Protecting the Pure Gospel Part 12

Well today we will finish the book of Galatians.  Paul closes with a one two punch of exposing the motivations of the false teacher/s and restating the "rule" by which Christians should live and follow Jesus.  Our text today is Galatians 6:11-18.

Making A Good Show in the Flesh

Five of Paul's letters make mention of the fact that Paul would have a helper who would write what he wanted.  The method is not explicit.  That is, was it a dictation or did the writer influence the wording?  Clearly there is no question that what was written expressed what Paul wanted.  The letter we call 2 Thessalonians further states that a mark of Paul's letters is that he would write something by his own hand at the end of each letter.  Most likely this was his way of reassuring the recipients that it really was him and it also gives a personal touch to the address.

So it is not strange for Paul to make mention that he is writing by his own hand.  Whether his writing has started here in Gal. 6:11 or he has written the whole letter would really be conjecture and not necessary to discover.  What is strange is how Paul brings attention to the largeness of his letters (letters of the alphabet).  Some have felt that this was most likely for emphasis, much like typing in all caps is a kind of visual shouting.  Though this may be, I believe that the context requires this strange point of Paul's to contrast with the "good show in the flesh" that the false teachers desire.  It seems clear that Galatians 4:14,15 reveal that Paul had a physical problem that had something to do with his eyes.  This eye problem may have affected his ability to write.  Normally in life large writing is a sign of beginners.  Little kids start off learning to write with a line that is not only about an inch in height, but it is also split in half by a dotted line and has a lot of space between it and the next line.  No adult would expect to get a letter from a friend that had writing at that size.  As we develop our ability to write we move to wide ruled and then college ruled paper.  Thus Paul seems to be pointing out the largeness of his letters as a way to show that he definitely isn't trying to make a "good show" in the flesh.  In fact, his flesh is fighting against him.  It's physical weakness does not enable him to write well.  Paul isn't concerned about how he looks.  He could have easily been ashamed of his inability to speak well and write well, but instead he tells the Corinthians that this actually allows the power of God to be seen.

Contrast Paul to those who were teaching the Galatians to add the law, especially circumcision, to believing Jesus is the messiah.  Paul says, these guys are motivated by the outward and appearance. Now "in the flesh" can mean one of two things.  It can refer to things done in the body (which is pretty much anything we do) or it can refer to things done in response to the desires and will of the flesh versus the desires and will of the Spirit of God.  I believe here Paul is referring to the body.  They want their outer life to look good.  Those things that they do with their body are on display.  Now it is clear that their show isn't really for God.  Their show is for others.  But even if it were for God, the problem is not what they do, but rather why.    Paul has been very clear that believers are free to circumcise or not circumcise.  However, if they circumcise because they believe that it is necessary for salvation, then they are straying away from grace and rejecting Christ.  The "why" for these false teachers is that they want to look acceptable/good for others.  Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:12, that they are "those who boast in appearance and not in heart."

The second thing Paul points out about them is that they "compel" the Galatians to be circumcised.  The word compel means to make someone think something is necessary.  This can be done by force, logic, manipulation, duress, etc...  Either way, one individual influences another to believe that something is necessary.  Now notice what it is that they are making them think is necessary.  It is an act of the flesh.  Anyone who points to a certain, act of the flesh, and says you must do this to be saved, has left the gospel.  They may talk about Jesus, the cross, etc.. but as soon as you add works of the flesh you have rejected who Jesus is and what he has done.  It always sounds spiritual when these people make their arguments.  However, Paul said that it has an appearance of godliness, but it is impotent (no power) to transform our life.  Only the Spirit of God dwelling within us, laboring with our faith in the work of Jesus, in order to express actions of love, has power to transform.  In actuality they do not promote faith in Jesus, but rather, faith in your own works.

