In this chapter Paul continues with events from his history but givfes specific examples of things that happened in his past that were similar to the problem that the Galatian believers are facing now.
Namely, Paul faced situations where even the leaders of the church, Peter, Barnabas and others were led astray to follow the idea or teaching that to be right with God they needed to follow Jewish traditions and the law of Moses. Specifically Paul notes that Peter and Barnabas who had at first been eating with Gentile believers, drew back and separated themselves from Gentiles because of fear of the "circumcision group".
Circumcison is the sign that God gave first to Abraham (Gen 17:10) and then further codified as part of the law of Moses (Leviticus 12:3) whereby all males where to be circumcised - have their foreskins cut off - when they were eight days old. Paul references that Titus while in Jerusalem was not compelled to be circumcised.
The "circumcision group" was a group of persons who believed that to have a relationship with God, one must obey all of the Mosaic law, especially that they should be circumcised. And this went for all Gentile believers. So Jewish tradition then restricted Jews from eating with or going to the house of Gentiles who were not circumcised. This is what Peter and Barnabas began to do and Paul stood up to them and said that they were wrong. Additional details of this incident are found in Acts 15.
Paul's main two points that follow are this:
1) We are not justified before God (declared righteous and have sin and guilt removed) because we observe the law of Moses (v 15-16)
2) That doesn't mean that we can go on sinning either. We need to fulfill the moral commands of the law while recognizing that the law and its requirements do not save us.
These are important to know and observe. Over the years the application of this has lead some to go to far to one side or the other. Some become "anti-nomian" - against the law - and so fully emphasize the grace of God and reject the law alltogether, that they say that no law is needed; Christians do not have to live righteously and that they shouldn't try but rather that they can sin and go on sinning and that they are and always will be forgiven. This error is what Paul addresses in verse 17. The other side is that some become so fully focused on fulfilling the moral law that it becomes a strict legalism and their lives are bound up by rules and regulations and the observance of them. This becomes a law that they feel they must follow. This is the problem that Paul is addressing in this whole chapter.
The proper course is between the extremes. We have freedom and grace in Christ Jesus. We cannot earn our salvation nor do anything to deserve it. On the other hand we are bound by the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2) and if we love Jesus we will obey him (John 14:21). We must recognize that at all times we are not capable of obeying or following Christ by ourselves, but must rely on God's help and strength and by his grace we will stand.
Lord Jesus help us to follow you in the right way and avoid extremes but to be led by your spirit in truth and holiness.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Galatians 1
The letter to the Galatians is probably the most singly-focused letter on correcting problems in a church that Paul wrote. 2 Corinthians is close, but Galatians is more narrowly focused.
Paul begins by stating that it is from him, an apostle. An apostle is someone who is sent - an ambassador or a messenger. In general an apostle can be sent from any person or persons such as a king or a city or a church. Paul makes it very clear though that he wasn't sent by or from men, but from Jesus Christ and God the Father. He is wanting his hearers to know that the message that he is sending is not merely man's words, but a message from God.
He then says that this is addressed to the "churches in Galatia" meaning that there are multiple churches that he is writing to. Galatia is a region, as opposed to a specific city. Evidently the problems that he is going to address in this letter are existing in the various churches in the region.
He then opens with his usual blessing of grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ and adds in some additional information about what Jesus did to rescue us from our sins and then gives glory to Christ. He is focusing his attention on Christ Jesus and God the Father again because he is going to be contrasting that with the focus on man's teachings later.
He then quickly gets to his point that he is "astonished" that they are so quickly turning to a "different gospel" or different message of good news. There are evidently some who are going around in that region teaching a different message and throwing the people into confusion (v 7). He even goes to the point that if someone is teaching a different gospel than what Paul had preached that they should be eternally condemned! He says that even if he or an angel did such a thing they and he should be eternally condemned! (v 8). This is pretty strong language. Again he is wanting people to know that his message is not from men but from God. God's message of good news hasn't changed - it is the message of what Jesus Christ did for us to save us from our sins - so if there is a changed message it is not from God!
Paul then spends some time telling about his history. His message wasn't from man nor made up by man but came as a direct revelation from Jesus Christ. He wasn't always a beliver in God's good news. In fact he once fought against it.
