You Cannot Compromise the Gospel

Galatians 5:7–12 (NIV),

⁷ You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? ⁸ That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. ⁹ “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” ¹⁰ I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty. ¹¹ Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. ¹² As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!

Paul encourages them and admonishes them at the same time.  They were running well as long as they were obeying the truth. "They believed and lived rightly: but now they did not so, since they were misled by the false apostles." [1]  "Who cut in on you?"  They were running a race so well but another runner cut into their lane pushing them off course; slowing up their progress.  The appeal of the "judaizers" is not from God.  I cannot be.

Now here we come to an insightful statement: "A little yeast works through the whole batch."  How many times do we entertain alliances with those who have "just a little yeast."  Roman Catholicism, which is modern day Judaism in its priesthood and sacraments is touted as Christians as just a little wrong!  Paul gives no room for those who do not believe in justification by faith alone to be in the same camp as those who do.  Giving in on this one little area opens up multitudes of more error.

Verse 10 shows Paul's confidence that those who are truly in Christ will come to their senses and that those who are seeking to lead them astray will receive retribution from the Lord.  These people may have been accusing Paul of preaching circumcision to the Jews and otherwise to the Gentiles. But he responds to say that if he was preaching circumcision, why are the Jews persecuting him? No, there is one message, the message of the Cross.  "The Cross uproots the doctrine of salvation by human merit. Salvation is by grace alone, and justification is by faith alone; there can be no compromise." [2]

Then Paul makes this scathing condemnation: “I just wish that those troublemakers who want to mutilate you by circumcision would mutilate themselves.” (Galatians 5:12, NLT). "All the ancient Greek interpreters and most modern scholars apply this to the self-mutilation practiced by the heathen priests of Cybele. Paul speaks with satire."  [2]

Again, we mustn't escape the truth that false doctrine infects our lives; those that promote false doctrine neither care for our soul or care for the Cross.  It seems unseemly for Christians to speak with such vehemence but strong words carry with it the passion of intolerance.  Intolerance is necessary when it comes to matters of the Gospel.

Father, the infiltration of culture and postmodern thought causes us to bristle at Paul's caustic and sarcastic comments. Yet it shows the response of the righteous to those who mess with Your Good News.  Grant me such an inward grace and persuasion that I will not compromise the Truth by saying what is wrong, or not saying what is wrong.  May the power of the Cross pervade my convictions.  Yet, in Paul here, I see a man who had confidence in You and in those whom You have called.  Praise God that those truly bought with Your blood are kept by Your Power.  You are the Victor.  You are the King.  You reign.  Amen!

______________________________________

1. Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians (Ga 5:7). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

2. KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (2397). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

When The Law Is Finished With You -- It Slaughters You.

So as Paul concludes his theological argument he affirms: “Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.” (Galatians 4:31, NIV).

Now, he moves into that topic in Galatians 5:1 (NIV) with this exhortation:

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.

The imperative verb is στήκω [pronounced stay·ko] meaning to: "to stand firm; to persevere, to persist, etc." [1] Herein we see the purpose of Christ saving us: to set us free and therefore the command to stand in that freedom is a natural appeal on the basis of that purpose.  "Paul commands the Galatians to keep the agitators from turning them from freedom to slavery—from faith in Christ to life under the law." [2]

"Since the Jews of Paul's time spoke of "taking the yoke of the law upon oneself," it is likely that Paul is referring to such an expression here. To the Jews the taking up of the law's yoke was good; indeed, it was the essence of religion. To Paul it was assuming the yoke of slavery." [3]  "If ye will be made free (say they) from sin and death, and obtain righteousness and life, then fulfil the law, be circumcised, observe days, months, times, and years, offer sacrifices, and do such other like things; then shall this obedience of the law justify and save you . . . This liberty then is not given unto us by the law, or for our righteousness, but freely for Christ’s sake: which thing Paul here witnesseth and plainly declareth throughout his whole Epistle." [4] 

Then Luther gives a great illustration:

"For, like as oxen drawing in the yoke with great toil, receive nothing thereby but forage and pasture, and when they be able to draw the yoke no more, are appointed to the slaughter; even so, they that seek righteousness by the law, are captives and oppressed with the yoke of bondage, that is to say, with the law; and when they have tired themselves a long time in the works of the law with great and grievous toil, in the end this is their reward, that they are miserable and perpetual servants." [4] 

So we take a tenacious, resolute stand against any who would draw us back into slavery to the Law, bondage to self-effort.  We fight against who would make our performance meritorious in salvation.  We have been freed from such obligation by the precious and efficient blood of Christ.

Free from the law O happy condition
Jesus hath bled and there is remission
Cursed by the law and bruised by the fall
Grace hath redeemed us once for all [5]

Father, this is war.  The Enemy has come in to spy our our freedom; and then mounted a subversive, covert assault on our soul. Clothed with the garb of religion and good works, he has summoned us again to lay our necks under the instrument of bondage and despair.  But Oh thanks be to You, Father, for the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.  He came to set us free. Condemnation cannot hold us.  Guilt cannot hold us.  Death cannot hold us.  For if the Son has set us free we are free indeed.  Grant to us the discernment to be able to spot the subtle movements of the Enemy attempting to trap us again into this life of incarceration.  Grant grace to withstand the subtle approaches that he uses.  Grant us and You have commanded us the perseverance to stand.  For Christ sake and our freedom, I pray.

___________________________________________

1. Strong, J. (2001). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

2. Barry, J. D., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Ga 5:1). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

3. Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:Galatians/Exposition of Galatians/III. The Call to Godly Living (5:1-6:10)/A. Summary and Transition (5:1), Book Version: 4.0.2

4. Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians (Ga 5:1). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

5. Philip Paul Bliss, Free From the Law, © Words: Public Domain, Music: Public Domain

 

Defeating Sin With Sin. Can It Be True?

