THE TEMPTATION OF LEGALISM
GALATIANS 5:1-6
QUESTION: HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE FREEDOM?
QUESTION: IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE FREEDOM WITHOUT LIMITS?
ROMANS: 14:12-19:
12SO WE WILL ALL HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO GOD THE THINGS WE HAVE DONE. 13LET US STOP JUDGING ONE ANOTHER. INSTEAD, MAKE UP YOUR MIND NOT TO PUT ANYTHING IN YOUR BROTHER’S WAY THAT WOULD MAKE HIM TRIP AND FALL. 14I AM ABSOLUTELY SURE THAT NO FOOD IS “UNCLEAN” IN ITSELF. I SAY THIS AS ONE WHO BELONGS TO THE LORD JESUS. BUT SOME PEOPLE MAY CONSIDER A THING TO BE “UNCLEAN.” IF THEY DO, IT IS “UNCLEAN” FOR THEM. 15YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS MAY BE UPSET BY WHAT YOU EAT. IF THEY ARE, YOU ARE NO LONGER ACTING AS THOUGH YOU LOVE THEM. SO DON’T DESTROY THEM BY WHAT YOU EAT. CHRIST DIED FOR THEM. 16DON’T LET SOMETHING YOU CONSIDER GOOD BE SPOKEN OF AS IF IT WERE EVIL. 17GOD’S KINGDOM HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH EATING OR DRINKING. IT IS A MATTER OF BEING RIGHT WITH GOD. IT BRINGS THE PEACE AND JOY THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVES. 18THOSE WHO SERVE CHRIST IN THIS WAY ARE PLEASING TO GOD. THEY ARE PLEASING TO PEOPLE TOO. 19SO LET US DO ALL WE CAN TO LIVE IN PEACE. AND LET US WORK HARD TO BUILD EACH OTHER UP.
QUESTION: WHAT IS LEGALISM? DOES FOLLOWING A SYSTEM OF RULES MEAN THAT WE ARE LEGALISTS?
ONE OF THE MAJOR PROBLEMS WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH IN THE CHURCH IS THE ISSUE OF LIBERTY IN CHRIST. THERE ARE THOSE LIKE THE LIBERTINES WHO BELIEVE THAT THIS FREEDOM ALLOWS US TO DO ANYTHING WE WANT. THEIR PHILOSOPHY IS LOVE GOD AND DO AS YOU PLEASE.
WHAT THEY FORGET IS THE REST OF AUSUSTINE OF HIPPOS STATEMENT WHICH SAYS ““FOR THE SOUL TRAINED IN LOVE TO GOD WILL DO NOTHING TO OFFEND THE ONE WHO IS BELOVED.”
THERE ARE THOSE WHO WILL GO TO THE OTHER EXTREME AND PREFER A PREPACKAGED SET OF RULES OR ETHICS TO FOLLOW. MANY GROUPS AND INSTITUTIONS ARE MORE THAN READY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THESE PEOPLE.
SOMETIMES THE RULES AND ETHICS ARE FORMALIZED AND WRITTEN DOWN, SOMETIMES THEY ARE NOT WRITTEN DOWN AND IMPLIED, NONETHELESS THEY ARE VERY MUCH IN FORCE WITH THE GROUP.
THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH BELONGING TO AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS RULES, EVEN A LOT OF RULES. THERE CAN BE FREEDOM WITHIN THE RULES. IF WE USE HOCKEY AS AN EXAMPLE, IT HAS A CODE OF CONDUCT FOR ITS PLAYERS, AND IF THEY DO NOT PLAY BY THE RULES THEY WILL BE PENALIZED. IF THEY PLAY WITHIN THE RULES, THEY CAN HAVE AS MUCH FREEDOM AS THEIR TALENT ALLOWS, WITH NO FEAR OF THE OFFICIALS.
LEGALISM IS A SET OF RULES AND ETHICS FORMED BY ONE GROUP AND IMPOSED ON ANYONE WHO WANTS TO BE A PART OF THAT GROUP. IT CAN INCLUDE DRESS, POSSESSIONS, AS WELL AS BELIEFS. THE PHARISEES AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS WERE EXPERTS AT LEGALISM DURING JESUS’ LIFETIME.
LEGALISM IS NOT A CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLE. FIRST IT LOWERS CHRISTIANITY TO SOMETHING THAT WE MAINTAIN IT ISN’T AND THAT IS THAT IT IS FOUNDED ON A LIST OF DO’S AND DON’TS. SECOND LEGALISM SAYS THAT ONE GROUP, THE GROUP THAT DEVELOPS THE RULES, IS ALWAYS A HIGHER CLASS THAN THE GROUP THAT IS TRYING TO GET IN. THEY WILL ALWAYS BE SEEN AS ADOPTED PROSELYTES, NEVER AS TRUE MEMBERS.
LEGALISM IN CHRISTIANITY IS BASED ON FOLLOWING THE OLD TESTAMENT COVENANT LAW, AND THEREFORE REJECTS THE IDEA OF AN INDIVIDUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST BASED SOLELY ON HIS GRACE AND MERCY. IT IN SHORT IS A SALVATION BY WORKS, WHICH WE ARE IN CONTROL OF.
THE SCRIPTURES ARE ABSOLUTELY CLEAR CONCERNING THIS. SALVATION IS A GIFT OF GOD. EPHESIANS TEACHES:
EPHESIANS 28-9:
8GOD’S GRACE HAS SAVED YOU BECAUSE OF YOUR FAITH IN CHRIST. YOUR SALVATION DOESN’T COME FROM ANYTHING YOU DO. IT IS GOD’S GIFT. 9IT IS NOT BASED ON ANYTHING YOU HAVE DONE. NO ONE CAN BRAG ABOUT EARNING IT.
WE ARE TOLD THAT WE ARE TO WORK OUT OUR SALVATION, BUT THIS IS IN REGARD TO THE WAY WE LIVE OUR CHRISTIAN LIVES. IT IS THE PROCESS OF HOLINESS.
PHILIPPIANS 2:12-13:
12MY DEAR FRIENDS, YOU HAVE ALWAYS OBEYED GOD. YOU OBEYED WHILE I WAS WITH YOU. AND YOU HAVE OBEYED EVEN MORE WHILE I AM NOT WITH YOU. SO CONTINUE TO WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION. DO IT WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING. 13GOD IS WORKING IN YOU. HE WANTS YOUR PLANS AND YOUR ACTS TO BE IN KEEPING WITH HIS GOOD PURPOSE.