All of this is building a foundation and a case for his later repudiation of the "perverted" gospel that he talks about in verse 7.
Paul begins by stating that it is from him, an apostle. An apostle is someone who is sent - an ambassador or a messenger. In general an apostle can be sent from any person or persons such as a king or a city or a church. Paul makes it very clear though that he wasn't sent by or from men, but from Jesus Christ and God the Father. He is wanting his hearers to know that the message that he is sending is not merely man's words, but a message from God.
He then says that this is addressed to the "churches in Galatia" meaning that there are multiple churches that he is writing to. Galatia is a region, as opposed to a specific city. Evidently the problems that he is going to address in this letter are existing in the various churches in the region.
He then opens with his usual blessing of grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ and adds in some additional information about what Jesus did to rescue us from our sins and then gives glory to Christ. He is focusing his attention on Christ Jesus and God the Father again because he is going to be contrasting that with the focus on man's teachings later.
He then quickly gets to his point that he is "astonished" that they are so quickly turning to a "different gospel" or different message of good news. There are evidently some who are going around in that region teaching a different message and throwing the people into confusion (v 7). He even goes to the point that if someone is teaching a different gospel than what Paul had preached that they should be eternally condemned! He says that even if he or an angel did such a thing they and he should be eternally condemned! (v 8). This is pretty strong language. Again he is wanting people to know that his message is not from men but from God. God's message of good news hasn't changed - it is the message of what Jesus Christ did for us to save us from our sins - so if there is a changed message it is not from God!
Paul then spends some time telling about his history. His message wasn't from man nor made up by man but came as a direct revelation from Jesus Christ. He wasn't always a beliver in God's good news. In fact he once fought against it.
All of this is building a foundation and a case for his later repudiation of the "perverted" gospel that he talks about in verse 7.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
2 Corinthians 13
As Paul finishes up this letter to the Corinthian church, he warns them that if he has to be stern with them when he arrives he will, but that his desire is to build them up, not tear them down (v 2, 10).
He also gives them a simple instruction that is useful for all of us: "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves." (v 5). Not that we should live a live of constant introspection, sitting on a mountain top somewhere, staring at our navel, but the call here is to live a life that is not simply lived at random, hoping for the best, but rather to live a life worthy of Christ. And since such a life doesn't happen by accident - it takes God's grace and work in our lives, combined with our effort and obedience. Paul says in Philippians 2:12 to "work out your salvation with fear and trembling" and Peter says in 2 Peter 1:5 to "make every effort" in growing in spiritual character. So what we also must do is make realistic assessments of where we are in Christ so that we can see where we fall short and where we need to grow. Then with God's grace, direction and help, we can grow and be changed into his image.
As Paul finishes off the letter he says to them and to us, "Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peach will be with you."
Amen! Lord Jesus please shape us and help us to follow you daily! We thank you for your grace and mercy in our lives. Please help us to follow you with all of our strength, soul, strength and mind!
He also gives them a simple instruction that is useful for all of us: "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves." (v 5). Not that we should live a live of constant introspection, sitting on a mountain top somewhere, staring at our navel, but the call here is to live a life that is not simply lived at random, hoping for the best, but rather to live a life worthy of Christ. And since such a life doesn't happen by accident - it takes God's grace and work in our lives, combined with our effort and obedience. Paul says in Philippians 2:12 to "work out your salvation with fear and trembling" and Peter says in 2 Peter 1:5 to "make every effort" in growing in spiritual character. So what we also must do is make realistic assessments of where we are in Christ so that we can see where we fall short and where we need to grow. Then with God's grace, direction and help, we can grow and be changed into his image.
As Paul finishes off the letter he says to them and to us, "Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peach will be with you."
Amen! Lord Jesus please shape us and help us to follow you daily! We thank you for your grace and mercy in our lives. Please help us to follow you with all of our strength, soul, strength and mind!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
2 Corinthians 12
In this chapter we see Paul still defending himself to the Corinthian church. There appears to have been some in the church who were speaking bad of Paul and saying that some "super-apostles" were better (v 11). Paul doesn't like that he has to do this, but as a spiritual parent, he is still concerned about his children and wants the best for them and as such wants to be able to speak into their lives to send them in the right direction (v 20-21).
