“The deeper we are willing to enter into the death of self, the more shall we know of the mighty power of God, and the perfect blessedness of a perfect trust” (Andrew Murray).
Believe God’s grace and preach Christ’s resurrection being accountable to mature believers as you confront the false law gospel, let the law reveal sin, receive the Holy Spirit, experience godly character and do good to all men.
Believe in God’s Grace and Preach Christ’s Resurrection
God who raised Jesus from the dead for the forgiveness of sins to rescue people from the present evil age sent Paul to preach grace and peace according to God’s will and glory. Paul was astonished the Galatians quickly deserted God and Christ’s grace by turning to a different gospel. Those who preached a perverted gospel should be eternally condemned. Paul would not be Christ’s servant if he tried to please and win people’s approval. Christ revealed the gospel to Paul. It did not originate or was taught by men. Paul persecuted and tried zealously to destroy the church of God while advancing in Judaism. God set him apart from birth and revealed His Son through grace so He could preach Christ among the Gentiles. Instead of consulting the apostles in Jerusalem, he went immediately to Arabia and later returned to Damascus. After three years, he stayed fifteen days with Peter and saw James, the Lord’s brother. The churches of Judea did not know Paul even though they heard he preached the faith he once tried to destroy (Gal. 1:1-24). Believe in God’s grace and preach Christ’s resurrection to forgive sins and rescue people from the world.
Be Accountable to Mature Believers
Fourteen years later, Paul took Barnabas and Titus to meet with the Jerusalem leaders in verifying that he preached a correct gospel. They ignored false brothers who wanted Titus to be circumcised as a Greek. In this way, the Galatians would understand the freedom and truth of the gospel. James, Peter and John added nothing to Paul’s message to the Gentiles, but gave him and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized God’s grace among them. They agreed that Paul and his team should preach to the Gentiles and they to the Jews without forgetting the poor (Gal. 2:1-10). Be accountable to mature believers as confirmation that your ministry is on the right track.
Confront the False Law Gospel
Peter separated himself from eating with Gentiles after the circumcision group arrived. Other Jews and Barnabas were led astray by this hypocrisy. When Paul saw they did not act according to the truth of the gospel, he confronted Peter in front of everyone. Why would a Jew who lived liked a Gentile force them to follow Jewish customs. A man was proved a sinner because he could not be justified by observing the law but only by faith in Christ. Paul died to the law so he might live for God. Being crucified with Christ, he no longer lived, but Christ lived in him. He lived his life by faith in Christ who loved and gave Himself for him. Paul did not set aside God’s grace because Christ died for sinners who never could be righteous through the law (Gal. 2:11-21). Confront the law gospel in example and words as you live by faith through Christ’s grace.
Let the Law Reveal Sin
Paul asked the Galatians who deceived them in thinking they could receive the Spirit by observing the law through human effort instead of believing in Christ. God gave the Spirit and worked miracles in response to believing in Christ, not following the law. For example, Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. Those who believe as Gentiles were children of Abraham. They were justified by their faith like Abraham in blessing all nations through him. Because no one could keep the law perfectly, Christ redeemed people from the curse of the Law by taking it upon Himself when was crucified. The blessing given to Abraham came to the Gentiles by faith in Christ through the promise of the Spirit. The Law came 430 years after Abraham even though it could not impart life because of man’s sin. Scripture declared that the world was held as a prisoner of sin by the law until faith was revealed. The law led people to Christ so they could be justified by faith and not under the law’s supervision. People became sons of God through faith in Christ. Every race, occupation or gender became one and belonged to Christ as Abraham’s seed and heirs according to promise (Gal. 3:1-29). Let the Law reveal sin and have faith in Christ to be made righteous.
Receive the Holy Spirit to Walk in Freedom
Children and even slaves who owned the whole estate were still subject to guardians until the time set by their father. Believers were slaves to the basic principles of the world. However, God sent His Son, born of a woman under the law, to redeem those under law so they could receive their full rights of sons by the Holy Spirit in calling out “Abba, Father.” The Galatians denied the joy of their inheritance as sons by becoming slaves in observing special days and months. Paul who felt the pains of childbirth until Christ was formed in them feared he wasted time in telling the truth. False teachers wanted to alienate the Galatians from him. Abraham had two sons, one born naturally (Ismael) by a slave woman, Hagar, and the other born as a result of promise (Isaac) by a free woman, Sarah. Hagar represented the Law and slavery. Sarah represented the covenant of promise and freedom. Ismael born in the ordinary way persecuted Isaac who was born by the power of the Holy Spirit. Scripture said to reject the slave woman’s son since he would never share in the inheritance of the free woman’s son. Therefore, be children of the free woman instead of the slave woman (Gal. 4:1-31). Receive the Holy Spirit to walk in freedom as God’s son instead of slavery to the Law.
Experience Godly Character
Standing firm in Christ’s freedom prevented slavery’s yoke. Those who became circumcised must obey the whole Law. Trying to be justified by Law alienated them from Christ and His grace. Faith through the Holy Spirit produced righteousness. In Christ, neither the act of circumcision nor uncircumcision had value, but faith expressing itself through love. Those who preached circumcision caused confusion like yeast spreading itself through the whole batch of dough. Freedom gave no license for indulging the flesh, but serving one another in love. Loving your neighbor as yourself summarized the Law to prevent people from biting, devouring and destroying one another. Those who lived by the Spirit inherited the kingdom of God and prevented fleshly desires like sexual immorality, impurity, party spirit, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness and orgies. The fruit of the Spirit was love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control without Law. Those who belonged to Christ crucified the flesh with its passions while keeping in step with the Spirit without conceit or provoking and envying each other (Gal. 5:1-26). Experience godly character through the power of the Holy Spirit as you serve others in love.
Do Good and Bless All Men
Spiritual people watch themselves to stop temptation so they can gently restore people caught in sin. Carry each other burdens to fulfill the law of Christ. Deception occurred when anyone thought he was something when he was nothing. Each should carry his own load and not compare himself to others. Those who received instruction in the word must share financially with the teacher. God cannot be mocked since men reap what they sow. He who sowed to please his flesh reaped destruction and the one who sowed to please the Spirit reaped eternal life. Doing good to everybody, especially believers, at every opportunity, reaped a harvest at the proper time. Those who boasted about their flesh by compelling circumcision desired a good outward impression and avoid persecution for the cross of Christ. In contrast, Paul boasted in the cross through which the world was crucified to him and he to the world. Works like circumcision or uncircumcision meant nothing compared to the new creation that produced peace and mercy (Gal. 6:1-18). Do good and bless all men spiritually, emotionally, financially and physically as you have opportunity.
Do you believe in God’s Grace?
Do you preach Christ’s resurrection?
Are you accountable to mature believers?
Do you confront the false law gospel?
Do you let the law reveal sin in your life?
Do you receive the Holy Spirit moment by moment?
Do you experience godly character as you trust the Holy Spirit?
Do you bless all men making the most of the opportunity?
