Hello
Friends!
During
this week’s gathering, we’ll continue to work our way through the book written
to the Galatians as we consider
the ONE and ONLY saving “salvation” message of “Jesus Christ” as decreed throughout this excellent
Epistle – “Only ONE Gospel!”
Galatians: Only ONE Gospel! (Chapter 2:17-21)
OPENING POINTS TO PONDER: So far in this study
series we have “learned” that NO ONE
is “justified” by any “works
of the Law” but ONLY through “faith”
in “Jesus Christ” our Lord ALONE. And we’ve seen Paul’s REACTION and
STATEMENT concerning
“Justification” by “faith”
whereby he repeats it THREE times in the sixteenth
verse of this challenging second
chapter! Therefore, it is absolutely unmistakable: “We believe” – It’s universal. And: “No flesh shall be justified” – It’s eternal.
But, Paul doesn’t stop here. WHY?
Because he is still CONFRONTING problematic “Peter,”
“Barnabas” and “the
others” concerning a right RELATIONSHIP between a RIGHTEOUS Holy “God”
and LOST lame
“sinners” such as us – Save BY
God’s GRACE!
Here
AGAIN in
these poignant passages, “Paul”
diligently DEFENDS the “doctrine” of “justification”
by “faith” alone. And we KNOW that
the Bible is NOT simply a series of sentimental
thoughts about religion. Thus, this excellent epistle is FULL of powerfully and perfectly
crafted “arguments” of an inspired
and brilliant
mind “given” by our great “God” unto the “Apostle
Paul” himself – The MIND of GOD!
But if, while we seek to be
justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ
the minister of sin? God forbid – Galatians 2:17
To
begin with, “Paul” is stating that if the
“Judaizers” are correct, then “Jesus Christ” set us up for “sin” itself. WHY?
Because our “Lord” proclaims that “salvation” is through “faith” in HIM
alone. And we thus “believe”
in Him, “receive” His “grace” and embrace it by “faith” alone. “But”
these “Judaizers” refute God’s “Word” by claiming that since we’re not “keeping” the “Law”
we are still lost “sinners” and “Jesus Christ” simply “set
us free” only to LEAD us BACK into “sin”
again! Therefore, did “Jesus Christ”
actually MAKE us “sinners”
Himself? – NO!
Beware of false prophets, which
come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves – Matthew
7:15
Then Jesus said unto them, Take
heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees – Matthew 16:6
Thus,
“Paul” rightly recoils from his
own facetious logic. WHY?
Because this is BLASPHEMY of the highest order “God
forbid!” The term Mé genoito in
the Greek says “No, no, no, no, no! Not possible!” NO! our “Lord Jesus Christ” is NOT the “sin”
promoter. To the CONTRARY! It is the “Judaizers” themselves of whom ARE the “sin” promoters here – Lying
lemmings!
POIGNANT POINT: Remember, “Paul”
is speaking
to the “Apostle Peter” concerning “Barnabas” of whom has been a co-pastor
for MANY years. Therefore, Paul
essentially asks: “Why are you condemning Jesus Christ?” This
is very SEROUS indeed! And as we also KNOW
all too well, “Peter” had a horrendous history
of dreadfully – DENYING
Jesus Christ!
For if I build again the things
which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might
live unto God – Galatians
2:18-19
CONTEXTUAL COMMENTS: This is quite a CONFONTATION between “Peter”
and “Paul” to be sure! Thus, “Paul” is stating that the RELIGIOUSLY rote
“things” that he once BOUND himself unto, he now “destroyed”
with the “gospel” of GRACE through
“Jesus Christ” our “Lord”
all ALONE:
Beware of
dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and
rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man
thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of
Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness
which is in the law, blameless. But what things were
gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea
doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge
of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and
do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be
found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that
which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by
faith: That I may know him, and the power of his
resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto
his death; If by any means I might attain unto the
resurrection of the dead – Philippians 3:2-11
BIBLICAL BACKGROUND: Conversely, “Peter”
was pompously PROMOTING through his ACTIONS the fact that HE was a “transgressor”
by bringing
the “brethren” blatantly back to the “Law” itself. Thus, rather than committing
“sin” by abandoning the “Law” for the GRACE
of “God”
Himself, you become a “sinner”
by returning
to the “Law” from which you had
rightly renounced! Therefore, we CANNOT attempt to REBUILD a rank religious system of LEGALISM all
over again – Hypocrites!
