An excellent example as how to resolve conflict.

 

https://www.9marks.org/conversations/on-pastoral-public-tone-with-kevin-deyoung-pastors-talk-ep-245/

In this Pastors Talk episode, Jonathan Leeman (9Marks) interviews Mark Dever (Baptist) and Kevin DeYoung (Reformed) on pastoral, public tone; and the correction of brothers. This interview also gives help to disagreeing in public.

Principles:

1. The offended acted quickly when he saw/heard something that was wrong.
2. The offended got counsel from others what to do. This is not gossip.
3. The offended wrote directly in a clear, honest way. He wrote because he could articulate his concerns clearly and carefully.
4. The offended was very gracious when the offender apologized.
5. The offender know that the one taking offence. should be happy that he grow and learn by this. 
6. They knew each other well, by character thus having confidence that their concerns would be handled graciously and seriously.
7. The offender called right away after receiving the rebuke and repented.
8. The offender, when realizing his error did what he could to make it right. 
9. The effectiveness of the resolution was directly based on the good relationship of the parties and the trust that they could speak of such things confidently. There is wisdom to know how a rebuke might land. 
10. To be able to communicate in such manner is to respect the other party and assume that they will hear what they’re saying.  He is assuming that the other will not take it out of context, make light of it, be resentful toward it.

Build the kind of relationships that this level of discussion can take place. Unfortunately I have experienced several significant issues that I feel unable to address with a person because their response to conflict has been defensiveness, counter-attack, failure to really listen to my concerns, making light of it, or oppositely becoming distant and resentful.

I pray today that if I am that way, the Lord will hear my repentance and give grace.

Applause That Leads To Agitation

Galatians 5:26 (NIV)

²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

"It is hard to tell whether this verse belongs with the preceding section or with what follows. Certainly, it is the first of a number of specific actions that should characterize those who are being led by the Spirit. But, on the other hand, it is also a return to the theme of v. 15 and, therefore, a summation." [1]

Whatever the case, Paul now starts to elaborate on what it means to be walking by the Spirit.  Paul warns about the sin of conceit -- bringing glory to oneself.  Luther writes, "As touching our person, this is our glory, that all men have sinned and are guilty of everlasting death before God." [2]  So true! The only glory we truly have is our sin.  What can man take glory in? "Here he describeth the effect and fruit of vainglory." [2] ". . . provoking and envying each other.” (Galatians 5:26, NIV).

"Such actions toward one another are not consistent with a life of faith, lived by one who has been crucified with Christ and who is keeping step with the Holy Spirit." [3] "Paul is probably referring specifically to attitudes that seem to have become a problem in the Galatian churches (see v. 15)." [4] The bottom-line is that where there is provocation and envying there is very likely someone trying to get all the glory.  The Holy Spirit produces humility.  

Matthew Henry correctly observes: "Note, (1.) The glory which comes from men is vain-glory, which, instead of being desirous of, we should be dead to. (2.) An undue regard to the approbation and applause of men is one great ground of the unhappy strifes and contentions that exist among Christians." [5]

Father what a deadly, defeating defect that pride is.  Why do I long for that pat on the back?  Why do I want the credit?  Why am I so up on me and down on others?  Why?  Oh how the flesh loves to be recognized.  Humility, quietness, remaining unseen is far from the old man in me.  Today, I pray that the Holy Spirit would burst forth from my being and bring so much glory to Jesus that I become pale and insignificant.  Forgive me for the many times that my self-glory has caused strife between my wife, my children, my family and my Church.  Kill that wretched ego-maniac in me, Lord Jesus. Bring the humble life of Christ into focus, I pray.   For the sake of Christ and His glory.  Amen!

________________________________________

1.  Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:Galatians/Exposition of Galatians/III. The Call to Godly Living (5:1-6:10)/C. Life in the Spirit (5:13-26)/3. The fruit of the Spirit (5:22-26), Book Version: 4.0.2 

2. Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians (Ga 5:26). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

3. KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (2399). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

4. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (2255). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

5. Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: Complete and unabridged in one volume (2304). Peabody: Hendrickson.

