So we can start the discussion, here is the post for Galatians. Feel free to start the discussion!
But so you won't feel like you are staring at a blank page, chapter one Paul asks the question, "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God?"
As he continues on, he makes it clear that pleasing men gets nothing...
Then, he enters a dang "tunnel of Chaos" with Peter!!! You got to love those tunnels!
Now...get to discussing!
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That reminds me of the beginning lyrics to DC Talk's "What if I Stumble": "Is this one for the people? Is this one for the Lord?" http://bit.ly/1JDaUW
ReplyDeletehttp://bit.ly/3ao5wf
Of course, DC Talk seemed to be struggling with the true reason behind writing a new song - was it for God or to make another album. I think Paul wasn't so much struggling as he was pointing out he didn't care for or seek any approval of man. He came from God, was recognized as that, and with that authority was admonishing them for turning from the grace of Christ and following another teaching.
I really like Chapter 2, where he talks about confronting Peter with his inclination to the laws that are not the way to salvation:
"18 If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove that I am a lawbreaker.19 For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God.20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
That's a strong passage. We've read about laying down your life for others before, and giving up your selfish pursuits. Now Paul says he isn't living his life anymore - he lives in God's will, period. I bet he'd never buy an iPhone or Computer, unless he thought that's what God needed him to have to do God's work.
"21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” "
I like this verse because it takes all the residual pressure of "being good" or "living good" to go to Heaven. It's absolutely impossible to influence that, or God never would have sent Jesus for us. Jesus wasn't a "Power-Up" to help us over the hump to righteousness - He was the ONLY way. Knowing that, we can relax and be thankful for God's grace and forgiveness and learn to know Him and work in His will, without worrying about pleasing him enough or earning our Christian merit badges.
I got some interesting blogs suggested to me after I posted this on my own blog. One had a good quote:
ReplyDelete"The Law says: Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy. But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God…Ex. 20:8,10.
But GRACE says: Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days… Col.2:16,17"
Is observing the Sabath another version of us enforcing circumcision as an old law? (this ought to get conversational among some of us pretty soon). Not trying to offend anyone, but really having a paradigm shift of my own here. I'm not saying don't go to Church on Sundy - I'm talking about the people who say you shouldn't work on Sunday because it's the Sabath. I think you get the point.
For the record, here are the other links:
http://theologyandsteak.wordpress.com/2007/09/17/saved-by-faith-kept-by-works/
http://howtobesaved.wordpress.com/2009/04/06/are-you-reading-someone-elses-mail/
Well, my post goes over the maximum character count, which means I overdid it. I'm going to cut it into two pieces. You may be able to read it before tomorrow night, or maybe not . . .
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Above the law, but not lawless
In Gal 3:17 to Gal 4:5 (although it's referred to the rest of the book, really), Paul explains the law was made as an itermediary to keep people straight until Jesus could come and free them from the law. The law had a purpose that was unnessesary after the arrival of Jesus. After Jesus paid the price for our salvation and the Holy Spirit came, it was un-necessary to follow the law and important to live by the Spirit.
Our freedom from the law cannot be interpreted as permission to live any way you want with no concern for resposibility of the effect of your actions. Paul addresses this:
Gal 5:13 For you, brothers, were called to freedom. Only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity to gratify your flesh, but through love make it your habit to serve one another.
In fact, to live by the Spirit is summarized by Paul as encompassing the entire intent of the law:
Gal 5:14 For the whole law is summarized in a single statement: "You must love your neighbor as yourself."
Which is a direct reference to these verses:
Mat 22:34 When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they met together in the same place.
Mat 22:35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him by asking,
Mat 22:36 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?"
Mat 22:37 Jesus said to him, "'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'
Mat 22:38 This is the greatest and most important commandment.
Mat 22:39 The second is like it: 'You must love your neighbor as yourself.'
Mat 22:40 All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments."
Paul says that living by the Spirit is in direct opposition to living by the flesh:
Gal 5:16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will never fulfill the desires of the flesh.
Gal 5:17 For what the flesh wants is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit wants is opposed to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, and so you do not do what you want to do.
