WORD From The Woods
Galatians 5:1-15
"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves! For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another."
I just love how Paul puts it in this passage, "for freedom Christ had set you free!" He tells us to stand firm in the fact that Christ has set us free from the yoke of slavery. The picture of a heavy yoke and being enslaved is something we should think carefully about and understand the true weight communicated by this metaphor. The burden that Paul is talking about is the burden of trying to obtain righteousness through doing good things. Paul is addressing the issue of circumcision which was a part of Old Testament law, men were required to be circumcised in order to be a part of the nation of Israel. This was a picture of how we are "circumcised" of our old fleshly nature when we are born again as a new creation in Christ, thus becoming a part of "true Israel" the kingdom of God. There were people in the Galatian church who were falling into the teaching that they could obtain righteousness by being circumcised and trying to keep the law. He says that if we try to work our way to righteousness we are severed from Christ! We can't do it on our own! As Paul says "through the spirit, by faith, we eagerly await for the hope of righteousness." This has already been accomplished by Christ crucified! We will fully realize this incredible truth at the resurrection, when we who believe in Christ will be raised immortal, imperishable and incorruptible!! Paul warns in verse 13 not to take our freedom in Christ for granted though. We should never use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh and be cavalier about sin. Praise and glory be to our God and King for this great freedom in Christ! It’s not what we do that makes us acceptable to God, It’s what Christ has already done for us on the cross that covers our sin and makes us righteous before a Holy God!
God bless and have a great week! -Terry-
Galatians 5:1-15
"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves! For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another."
I just love how Paul puts it in this passage, "for freedom Christ had set you free!" He tells us to stand firm in the fact that Christ has set us free from the yoke of slavery. The picture of a heavy yoke and being enslaved is something we should think carefully about and understand the true weight communicated by this metaphor. The burden that Paul is talking about is the burden of trying to obtain righteousness through doing good things. Paul is addressing the issue of circumcision which was a part of Old Testament law, men were required to be circumcised in order to be a part of the nation of Israel. This was a picture of how we are "circumcised" of our old fleshly nature when we are born again as a new creation in Christ, thus becoming a part of "true Israel" the kingdom of God. There were people in the Galatian church who were falling into the teaching that they could obtain righteousness by being circumcised and trying to keep the law. He says that if we try to work our way to righteousness we are severed from Christ! We can't do it on our own! As Paul says "through the spirit, by faith, we eagerly await for the hope of righteousness." This has already been accomplished by Christ crucified! We will fully realize this incredible truth at the resurrection, when we who believe in Christ will be raised immortal, imperishable and incorruptible!! Paul warns in verse 13 not to take our freedom in Christ for granted though. We should never use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh and be cavalier about sin. Praise and glory be to our God and King for this great freedom in Christ! It’s not what we do that makes us acceptable to God, It’s what Christ has already done for us on the cross that covers our sin and makes us righteous before a Holy God!
God bless and have a great week! -Terry-