Thirdly, Paul points out that the reason they teach such stuff is because they want to escape suffering persecution for the cross of Christ.  Paul could have easily only said for Christ and it would have been correct.  However, he purposefully connects (nails) Jesus and the cross precisely because these teachers are trying to separate the two.  You cannot have Jesus without a cross.  In fact you cannot follow Jesus without picking up your own cross and following him to Golgatha.  The only way to heaven is through the cross, do not be deceived.  It is somewhat self-serving to point to a crucifix and say, "how horrible.  Our Lord, isn't still suffering.  He is risen."  Yes it is true that Jesus is risen.  However, it is also true that the foundation of the gospel is his being nailed to the cross until he died.  We must never forget both of these.  It is too precious not to point out that once Jesus was nailed to the cross he couldn't go back even if he wanted to.  The flesh has to be nailed down through crucifixion otherwise it will not follow the Spirit of God.  These guys are promoting something that is not only powerless to transform them and follow the spirit, but it hates where the Spirit leads and refuses to follow. 

The book of The Acts of the Apostles displays that persecution came from three areas.  Those who promoted the gospel of Jesus and it alone, were persecuted by the Jews who rejected him as messiah.  These were religious phonies who said they loved God, but when he showed up they hated him and put him to death.  Persecution also came from the Romans.  Judaism was sanctioned by Rome, but not Christianity.  For 300 years Christians suffered under varying cycles of persecution from Rome.  To keep connected to Judaism was to be acceptable to Rome.  Lastly, a more insidious, subtle, and social persecution came from these legalistic teachers themselves.  Their judgmental, mocking pronouncements over those who embraced grace alone was a heavy thing to endure.  It preyed upon those Jews who were weak in their faith and it put fear in those Gentiles who respected Jesus but also feared God.  The Apostle Peter himself was tempted by this social pressure, as Paul pointed out in Galatians 2:11 and following.  Those who want to follow Jesus cannot allow the fears of their flesh to lead them.  We must boldly face any persecution that comes our way whether from other religions, the secular world, or other "Christians."  This is part of the cross that we have to bear in order to follow Jesus.

Fourthly, in verse 13, Paul states that these false teachers are hypocrites.  Yes in circumcision they have accomplished one of 613 laws that Moses had given.  They do not keep them all.  In fact they don't even attempt to keep them all.  It is a common practice amongst legalists to have a top 10, or whatever, list.  It may change from group to group, but the same dynamic always remains.  If you don't do or do do these X things then you are not saved.  However, their list always leaves off the sins that they commit.  So the extremely obese preacher doesn't put gluttony or over-eating on his list and the preacher who likes to look good doesn't put vanity or $100.00 haircuts on his list.  The problem with lists is not what is on the list, but rather why it is on the list.  Paul points out that they are hypocrites.  They do not keep the law.  If you seek to be saved by the works of your flesh you will be condemned by the law everytime.  "Oh, for a thousand lives to live....." we would still never get it right and still be condemned by the law.  That's why we needed Jesus! It is logically inconsistent to insist on circumcision to be saved (or any pet law) and not insist on other aspects of the law and thus condemn yourself and us all.

The fifth and final problem is in what the false teachers boast and glory.  They boast in getting other believers to be circumcised.  They boast and glory in the number of flesh works that have been done.  They love to keep data tables of flesh operations, why?  Because they glory in those things that they, and mankind, have accomplished.  Friends, we can either be the type of person that comes into New York City and marvels at the immensity and beauty of its buildings and boasts/glories in that.  Or, we can be the type of people that come into the city and weep over the great energy that is expended in destroying ourselves.  It is insanity to boast in those very things that are destroying us.  Check your own heart, Christian, and ask the Lord to see if you boast and glory in things that will not last.  Do we boast in the number of people who walk down an aisle and say the words, "I want to serve Jesus."  How many of them had their hearts circumcised?  That's right.  We don't know because we can't see their hearts.  Even if we could the boast is not in the circumcision of their hearts, but rather in the fact that Jesus' death on the cross makes it possible for true righteousness in our lives.

