"Grace's Declaration of Independence"; A Study In The Book Of Galatians
ZADOK PUBLICATIONS - Dr. C. R. OLIVER
July 1, 2012
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Introduction:July 1, 2012 "Grace's Declaration of Independence" A Study In The Book Of Galatians Paul tackled the opponents of Grace throughout this wonderful first book of his writings. Having suffered much from the Jews, he was unwilling to see his converts slide back into a form of Judaism, even though it was being administered and nurtured by Jewish converts. However, in attacking this error, he, in essence, attacked all forthcoming attempts to "add things" to the Grace Gospel flowing out of Christ. As he developed his treatise, he established rules of thumb to be applied to a larger universe of aberrative adjuncts that would attach themselves to the pure gospel. They apply today. Grace vs. the Law: Beginning with the irrefutable place of Christ (Gal 1:1-5) as the deliverer from the evil age (including evil intentioned religious workers), Paul slammed his opponents and began a frontal attack on them. He uses a process term, "you are (in the middle of) turning away," to indicate there is a process in progress, but it has not been completed. Blinded by fleshly rationale, instead of using discernment of the Spirit, they were in the process of becoming "perverted."Galatians 1:6-7 (Comment: Aside from the Judaizers of Paul's day, how often we observe similar situations taking place two thousand years after his writing. Apostatized! Transmuted [transformed into some other thing]! These words capture how easy it is for men and women to embrace a corrupted Christ and turn away from the true gospel.)NT:3344 metastrepho (met-as-tref'-o); from NT: 3326 and NT:4762; to turn across, i.e. transmute or (figuratively) corrupt: KJV - pervert, turn. Turning away from the God (the Father) who called them is a serious issue. God was the one who called them (and us) into the "grace of Christ" in the first place. This is the heart of the gospel message. This is what is sought in evangelism. This is the Apostle's charge. This is the prophet's response, the pastor's prime message and the teacher's framework. When the gospel is corrupted, it influences and corrupts all the offices of grace ministry and hinders the flow of grace to a world that is heathen (Gentile) and lost! We are saved by GRACE, nothing added! However, some of the Jewish converts (and others who were Jewish religionists) were telling the Galatians how necessary it was for the Galatian Christians to keep the Law and practice circumcision. (Some of the Messianic zealots of today are moving closer to this type of sedition.) Paul considered this an attack on his ministry and a plot to negate his work among them. To him, it was more than just another affront from the Jerusalem clan; it was an assault against his theology and message. He did not take this lightly. He was unwilling to let the situation "slide" or just hope it would correct itself. He could not remain silent. He knew that one variation, one compromise, one deviation would lead to another and cause a chain reaction from which the church could not recover. (Are we there yet? Has the modern church embraced so many errors that an irreversible status is now incumbent upon the believers?) Found within this verse is a great truth for the modern church, since there are many "troublers" today. The principle found here is an absolute--Jesus taught about leaven and Paul cited it. He used the sword of the Word to slay the dragon of compromise. Erosion of the gospel of grace would cause a diminution of the territory Paul was claiming for His Lord. Every aspect of Galatians points to one end: "if it doesn't start with Christ and end with Christ," it is not worth considering.Galatians 5:7-11 (This is a great rule for today.) Paul added a stronger invective, however, by saying: Jesus, who died in order to redeem mankind from the curse of the Law, commands now his servant (Paul) to curse anyone who dares pollute His sacrifice. There is a new Law in Christ, the Law of Grace!Galatians 1:8-9 Profoundly, Paul asserted that his salvation was born and cradled in the Law of grace. In other words, the gospel of grace worked in and through him and was so primal to his ministry, he took personal affront to those who would pervert it. He saw himself as a minister of grace, called by grace, sustained by grace and underwritten by grace. (Take a moment to reflect on what the Apostle was declaring in this statement. Paul's calling was through grace. Listen, fewer and fewer ministers are able to say this. This is what is wrong today. First, moderns manifest no calling. Second, most