Sworn Enemies

Galatians 5:17–18 (NIV)

¹⁷ For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Verse 17 starts with the word "for".  What is it there for?   Paul has just affirmed “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16, NIV).  So why is that true?  Answer: there is a mutual contempt between our flesh and the Holy Spirit.  Our flesh would love to serve self rather than a life of obedience and victory.  However the Spirit opposes the flesh and gives us victory.  They are sworn enemies.  But the Spirit is omnipotent.  So if we live life by the Spirit the fleshly cravings that lead us to sin will be overpowered. "As if Paul would thus say: I know that the flesh will provoke you unto wrath, envy, doubting, incredulity, and such-like: but resist it by the Spirit, that ye sin not." [1] 

Let us not miss this:  Luther makes this clear. "And this place witnesseth plainly that Paul writeth these things to the saints, that is, to the Church believing in Christ, baptized, justified, renewed, and having full forgiveness of sins. Yet notwithstanding he saith that she hath flesh rebelling against the spirit." [1]  This is a battle involving Christians.  Luther points out that this is a very profitable and comforting doctrine for believers.  We desire to live righteously and ought not be surprised at the battle.  This is in no way written that we may make light of sin.

Now Paul returns to his main doctrine: “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” (Galatians 5:18, NIV). "The verb (Gk. agō) implies an active, personal involvement by the Holy Spirit in guiding Christians, and the present tense (“if you are being led …”) indicates his ongoing activity." [2] Here in verse 18, are led is in the present tense which conveys the idea that we are continually being led by the Spirit. The passive voice indicates that this action is exerted on believers from a force outside themselves. While led is in the passive voice, believers are not to be passive but must still willingly submit themselves to the Spirit's leading. Therefore, in practical terms, leading by the Spirit is a partnership.  

"It also shows that the believer cannot simultaneously be led by the Spirit and observe the law; the two are mutually exclusive." [3]  We might have thought that Paul would have written, "If you are led by the Spirit you are not under the flesh."  But that's not what he wrote.  Paul equates the Law to flesh. The Law is a religious, self-effort system hoping to attain righteousness.  It is fleshly.  It is powerless to accomplish what we want.  Doing the A-B-Cs etc. will not do what we want.  We need to cooperate with the Holy Spirit.

We as believers cannot do what God the Holy Spirit desires us to do; yet at the same time we are not condemned. Why?  Because our justification if found in Christ.  We are saved by His righteousness. And secondly because the Holy Spirit is constantly working in our lives to lead us into practical, daily holiness. 

Father there are two very clear methods of living that good and holy life.  Following the rules of the Law or any law will not get me there. You have given to us who believe the gift of the Holy Spirit.  He does not stand afar off beckoning us to follow.  He is within us accomplishing that wonder working power. We are not idle puppets.  We gladly seek His aid for saving grace has given to us that compulsion.  As I face this day, may I find my rest and my hope in the Holy Spirit.  Grant me the mind that looks to Him, my Comfort and my Deliverer.  I desire to be holy.  I desire to live for You. Grant new mercies to pursue holiness in my life, for the sake of Christ and my eternal happiness in God.

__________________________

1. Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians (Ga 5:17). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

2. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (2254). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

3. Barry, J. D., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Ga 5:18). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

Self Is Essentially Selfish!

Galatians 5:15–16 (NIV),

¹⁵ If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. ¹⁶ So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Paul has moved from the truth of the Gospel: salvation is by faith in Christ -- alone, apart from works.  The Christian is free from the power of sin and the condemning demands of the Law.  This freedom is a "from-freedom" not a "to-freedom".  The Cross frees us to serve; to serve Christ and His Church.  Now Paul moves to some practical implications of the Gospel.  Gospel people do not “. . . bite and ravage each other . . ..” (Galatians 5:15a, The Message).

