Scripture:
Galatians 5:1-7, 9-15 NKJV
[1] Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. [2] Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. [3] And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. [4] You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. [5] For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. [6] For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. [7] You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?
[9] A little leaven leavens the whole lump. [10] I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is. [11] And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. [12] I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off! [13] For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. [14] For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” [15] But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!
Observation:
We have been studying through the book of Galatians on Friday night. So I felt it necessary to dive in this morning so that those who have been attending that bible study, and read these SOAPS can have a little glimpse at what tonight will look like. The letter that Paul wrote to the church in Galatia is one of my favorites. But of course I say that about a lot of scripture. I guess it would be better said if I would just make the statement that I absolutely love the bible. There is no other book in the world that has caught my attention at all to be honest. There is something that happens in the life of people who make a decision to pick up this book and read it on a regular basis. You can not convince me that this book doesn’t hold the very embodiment of the Holy trinity. As I have spent the last several years developing a relationship with GOD through allowing HIM to speak to me through HIS Holy word. The letter was written to this church as Paul was on his missionary journeys. It is commonly believed that he wrote it as he was in several places as it probably took a while to get everything to the surface that needed to be brought out. Having put in a lot of work in the church he was heavily invested. So seeing others come in and try to refine what it is that he had taught was rather disappointing. It was something worth fighting for. The church had been infiltrated by Judaizers. Men who were teaching that if you didn’t follow the law then you could not be saved. They had begun to convince those who were in the church that circumcision was necessary for salvation. In a sense what they were teaching is that salvation was Jesus + works = salvation. This is just not the truth. The freedom that is found in the grace of GOD is the cornerstone of the gospel. We talked 2 days ago about what a relationship looks like, wanting to do the things that please GOD rather than having to. Paul drives that point home in several of his letters. Here in Galatians, he says, “ Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” You see what had happened is that the Jewish people had taken the covenant of circumcision and turned it into a means of salvation. They had distorted what GOD had done through the covenant HE had given Abraham that set him apart. The reason Christ came and died on the cross was to set us free from the burden of the law, HIS grace restored our ability to commune with GOD regardless of our sin, salvation is found in Christ alone. HIS death on the cross built a bridge to GOD. We can not be good enough. What Paul is saying is apart from grace we have no hope. Looking at verse 4 will show us that, and verse 5 brings everything into perspective, “For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.” That statement leaves the work up to the Holy Spirit. It takes it out of our hand and places the responsibility back on GOD through Christ, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.” HE has done all the work, keeping faith in that is the key. The church had been led astray by persuasive words. Words that had convinced them there was more to salvation than Christ and what HE did. The word liberty is interesting. It’s another word for freedom. What Paul is saying is that what Christ did on the cross has given us the ability to choose. It takes the, “have to” out of the law. As he brings this teaching to an end he sums the law up in the same manner that Christ did, “love” your neighbor as you love yourself. Love is the fulfillment of the law.
Application:
Have you ever tried to stop doing something only to find the temptation becomes even stronger after making a conscious decision to change? I have. Trying to be good enough will never work. HE is the only one who was good enough, we have to trust that HIS righteousness will manifest itself in our lives as we learn how to submit and surrender our lives to HIM. If our faith is in our ability to be good we have no hope, our faith has to be placed in Christ, that in and of itself allows the Holy Spirit to begin the process of sanctification. Here is the best example I have from my own life. I tried to stop doing drugs so many times only to find myself right back at it. The struggle was real and every attempt I made just led to another failure. It wasn’t until I understood what exactly it was that Christ had done that I saw the deliverance from that addiction. After placing my faith in the finished work that Christ gave HIS life for I experienced true deliverance. I haven’t craved drugs in years. It was removed from me. The Holy Spirit has begun to sanctify me. Setting me apart. Now listen I’m not saying I am perfect, but what i am saying is, I’m not the man I used to be, and one day perfection will come back in the form of Jesus Christ, and perfection will be had by all who have placed their faith in HIM and not on the works that they do. As I was typing that last sentence two different groups of scriptures came to my mind at the end of both statements. The first one ends with the statement depart from me for I never knew you. That statement comes after a description of people who have given their best efforts to do all the right things to get to heaven. Prophesying, healing the sick…. all the stuff. The second statement comes after a description of a group of people who have trusted in Christ, loving their neighbors, just to love their neighbors. The statement is well done, now enter into my rest. Now here is what I’m sure of. If you find yourself reading this. You hope to be in that second group of people described… I know I do. So if that’s you what needs to happen is you have to allow the grace of GOD to sanctify you. For some that happens over night and for others it takes time. It depends on your ability to accept it or not. Some things were removed from me overnight, others have taken time, but what I know is my efforts are but filthy rags. What HE did for me is the only way. I rest on the finished work of the cross. I am righteous because of what HE did, not anything I have done.
Prayer:
Father, your plan has taken it all out of our hands. You have done all the work. Sending your one and only SON, to pay a debt that HE didn’t owe was the only way for the redemption process to take place. We know that in our own efforts we will never be justified. It’s only through HIM and what HE did that we have any hope. This morning as we pray, help us to keep our focus on the grace that was extended to us. Your love never fails, and it never changes, nothing can separate us from it. We pray that you will continue to sanctify us through your grace. Change our hearts to yearn for what you want for us. As we pick up our cross to crucify our flesh daily. Deliver us from the things that keep us from fully submitting to you. We want to see your face. Help us to live the way that you would have us live. We truly love you more than anything else. We know that doing our best is all we can do…. The rest is up to you. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus we pray amen.