Therefore, Dearly Beloved And Longed For, My Joy And Crown -- Part 2071

When reading Galatians 5, apostle Paul warned believers against being led astray by “another gospel” — which was never preached by the apostles on the day of Pentecost. Indeed, the apostle said that if any man should preach another gospel, let him be accursed. (Acts 2:1-47; Romans 15:20; II Corinthians 11:4; Galatians 1:6-7; Revelation 14:6)

Note that herein, apostle Paul is writing to the churches of Galatia — those who professed to believe — about their willingness in so short a time to take hold and believe yet another gospel. In another place, Paul specifies that he and Barnabas were given the right hand of fellowship with James, Cephas and John “who seemed to be pillars” and also preached to the circumcision. (Galatians 2:9)

Ironically, this same scripture cites Paul and Barnabas preaching to the heathen and the poor. Therefore, Paul begins in Galatians 5 by instructing the Galatians/us who believe in the Lord Jesus by faith to “stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5:1) Obviously, this counsel is insightful because too often, the poor and heathen are oppressed by the powers that be.

But when they hear of JESUS, and how He heals the broken-hearted and the sick, and is equally intent on setting the captives free from societal bondage, they who choose to believe in the same God who later became their Saviour, are filled with His precious peace and joy. Why? For He leads and guides us into all truth.

Remember what Jesus said? "I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life! No man comes to the Father but by Me!" (John 14:6)

In other words, Jesus is not intended to be a fleeting moment, where we read a verse on the way out the door. In fact, the Lord has called us -- invited us into His grace and love, so that we can be set free from the entanglements of this world.

Note too that Galatians 5 is an extension of Acts 15:10 wherein Peter, after the apostles and elders came together to declare the conversion of the Gentiles said, “Now therefore why tempt ye God; to put a yoke upon the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that though the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.”

“Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, [my] dearly beloved!” (Philippians 4:1)

Stand fast — how? By letting our conversation be as it becomes the gospel of Christ —- that whether apostle Paul be with us or absent, he can say -- “I may hear of your affairs that ye stand fast in ONE SPIRIT, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, and in nothing terrified by your adversaries, which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you salvation, and that of God.” (Philippians 1:8, 27)

But Paul does not stop there. He wants those who believe to understand that we cannot find salvation in and of ourselves. Because we are saved by grace through faith and that not of ourselves -- it is the gift of God. He is the Author and Finisher of our faith, the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the King of kings and Lord of lords. (Revelation 1:8)

And thus, He -- Jesus -- should similarly be our all in all!

But, as Paul states -- “Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the WHOLE law.” Why? Because “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.” (Galatians 5:2-4)

Again referencing Acts 15, there were far too many even in those times (including a certain sect of the church) who demanded that we all be circumcised under the manner of Moses, and if we did not, we would not be saved. As one can imagine, given Paul’s instruction to the Gentiles, this caused “no small dissension and disputation.”

I am sure as Paul cites elsewhere, there were many who judged him -- what went in a man’s mouth as sin, and not what came out as the scripture states— that comes from the heart. And continue to do so even though Jesus said, “ … [it is] not that which goeth into the mouth defiles a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” (Matthew 15:11) But I digress.

In Romans 2, we are called “inexcusable” — because whosoever judges another, thou condemns thyself “for thou that judges doeth the same things …” for he is not a Jew which is one outwardly; netter is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew, which is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart; in the Spirit and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God!” (Romans 2:2, 23-29; Matthew 7:1-5)

It is in this context then that Paul also writes to the saints in Ephesus — “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” (Ephesians 4:29)

Again, Paul does not stop there because there is so much more truth to take hold of, and never let go. An example -- “for we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision avails any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which works by love.” (Galatians 5:5-7)

Yes, it is through the Holy Ghost — the Spirit of Jesus Christ — that we wait for the hope of righteousness by faith — “but faith which works by love.” Not by the law/circumcision, nor by uncircumcision, but by faith which works by love.

Still, we do not want to be found wanting in our salvation. As Paul asked the Galatians, -- "Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion [cometh] not of Him that calleth you. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear His judgment, whosoever he be. And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.

I would they were even cut off which trouble you. For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." (Galatians 5:1-15)

"But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. [This] I say then, "Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

If ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

And to offer even more clarity regarding salvation, apostle Paul distinguishes between the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit ...

"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts -- if we live in the Spirit, [then] let us also walk in the Spirit." (Galatians 5:16-26)

Stand fast in the offering plate.