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 3:1-9)
O foolish Galatians, who hath
bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus
Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2 This only would I learn
of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of
faith? 3 Are ye
so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have ye suffered so many
things in vain? if it be yet in vain. 5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and
worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the
hearing of faith? 6 Even
as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7 Know ye therefore that they
which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8 And the scripture,
foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before
the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9 So then they which be of
faith are blessed with faithful Abraham – Galatians 3:1-9
OPENING POINTS TO PONDER: As we have “learned” thus far from this excellent “epistle” itself, the “Apostle
Paul” had sternly “warned”
of the “false teachers” whom had
apparently migrated from “church to church”
in that area proclaiming a FALSE godless “gospel”
message. And Paul is profoundly exercised over
this wickedness! This point in time is very early in Paul’s Apostolic
writings and he KNOWS that even though
the “churches” are truly established with
genuine “believers” by the godly INFLUENCE of
this great “Apostle” of “Jesus Christ” our Lord, they were also
sadly subject to the “false teaching”
of menacing men. In fact, TODAY many true “believers”
will be assaulted, attacked and in “many” cases, “fall”
as prey
to the spiritual DECEPTION fed by the
frenzy of “false teachers” found in abundance
throughout PROFESSING Christendom – EXACTLY what HAPPENED in Galatia!
Therefore,
Paul writes this looming “letter”
to deal head-on with what was taking place in these “Galatian” fellowships. In the first two chapters, Paul DEFENDS his
Apostolic AUTHORITY as the one “called,”
“taught” and “sent”
by “Jesus Christ” our Lord. Thus, it is “Paul” to whom they are to “listen” and “learn”
of God’s TRUTH and NOT the feeble “false
teachers” engineered by the kingdom of darkness all the
while piously PROFESSING to “speak”
for God. And now in chapters 3 and 4
Paul will CLARIFY the “truth of the
gospel” via a careful and thoughtful
doctrinal DEFENSE of the ONLY saving “message”
of God’s great GRACE through – Faith ALONE!
Faith OR Law?
At
this point, it is absolutely SHOCKING to Paul that the “Galatians”
have frightfully fallen PREY to this piously pragmatic
propaganda! Thus, he begins this poignant passage with these
initial thoughts of CONCERN for his “beloved” brethren…
O foolish Galatians, who hath
bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus
Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? – Galatians 3:1
The
SPECIFIC word
that JUMPS off
the page here in this passage is “bewitched”
of which is the Greek verb baskain meaning to charm or fascinate in a misleading
demonic fashion. Paul referenced a word here that isn’t used ANYWHERE else in “Scripture”
and is thus going outside of his normal vocabulary to diligently
describe this poignant PROBLEM
in a very – UNIQUE
way!
QUIZZING QUESTION: Is Paul actually accusing these “foolish Galatians” of being “bewitched” away from God’s truth? In
other words, can a GENUINE child of “God the Father,” a saved
soul “crucified” in “Jesus Christ,” one of whom possesses
and is possessed by the “Holy Spirit”
and has been regenerated by God, really be bewilderly “bewitched” and SEDUCED
into “believing” lies about the
true “gospel” message? – Absolutely!
And
this is a BIG problem TODAY in the PEWS of
the “church” family. WHY? Because it is FIRST
of all a BIG problem in the PULPITS of
the “church” family! The main DUTY of the “pastor”
is to “guard the truth” and “preach the truth” and “fight for the truth” and “contend for the truth” and thus PROTECT his
“flock” from the “bewitching”
of EVIL error…
Take heed therefore unto
yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you
overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own
blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in
among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise,
speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them – Acts
20:28-30
And
that’s the LIE from “hell”
that plagues the “church” and true “believers” themselves. TWICE Paul says here in this powerful
passage: “O foolish Galatians” in
verse 1 and again he asks: “Are ye so foolish?” in verse 3.
The “bewitching” comes from “foolish” – anotos
– by the ignorance of them who acknowledge the “gospel” of God’s “grace”
and accept the “gospel”
of God’s “grace” and then ADD waning
WORKS to
the “gospel” of God’s “grace”
itself. Thus, it is “foolish”
to become “bewitched” by any ADDITIONS to
the “gospel” of God’s “grace”
alone. And if you have been “bewitched”
you will NOT rightly “obey the truth”
of “Jesus Christ” of Whom has been “crucified among you” through the “gospel” of “grace”
as “set forth” in His publicly VISIBLE death of which your spiritual “eyes” have “believed”
upon – Demonic Deception!
CONTEXTUAL COMMENTS: However, there is NEVER a question in this letter about the SPIRITUAL condition
of the “Galatian” brethren. In fact,
as we will well discover later in this study series, they WERE indeed true “believers”
themselves:
For ye are all
the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus… And if ye be Christ's, then are
ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise – Galatians 3:26 & 29
However,
when the “Apostle Paul” arrived in
that region, the “Galatians”
readily “received the gospel” that he
“preached” and had fully embraced
it. But, eventually they became blatantly “bewitched”
by the “false teachers” at large – Fickle Foolishness!