Paul begins by discussing a person who he describes in the third person as one who was caught up to paradise and saw amazing revelations about heaven. In verse 7 he gives away the fact that he is in fact the person because he says that he received a "thorn in my flesh" (v 7) in order to keep him humble because of the "surpassingly great revelations". The key that he learned from God after he requested to be released was "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (v 9). This is an interesting and powerful statement because from here we learn a way of God that he chooses to use our weakness because it more powerfully shows his strength. It also goes back to God wanting us and others to recognize that He is the source of the power and the accomplishments and not us.
It is often wondered and discussed what the "thorn in my flesh" could be. Some believe that it is a suffering with Paul's eyes because we see comments about his eyes (Galatians 4:15) and large writing (Galatians 6:11). Others believe that it is just the physical struggles such as the beating and shipwrecks etc. that he has gone through that he described in 2 Cor 11. I think that it may be the eyes but certainly the other struggles would fit as well.
He then finishes the chapter with his main concern for the church which is that he believes that they are not behaving correctly (v 20) and that if he does visit, he'll have to be correcting and reproving the wrongdoing instead of being able to have joy in the growth in Christ that is shown in their lives. It is never pleasant for a parent to bring correction or discipline to children, but they know that it is necessary and important. Again he has described his great love for them (v 15) and is asking that they respond to him in love as well.
What stands out to me in this is God's power being made perfect in our weakness. This can come in various forms but smacks against our desire to be great and wonderful and loved by all. We need to be willing to be weak in man's eyes and from that place, let God's power show and work through us. It is not something that we can do or create, because this is only something that comes by God's working in our lives. But we need to see each circumstance in life, especially difficult ones, as opportunities to grow in Christ and rather than get angry or bitter about them, ask Jesus to work in us and shape us and form us through them. That is not to say that we shouldn't ask to be freed from suffering or difficulty such as sickness etc - Paul asked 3 times. Even Jesus asked to be released from the suffering of the cross in Gathsemene, but in the end our response must be like Jesus who said, not my will but yours be done.
Lord Jesus help us to follow you and live as you lived. Help us to have the right attitudes and actions in suffering and difficulties that you bring.
Paul begins by discussing a person who he describes in the third person as one who was caught up to paradise and saw amazing revelations about heaven. In verse 7 he gives away the fact that he is in fact the person because he says that he received a "thorn in my flesh" (v 7) in order to keep him humble because of the "surpassingly great revelations". The key that he learned from God after he requested to be released was "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (v 9). This is an interesting and powerful statement because from here we learn a way of God that he chooses to use our weakness because it more powerfully shows his strength. It also goes back to God wanting us and others to recognize that He is the source of the power and the accomplishments and not us.
It is often wondered and discussed what the "thorn in my flesh" could be. Some believe that it is a suffering with Paul's eyes because we see comments about his eyes (Galatians 4:15) and large writing (Galatians 6:11). Others believe that it is just the physical struggles such as the beating and shipwrecks etc. that he has gone through that he described in 2 Cor 11. I think that it may be the eyes but certainly the other struggles would fit as well.
He then finishes the chapter with his main concern for the church which is that he believes that they are not behaving correctly (v 20) and that if he does visit, he'll have to be correcting and reproving the wrongdoing instead of being able to have joy in the growth in Christ that is shown in their lives. It is never pleasant for a parent to bring correction or discipline to children, but they know that it is necessary and important. Again he has described his great love for them (v 15) and is asking that they respond to him in love as well.
What stands out to me in this is God's power being made perfect in our weakness. This can come in various forms but smacks against our desire to be great and wonderful and loved by all. We need to be willing to be weak in man's eyes and from that place, let God's power show and work through us. It is not something that we can do or create, because this is only something that comes by God's working in our lives. But we need to see each circumstance in life, especially difficult ones, as opportunities to grow in Christ and rather than get angry or bitter about them, ask Jesus to work in us and shape us and form us through them. That is not to say that we shouldn't ask to be freed from suffering or difficulty such as sickness etc - Paul asked 3 times. Even Jesus asked to be released from the suffering of the cross in Gathsemene, but in the end our response must be like Jesus who said, not my will but yours be done.
Lord Jesus help us to follow you and live as you lived. Help us to have the right attitudes and actions in suffering and difficulties that you bring.
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