IF THE PROCESS OF WORKING OUT OUR SALVATION LEADS US TO A SYSTEM OF RULES OR TRADITIONS TO FOLLOW WITH NO EXCEPTION, THEN WE HAVE FALLEN INTO THE TRAP OF LEGALISM.
HISTORY HAS SHOWN THAT WE CAN NEVER WRITE OUT AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH IN ITS FINAL FORM. IN EVERY AGE WE FACE NEW PROBLEMS AND NEED TO INTERPRET OUR FAITH IN LIGHT OF THE NEW PROBLEMS WE FACE.
IT WOULD BE A MUCH EASIER WALK IF EVERYTHING WAS BASED ON A SYSTEM OF RULES OR TRADITIONS. WE CAN DO THIS AND WE CAN’T DO THAT, WHY, BECAUSE IT’S THE RULE. A GREAT DEAL OF LIFE THOUGH IS NEITHER BLACK OR WHITE, BUT GREY, AND DEPENDS ON THE SITUATION WE ARE IN, AS TO WHETHER IT IS RIGHT OR NOT, ESPECIALLY IN REGARDS TO LEGALISM.
LEGALISM IS NOT A CHRISTIAN CONCEPT, AND THE GOSPEL IS NOT A NEW LAW.
QUESTION: WHERE CAN WE SEE LEGALISM IN THE CHURCH?
ANSWER: TRADITION.
THE PAST IS IMPORTANT IN THE LIFE OF A CHURCH. IT IS FROM THE PAST THAT WE GET OUR TRADITIONS, AND TRADITIONS ARE NOT WRONG TO OBSERVE. THERE IS A SUBTLE TEMPTATION TO MAKE TRADITIONS, WHETHER WRITTEN OR ORAL, STANDARDS WHICH MUST BE FOLLOWED. WHEN THIS HAPPENS WE FALL INTO THE TRAP OF LEGALISM, AND THE SPIRIT OF THE TRADITION IS LOST IN FAVOR OF THE UNIMPORTANT DETAILS OF THE TRADITION.
SOME CHURCH TRADITIONS THAT HAVE TURNED INTO EXAMPLES OF LEGALISM CAN BE:
DRESS
CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
HAIR STYLES
ORDER OF SERVICE
COMMUNION
VERSION OF BIBLE USED
LEGALISM IS NOT CHRISTIAN. IT MAKES THE GOSPEL BECOME SOMETHING THAT IT IS NOT. TRADITION CAN BECOME LEGALISM, AND IN ITS FULL BLOWN FORM, LEGALISM CAN BE LETHAL OR DEADLY.
WE CAN SO CONCENTRATE ON FORM, OR THE LAW, THAT WE FAIL TO SEE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE LAW.
ROMANS 2:29: 29NO, A MAN IS A JEW ONLY IF HE IS A JEW ON THE INSIDE. AND TRUE CIRCUMCISION MEANS THAT THE HEART HAS BEEN CIRCUMCISED. IT IS DONE BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. IT IS MORE THAN JUST OBEYING THE WRITTEN LAW. THEN A MAN’S PRAISE WILL NOT COME FROM OTHERS. IT WILL COME FROM GOD.
ROMANS 7:6: 6BUT NOW WE HAVE DIED TO WHAT USED TO CONTROL US. WE HAVE BEEN SET FREE FROM THE LAW. NOW WE SERVE IN THE NEW WAY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. WE NO LONGER SERVE IN THE OLD WAY OF THE WRITTEN LAW.
LETS LOOK AT OUR PASSAGE NOW IN GALATIANS, AND SEE HOW PAUL DEALS WITH THE ISSUE OF LEGALISM.
THE BOOK OF GALATIANS HAS ALSO BEEN CALLED THE “MAGNA CARTA” OF CHRISTIANITY. THE MAGNA CARTA WAS A BRITISH CHARTER, BROUGHT FORTH BY KING JOHN IN 1212. IT HAD 63 CLAUSES, 3 OF WHICH REMAIN PART OF ENGLISH LAW TODAY. ONE DETAILS THE LIBERTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE ENGLISH CHURCH. ANOTHER CONFIRMS THE LIBERTIES AND CUSTOMS OF LONDON.
THE THIRD HOWEVER IS THE MOST FAMOUS, AND STATES:
“NO MAN SHALL BE SEIZED OR IMPRISONED OR STRIPPED OF HIS RIGHTS OR POSSESSIONS, OR OUTLAWED OR EXILED, OR DEPRIVED OF HIS STANDING IN ANY OTHER WAY, NOR WILL WE PROCEED WITH FORCE AGAINST HIM, OR SEND OTHERS TO DO SO, EXCEPT BY LAWFUL JUDGMENT OF HIS EQUALS OR BY THE LAW OF THE LAND….TO NO ONE WILL WE SELL, TO NO ONE DENY OR DELAY RIGHT OR JUSTICE.”
THE MAGNA CARTA WAS THE EQUIVILENT OF OUR CHARTER OF RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS.
PAUL’S WRITING OF GALATIANS IS A WRITING ABOUT CHRISTIAN LIBERTY. ONE OF THE MAJOR PROBLEMS OF THE GALATIAN CHURCH WAS THAT BELIEVERS DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THEIR CHRIST-WON FREEDOM.
WHEN I WAS A CHILD MY FAMILY HAD A DOG, A SMALL DOG NAMED TINY. WHEN WE WOULD GO ON VACATION, OR HAD TO GO AWAY FOR A FEW DAYS SHE WOULD STAY WITH MY UNCLE. WHEN WE GOT HOME, SHE WAS SO HAPPY TO SEE US SHE DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO DO. SHE CAME INTO THE HOUSE WAGGING HER TAIL, AND ALL EXCITED. SHE DIDN’T KNOW WHICH ONE TO GO TO FIRST SO SHE RAN AMONGST US, JUST SO HAPPY WITH THE LIBERTY TO LOVE ALL OF US.
SOME OF THE GALATIANS WERE USING THEIR LIBERTY AS A PRE-TEXT FOR LICENSE TO THE GRATIFICATION OF THE SINFUL NATURE. THIS GOES TOTALLY AGAINST WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES.