are devoid in understanding of the great place grace has in ministry. Third, they are ignorant of the grace that enables Jesus to be revealed in the messenger of God. Lives have been corrupted by those who cannot testify to this grace-call.)Galatians 1:15-16 ... it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, Paul could not allow this situation to continue---neither can we! Paul entered the fray by citing his heavenly credentials and how no man could take credit for his missionary enterprises. He did not rely on his past acquaintances in Judaism nor did he confer with the early Disciples. He took his orders from God alone. He began his counter attack with a personal testimony about the first time he encountered Judaizers who wanted to impose the regimens of the Law upon new converts. Titus, a Greek convert, was ministering with Paul and was confronted by the Jews about his uncircumcised condition. The basic question was, "How could Titus be allowed to travel with Paul and minister in his compromised condition?" Paul exploded. He remonstrated with, "Who are these guys? These Judaizers are people I wouldn't give the time of day (paraphrased)." The implication being, "How then could you Galatians entertain them, even allowing some of yours to follow their doctrine?" (This is a good question today?) The Apostle related his immediate reaction to their invasion. Paul declared it was well and good for Peter to work among the circumcision-group because his calling was to them. It was Peter's ministry. The Apostle's calling, however, was to the uncircumcised. (Even the pillars of the church had agreed upon this and "perceived the grace that had been given to me" and offered the right hand of fellowship to him.)Galatians 2:5-6 Later on, The Jerusalem Council agreed that it was not necessary for the Gentiles (the heathen) to submit to circumcision or keep the tenets of the Law. Their only obligation from the Council was to care for the poor. The basic issue was settled, "the Law had been given as a catalyst (a tutor for a short while as the children of God grew up)." It was a vehicle for grace, which was at the heart of God's intent for His people from the beginning. (Comment: I do not believe, as many do these days, that Jews have an ongoing covenant and Christians have a separate covenant. Any Jew who does not take Jesus, the Messiah, as his Lord and Savior, faces the same eternal consequence as any other lost person. Those preachers who currently brace up their millennial doctrines by asserting dual means of salvation stand under Paul's curse.) The Apostle then gave his readers that most wonderful Scripture, which should be memorized by every believer. Standing on this truth, he drew a line of grace. Paul separated the Judaizers (and all who add on stipulations and doctrines) from himself. If his audience stood with the Judaizers, they could not stand with him. It was that simple.Galatians 2:20 Paul then made a declaration of amazement by saying, "O foolish Galatians!" (That is a statement which should hang over many congregations [just supply a church name]. He continued by associating the "add oners" with the practice of witchcraft when he proclaimed: "Who has bewitched you?"Galatians 2:21 Launching into the favorite defense of Judaizers who propped up their arguments with, "We be Abraham's seed," Paul reviewed the grace that came down to Abraham and the plan of God. He taught the difference between seeds (genealogy) and the promised Seed. Paul's magnificent use of Scripture culminated in a declaration of war on their thinking. Then Paul's exasperation manifested itself in, "I am afraid of you."Galatians 3:24-29 (Comment: When I review the state of ministry and the modern church, I, too, am afraid. So much deception is rampant that fearfulness [which might have been expressed as, "I fear for you"] has been furthered to, "I am afraid OF YOU.") The preacher to the Gentiles' reasoning was: (Comment: Just how fearful should we be today? There are seminaries that will not give a diploma until their recipients swear allegiance to pre-millennial doctrine. There are denominations that will not license, ordain or commission ministers or missionaries who exhibit a "prayer language or speak in tongues." There are institutions that teach liberation theology and graduate preachers encouraged to produce violence. Behold, "I am afraid of you.")Galatians 4:9-11 Not only does Paul tell them he is afraid of them and doubtful of them, he tells them why he indicts them.Galatians 4:16-17 Falling from grace is a serious state. Estranged from Christ is a serious condition.Galatians 5:4 When one leaves the "grace" path, he or she leaves Jesus. Grace