Chapter 20
STAND FAST IN YOUR FAITH
(Galatians 5:7-12)
Before we begin our study for this portion of Paul's letter to the Galatians, let us pray,
Dear Heavenly Father, Almighty God
Father God, we come before You in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Holy Father, please grant us the ability to come to a better knowledge of You, Your Son Jesus, the Holy Spirit and Your Word. Father, as we grow in this knowledge please cause us to stand fast in the faith You have graciously given us.
Amen
INTRODUCTION
As we continue our study of the Apostle Paul's letter to the churches in Galatia, we now come to,
Galatians 5:7-12
"[7] You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? [8] That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. [9] "A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough." [10] I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be. [11] Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. [12] As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!"
As we did in our previous study, let us examine some of the key points in each verse. We begin with,
GALATIANS 5:7
"[7] You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?"
To have better a appreciation as to why Paul asked the above question, we must remember that the churches in Galatia were falling into error. The people began to seek other ways to be justified before God. Rather than totally relying upon Jesus Christ and the sacrifice He made for them, they began to try and make themselves appear holy and righteous before God by adhering to various laws and traditions. For example they relied upon,
THE OBSERVANCE OF VARIOUS DAYS, MONTHS AND YEARS
We discovered this when we read from,
Galatians 4:10
"[10] You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!"
And they,
LOOKED TO THE RITE OF CIRCUMCISION
We found this in,
Galatians 5:2
"[2] Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all."
Consequently, the Apostle Paul in Galatians 5:7 asked the churches in Galatia as to whom it was that was hindering them from obeying the truth. As we will find this teaching for the New Testament churches to rely upon Old Testament Laws, manmade rules and/or traditions for justification before God is not from Him. To see this let us read from,
GALATIANS 5:8
"[8] That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you."
The reason the above behavior for the New Testament church was and is not from God is twofold:
First of all,
THE OLD TESTAMENT LAWS WERE SHADOWS POINTING TO THE TIME WHEN JESUS CHRIST WOULD COME TO SAVE THEM AND US.
To see this let us read from,
Colossians 2:16-17
"[16] … do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. [17] These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ."
And secondly,
THE CHURCHES OF JESUS CHRIST BELONG TO A NEW COVENANT.
To see this let us read from,
Hebrews 8:1-13
"[1] The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, [2] and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man. [3] Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer. [4] If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already men who offer the gifts prescribed by the law. [5] They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: "See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain." [6] But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises. [7] For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. [8] But God found fault with the people and said : "The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. [9] It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord. [10] This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. [11] No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. [12] For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." [13] By calling this covenant "new," he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear."
Let us notice the following verses,
1-2 … The High Priest of the born again believers is Jesus Christ (see Hebrews 6:19-7:28). He is now in the Tabernacle in Heaven seated at the right hand of God the Father.
4 … If Jesus was on earth He would not be a priest. Why? Because according to the Law God gave to Moses only the sons from the lineage of Aaron were to be priests (Exodus 40:12-15). Consequently, since Jesus came from the human lineage of Judah (Matthew 1:1-16) Jesus could not become a priest (Hebrews 7:14).
5 … The priests of the Old Testament were only serving in a copy or shadow of the Temple that is in Heaven.
6 … Jesus has obtained for us better promises than those that were given to the Old Testament nation of Israel. In addition, it is He, Jesus, who is the mediator of this new better covenant.
7-9… The church of Jesus Christ is to live under a new covenant. This new covenant is not like the covenant of laws written on stone that God, during their exodus from Egypt, gave to the nation of Israel.
10 …In the new covenant, when a person becomes a born again believer in Jesus Christ the Holy Spirit comes to live and dwell within them. At this time God's laws are placed within the believer's mind and written in their hearts. In other words, God's ways become part of the born again believer's nature. Thus, the born again believer is a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).
11-12 … Because God the Holy Spirit lives within the born again believer, everyone who is born again knows God. Even though they were unrighteous, they have received His mercy. Their sins and lawless deeds have been forgiven and forgotten!
13 … Because of the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made on our behalf, the first covenant of Old Testament laws, traditions and ceremonies that were written on stone are obsolete!
As we reflect upon the incredible sacrifice Jesus Christ made on our behalf and the tremendous spiritual blessings that followed we, as the Apostle Paul, can readily see it is not God's will or desire for us to try and justify ourselves before Him by reverting back to the Old Testament laws or manmade rules and/or traditions.
Now some may say that we do not offer sacrifices to atone for our sins. We do not celebrate all the various Old Testament feasts. We do not look to circumcision for salvation. We just believe that to be a Christian and be saved one must abide in the law of tithing and/or attend “church” on Sundays, i.e. the Sabbath and/or celebrate special Christian holidays, i.e. feasts and/or etc. For those who believe this way let us now read from,
GALATIANS 5:9
""[9] A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.""
In other words, as we discovered in our previous study, "If you look to one portion of the law, such as circumcision, to be justified before God then you are obligated to observe it all! To refresh our memories let us read from,
Galatians 5:3
"[3] Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law."
As the Scripture states:
"A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough."
Given the seriousness of it all, that is the eternal consequences of this type of our behavior, the Apostle Paul reminds us that those who try to lead us astray are bringing judgment upon themselves. This is recorded in,
GALATIANS 5:10
"[10] I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be."
As we read the Scriptures we find that God has a very dim view of those who try to lead His people astray. For example, let us read what Jesus once said to those who were being a stumbling block to those who were coming to Him. His words are recorded for us in,
Matthew 18:4-7
"[4] Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. [5] "And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. [6] But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. [7] "Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!"