ROMANS 6:1-6:
WHAT SHOULD WE SAY THEN? SHOULD WE KEEP ON SINNING SO THAT GOD’S GRACE CAN INCREASE? 2NOT AT ALL! AS FAR AS SIN IS CONCERNED, WE ARE DEAD. SO HOW CAN WE KEEP ON SINNING? 3ALL OF US WERE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST JESUS. DON’T YOU KNOW THAT WE WERE BAPTIZED INTO HIS DEATH? 4BY BEING BAPTIZED, WE WERE BURIED WITH CHRIST INTO HIS DEATH. CHRIST HAS BEEN RAISED FROM THE DEAD BY THE FATHER’S GLORY. AND LIKE CHRIST WE ALSO CAN LIVE A NEW LIFE. 5BY BEING BAPTIZED, WE HAVE BEEN JOINED WITH HIM IN HIS DEATH. WE WILL CERTAINLY ALSO BE JOINED WITH HIM IN HIS RESURRECTION. 6WE KNOW THAT WHAT WE USED TO BE WAS NAILED TO THE CROSS WITH HIM. THAT HAPPENED SO OUR SINFUL BODIES WOULD LOSE THEIR POWER. WE ARE NO LONGER SLAVES OF SIN. 7THOSE WHO HAVE DIED HAVE BEEN SET FREE FROM SIN.
OTHERS IN GALATIA WERE “LONE RANGER” CHRISTIANS, HAVING FORGOTTEN THE MANDATE TO BEAR ONE ANOTHERS BURDENS. STILL OTHERS HAD FALLEN INTO DISCORD AND FACTION, BACK-BITING AND SELF-PROMOTION. ALL OF THESE ARE JUST PRESENTING FORMS OF LEGALISM, WHICH WAS THE REAL PROBLEM.
THE I.V.P. COMMENTARY STATES:
“WE WANT TO GUARD AGAINST DESTRUCTIVE CONFLICT BETWEEN RELIGIOUS FANATICS AND AGAINST TOTALITARIAN CONTROL OF OUR SOCIETY BY ONE RELIGION.”
PAUL IN WRITING TO THE GALATIAN CHURCH IS DEFENDING THE FREEDOM OF HIS READERS FROM THE COERCIVE TACTICS, OF THE JUDAIZERS, WHO WERE TRYING TO FORCE THEM TO CONFORM TO A PARTICULAR RELIGIOUS TRADITION, WHICH IN THIS CASE WAS SHOWN TO BE CIRCUMCISION, BUT IN FACT WAS TO STEP BACK TO THE LAW OVER GOD’S NEW COVENANT OF GRACE.
A DIFFICULTY IN DOING THIS IS THAT THE JUDAIZERS WERE PART OF THEIR JEWISH FAMILY, BUT FROM THE OLD SCHOOL. THE NEW BELIEVERS WERE PLACED IN A POSITION OF HAVING TO FOLLOW PAUL, WHICH MEANT TO TURN FROM THEIR OWN PEOPLE, OR TO TURN FROM PAUL, AND FOLLOW THE LAW.
WHAT DID JESUS SAY IN RESPONSE TO THIS PLIGHT:
MATTHEW 12:46-50:
46WHILE JESUS WAS STILL TALKING TO THE CROWD, HIS MOTHER AND BROTHERS STOOD OUTSIDE. THEY WANTED TO SPEAK TO HIM. 47SOMEONE TOLD HIM, “YOUR MOTHER AND BROTHERS ARE STANDING OUTSIDE. THEY WANT TO SPEAK TO YOU.” 48JESUS REPLIED TO HIM, “WHO IS MY MOTHER? AND WHO ARE MY BROTHERS?” 49JESUS POINTED TO HIS DISCIPLES. HE SAID, “HERE IS MY MOTHER! HERE ARE MY BROTHERS! 50ANYONE WHO DOES WHAT MY FATHER IN HEAVEN WANTS IS MY BROTHER OR SISTER OR MOTHER.”
THE SPIRIT OF JUDAISM OR LEGALISM IS ONE OF SATAN’S GREAT INSTRUMENTS IN OPPOSING THE GOSPEL. IT HAS BEEN OPPOSING THE GOSPEL IN ALL AGES. IT IS THE RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF THE NATURAL MAN.
W. GRUNDMANN WRITES:
“THE CHRISTIAN STANDS IN THE TENSION OF A DOUBLE REALITY. BASICALLY FREED FROM SIN, REDEEMED AND RECONCILED – HE IS ACTUALLY AT WAR WITH SIN, THREATENED, ATTACKED AND PALCED IN JEOPARDY BY IT.”
PAUL TEACHES OF THIS CONSTANT BATTLE IN US BETWEEN OUR TWO NATURES:
ROMANS 7:14-25:
14WE KNOW THAT THE LAW IS HOLY. BUT I AM NOT. I HAVE BEEN SOLD TO BE A SLAVE OF SIN. 15I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHAT I DO. I DON’T DO WHAT I WANT TO DO. INSTEAD, I DO WHAT I HATE TO DO. 16I DO WHAT I DON’T WANT TO DO. SO I AGREE THAT THE LAW IS GOOD. 17AS IT IS, I AM NO LONGER THE ONE WHO DOES THESE THINGS. IT IS SIN LIVING IN ME THAT DOES THEM. 18I KNOW THERE IS NOTHING GOOD IN MY SINFUL NATURE. I WANT TO DO WHAT IS GOOD, BUT I CAN’T. 19I DON’T DO THE GOOD THINGS I WANT TO DO. I KEEP ON DOING THE EVIL THINGS I DON’T WANT TO DO. 20I DO WHAT I DON’T WANT TO DO. BUT I AM NOT REALLY THE ONE WHO IS DOING IT. IT IS SIN LIVING IN ME. 21HERE IS THE LAW I FIND WORKING IN ME. WHEN I WANT TO DO GOOD, EVIL IS RIGHT THERE WITH ME. 22DEEP INSIDE ME I FIND JOY IN GOD’S LAW. 23BUT I SEE ANOTHER LAW WORKING IN THE PARTS OF MY BODY. IT FIGHTS AGAINST THE LAW OF MY MIND. IT MAKES ME A PRISONER OF THE LAW OF SIN. THAT LAW CONTROLS THE PARTS OF MY BODY. 24WHAT A TERRIBLE FAILURE I AM! WHO WILL SAVE ME FROM THIS SIN THAT BRINGS DEATH TO MY BODY? 25I GIVE THANKS TO GOD. HE WILL DO IT THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD. SO IN MY MIND I AM A SLAVE TO GOD’S LAW. BUT IN MY SINFUL NATURE I AM A SLAVE TO THE LAW OF SIN.