Galatians 2:19 (NIV),   ¹⁹ “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God."

These words disrupt worlds.  These words turn heads.  These words will stand as the formidable weapon against our enemies.  These words bring comfort and peace to the troubled heart.  These words stand as the key that turns the tightly closed mind of the skeptic.  "These are marvellous words, and unknown kinds of speech, which man’s reason can in no wise understand. And although they be but few, yet are they uttered with great zeal and vehemency of spirit, and as it were in great displeasure." [1]

Paul is talking about two laws (as he did in Romans 7: “But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.” (Romans 7:6, NIV)).  There is a new law the law of the Spirit that trumps the old law.  "He calleth grace itself the law, giving a new name to the effect and working of grace." [1] 

The Law accuses and condemns, but there is another Law that accuses and condemns that Law. How does that work?  Luther explains:

"Therefore when I feel the remorse and sting of conscience for sin, I behold that brazen serpent Christ hanging upon the Cross. There I find another sin against my sin which accuseth and devoureth me. ow, this other sin (namely in the flesh of Christ) which taketh away the sin of the whole world, is almighty, it condemneth and swalloweth up my sin. So my sin, that it should not accuse and condemn me, is condemned by sin, that is, by Christ crucified: “who is made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God through him” (2 Cor. v. 21. In like manner I find death in my flesh, which afflicteth and killeth me: but I have in me a contrary death, which is the death of my death; and this death crucifieth and swalloweth up my death." [1]

Christians who feel condemned by the Law need to look in faith to another Law.  The very sin that brings low is found as we look to Christ.  There that sin is, upon His body on the tree.  That very sin is condemned in Christ.  There is our hope and comfort.  There can be no peace anywhere else.

But there is another profound thought within this pregnant verse.  "Except thou be dead to the law, thou canst not live to God." [1]   You cannot both be alive to God and alive to the Law.  You cannot be justified by the Law and justified by Christ synonymously. There is no mixing and blending Law and Grace.  Both have separate and irreconcilable kingdoms.  We find our hope, our confidence our life in Christ alone or not at all.  Therefore the Reformers were to stress sola -- alone.  Many believe in Christ but not Christ ALONE.  Many believe in grace through faith, but not ALONE.   

Grace cannot entertain Law for it swallows Law, killing it a permanent and conclusive death.

Father, in these somewhat strange and complicated ideas, there is for me a balm in Gilead.  There is healing for the soul and rest from anxiety.  But oh it is a fitful sleep.  It is a battle.  Thus the inspired writer calls us to work hard to enter that rest.  Resting in Christ alone is not stormless.  It is a battle.  Oh how my flesh would love to atone for my own sins.  Oh how my flesh would love to gain even a smidgen of merit.  Oh how I would love to cuddle and coddle this old man.  But I cannot.  I can only look to Jesus the author and finisher of my faith.  I can only look up at the Crucified One and see every broken commandment -- every broken Law -- every missed opportunity -- every intentional, willful act of rebellion.  There it is.  It is on Jesus.  The Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.  The Law of Grace wins.  The Law of sin and death dies.  Praise be to God who through Christ Jesus gives us the victory.  Amen.

_______________________________

1. Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians (Ga 2:19). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc. 

A 'Christianly' View of the Law.

Luther observes that within this realm of discussion there are really only two kinds of righteousness. There is no third alternative. "He that teacheth that men are justified before God by the observation of the law, passeth the bounds of the law, and confoundeth these two kinds of righteousness, active and passive, and is but an ill logician, for he doth not rightly divide." [1] The active righteousness is coupled with notions of "law and works" and applies to the 'old man' while the passive righteousness is coupled with "forgiveness and mercy" and applies to the 'new man'.  The reason that the law is contrary to grace is the the end of the Law is found in Christ. (“Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.” (Romans 10:4, NIV))

Does Luther dismiss the necessity of obedience and good works?  No!  Here he uses an analogy:

"But as the earth bringeth not forth fruit except first it be watered and made fruitful from above . . .  even so by the righteousness of the law, in doing many things we do nothing, and in fulfilling of the law we fulfil it not, except first, without any merit or work of ours, we be made righteous by the Christ righteousness, which nothing appertaineth to the righteousness of the law, or to the earthly and active righteousness." [1]

Luther's point is that we contribute nothing -- absolutely nothing to our salvation.  The end of the matter is that as per the Law we are all sinners; but in relation to Christ we are justified.  "When I have this righteousness reigning in my heart, I descend from heaven as the rain making fruitful the earth: that is to say, I come forth into another kingdom, and I do good works, how and whensoever occasion is offered." [1]

Luther hints in this prologue of pastoral concern for those who lack assurance.  When we learn to treat the Law, 'christianly' we will see Christ as the completion and fulfillment of the Law, in our place.  But the gaining of passive righteousness does not render the true believer passive in righteous deeds. Indeed it becomes the ground and the energy for good works.

Father, I am so often reminded of the truth that about from Jesus we can do nothing.  Whether I am discussing salvation or even the Christian life, it proves to be true over and over again.  Christ is all in all. As a plot of dead ground I can no more bring forth a crop than a corpse can self-resurrect.  And even as one who receives the seed of the Word and the empowering rain of the Spirit, only this nurture and care from Heaven can possibly bring out anything of value in my life.  Father, I am in Christ because of You; and anything I do that gives you even the hint of glory is because of You.  Today I yield to the precious and indispensable work of the Spirit.  In this day no matter what I face, flow your grace through me, that others would see Christ.  All for His glory that He might be all in all.  Amen.






______________________________________
1. Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.