I am crucified with Christ:
nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I
now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and
gave himself for me – Galatians
2:20
THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS: The Apostle Paul is quite CLEAR in
absolutely ALL of his “epistles”
in that “we” do NOT define our “Christian”
life BY the “Law”
itself. In fact, the LEGALIST law-keeper (“Pharisee”)
defines their “Christian” life BY the observance of the
“Law” itself. Conversely, the LIBERTINE antinomian
(“Sadducee”) defines their “Christian” life BY
their indifference toward the “Law“
itself. However, “we” as Biblical “believers” define our “Christian” life by a RELATIONSHIP with “God”
through “Jesus Christ” the “Son of God” by “faith”
in Him:
For he is not a Jew, which is one
outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he
is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the
spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God – Romans 2:28-29
What then
shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For
if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not
before God – Romans 4:1-2
And he
received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith
which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them
that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be
imputed unto them also – Romans
4:11
But God
forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom
the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world – Galatians 6:14
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: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ – Colossians 2:16-17
Wherefore if ye be dead with
Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are
ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to
perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which
things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and
neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh – Colossians 2:20-23
Having a
form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away – 2 Timothy
3:5
Paul
CONSISTENTLY proclaims
that the “Law“ doesn’t DEFINE our
“Christian” life. We are NOT a Legalist or a
Libertine with
an UNBILICAL perspective
toward the “Law” itself. WHY? Because we “live”
unto “God” Himself! This does NOT mean
we “live” a DISOBEDIENT daunting “life”
towards God, quite the contrary! Paul
says “we” have a NEW magnificent
MASTER in
“Jesus Christ” and thus OBEY Him
out of a lavish “love” and NOT by
the looming “Law” in frightful FEAR. Thus, “Paul”
says he “died to the Law” indeed. WHY? Because the “Law”
is no longer our “master” sitting in CONDEMNATION over
us. We ARE indeed – DEAD to the LAW!
Finally,
Paul completes
his “theological” thoughts with ONE of
the GREATEST verses
pertaining
to the “doctrine” of Substitutionary Atonement in ALL of “Scripture” itself:
I do not frustrate the grace of
God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain – Galatians 2:21
QUIZZING QUESTION: Do you find ANY looming “Law”
mentioned ANYWHERE in these PERFECT passages that would “frustrate”
our “God’s” great “gift”
of His “grace” so amazing?
Absolutely NOT… To the CONTRARY! This is the divine DEFINITION of
what it MEANS to be a “Christian” in heart. Therefore, THE reason “God”
can “justify” the “believer”
who has “saving faith” in “Jesus Christ” is because HE has “paid in full” the PENALTY for ALL our “sins”
of THOUGHT, WORD and DEED.
Thus, “we” are indeed – DEAD in Jesus Christ!
On
the “cross,” it was “Jesus
Christ” of Whom was PUNISHED for
ALL the “sins” of ALL the people throughout ALL of human history who would ever
“believe” on Him. Therefore, when He “died,” we too “died”
there. When He “rose”
from the “grave,” we too “rose” with Him. We are thus “baptized” into His “death”
and “raised” into His “resurrection”
glory – WALKING
in NEWNESS of life!
Beloved,
if “righteousness” comes by “works” or the “Law”
then “Jesus Christ” died “in vain” needlessly. Thus, it is my HOPE that
you too RECOGNIZE the awesome POWER of “Paul’s”
wonderful “words” eternally EMPOWERED by
the “Holy Spirit” Himself! And “we” must also REMEMBER to WHOM the “Apostle Paul”
spoke this WARNING against “apostacy” here… The Apostle
Peter!
In closing:
The
“pillars” of the “Christian
faith” are the FOUR fold:
ONE: The GRACE of
“God”
TWO: The FAITH of
“Jesus Christ”
THREE: The DEATH of
“Jesus Christ”
FOUR: The RESURRECTION of
“Jesus Christ”
Therefore,
if ANYONE insists
that he can EARN his “salvation”
by his own erroneous EFFORTS or meager MERIT he ultimately UNDERMINES the “grace of God”
and the “saving faith” found ALONE in
the EFFICACY of
the “death” and “resurrection”
of “Jesus Christ” our Lord. It is with this PIVITOL point
that “Paul” dutifully – DEFENDS the TRUTH
of the SAVING gospel!
REAL REFLECTIONS: Beloved, may God give US the courage and boldness
to “contend earnestly for the faith”
that was signed, sealed and delivered
some – 2000 years ago…
Beloved,
when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was
needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly
contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints – Jude 3
Praise the Lord Jesus Christ!
With
this information as a foundation for your personal studies, please read through verses 17-21 in the second chapter of
the excellent book to the Galatians.
We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!
If you have been blessed by this message or have a specific question, prayer request or testimony, please send me a note to: encouragingconcepts@live.com
I love hearing from you. Keep reading Encouraging Concepts!
Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><
Encouraging Concepts
Truth for Today
"Living Life From a Biblical Worldview"Lighthouse Publications <><