The picture is of a group "continually biting and devouring like wild animals in deadly combat, i.e., a picture of church strifes." [1]  "And when once the concord of the Church is broken, there is no measure nor end of the evil; for the authors of schisms, dissenting among themselves, do teach, one that this work, another that another work is necessary to righteousness." [2]

At this point we need to ask an important question.  Isn't Paul confused?  Hasn't he just written that the Church is free from the Law and now he imposes another law?  He answers that in the next sentence. "As if he should have said: I have not forgotten my former discourse concerning faith, neither do I now revoke the same in that I exhort you to mutual love, saying that the whole law is fulfilled through love, but I am still of the same mind and opinion that I was before. To the end therefore that ye may rightly understand me, I add this moreover: “Walk in the Spirit” &c." [3]

Paul equates the 'law of love' with the fulfilling of the Law.  And he equates all that with "walking in the Spirit."   This is profound. Luther argues that the reason this is not works righteousness is because none of us has the capacity to love as God would have us.  While here on earth we all have indwelling sin.  "Therefore when I teach you to observe the law, and exhort you to love one another, think not that I go about to revoke that which I have taught concerning the doctrine of faith, and that I now attribute justification to the law or to charity: but my meaning is that ye should walk in the Spirit, and that ye should not fulfil the lusts of the flesh." [3]

Fulfilling the Law does not justify someone, it is the natural outcome of justification and it can only be achieved in some manner as we walk in the Spirit.  "Wherefore Paul would have us to walk in the Spirit, lest we fulfil the lust of the flesh. As if he should say: Although ye be moved with wrath and displeasure against your brother, offending you or doing anything heinously against you, yet notwithstanding resist and repress these [violent] motions through the Spirit; bear with his weakness, and love him according to that commandment: “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” [3]

"“Flesh” refers to the part of human nature that causes people to put their own selfish needs ahead of everything else." [4] "The double negative with the aorist subjunctive means you will never gratify the sinful desires originating in and overflowing from the lower nature . . . The Christian can conquer the self-life and have continual victory by walking by the Holy Spirit." [5]

Father the flesh in us is essentially selfishness.  That is the root diagnosis.  The power of selfishness has been removed by the Cross.  But Lord I know too well that the presence of selfishness is always rearing its ugly head in my life.  The accompaniment of saving faith is love for You and love for others. So suddenly I realize that as a Christian, Father, I am propelled into a war -- a battle.  I have in my a desire to do what I want and the answer isn't Law, it is the Spirit.  The answer isn't for me to do more, but for me to participant more fully in the life of the Spirit.  This is fundamentally what it means to live as a Christian -- to walk in the Spirit.  Now Father my heart is anxious for I long to know what all that means.  I am confident You will give me an answer.  For now, Lord, help me to know in part what it means to walk by the Spirit -- loving others today.  Amen!

______________________________________

1. KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (2398). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

2. Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians (Ga 5:15). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

3. Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians (Ga 5:16). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

4. Barry, J. D., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Ga 5:16). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

5. KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (2398). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

 

Gospel Living

There is a radical shift in tone in verse 11.  “When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.” (Galatians 2:11, NIV).  Previously Peter, James and John had given their agreement with the Gospel going to the Gentiles.  This implies, by the way, that it was the Gospel plus nothing -- no circumcision. Now Paul testifies to a conflict with Peter.

Prior to this tête-à-tête with Peter, he had been participating when both Jews and Gentiles were eating together.  Then someone(s) showed up and Peter acquiesced and separated himself for the Gentiles. Peter's actions were contrary to the Gospel making the Gentiles feel marginalized "unless they followed Jewish ceremonial laws (such as dietary laws [vv. 12–14], circumcision [v. 3; 5:2–12; 6:12–15], and holidays and festivals [4:10]). [1]

This hypocritical action of Peter drew in other Jews  “. . . so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.” (Galatians 2:13, NIV).  Even Barnabas the encourager.  Even Barnabas who befriended Paul the converted murderer, succumbed to this hypocrisy. "Here then ye see Peter’s offence, as Paul plainly setteth it forth. Paul accuseth him not of malice or ignorance, but of dissimulation and infirmity, in that he abstained from meats forbidden in the law, fearing lest the Jews which came from James should be offended thereby, and had more respect to the Jews than to the Gentiles. Hereby he gave occasion, as much as in him was, to overthrow Christian liberty and the truth of the Gospel." [2]