THE JUDAIZERS IN THIS CASE WANT US TO BELIEVE THAT THE GALATIAN CHRISTIANS WERE “MISSING SOMETHING” BY NOT BEING CIRCUMCISED, AND THAT THEY WOULD BE MORE “SPIRITUAL” IF THEY PRACTICED THE LAW WITH IT’S DEMANDS AND DISCIPLINES.
UNDER THE SURFACE THEY WERE SAYING THAT THE JUDIAZERS WERE BETTER THAN, A CLASS ABOVE, THE GALATIAN CHRISTIANS BECAUSE CIRCUMCISION WAS THE IDENTIFYING MARK OF GOD’S PEOPLE UNDER THE OLD COVENANT.
WE HAVE ISSUES LIKE THIS IN THE CHURCH TODAY. WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, ONE OF THE CATCH PHRASES FOR JUDIAZERS WAS AND IS “SECOND BLESSING HOLINESS.” IT MEANS THAT IF WE HAVEN’T SPOKEN IN TONGUES, WE AND BAPTIZED IN “JESUS NAME”, THAT WE ARE NOT IN FACT SAVED, AND THAT THEY ONLY PEOPLE WHO ARE SAVED ARE THOSE THAT HAVE.
THE PRESENTING SITUATION THAT PAUL IS DEALING WITH HERE IN GALATIANS IS CIRCUMCISION, BUT THE REAL ISSUE IS AN ISSUE OF LEGALISM. HE IS DEALING WITH THE QUESTION OF “WHEN A PERSON MAKES A DECISION FOR CHRIST, CAN HE OR SHE GO BACK TO THEIR FORMER WAY OF LIFE? IS SALVATION BY GRACE OR THE LAW?”
LET’S GO TO THE PASSAGE.
GALATIANS 5:1: CHRIST HAS SET US FREE. HE WANTS US TO ENJOY FREEDOM. SO STAND FIRM. DON’T LET THE CHAINS OF SLAVERY HOLD YOU AGAIN.
A COMMON POINT OF PAUL’S WRITING IS TO EMPLOY IN THE GREEK LANGUAGE WHAT IS CALLED AND INDICATIVE AND AN IMPERATIVE CLAUSE IN HIS STATEMENTS OF SIGNIFICANCE. WE WOULD BETTER UNDERSTAND THEM IN ENGLISH AS A CAUSE AND EFFECT RELATIONSHIP.
HERE IN VERSE 1 PAUL STATES, “FOR FREEDOM CHRIST HAS SET US FREE.” THIS IS AN INDICATIVE STATEMENT. IT IS A FACTUAL STATEMENT. THE COMMAND STATEMENT IS GOING TO SPRING FROM THIS.
QUESTION: WHAT ARE WE TO DO BECAUSE WE ARE FREE?
ANSWER: STAND FIRM
THIS IS THE IMPERATIVE OR COMMAND CLAUSE IN THE STATEMENT. WE ARE FREE IN CHRIST, THEREFORE, PAUL WARNS THE GALATIANS NOT TO GET CAUGHT AGAIN IN THE SHACKLES OF SLAVERY.
PAUL STRUGGLES WITH THE TENSION THAT THE DUAL REALITY HERE CAN CREATE. HE POINTS TO THE GALATIANS LIBERTY, BUT ALSO TO THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT. FREEDOM IS NOT ONLY THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE TO DO SOMETHING, IT IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE NOT TO DO SOMETHING ESPECIALLY IF IT CAUSES A WEAKER BROTHER OR SISTER TO STUMBLE.
W. GUNDEMANN WRITES:
“THE CHRISTIAN STANDS IN THE TENSION OF A DOUBLE REALITY. BASICALLY FREED FROM SIN, REDEEMED, AND RECONCILED, HE IS ACTUALLY AT WAR WITH IT, THREATENED, ATTACKED AND PLACED IN JEOPARDY BY IT.”
LET ME ILLUSTRATE:
MY FATHER QUIT SMOKING WHEN HE WAS 63. THERE IS NOTHING WORSE FOR A REFORMED SMOKER THAN BEING AROUND PEOPLE WHO SMOKE, AND I DARE SAY VISA-VERSA. THE REFORMED SMOKER KNOWS HOW GREAT THE BATTLE IS TO GIVE UP SMOKING, HOW EASY IT IS TO FALL BACK INTO THE HABIT AGAIN, AND THE CONSEQUENCES FOR DOING SO. SO WERE THE CONSEQUENCES OF LIVING WITH DAD. SMOKE AROUND HIM AND HE WOULD LET YOU HAVE IT WITH BOTH BARRELS. HE WAS FREE FROM IT, BUT CONSTANTLY AT WAR WITH IT.
WE CAN STAND AGAINST JUDIAZERS THROUGH THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. CHRISTIAN FREEDOM IS THE PRECIOUS BIRTHRIGHT OF EVERY BELIEVER, AND THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT A CONSTANT SOURCE OF SUPPORT.
JOHN CALVIN CALLED IT:
AN ESTIMABLE BLESSING FOR WHICH WE SHOULD FIGHT EVEN TO THE DEATH. FOR WE ARE NOT TALKING HERE ABOUT OUR HEARTS, BUT OUR ALTARS.”
WHAT WAS PAUL SPEAKING OF WHEN HE SPOKE OF FREEDOM? LET’S ELIMINATE A FEW THINGS FIRST.
1. HE WAS NOT TALKING ABOUT POLITICAL FREEDOM.
2. HE WAS NOT TALKING ABOUT FREEDOM IN A PSYCHOLOGICAL SENSE. CHRISTIAN FREEDOM IS NOT “AN INNATE QUALITY OR STATE OF BEING WHICH THE INDIVIDUAL DISCOVERS BY SORTING OUR PAST EXPERIENCES AND RELATIONSHIPS.
3. PAUL DDID NOT UNDERSTAND CHRISTIAN FREEDOM TO MEAN THE RIGHT TO ADVOCATE THEOLOGICAL ANARCHY WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE BELIEVING COMMUNITY. WHEN THE GALATIANS RECEIVED THE SPIRIT OF GOD, THEY ALSO RECEIVED THE GIFT OF FREEDOM.
2 CORINTHIANS 3:17: 17NOW THE LORD IS THE HOLY SPIRIT. AND WHERE THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS, FREEDOM IS ALSO THERE.