The HEARING of FAITH!
Next,
the “Galatians” not only had personal
experience with “faith” in “Jesus Christ” as “crucified”
on the cross and “resurrected”
from the grave via Paul’s “gospel”
message, they also had personal experience in “receiving” the “Holy
Spirit” Himself:
This only would I learn of you,
Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are
ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the
flesh? – Galatians
3:2-3
THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS: In other words, when you “believed” by FAITH, you
“received” the “Holy
Spirit” completely! There were NO requirements for you to DO certain things. WHY?
Because you CANNOT be a “Christian” without the “Holy Spirit” Himself! Every “believer” by the “hearing
of faith” is INDWELT
with the “Holy Spirit” at the MOMENT of
conversion. Therefore, the SUFFICIENT work of SALVATION by “Jesus Christ”
is FINISHED and
does NOT require
ANYTHING from
the “Law” as such. And the “Sanctifying” indwelling POWER of
the “Holy Spirit” is a COMPLETE work that does NOT
require ANYTHING from the man-made RELIGION devised by the fallen “flesh”
of “man” either. It was rightly “received” through spiritual “ears” by the – HEARING of FAITH!
For I bear them record that they
have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of
God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have
not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end
of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth – Romans
10:2-4
That if thou shalt confess with
thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised
him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto
righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture
saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no
difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich
unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord
shall be saved – Romans 10:9-13
Now
Paul continues his conversation in “faith”
with a view towards “God”
the FATHER as
the main “minister” and wonderful “worker” through His marvelous “miracles” of eternal SALVATION security:
Have ye suffered so many things
in vain? if it be yet in vain. He therefore that ministereth
to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of
the law, or by the hearing of faith? – Galatians 3:4-5
Again,
we “know” the BIBLICAL answer here: God the “Son”
did a COMPLETE work on “your” behalf. God the “Holy Spirit” did a COMPLETE
work on “your” behalf. And God the “Father” did a COMPLETE
work on “your” behalf. NOTHING was
left out! We did NOT graciously “receive”
our “salvation” faith, the “gift” of the “Holy
Spirit” or His “regeneration”
by ANYTHING we
initially
did. It was the FULL and PERFECT work of the BLESSED thrice Holy Trinity:
“God” the “Father”
and “God” the “Son”
and “God” the “Holy
Spirit” on – OUR behalf!
The FAITH of ABRAHAM!
From
here on, the “scripture” is going
to be the main SOURCE for the balance of this section
pertaining to this very IMPORTANT topic. Therefore, Paul now takes us back
to the Old Testament itself. WHY?
Because the New Testament had not yet been
“written” by God! Thus, we’re going to “learn” that “salvation”
has ALWAYS been
“received” absolutely ALONE by “faith”
as “accounted” from Him – Even in
the Old Covenant!
Even as Abraham believed God, and
it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which
are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham – Galatians 3:6-7
BIBLICAL BACKGROUND: It is very IMPORTANT that “Abraham”
would become Paul’s main BIBLICAL illustration here. WHY?
Because what he has been “preaching”
thus far would be totally unacceptable to the “Jewish” mindset. Therefore, Paul selects “Abraham” for THREE righteous reasons as a credible prototype
to make his poignant point…
FIRST: “Abraham”
would demonstrate the eternal TRUTH
of God’s “righteousness” by “grace“ through “faith“ as a stalwart Old
Testament character. By referring to “Abraham”
himself, Paul is “proclaiming” that this “truth” is nothing NEW but rather very OLD in nature. Thus, “Abraham” had PROCEEDED other Old Covenant ancestors
such as “Isaac,” “Jacob” and even “Moses”
not to mention the identity of the “nation”
of “Israel” itself. And “Abraham”
is from the patriarchal period, a very primitive time in
early human history found in the book of Genesis. Therefore, if Paul can establish
the FACT that a “man”
in the book of Genesis was “saved”
by “grace“ through “faith“ and NOT
of any “works” by “man” then we have an absolute – Timeless TRUTH!
SECOND: “Abraham”
exercised more “faith” throughout his lifetime
in the Old Testament than ANYONE else! In fact, HERE
the New Testament book of Galatians tells us that “Abraham”
is the “father” of ALL who “believe God” alone. Therefore, in a very real
sense, ALL who “come”
to “God” by faith
are “children of Abraham” of whom had set the standard
for “faith“ by “believing God” in a most INCREDIBLE way.
In fact, this man “Abraham” was originally
named “Abram”
which meant – The father of MANY!
THIRD: “Abraham”
is a real-life example of EVERYTHING
that Paul has said thus far in the book of Galatians
from a THEOLOGICAL perspective.
