The Gospel According to Abraham (in Galatians) - Overview Part 5

We are looking at Paul's letter to the Galatian Churches and seeing how he understood the Gospel. We have looked at Galatians 1, Galatians 2, and Galatians 3, Galatians 4 and today: Galatians 5:1-13.   Paul left off in Chapter 4 the theme of "freedom."  He picks that up again in Galatians 4:29–5:1 (NIV),

²⁹ At that time the son born according to the flesh persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. ³⁰ But what does Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.” ³¹ Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman. ¹ It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Here again we get a glimpse into the Pauline doctrine of salvation.  He makes some very important points, such as:

• The Gospel, the Good News, is about being set free -- set free to serve (vv1, 13);
• The Gospel provides, by the Spirit, through faith, hope of a future, glorified righteousness (v5);
• In the true Gospel, faith works (v6);
• If there is no offense to the Gospel, its the wrong gospel (v11); and
• There is no middle ground between self-merit and faith in Christ in the Gospel (vv2, 4).

This last point is very important in the day we live in -- a day of tolerance and acceptance (except if your a Christian, then you cannot be tolerated!).  But to the point.  Notice how Paul frames this argument: “Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.” (Galatians 5:2, NIV); and “You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.” (Galatians 5:4, NIV).

It's either Christ and His finished work or nothing.  There is no compromise.  Tullian Tchividjian has made popular the phrase:

Jesus + Nothing = Everything & Everything - Jesus = Nothing.

That's New Testament.  That's Paul!  That's God's viewpoint.  All or nothing.

Father, You don't leave a lot of wiggle room in the Gospel.  It's not about trusting Jesus plus a teenie little bit of self-effort. I can't add a little kindness to the pot; nor can I add a little obedience to the stew.  There is no stew.  It's Your Son or nothing.  It is so true that You will not ever share Your glory with others -- not even me.  This is so hard to appreciate.  There are so many false religions out there including Catholicism that by their very doctrine inadvertently rob Jesus of His glory and the Cross of its power.  Yet I do that too.  I am so prone to think well of myself and think You are impressed by that.  Father forgive me for such foolish behavior.  Today I happily come back to the true Truth that Jesus has no partners when it comes to my salvation -- not even me.  The Gospel that saves is a monergistic message and today I rejoice in that. Amen.