FOR PAUL, THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS FREEDOM. FREEDOM IS NOT LISTED AS A GIFT OF THE SPIRIT, BECAUSE IT IS PRESUPPOSED IN EACH OF THEM. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS FREEDOM: TO LOVE
TO EXUDE JOY
TO MANIFEST PEACE
IT MEANS THAT CHRISTIAN LIBERTY IS FREEDOM FOR OTHERS, AND THE FREEDOM TO LOVE AND SERVE EACH OTHER IN THE CONTEXT OF THE BODY OF CHRIST.
GALATIANS 5:1 ACTUALLY RELATES CLOSELY WITH GALATIANS 4:31:
GALATIANS 4:31: BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WE ARE NOT THE SLAVE WOMAN’S CHILDREN. WE ARE THE FREE WOMAN’S CHILDREN.
A CHILD BORN TO A BOND-WOMAN, IS A SLAVE TO THE OWNER. WE ARE INDEED BORN OF THE FREE WOMAN, WITH NO TIES TO OUR OLD WAY OF LIFE.
PAUL USES THE WORD PICTURE OF ANIMALS YOKED TOGETHER STRAINING UNDER THE HEAVY LOAD PLACED ON THEM TO HAUL. IT IS HERE WE REMEMBER THE GREAT INVITATION OF CHRIST IN MATTHEW:
MATTHEW 11:28-30:
28 COME UNTO ME, ALL YE THAT LABOUR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST. 29 TAKE MY YOKE UPON YOU, AND LEARN OF ME; FOR I AM MEEK AND LOWLY IN HEART: AND YE SHALL FIND REST UNTO YOUR SOULS. 30 FOR MY YOKE IS EASY, AND MY BURDEN IS LIGHT.
VERSE 1 IS A COMPLICATED STATEMENT AS IT CONTAINS BOTH A STATEMENT OF AN ACCOMPLISHED FACT AND A GOAL WHICH WE ARE TO PURSUE. WE CANNOT ATTAIN THIS FREEDOM, BUT NOW THAT THIS FREEDOM HAS BEEN GIVEN TO US BY CHRIST, IT BECOMES OUR GOAL AND RESPONSIBILITY.
LET ME ILLUSTRATE:
IMAGINE A PRISONER, WHO IS SUDDENLY SURPRISED TO FIND OUT THAT HE HAS BEEN PARDONED AND SET FREE. HE DID NOTHING TO ACCOMPLISH THIS. HE WAS NOT EVEN AWARE THAT IT HAD HAPPENED. NOW HE STANDS OUTSIDE THE PRISON WALLS A FREE MAN. NOW HE HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY NTO LIVE AS A FREE MAN.
GALATIANS 5:2: 2HERE IS WHAT I, PAUL, SAY TO YOU. DON’T LET YOURSELVES BE CIRCUMCISED. IF YOU DO, CHRIST WON’T BE OF ANY VALUE TO YOU.
THE VERY WAY PAUL INTRODUCES THIS SECTION UNDERSCORES THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT HE IS GOING TO SAY. “LOOK! LISTEN! MARK MY WORDS! I PAUL TELL YOU!” IT HAS THE SAME WEIGHT AS JESUS “VERILY VERILY” STATEMENTS, OR WHEN YOUR WIFE USES YOUR FULL NAME WHEN SHE IS TALKING TO YOU. TRANSLATION”BETTER PAY ATTENTION.
PAUL IS PUTTING HIMSELF ON THE LINE FOR DRAMATIC APPEAL TO THE GALATIANS AND TO US.
IT IS IN THIS SECTION, VERSES 2-6, THAT PAUL IS GOIONG TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE THAT THE GALATIANS PRESENT. THE ISSUE IS ONE OF LEGALISM VS. LIBERTY, AND IT COMES IN THE FORM OF A QUESTION OVER CIRCUMCISION.
LEGALISM MUST HAVE AN ISSUE IT CAN JOIN WITH. IT CANNOT STAND ON ITS OWN. IT MUST BE ABLE TO FORCE YOU TO ITS SIDE, MAKING YOU THINK IT WAS THE PROPER DECISION ALL ALONG. THEN IT WILL LEAD YOU DEEPER INTO ITS TRAP.
PAUL’S WORDS CONCERNING CIRCUMCISION ARE KEY TO THIS VERSE. SPECIFICALLY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT “LETTING YOURSELF BE CIRCUMCISED.” IN GREEK IT IS TWO WORDS WHICH MEAN “RECEIVE CIRCUMCISION”, AND THE TECHNICAL TERM IS THAT IT IS A CONDITION OF THE THIRD CLASS AND WRITTEN AS A PRESENT PASSIVE SUBJUNCTIVE.
WHAT A “CONDITION OF THE THIRD CLASS” MEANS IS THAT IT IS NOT DIRECTED AT ANYONE SPECIFIC, BUT TO THE GROUP AS A WHOLE. IN ENGLISH IT WOULD BE LIKE THIS: DOUG: FIRST PERSON
HE: SECOND PERSON
YOU: THIRD PERSON
THE WORD “CIRCUMCISED” IS WRITTEN AS APRESENT PASSIVE SUBJUNCTIVE. IT’S A WORD THAT HAS A PRESENT APPLICATION, BUT WRITTEN IN A PAST TENSE FORM. BASICALLY IT IS SAYING IF YOU DO THIS NOW, BUT IS WRITTEN AS IF IT IS ALL-READY DONE.
IT TELLS US THAT THE PEOPLE PAUL IS TALKING TO ARE THE GENTILE CONVERTS. JEWS WOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN CIRCUMCISED AND IN THIS CASE ARE THE ONES FORCING THE ISSUE.
IT ALSO TELLS US THAT THE GENTILE CONVERTS ARE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING THIS ACTION.
WHY WAS CIRCUMCISION SO IMPORTANT?
1. JUDIAZERS BELIEVED THAT ACCEPTANCE OF THE JEWISH RITUAL WAS NECESSARY FOR SALVATION AND INCORPORATION INTO THE PEOPLE OF GOD. SALVATION THEN, WAS ONLY FOR THE JEWS AND TO BE SAVED YOU MUST HAVE THE IDENTIFYING MARK OF THE JEW.
THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH LEGALISM. IT LIMITS FREEDOM TO CERTAIN GROUPS.
2. SOME HAVE SUGGESTED CIRCUMCISION WAS A FORM OF SACRAMENTAL INITIATION INTO CHRISTIANITY. IT WOULD BE LIKE AN OUTWARD SIGN OF AN INWARD REALITY.