Paul now turns from the false teachers and contrasts how he feels.  God forbid that I would boast in anything but the cross of Jesus.  Again, Paul could have said Jesus and been correct.  However, he purposefully points the Galatians back to the cross.  Particularly because they are not yet crucified to the flesh.  Somehow there is still a twinge in their heart for what the flesh can do.  They are in danger of being like Lot's wife who in the midst of being saved from the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah, longingly looked back to them and was destroyed.  We cannot look back to the works of our flesh and see any hope or we will doom ourselves and those who follow us.  Paul strongly negates the idea of ever boasting in any work but what Jesus did.

Now the false teachers would piously state that they "boast" in Jesus too.  But their life testifies against them because their every decision attempts to avoid the cross.  How can I say I boast in something but every time it comes close I hide or pretend it doesn't exist?  To follow Jesus is to embrace self-death, crucifixion.  Just as Jesus' flesh was nailed to the cross and couldn't get free, we need to freely choose to follow the Spirit and be nailed to our own trees in life.  So that our flesh cannot turn back to the desires of this world.

Only Christ's work on the cross is worthy of boasting.  Do we truly behold our savior on the cross and marvel at the amazing love, and the precious grace, and the wonderful hope that he made available by freely choosing to go to it?  Are we amazed like a person who watches a chess match is amazed by the move of a master chess player?  Do we then seek to imitate and follow the wisdom of our Lord's "master move" by similarly embracing the cross of our own life?

In fact Paul goes on to state that Jesus death on the cross means that the world has been crucified to him.  This is the poignant but also beautiful truth of crucifixion.  Yes, Jesus was no longer responsive to this world, and in that moment imagine the death of all the hopes and dreams of his apostles.  Everything Peter said he would do in the flesh became dust.  This flesh must be killed before the Spirit can resurrect it and pour new life into it.  This is true first spiritually and then eventually physically.  Paul says that he is dead to the world.  Nothing in the world appeals to him any more but to lift up the cross of Jesus so that all men might be drawn to him.  He is not enamored with the buildings and idols of Athens or Rome but rather is enamored with Jesus.  The Church of Jesus has become far too enamored with the things we have built with our own hands.  The Church of Jesus has not truly boasted in the cross of Jesus, but rather have boasted in the works of our own hands and our own minds.  God forgive us and cleanse us from all our unrighteousness.  Thus the tough truth:  It is impossible to embrace Jesus, in Spirit and in Truth, without dying to the world.  You cannot do both.

Of course verse 15 is a restatement of Paul's earlier principle of life.  The legalists always cry foul when the grace of Jesus and the glory of the cross of Christ is preached, alone.  They either attack the messenger as promoting sin or they point to sin in people's lives and say, "Are you saying that this is good?"  It is as if they have their fingers stuck in their ears and refuse to hear the deeper thrust of the argument:  the flesh is the problem.  How can you propose fixing it with the flesh?  The rule of life for the Christian should be this.  The works that I can do in the flesh have no power to "save" me or "justify" me before God.  The only thing that has power is a new creation.  This "new creation" is the same thing Jesus spoke of in John 3, the "born from above" or born of the Spirit person.  Paul defined it in Gal. 5:6.  The new creation does not ask what law must I perform to be saved.  The new creation has put its faith in the work of Jesus and thus has already entered into salvation.  The new creation expresses its faith in Jesus through actions of love towards others: both believers and unbelievers, saved and the lost, family and enemies.  The new creation doesn't sweat over the issue, "I haven't been circumcised, I'm not sure God will let me into heaven."  Rather it responds to the situation at hand by saying, "If Jesus were here I wonder what "move" he would make?  I think I will love in this way......  Freedom!!!!!!!

