel has united all people under the one original plan of God from the beginning--to bless all the nations through the seed of Abraham and thus fulfill the promises and covenants of the Old Testament.
Back to verse 1: To read of Paul’s Direct Commission From Jesus: Acts 9:15; Acts 22:17-21; Acts 26:15-17
Verse 2: all the brethren with me: Paul and those with him are united in the message of Galatians. Paul was not a lone ranger and was always surrounded by other believers.
Verse 2: to the churches of Galatia: a circular letter which would have traveled around to the various churches in the region.
Read Gal 1:3-4
Verse 3: Grace is the cause of the gospel. Peace is the effect of the gospel.
Verse 3: From God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Paul unites the Father and Jesus and considers them equals. To reject Jesus Christ as God is to sever yourself from God the Father.
Verse 4: The work of Christ= he gave himself for our sins: Isa 53:5-6, 12; Mark 10:45; Eph 5:2,25; 1 Tim 2:6; Titus 2:14
Verse 4: Purpose in the death of Christ: To rescue us from this present evil age.
Practical Applications (read the passages below)
1. Intersection of Two ages. The age to come has crashed in the present age.
2. James 4:4; 1 John 2:15; 1 John 4:4; 1 John 5:4-5; 1 John 5:19
3. John 12:31; John 16:11; John 18:36; Rom 12:1; John 15:19; John 16:33; John 17:6; John
17:15-18
4. 1 John 3:8
Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. The rescue operation mentioned in verse 4 is one that effects all of creation. We are rescued from one age by the entry of a person from another age, the Lord Jesus Christ. Heaven has crashed into earth. Jesus died in our place for our rescue. Let us not misunderstand as if to think that God intends to take us out of the world or that this world in itself is evil. Rather, the ways of the world system (which follows in a rebellious pattern of sin and enmity with God) need not control us. Christ came to give us a permanent rescue from the penalty and power of sin. Because of Jesus we should be grateful and want to do the things which are pleasing to Him--in effect keeping the law, loving God and our neighbor. More on this later.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Coming September 12-- Galatians through Colossians
In September I will being teaching Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians at Church of the Holy Spirit--on Sunday nights. This will be a deep and detailed study of these four books. To coincide with this I will be posting each week the nuts and bolts of the study on this blog. If you are local and wish to come more details will be forthcoming. If you want to follow along via the blog please do so. Questions for thought and action will be a part of each week's study.
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