THE PROBLEM COMES WHEN NOT ALL OF THE CHRISTIANS ARE CIRCUMCISED. ARE THEY CHRISTIAN IF THEY DON’T HAVE THE OUTWARD SIGN?
3. J. BARCLAY HAS PUT FORTH A PLAUSIBLE THEORY CONCERNING THE WILLINGNESS OF THE GALATIANS TO CONSIDER CIRCUMCISION. HIS THEORY IS ON AN ECONOMIC BASIS.
AS CHRISTIAN CONVERTS THE GALATIANS WOULD HAVE BROKEN ALL TIES WITH THE CULT AND PAGAN DEITIES TO WHICH THEY HAD FORMERLY BEEN DEVOTED.
BECOMING A CHRISTIAN INVOLVED THE DISRUPTION OF THE WHOLE PATTERN OF ONES’ LIFE, INCLUDING BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS, SOCIAL CONNECTIONS, AND CIVIC LOYALTIES. CHRISTIANS WERE FREQUENTLY REGARDED AS ANARCHISTS BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT PAY TRIBUTE TO LOCAL URBAN DEITIES. INTO THIS SITUATION OF LOSS AND SOCIAL DISLOCATION COME THE JUDIAZERS, OFFERING A GOSPEL OF CIRCUMCISION THAT WOULD HAVE AT LEAST PUT THE GENTILE CHRISTIANS ON A SOCIAL PAR WITH THOSE AT THE SYNAGOGUE, AND BY IDENTIFYING THEMSELVES AS SUCH WOULD HOLD A MORE UNDERSTANDABLE AND RECOGNIZABLE PLACE IN SOCIETY.
ROMANS 2:29: 29NO, A MAN IS A JEW ONLY IF HE IS A JEW ON THE INSIDE. AND TRUE CIRCUMCISION MEANS THAT THE HEART HAS BEEN CIRCUMCISED. IT IS DONE BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. IT IS MORE THAN JUST OBEYING THE WRITTEN LAW. THEN A MAN’S PRAISE WILL NOT COME FROM OTHERS. IT WILL COME FROM GOD.
PAUL WAS TEACHING THAT SPIRITUAL IDENTIFICATION WITH GOD WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAN PHYSICAL IDENTIFICATION.
PHYSICAL IDENTIFICATION WAS IN THE CONTROL OF MAN. IT COULD BE DONE WITH NO CHANGE ACTUALLY HAPPENING BUT GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT IT HAD.
THE LAST THING TO NOTE ABOUT CIRCUMCISION IN VERSE 2 IS THAT IT IS A VOLUNTARY ACT. THEY ARE ASKING THE GENTILE CHRISTIANS TO WILLINGLY CHOOSE THE LAW OVER GRACE.
GALATIANS 5:3-4:
3I SAY IT AGAIN. EVERY MAN WHO LETS HIMSELF BE CIRCUMCISED MUST OBEY THE WHOLE LAW. 4SOME OF YOU ARE TRYING TO BE MADE RIGHT WITH GOD BY OBEYING THE LAW. YOU HAVE BEEN SEPARATED FROM CHRIST. YOU HAVE FALLEN AWAY FROM GOD’S GRACE.
PAUL DRAWS A PARALLEL BETWEEN JEWISH SERVITUDE UNDER THE MOSAIC LAW AND GENTILE SLAVERY TO EVIL ELEMENTS OF THIS WORLD.
NOT ONLY WOULD THEY LOSE CHRIST AND ALL HIS BENEFITS, BUT THEY WOULD ALSO GAIN AN INTOLERABLE BURDEN, IN THE NECESSITY OF OBSERVING THE LAW IN ITS EVERY PRECEPT. THIS OBVIOUSLY HAS NOT BEEN MADE CLEAR TO THEM BY THE FALSE TEACHERS.
E.P. SANDERS SUGGESTS:
“PAUL’S OPPONANTS DELIBERATELY ADAPTED “A POLICY OF GRADUALISM,” INTRODUCING FIRST JEWISH CALENDAR OBSERVANCES AS A PRELIMINARY STEP TOWARD CIRCUMCISION WITH THE IDEA THAT THIS DECISIVE ACT WOULD INITIATE THE GALATIANS INTO A FULLER OBSERVANCE OF THE LAW.”
IN SHORT, IF IN URGING CIRCUMCISION ON THE GALATIANS, THE JUDAIZING TEACHERS HAD CLAIMED “PAUL HAS NOT EXPLAINED TO YOU THE FULL DEMANDS OF THE GOSPEL”, THEN FOR HIS PART PAUL COULD REPLY, “THEY HAVE NOT EXPLAINED TO YOU THE FULL DEMANDS OF THE LAW.”
THE UNDERSTANDING THEN OF V.3 IN THE GREEK CARRIES WITH IT THE IDEA THAT SUBMITTING TO CIRCUMCISION BRINGS TO FULFILLMENT THE OBLIGATION TO KEEP THE WHOLE LAW. THIS IS SOMETHING NO ONE CAN DO.
JAMES 2:10: 10SUPPOSE YOU KEEP THE WHOLE LAW BUT TRIP OVER JUST ONE PART OF IT. THEN YOU ARE GUILTY OF BREAKING ALL OF IT.
THIS MAKES A PERSON A PARTY TO THE COVENANT OF THE LAW, AND THE REQUIREMENT OF EVERYONE TO COMMIT TO PERFECT FULFILLMENT.
GALATIANS 3:10: 10ALL WHO DEPEND ON OBEYING THE LAW ARE UNDER A CURSE. IT IS WRITTEN, “MAY EVERYONE WHO DOESN’T CONTINUE TO DO EVERYTHING THAT IS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW BE UNDER GOD’S CURSE.”
PAUL WISHED TO ISSUE A WAKE UP CALL IN VERSE 4 TO THE NUMBERS OF THE GALATIAN CHURCHS WHO WERE BEING TEMPTED TO FOLLOW THE PATH OF LEGALISM.
THE GREEK WORD FOR “ALIENATED” CARRIES WITH IT A MEANING “TO CUT OFF” OR “MAKE INEFFECTIVE.” PAUL IS SAYING THAT THOSE WHO CHOOSE THE WAY OF THE LAW OVER THE WAY OF GRACE HAVE BEEN “SEVERED FROM CHRIST,” THAT IS, REMOVED FROM HIS SPHERE OF OPERATION AND, “COMPLETELY CUT OFF FROM RELATIONS WITH HIM.”