In the beginning of the letter to the Galatians we also found that the Holy Spirit, through the Apostle Paul, declared that those who attempt to lead people away from the true Gospel of Jesus Christ will be condemned. To refresh our memories let us read from,
Galatians 1:8-9
"[8] But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! [9] As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!"
Hence, the Apostle Paul reassured the churches in Galatia and now us that he did not preach or teach that in addition to faith in Jesus Christ one also had to comply with some portion or all aspects of the law. To see this let us read what he had to say about the rite of circumcision.
GALATIANS 5:11
"[11] Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished."
To drive home the point that he only taught and preached that a person is justified before God through faith in Jesus Christ and the sacrifice he made on the cross, Paul asked the Galatians and now us to reflect upon the persecution he suffered. To refresh our memories let us read where Paul identified some of the persecutions he received by the hands of the Jewish community. They are recorded for us in,
2 Corinthians 11:24-25
[24] Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. [25] Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned …”
We must remember the reason Paul was so persecuted by the Jewish community was because they believed he was preaching heresy. By not teaching that salvation comes by observing the laws handed down through Moses, the Jews believed that Paul was leading them astray from the true worship of God. To see this let us read what the Jewish contingent said to Gallio, the proconsul of Achaia.
Acts 18:12-13
"[12] While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him into court. [13] "This man," they charged, "is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.""
The Apostle Paul asked the churches in Galatia and now us that; “If he preached observance of the Law then why was he persecuted?” In other words, he did not teach or preach these things. He only preached and taught about faith in Jesus Christ and the sacrifice He made for our redemption and the forgiveness of our sins. Paul recorded this truth in,
1 Corinthians 1:21-23
"[21] For since in the wisdom of God the world, through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. [22] Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, [23] but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,"
In reflecting upon all we have covered thus far, one might ask; “What is the lesson to be learned?” The answer to this question is,
WE ARE TO STAND FAST IN OUR FAITH
Perhaps the best way to highlight the point of this study is for each one of us to prayerfully search our hearts as we reflect upon the following questions: “For our salvation, are we totally relying upon the finished work of Jesus Christ?” (Or) “Do we have some leaven?” It may not be circumcision; but, do we believe that in addition to faith in Jesus Christ for our salvation we must also: (1) attend “church” on Sundays?, and/or (2) obey the law of tithing?, and/or (3) observe and celebrate Christian holidays or Holy days?, and/or (4) evangelize the unsaved?, etc. If the answer to any of the above questions is yes, please confess and repent from those beliefs and ask our Lord Jesus Christ to clean out the leaven.
Before we leave this portion of our study with a misconception it must be pointed out that our Lord Jesus Christ does teach us to: (1) Gather together and (2) Do good works.
With this in mind we be begin by discovering we are to,
GATHER TOGETHER
This is recorded in,
HEBREWS 10:23-25
[23] Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. [24] And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, [25] not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Let us notice the following verses,
23 … We are to hold fast our confession of faith in Jesus Christ.
24-25 … We are to encourage one another to stand firm in the faith, grow in love and do good works. This is normally accomplished by our gathering together with other born again believers. To see how this is to occur we begin by reading from,
Ephesians 4:11-16
[11] And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, [12] for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, [13] till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; [14] that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, [15] but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—[16] from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Let us notice the following verses,
11-12 … Our Lord Jesus Christ appointed some men to five different positions to perfect and equip the saints for the work of building up His body, the church.
13 … The body of Christ is to be spiritually built up or strengthened until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the full and accurate knowledge of Jesus Christ.
14 … The reason for the spiritual growth and maturity is so that, when faced with various lies and schemes of men motivated by the evil one, we can stand firm in our faith.
15-16 … By speaking, in love to one another, the various doctrines and principles of the Bible, we will become mature in Jesus Christ. Also notice that each one of us is to do our part. This brings us to the topic of the,
OPERATION AND FUNCTIONIONING OF THE CHURCH
To equip us for the task of building up the body of Christ, God has given each born again believer at least one spiritual gift. To see this, let us read from,
1 Corinthians 12:4-11
"[4] There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. [5] There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. [6] There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. [7] Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. [8] To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, [9] to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, [10] to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. [11] All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines."
Let us notice the following verses,
4, 5 & 6 … God has given to His body various gifts, functions (ministries or works of service) and effects (degrees or different kinds of workings). It is noted that the gifts identified above are only a sample of the spiritual gifts the Holy Spirit imparts. A few more examples are the spiritual gifts of: charity, leadership (Romans 12:8).
7 … Each born again believer is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
11 … All born again believers have the same Holy Spirit. Also note it is God who determines what gift we are to have. Another significant point to make is that these are spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit, not our natural talents.
This brings us to the topic of,
GOOD WORKS
To see this let us not forget one of the reasons we were given the new birth is to do good works. This is recorded for us in,
Ephesians 1:10
[10] For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
To expand upon this a bit let by reading the following example from,
James 2:14-17
[14] What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? [15] If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, [16] and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? [17] Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Let us notice the following verse,
17 … Good works are to be the product or fruit from our faith.
In other words the question is: “Do we do good works resulting from our faith in Jesus Christ?” Or “Do we do good works to justify our selves before God?”
SUMMARY
Let us now summarize the whole point of this study by reading the following two points.
The first point is given in,
Galatians 5:4
"[4] You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace."
The second point is given in,
James 1:22-25
[22] But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. [23] For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; [24] for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. [25] But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
Another way to see this is by reading Jesus’ question that is recorded in,
Luke 6:46-49
[46] “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? [47] Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: [48] He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. [49] But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”
Amen and Amen