Luther notes that one might abstain or to not abstain from eating meats for the sake of a brother, but to abstain or not abstain because one thought the act to merit greater righteousness and credit is wrong.  "And this is a wonderful matter, that God preserved the Church, being yet but young, and the Gospel itself, by one only person. Paul alone standeth to the truth; for he had lost Barnabas his companion, and Peter was against him. So sometimes one man is able to do more in a council than the whole council besides." [2]

Paul rightly discerned that Peter's actions were not in concert with the Gospel and thereby stood his ground.  Peter's hypocrisy is clear: he was a Jew living with a free conscience among Gentiles; why would he not allow the Gentiles to live freely among the Jews?  Luther brilliantly points out that Peter's profession of faith was Gospel, but he was living by Law. "Here I say again, that to live as the Jew, is not evil of itself; for it is a thing indifferent, either to eat swine’s flesh, or any other meats. But so to play the Jew, that for conscience sake thou abstainest from certain meats, this is to deny Christ, and to overthrow the Gospel." [2]

Father I wonder if in my life I draw a demarcation line between myself and other Christian brothers and sisters on matters that are not Gospel matters?  Do I by my estrangement from others pull away on issues of Law instead of Gospel? When I separate myself on matters of Law I must surely not only be hypocritical but I surely am living contra-Gospel.   May I live in such a way that I would enjoy the open and bold rebuke of a brother who sees me act is such reprehensible ways.  Lord grant me the grace this day to live worthy of the Gospel, for the sake of the One who saved me, fully by grace through faith -- and all of His abundant mercy.

 

__________________________________________

1. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (2247). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

2. Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians (Ga 2:12). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Ludi Incipiant -- Let the Games Begin!

A common question regarding Christianity from both non-Christians and Christians alike is the issue of the many denominations and variety of beliefs within the same brand of religion.  This is a good question.  We offer the world a faith whereby there is one God, one faith and one baptism.  It's in the Bible (Ephesians 4:4-6 ) our one source of authority.  This all sounds so confusing.  Why so many interpretations? 

Do you know what else is in the Bible?   Well we are told that individual Christians presently only understand in part (1 Corinthians 13:9,12).  We also know that sometimes truth takes awhile to dawn on us (Proverbs 4:18).  We also have the evidence of church councils wrestling with important issues (Acts 15). 

So first of all let's make sure we don't fall prey to a Satanic method of Biblical interpretation (Matthew 4:7) and forget that we shouldn't make a doctrine on solitary passages.  "It is also written" is an important inclusion in any Biblical discussion. The truth is we are fallen, dependent creatures and the New Birth does not make us omniscient and all-wise.  We will never be God (contrary to some religions!).  We will never (including the Final State) have the perfect knowledge that our God has.

Secondly, I somewhat relish the idea that within the confines of true and unabashed Christianity well-meaning Believers can still debate differences of opinion.  If you think about it, in our world of pluralism and relativism, where everybody is right and right is whatever you think it is, we may be experiencing a generation of people that truly are living the last and final great debate.

Now let it be known that there are subjects that are so blatantly clear in the Bible that debate is futile if not insubordinate.  But when I debate infant baptism with my Presbyterian brothers, or tongues with my Pentecostal friends, or eschatology with all my other Christians, we are entering into a sphere of discussion that our relativistic neighbors seldom enjoy. 

I think instead of showing contempt for our intramural differences we ought to count it a distinct privilege. People who hold to cardinal truths of Christianity get to differ, debate and defer to one another in a spirit of Christ-likeness that is unknown in many other religious systems.

So the next time you have a friendly argument with a fellow believer on ... say: the impeccability of Jesus, stop to give thanks that you still can do that.  Stop also to thank God that He has determined others to be a help to your faith.  Stop also to worship a God that in infinitely wise and true; and that the joy of knowing Him is in the journey.

Ludi incipiant.