THE GREEK TEXT DOES NOT GIVE THE MESSAGE THAT A PERSON CAN LOSE THEIR SALVATION. WHAT PAUL IS DRIVING HOME IS THE FACT THAT YOU CAN’T MIX THE TWO BELIEFS. PAUL TAUGHT THAT GRACE AND THE LAW ARE EXCLUSIVE AND TO CHOOSE ONE IS TO WALK AWAY FROM THE OTHER.
PAUL LISTS FOUR NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES TO FOLLOWING THE LAW RATHER THAN DEPENDING ON THE GRACE OF GOD.
1. V.2: CHRIST WILL BE OF NO VALUE TO YOU AT ALL. TO BEGIN TRUSTING IN THE LAW, IS TO BEGIN NOT TO TRUST IN GOD’S GRACE. IF YOU DO NOT TRUST IN CHRIST, THEN CHRIST IS OF NO VALUE TO YOU.
WHEN YOU HIRE SOMEONE, IT IS BECAUSE YOU TRUST THAT PERSON TO GET THE JOB DONE. YOU DON’T HIRE THOSE YOU DO NOT TRUST. YOU ONLY PUT YOUR FAITH IN WHAT YOU TRUST.
2. THE SECOND NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCE IS THE OBLIGATION TO OBEY THE WHOLE LAW. THE GALATIANS FELT THAT IF THEY OBEYED A FEW IMPORTANT LAWS, THAT THEY COULD IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AS FULL MEMBERS OF THE JEWISH NATION AND SECURE GOD’S BLESSING. PAUL NOW INFORMS THAT THE LAW IS A VAST INTERDEPENDANT NETWORK OF LEGAL CODES AND KEEPING THE LAW FOR GOD MEANT THAT YOU WERE OBLIGATED TO ALL OF THEM. YOU COULD NOT PICK AND CHOSE.
3. THE THIRD NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCE IS THAT “YOU HAVE BEEN ALIENATED FROM CHRIST, PAUL SAYS THAT THOSE WHO REGULATE THEIR LIVES BY THE LAW ARE REMOVED FROM THE REIGN OF CHRIST OVER THEIR LIVES. IF YOU TRUST IN YOUR EFFORTS THEN YOU ARE NOT TRUSTING IN GOD.
4. YOU HAVE FALLEN AWAY FROM GRACE. CIRCUMCISION OR CHRIST, LAW OR GRACE: THESE ARE EXCLUSIVE ALTERNATIVES. YOU CANNOT HAVE IT BOTH WAYS.
JOHN CALVIN STATES: “WHOEVER WANTS TO HAVE A HALF-CHRIST LOSES THE WHOLE.”
GALATIANS 5:5-6:
5BUT WE EXPECT TO BE MADE COMPLETELY HOLY BECAUSE OF OUR FAITH IN CHRIST. THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT WE WAIT IN HOPE. 6CIRCUMCISION AND UNCIRCUMCISION AREN’T WORTH ANYTHING TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN CHRIST JESUS. THE ONLY THING THAT REALLY COUNTS IS FAITH THAT SHOWS ITSELF THROUGH LOVE.
PAUL CHANGES HIS TACTICS AT THIS POINT AND LOOKS AT THE POSITIVE RESULTS OF LIVING IN THE LIBERTY OF GRACE.
THE MENTION OF THE SPIRIT IN THIS PRESENT VERSE ANTICIPATES THE INCREASINGLY PROMINENT ROLE PAUL WOULD ASSIGN TO THE SPIRIT IN HIS DEPICTION OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IN THE CLOSING TWO CHAPTERS OF THE LETTER. SIMILARLY “BY FAITH” HAS BEEN CLOSE TO THE CENTER OF PAUL’S DOCTRINAL EXPOSITION SINCE IT’S INITIAL APPEARANCE IN THE DEFINITION OF JUSTIFICATION IN GAL. 2:16.
GALATIANS 2:15-16:
15WE ARE JEWS BY BIRTH. WE ARE NOT “NON-JEWISH SINNERS.” 16WE KNOW THAT NO ONE IS MADE RIGHT WITH GOD BY OBEYING THE LAW. IT IS BY BELIEVING IN JESUS CHRIST. SO WE TOO HAVE PUT OUR FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS. THAT IS SO WE CAN BE MADE RIGHT WITH GOD BY BELIEVING IN CHRIST, NOT BY OBEYING THE LAW. NO ONE CAN BE MADE RIGHT WITH GOD BY OBEYING THE LAW.
PAUL STEERS CLEAR IN VV. 5-6 OF CHOOSING ONE OVER THE OTHER. NEITHER JEW OR GREEK HAS ANY PREFERRED PLACEMENT IN PAULS EYES. ALL STAND ON THE SAME LEVEL IN CHRIST.
PAUL LISTS FOUR POSITIVE CONSEQUENCES OF LIVING IN THE FREEDOM OF CHRIST.
1. THE LIFE OF FAITH IS LIFE BY THE SPIRIT. BY FAITH IN THE GOSPEL WE RECEIVED THE SPIRIT
GALATIANS 3:2: 2I WOULD LIKE TO LEARN JUST ONE THING FROM YOU. DID YOU RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT BY OBEYING THE LAW? OR DID YOU RECEIVE THE SPIRIT BY BELIEVING WHAT YOU HEARD?
WE NOW LIVE BY THE SPIRIT.
GALATIANS 5:16: 16SO I SAY, LIVE BY THE HOLY SPIRIT’S POWER. THEN YOU WILL NOT DO WHAT YOUR SINFUL NATURE WANTS YOU TO DO.
ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT:
GALATIANS 5:18: 18BUT IF YOU ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT, YOU ARE NOT UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE LAW.
KEEP IN STEP WITH THE SPIRIT
GALATIANS 5:25: 25SINCE WE LIVE BY THE SPIRIT, LET US MARCH IN STEP WITH THE SPIRIT.
THE PRESENCE OF THE SPIRIT MARKS US AS THE CHILDREN OF GOD
GALATIANS 4:6: 6BECAUSE YOU ARE HIS CHILDREN, GOD SENT THE SPIRIT OF HIS SON INTO OUR HEARTS. HE IS THE HOLY SPIRIT. BY HIS POWER WE CALL GOD “ABBA.” ABBA MEANS FATHER.
THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT PRODUCES IN US THE CHARACTER OF GOD.