Which makes it sound like living in the Spirit isn't a lawless life. He's not talking about dissobedience to secular laws. The laws he is talking about are the ones that you were supposed to obey to follow God.
part 2 - my comment continued:
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After explaining that he isn't saying you can "do as you will," Paul clarifies what he meant by his original point:
Gal 5:18 But if you are being led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Which is to say, you do not serve the law, and the law has no authority over you in regards to your salvation. He's not saying not to obey the law as we have laws today (though some people use these verses to justify that). he's referring to the Galatians choosing to obey the obsolete laws that used to be necessary to follow God. Those laws don't even apply anymore, but if we can't understand that and live in the freedom God provides, then we may as well go back to the laws, because you can't live in both worlds. If you're under any of the law, then obviously you aren't free by Jesus. You're either saved by Jesus and free of the entire law, or still living under the entire law. Paul says this here:
Gal 5:3 Again, I insist that everyone who allows himself to be circumcised is obligated to obey the entire law.
Paul closes with the full purpose for this letter, saying it isn't really that being circumcised or any thing else the Galatians are doing is bad of itself, as much as the fact that those things reflect a lack of a change in them brought on by accepting Jesus and receiving the Holy Spirit. Paul actually says that twice:
Gal 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision matters. What matters is faith that is active through love.
Gal 6:15 For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision matters. Rather, what matters is being a new creation.
Paul was explaining to them that they just didn't get it. The old rules were thrown out when Jesus came on the scene. You still live a "good" life, but for a different purpose. You are changed, and you live by the Spirit, forfeiting your own life to follow God.
He gives examples of someone who hasn't made that change and still lives by the flesh:
Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, promiscuity,
Gal 5:20 idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, rivalry, jealously, outbursts of anger, quarrels, conflicts, factions,
Gal 5:21 envy, murder, drunkenness, wild partying, and things like that. I am telling you now, as I have told you in the past, that people who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
He then gives the, often quoted, example of someone who lives by the Spirit, referring to it as fruit (as in you can tell a tree by the kind of fruit it makes, and so you can tell a person by the fruit they make*):
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Gal 5:23a gentleness, and self-control.
And to drive home the point that he isn't leading them to break the law, he adds Gal 5:23a There is no law against such things.
In his final words, Paul says one of the phrases that I have held on to for nearly two years:
Gal 6:9 Let us not get tired of doing what is good, for at the right time we will reap a harvest-if we do not give up.
I've gone back to read that over and over again whenever I get worn out, and it puts things back into perspective. I remember who I serve and the things I'm struggling with become insignificant.
This is a very good book for remembering the freedom that comes from following Christ, and understanding what to live by the Spirit means, and how to do a self assessment of how well we're doing it by the fruit we exhibit. It also clearly shows that we are free and above the old law, but still serving a high and perfect almighty God.
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P.S., if you like what I've written, you should pay special attention to this verse ;)
Gal 6:6 The person who is taught the word should share all his goods with his teacher.
Noah, I expect your first born at my house by morning with all his things...Remember a tithe is the first and best of all we have!
ReplyDeleteWait, are you being sarcastic, Steven? I would never do this to Noah on a blog!
ReplyDeleteI think Philip is cheating - he's posting on his own blog but not here so we all think he's smart when he has those ideas "for the first time" on Monday.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, how has Aiden been. We miss him.
Noah, very nicely done. This gives me much to think about and act upon. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI saw this in the notes from the Life Application Bible:
ReplyDelete"Some people were preaching "a different gospel." They were teaching that to be saved, Gentile believers had to follow Jewish laws and customs, especially the rite of circumcision. Faith in Christ was not enough. This message undermined the truth of the good news that salvation is a gift, not a reward for certain deeds. Jesus Christ has made this gift available to all people, not just to Jews. Beware of people who say that we need more than simple faith in Christ to be saved. When people set up additional requirements for salvation, they deny the power of Christ's death on the cross (see Galatians 3:1-5)."
I think it phrases it very well by saying salvation is a gift, not a reward for certain deeds. That sums up Galations pretty well.