was poured out at Calvary and Grace is what is ministered within the new Jerusalem, before the Throne of Grace, every moment of every day! It is grace that ushers in the "law of liberty," which overrides all other considerations. Who needs "a covering" of pastoral edict when one can live in the "perfect law of liberty?" Who requires certification when the Holy Spirit has affirmed his call and election? To what council should one report which can control the commendations of Christ? If one bows to priest or prelate, let him examine Galatians. This is the true "declaration of independence" for every believer!Galatians 5:1 Paul furthers his foray against bondage of any kind, with: "Don't be in bondage to sin." He then lists and enumerates the sins that lead to bondage (Galatians 19-21). He ends this list with a truth: "Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." Then the man from Tarsus, who experienced grace on the Damascus road, gave a principle to live by: Paul then imparted how grace works itself into practical action.Galatians 5:16 Grace in Practice:Galatians 5:13 Galatians 5:22 to 6:13 forms a separate study about the "Grace filled heart." May each of us pray to receive its full impact. Working with the Spirit. (Bouncing off the question posed in Galatians 3:5,) Paul tells his readers what it looks like to have a Spirit directed, grace filled ministry. Issuing from the Galatians 3 passage is the prime treatise of his epistle: Is it Jesus or the Jews? The Jesus ministry is Spirit led and has a different agenda. Instead of promulgating feasts, rituals, offerings of sacrifices and special days, the grace gospel ministers a deeper, more intimate walk with the Lord. The Jewish appeal is "God at a distance," but the Jesus model is, "God up close and intimate ... being 'known by God.'" (This is the separation among ministries today. Mega congregations often offer "God at a distance.")Galatians 3:5 Restoring: Examine in light of Galatians 3:5, the passage in Galatians 5:22.. Instead of imposing a Law structure, which indicts the Law breaker with manifold sins, the task of the Jesus worker is to restore the brethren, bear their burdens and fulfill the Law of Christ. Investigate chapter 6 verses 1-2.Galatians 5:22-23 How easy it is to judge another in Judaism. How simplistic it is to abandon the sinner and call for the rocks to stone the interloping adulteress. How self-righteous it is to uphold a standard of interaction that has seats of dignity in Synagogues of Wealth, while pushing the poor to "sit here." How intriguing to abandon the helpless like Jesus pointed out about the embattled soul in the "good Samaritan."Galatians 6:1-2 Condemnation and abandonment is not the Jesus way. Yet, thousands of congregations, pastors, church leaders and denominations have a trail of those they have "left along the way." There are minister's who could have been redeemed by "spiritual" ones, had they not been ostracized by their own elders and "show cased" as the "fallen." How many poor souls have been abandoned by fellow Christians when they slipped or made a poor decision? Leaders have had credentials ripped, papers torn, reputations besmirched and left in lonely derision-all the while, the Scriptures say that the Jesus way is Galatians 6:1, 2. ( I wonder what this means?) Bearing One Another's Burdens: There are three passages in Scripture about burden bearing; two of them are in this chapter. Verse two says, "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Verse five says: "For each one shall bear his own burden." The third passage is in Psalm 55:22 "Cast your burden on the Lord and He will sustain you." One can readily see the ministry of grace comes from the Father and flows through the true believer for the purpose of burden lifting and restoration. Does it flow through you? The gifts of the Spirit are called grace gifts. They are meant to elevate, console, reach out, bring up, RESTORE. Grace ministry is a continual "doing of good" to all God brings ones way and even more to others of the household of faith (Gal. 6:.19).Self-deception stops the flow of grace in a person's life (Gal. 6:3, 4 and Gal. 6:7, 8). Looking Good A summary brings the epistle to a close. It ends Paul's first attempt at writing. He restates Galatians 2:20, reiterates his stand on the Law and ends with a blessing. Notice in the last verse the use of that word you no longer "glide past:" Grace. Notice also the indictment, "many (as) desire to make a good showing in the flesh." If that doesn't characterize a "graceless ministry" nothing does!Gal 6:11-18 Until Next month, Dr. Cosby R. Oliver, PhD. |
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