"The Whole Law, No Exceptions "Galatians 5:3
Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. Thoughts for Today:A few days ago my wife Sherry was scolding Amanda for leaving her wet towel on her bed following her shower. Sherry said, "How many times do I have to tell you to hang up your towel in the bathroom after you've showered?" Amanda responded, "But Mom, I didn't leave my dirty clothes in the bathroom, and I put away my toothbrush and toothpaste. How about giving me some credit for the 'good' things I've done?" Sherry said, "Okay fine. Good job. But that doesn't give you an excuse to leave your towel on the bed!" The same could be said for keeping the Law. How so? If we're trying to earn justification by keeping the Law (rather than by accepting God's gift of grace), then breaking the Law in one small detail means we're guilty of being a lawbreaker. No matter how many "good things" we've done. Just like Amanda. So it doesn't matter how many rules we've followed, without Jesus, judgment and punishment will come as the result of the one rule we've broken. Questions to Ponder:Be honest, what Laws have you broken lately? What about the little lie you told, envying the new car of a neighbor, or the promotion of a co-worker? No matter how good we are we will never be able to completely adhere to every single rule and regulation of the Law. At some point in time, whether intentional or not, we're bound to break the Law. Thankfully God has given us Jesus. Have you been relying too heavily upon your own self-righteousness rather than on His sacrifice? "The Sufficiency of the Cross"Galatians 5:2
Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Thoughts for Today:These are very strong words from the Apostle Paul, he says, "Mark my words!" I think we should pay very careful attention to what he's about to say. Why? Because some people may find out they aren't saved in the way they think they are. Paul is basically saying that if anyone adds anything to the sufficiency and completed work of the Cross (in order to obtain a right standing with God), then Christ is of no value to them. In other words, they aren't truly saved from God's perspective. Think about the Mormons or Jehovah Witnesses. They confuse some people because on the surface they seem to be "good church-going people" who also acknowledge Jesus Christ. However, there is a gigantic difference. They consider Jesus to be a starting point. They teach that Christ alone is not enough, and there is so much more to know and do. In our passage today, Paul tells us unequivocally that they are lost. Why? Because anything a human adds to the finished work of the cross is worthless and of no value. And if we depend on our work and effort we will never earn nor have a right standing before God. Questions to Ponder:In what ways have human efforts deceived you? How can you bring yourself back to the realization of the sufficiency of the Cross? What practices do you need to abandon? "Becoming Truly Free"Galatians 5:1a
It is for freedome that Christ has set us free. Thoughts for Today:Of all the Scripture I have personally committed to memory, our passage today is one of those that comes up most frequently in my conversations with other Christians. Why? Because just like the Galatians, many Christians are bound by either their own self-imposed rules and regulations or the expectations of other people. However, in the same way that our country must persevere to maintain the freedom and protection of each citizen's rights, so we also must stand firmly and resolutely in guarding our spiritual freedom. The specific freedom that Paul is addressing relates to being released from the bondage and oppression of the Old Testament Law. The Encarta Dictionary defines the word "freedom" as: 1) a state in which somebody is able to act and live as he or she chooses, without being subject to any undue restraints or restrictions; 2) release or rescue from being physically bound, or from being confined, enslaved, captured, or imprisoned. Unfortunately, some people have misinterpreted this verse to justify their desire to live in ungodly ways or participate in sinful activities. But it's really a question of control: Who or what controls us? Are we controlled by our love for God and by the indwelling Spirit of Christ, or something else? Soon Paul will make it clear that the freedom he speaks of is NOT freedom to sin, but freedom from sin. Questions to Ponder:Who or what controls your thoughts and actions? For example, do you read and study Scripture out of compulsion, guilt, and obligation or simply because of your great love of God? Which do you think will return a greater reward? How can you change your perspective? "What it Means to be Free"Galatians 4:31
Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman. Thoughts for Today:In Ephesians 1:18, Paul prayed: "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people." Think about it, Jesus had no need to be justified through faith, yet He participated in the covenant agreement for our sole benefit. And because of His great love and nature of His sacrifice, our inheritance was awarded to us when we first believed. It's the key point Paul has been trying to communicate to the Galatians. Christians "are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman." As a result, we need to start living like heirs not slaves. (Galatians 4:7: "So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.) We don't need more faith, more power, or more anointing. Our portion is complete. The will has been read and our inheritance awarded. We simply need to use what we've already been given. I believe many Christians will be shocked when they stand before God, only to finally realize the things they prayed for so earnestly and for so many years, were already inside of them (and at their disposal), from the time they first believed. They just didn't realize it. Questions to Ponder:When Christians are born-again, our spirits are brought to completion in Christ. (Colossians 2:9: "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness.") Are you living today by the fullness of Christ? In what areas of your life has God been speaking to you? Have you lost joy because of religiosity? What can you do to acknowledge more of the inheritance God has promised through Jesus? "Throw Them Out the Door!"Galatians 4:30
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.” Thoughts for Today:In our passage today, Paul once again returns to Genesis as he quotes Genesis 21:9-12: "But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, and she said to Abraham, 'Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.' The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son. But God said to him, 'Do not be so distressed about the boy and your slave woman. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.'" What was Paul's point? Simply that Hagar and Ishmael would not participate in the inheritance of Isaac. It's the same way for those who follow the Law and its legalism -- they will never inherit the promise of justification that only comes by faith in Jesus. Unfortunately, many Christians never grow nor mature into the inheritance of sonship that Paul has been describing. Why? Because they never completely get rid of the slave woman and her offspring. So how do we deal with the mockers who tease and taunt us because we don't live according to legalism? Paul tells us quite clearly, "Throw them out the door!" Whenever I encounter anyone who is legalistic, judgmental, and generally tense, I know those attitudes did not come from the Word. Many times, overly legalistic people are going where they shouldn't go, spending time with people they should stay away from, and participating in activities they should avoid. Being susceptible to sin or giving into temptation makes them feel guilty, afraid, angry and disappointed in themselves. Why? Because they're doing things they know they shouldn't. And they take it out on everyone else. Questions to Ponder:Have you become a little legalistic in any of your practices? Is sin the root cause? Take a careful look at some of your own attitudes about the things that make you the angriest in others. Is there some aspect of ungodliness that you need to deal with in your own life? "It is the Same Now"Galatians 4:29
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. Thoughts for Today:Our passage today is a reference to Genesis 21:8-9: "The child grew and was weaned, and on the day Isaac was weaned Abraham held a great feast. But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking." In the days of Abraham, it was customary to throw a large party in order to celebrate the day a son was weaned from his mother. So it was at the feast thrown in honor of this event that Ishmael first began to taunt and tease Isaac. In the same way, those who live by the Law tease, taunt and otherwise mock those who don't. These legalists say to the children of God, "You're shallow in your beliefs. You're too immature, worldly, and undisciplined. Unlike you, I'm the one who is truly saved because I always do what is right and keep myself under control." Paul intended for the Galatians to see that the Judaizers were actually their enemies. They weren't their friends, and no good thing would come from them in any way. Questions to Ponder:There has been, and will continue to be, a great antagonism between the two branches of Abraham's family -- at least until the return of Jesus. There will also be a corresponding hatred by the worldly, unspiritual, and ungodly against His teachings and followers. Regardless of this animosity, most Christians in America have avoided severe persecution because of their faith for the majority of their lives. Yet Paul tells us, "It is the same now." Are you prepared to stand firmly in the event you are asked to face persecution? What does the Bible say about these times? How should you prepare? |
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