As we said before, so say I now again, "If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ ..." (Galatians 1:6-10)
Note that this is the same man writing these instructions who had previously and with countless joy "persecuted us in times past" who "now preaches the faith which once he destroyed." A testament to the type of internal transformation that can take place when Jesus is at the helm. But Paul's testimony attests to something else as well. That is, when one recognizes the real value of worshipping Jesus by faith, there is neither no turning back, or compromise (perceived or otherwise) in one's beliefs in Jesus the Christ.
Why is that? Because Paul recognized that there is no greater calling, than to become a co-heir with Christ. His chosen people. A royal priesthood. A holy calling. A peculiar people. In fact, Paul asked, "For do I now persuade men, or God? Do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ." (Galatians 1:10)
Did you catch that? If I seek to please men, I should not be the servant of Christ. In other words, no man can serve two masters. Either we are in the world and of this world, or our salvation and life is in Jesus. For Paul, this wasn't even a consideration. Why? Again, Paul knew firsthand wherein lay his hope, and there was nothing that was going to divert his life course in Jesus. Not worldly distractions, nor earthly promise, nor even the loss of friends.
Indeed, fourteen years later, Paul was still preaching the good news gospel of Jesus Christ to everyone that he met. "And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles ..." (Galatians 2:2; Acts 15:1-4; Philippians 2:16)
As believers in Jesus, we are likewise to do the same -- to step out in faith and preach Jesus to those who are lost. "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2)
As believers in Jesus, we are likewise to do the same -- to step out in faith and preach Jesus to those who are lost. "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2)
But let's not jump ahead for there is much more in Hebrews 12 that should be firmly hid in our hearts. Beginning in verse one:
"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, "My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him: For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth."
Moreover, "if ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected [us], and we gave [them] reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
For they verily for a few days chastened [us] after their own pleasure; but He for [our] profit, that [we] might be partakers of His holiness.
Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby, wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees and make straight the paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way, but let it rather be healed.
Follow peace with all, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord ... looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble, and thereby many be defiled; lest there any fornicator or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness and darkness and tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which they that heard intreated that the Word should not be spoken to them any more:
(For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: and so terrible was the sight, Moses said, "I exceedingly fear and quake") but ye are come unto mount Sion and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than [that of] Abel. See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh.
For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, "My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him: For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth."
Moreover, "if ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected [us], and we gave [them] reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
For they verily for a few days chastened [us] after their own pleasure; but He for [our] profit, that [we] might be partakers of His holiness.
Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby, wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees and make straight the paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way, but let it rather be healed.
Follow peace with all, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord ... looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble, and thereby many be defiled; lest there any fornicator or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness and darkness and tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which they that heard intreated that the Word should not be spoken to them any more:
(For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: and so terrible was the sight, Moses said, "I exceedingly fear and quake") but ye are come unto mount Sion and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than [that of] Abel. See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh.
"For if they escaped not who refused Him that spake on earth, much more [shall not] we [escape], if we turn away from Him that [speaketh] from heaven."
Whose voice then shook the earth: but now He hath promised, saying, "Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven, and this, yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear, for our God [is] a consuming fire." (Hebrews 12:1-29)
Whose voice then shook the earth: but now He hath promised, saying, "Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven, and this, yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear, for our God [is] a consuming fire." (Hebrews 12:1-29)
Therefore, like Paul, strive for the kingdom which cannot be moved. Serve our Lord Jesus with reverence. Most of all, don't let "false brethren unawares [come] in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus that they might bring us into bondage -- to whom we gave place by subjection -- no, not for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you." (Galatians 2:4)
Be strong in Jesus, and His love and mercy for us. Study His Word to show yourself approved. Stand in the offering plate.
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