GALATIANS 5:22-23:
22BUT THE FRUIT THE HOLY SPIRIT PRODUCES IS LOVE, JOY AND PEACE. IT IS BEING PATIENT, KIND AND GOOD. IT IS BEING FAITHFUL 23AND GENTLE AND HAVING CONTROL OF ONESELF. THERE IS NO LAW AGAINST THINGS OF THAT KIND.
THE CONTROL OF THE SPIRIT IN OUR LIVES MAKES THE YOKE OF THE LAW UNNECESSARY.
GALATIANS 5:18: 18BUT IF YOU ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT, YOU ARE NOT UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE LAW.
2. THE LIFE OF FAITH IS A LIFE OF CONFIDENT EXPECTATION OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (GALATIANS 5:5)
GALATIANS 5:5: 5BUT WE EXPECT TO BE MADE COMPLETELY HOLY BECAUSE OF OUR FAITH IN CHRIST. THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT WE WAIT IN HOPE.
IT IS THE RIGHTEOUSNESS WE WILL ENJOY IN THE FUTURE WHEN GOD COMPLETES HIS WORK IN US BY HIS SPIRIT.
GALATIANS 6:8: 8SOME PEOPLE PLANT TO PLEASE THEIR SINFUL NATURE. FROM THAT NATURE THEY WILL HARVEST DEATH. OTHERS PLANT TO PLEASE THE HOLY SPIRIT. FROM THE SPIRIT THEY WILL HARVEST ETERNAL LIFE.
OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS: CREDITED TO US BY JUSTIFICATION
PRODUCED IN US BY SANCTIFICATION
PERFECTED IN US BY GLORIFICATION
IS ALWAYS A GIFT RECEIVED FROM GOD BY FAITH.
3. IN THIS LIFE OF FAITH WHAT MATTERS IS UNION WITH CHRIST NOT UNION WITH JEWS OR GENTILES OR ANY OTHER RACIAL OR SOCIAL GROUP. (V.6)
4. OUR LIFE OF FAITH IS A LIFE OF LOVING ONE ANOTHER. FAITH IN CHRIST GIVES US NOT ONLY MORAL DIRECTION BUT ALSO THE MORAL DYNAMIC TO FULFILL THE TRUE INTENT OF ALL THE LAW BY SERVING EACH OTHER.
GALATIANS 5:13-14:
13MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, YOU WERE CHOSEN TO BE FREE. BUT DON’T USE YOUR FREEDOM AS AN EXCUSE TO LIVE IN SIN. INSTEAD, SERVE ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE. 14THE WHOLE LAW CAN BE FOUND IN A SINGLE COMMAND. “LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOU LOVE YOURSELF.”
CONCLUSION:
WHEN WE ACCEPT CHRIST AS LORD WE ARE FREE FROM THE PENALTY OF SIN AND OUR SINFUL LIFE. WE ALSO GAIN THE RESPONSIBILITY TO LIVE WITHIN THE CONSTRAINTS OF THAT FREEDOM.
WHEN THE BELIEVERS IN GALAATIA TRUSTED CHRIST, THEY TRADED THEIR HEAVY YOKE OF SLAVERY TO SIN, AND PUT ON THE YOKE OF CHRIST.
MATTHEW 11:28-30:
28“COME TO ME, ALL OF YOU WHO ARE TIRED AND ARE CARRYING HEAVY LOADS. I WILL GIVE YOU REST. 29BECOME MY SERVANTS AND LEARN FROM ME. I AM GENTLE AND FREE OF PRIDE. YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30SERVING ME IS EASY, AND MY LOAD IS LIGHT.”
THE CHRISTIAN WHO DEPENDS ON GOD’S GRACE WEARS THE LIBERATING YOKE OF CHRIST:
THE YOKE OF CHRIST FREES US TO FULFILL HIS WILL
THE YOKE OF THE LAW ENSLAVES US
THE YOKE OF BONDAGE IS WORN BY THE RELIGIOUS LEGALIST
THE YOKE OF SIN IS WORN BY THE UNSAVED
IT IS CHRIST WHO HAS MADE US FREE FROM THE BONDAGE OF THE LAW.
GALATIANS 3:13: 13CHRIST SET US FREE FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW. HE DID IT BY BECOMING A CURSE FOR US. IT IS WRITTEN, “EVERYONE WHO IS HUNG ON A POLE IS UNDER GOD’S CURSE.”
ROMANS 6:14: 14SIN WILL NOT BE YOUR MASTER. LAW DOES NOT RULE YOU. GOD’S GRACE HAS SET YOU FREE.
IT MEANS WE NO LONGER NEED THE EXTERNAL FORCE OF THE LAW TO KEEP US IN GOD’S WILL, BECAUSE WE HAVE THE INTERNAL LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD.
ROMANS 8:1-4:
THOSE WHO BELONG TO CHRIST JESUS ARE NO LONGER UNDER GOD’S SENTENCE. 2I AM NOW CONTROLLED BY THE LAW OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. THAT LAW GIVES ME LIFE BECAUSE OF WHAT CHRIST JESUS HAS DONE. IT HAS SET ME FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN THAT BRINGS DEATH. 3THE WRITTEN LAW WAS MADE WEAK BY OUR SINFUL NATURE. BUT GOD DID WHAT THE WRITTEN LAW COULD NOT DO. HE MADE HIS SON TO BE LIKE THOSE WHO HAVE A SINFUL NATURE. HE SENT HIM TO BE AN OFFERING FOR SIN. IN THAT WAY, HE JUDGED SIN IN HIS SON’S HUMAN BODY. 4NOW WE CAN DO EVERYTHING THE LAW REQUIRES. OUR SINFUL NATURE NO LONGER CONTROLS THE WAY WE LIVE. THE HOLY SPIRIT NOW CONTROLS THE WAY WE LIVE.
CHRIST DIED TO SET US FREE, NOT TO MAKE US SLAVES AGAIN.
THUS WHEN WE TRUST IN CHRIST WE BECOME SPIRITUALLY RICH.
WE SHARE IN THE RICHES OF GOD’S GRACE EPH. 1:17
OF GOD’S GLORY EPH 1:18, PHIL. 4:19
OF GOD’S WISDOM ROMANS 11:33
UNSEARCHABLE RICHES OF CHRIST EPH 3:8
TO LIVE BY GRACE MEANS TO DEPEND ON GOD’S ABUNDANT SUPPLY OF EVERY NEED. NOTHING NEED BE ADDED TO IT, INDEED NOTHING CAN BE ADDED TO IT.