Therefore, Paul NOW takes this “doctrinal” discussion from the abstract
and places it on a concrete foundation
– The FAITH of Abraham!
POIGNANT POINT: It is also very IMPORTANT
to note that “Abraham” was “circumcised” at least fourteen years AFTER the
famous Genesis 15 passage was fulfilled:
And he
believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for
righteousness – Genesis
15:6
Thus,
his “salvation” was NOT through “circumcision”
of the physical flesh! And the “scripture,
foreseeing” that “Abraham”
was NOT a “heathen”
who earned his “salvation” by “religious”
waning “works” righteousness. Rather, he is a shining BIBLICAL example of a “blessed”
and “faithful” (non-Jewish)
representative who was “justified”
by the “gospel” of “grace“ through “the faith“ that was eventually “preached” unto “all
nations” as he “believed
in the Lord ”
alone:
And the scripture, foreseeing
that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel
unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So
then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham – Galatians 3:8-9
In
simple child‑like TRUST and a complete YIELDING to God, this “seventy and five
years old” man “Abraham”
took His WORD at face value! He “believed
God” and by that ACT of “faith“
he and “all families of the earth”
would “receive” God’s “righteousness” paid in FULL for ALL
them who “believeth” and “call”
upon Him:
Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and
from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew
thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make
thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless
thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the
earth be blessed. So Abram departed, as the Lord
had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five
years old when he departed out of Haran – Genesis
12:1-4
Therefore thus saith the Lord
God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious
corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste –
Isaiah 28:16
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of
the Lord shall be delivered… – Joel 2:32a
Of
course it was also very important for the “Jews” to have “Abraham”
as their example of a “righteous”
man whom God had “chose” of Himself. WHY? Because
they falsely “believed” in their own self‑righteousness and that “God”
had so chosen them too…
What shall we say then that
Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were
justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what
saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for
righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but
of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the
ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness – Romans
4:1-5
Cometh this blessedness then upon
the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith
was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. How was it then reckoned? when he
was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in
uncircumcision. 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: And the father of circumcision
to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of
that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. For the
promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his
seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they
which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none
effect: Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no
transgression. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end
the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the
law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us
all, (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him
whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things
which be not as though they were. Who against hope believed in hope, that he
might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So
shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body
now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's
womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong
in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had
promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for
righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed
to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that
raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and
was raised again for our justification – Romans
4:9-25
However,
if it can be established that “Abraham”
was indeed “justified” by “faith“ in God ALONE,
then EVERYONE must
be “justified” by “faith“ in God ALONE.
Therefore, “Abraham” is the ONLY Biblical
standard
of spiritual “salvation” to uphold – This TRUTH is CRITICAL!
REMNANT REMINDER: When ANYONE comes along and ADDS anything to “God’s”
great “Gospel” of “grace” alone, it is a “bewitching” luminous LIE from the enemy of which “foolish” folks WILL blindly follow. And sadly, MANY of
them TODAY are self-professing
born-again “believers” of whom have
neither the spiritual reasoning nor the heart devotion
that will HOLD them TIGHTLY to the TRUTH of God’s PERFECT Word. May the “Lord Jesus
Christ” grant us His – SUPERNATURAL Strength!
In closing:
Satan
has TWO approaches to CORRUPTING the ONLY great “gospel”
message of “God” and we find them both
outlined by “Jesus Christ” Himself in Matthew chapter 13 as follows…
ONE:
Satan can “devour” the “seed” of the “gospel”
as it is being “sown” and thus will not
be correctly UNDERSTOOD and will not
become PRODUCTIVE growth for God’s “Kingdom”
to come – CORRUPTION on the FRONT end!
And he spake many things unto
them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed,
some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some
fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they
sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they
were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell
among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them… – Matthew 13:3-7
TWO: Satan
can “sow tares among the wheat” in where a FALSE fatal
“gospel” message is planted alongside
the TRUE saving
“gospel” message – CORRUPTION on the BACK end!
Another parable put he forth unto
them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed
in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the
wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth
fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came
and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence
then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants
said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay;
lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them – Matthew 13:24-29
This
SATANIC scenario
“sows” many CORRUPT tangled “tares”
into the “church” of which “grows” greatly CORRUPT fickle “fruit”
suited for the “fire” of “God’s” eschatological judgement:
Let both grow together until the
harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye
together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the
wheat into my barn – Matthew 13:30
Sadly,
many “church” systems TODAY are FULL of “bewitched”
and “foolish” people of whom have neither APPLIED their
“minds” to God’s TRUTH nor have they seriously SET their “hearts”
on being FAITHFUL to God’s TRUTH
itself… Thus, they are indeed – Tares AMONG the wheat!
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
these thoughts in consideration towards your own personal studies, please read
through verses 1-9 in the third 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 <><
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.