Paul closes by blessing those who will walk by the "rule" he has proposed.  This rule or canon (like the word cane) is simply the 2nd greatest command: to love your neighbor as yourself.  Jesus Christ has given you freedom to love.  "Yeah, but do I have to do this...?"  You have been given freedom to love and to grow in love however greatly you want.  Love continually cries out to us to go deeper.  You have the freedom to mine the depths of love however deeply you wish.  And, may God's peace and mercy be upon you as you live this life.  Yes, peace.  God does not desire you to be fretting over every decision of your life.  He simply wants you to ask the question how can I love and how do I want to love in every situation.  Don't ask what job does God want me to do and then sweat over the fear that you may have chosen the wrong profession.  Rather, discover how you can best demonstrate love to your fellow man through the talents God has given you and then do it!  You have been given freedom to learn how to love. So be at peace and enjoy the mercy of God.

Paul points out a huge issue in such a small verse in verse 17.  The false teachers promote a cutting of the flesh in order to receive God's mercy.  However, Paul has similar marks in his body.  There is a contrast between the marks of circumcision and the marks of suffering.  They are both painful.  But one was in response to avoiding the persecution of those who hate the cross.  The other was received because Paul would not let go of the cross of Jesus.  These marks were marks of love between Paul and his Lord.  They were the marks of faith in Jesus rather than the marks of faith in me.  Oh may the Lord give us true spirituality and true religion wherein we endure, suffer and do what our flesh doesn't want to do because we love Jesus and want to be like him.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus the Anointed One be with your spirit.  Let it be so!  Amen!

Protecting the Pure Gospel, Part 11

In keeping with his theme of loving each other, Paul reminds them of the practical care they should give to their teachers and then ends with a general principle of doing good towards all men.  This section is Galatians 6:6-10.

Even as we deal with a subject that is difficult for a teacher to teach, let us keep in mind that Paul's point is that he desires the Galatians to show their "spirituality" not through acts of the law, but rather through free acts of love towards one another.  Thus he is talking about true spirituality, of which materially supporting those who benefit us spiritually is just a part.  Thus the logic so far is this.  First carefully restore those who fall into sin and deviate from Christ.  Second, they should help each other carry those inescapable heavy things of life that are difficult for any one person to carry alone.  This third section is the imperative that they should take care of the material needs of their teachers.

The Material Needs of Spiritual Teachers

When men are focused on the law, brotherhood is one of the first things that is sacrificed.  Thus if it was a problem yet, or only one forseen by Paul, we do not know.  Let's point out first that though Paul gives an imperative he uses language that speaks of a different relationship.  The Christian students are told to "share" all good things with their teachers.  This word literally means to give them a portion or an interest in your stuff.  Notice it does not use language that suggests a wage or particular amount.  Thus under the freedom of grace, love obligates us to do something, but does not dictate the measure.  Teachers are not to be treated nor are they to act as "hirelings."  No matter how much pressure the government may put on churches to treat and equate their ministers with employees, this is not the relationship that God would have it be.  It is to be the relationship of brothers who are working together and each share in the blessings of the other.

Paul spends way more time on this in 1 Corinthians chapter 9.

"If we have sown spiritual things for you, [is it] a great thing if we reap your material things?" 1 Corinthians 9:11 (NKJV)

Though this may sound cheeky to modern, cynical ears, Paul is making an argument to believers by using the Old Testament and sound logic.  The Old Testament taught Israel to not "muzzle the ox while it is treading the grain."  The idea is that he who works should be encouraged by that work.  Man is created in such a way that he cannot work long at something that does not in some way benefit him.  Though we could pick that apart in the name of spirituality, God does the opposite.  He tells us to understand that part of our nature and not to ignore it.  There is something inherently more free about a system that says, we won't muzzle you why you are working for us.  Also the levites were totally taken care of through the sacrifices of the rest of Israel.  God was the inheritance of the Levites and thus the people were to help bless them in the name of the Lord.  Paul was not teaching this from selfish motivations because he often did not receive any money from churches, especially the Corinthians.  He had purposefully taken care of himself by tent-making so that he would not be a burden to them.  Initially this would be because there were few Christians.  But there also seemed to be something in the thinking of the Corinthians, that Paul resisted.  Thus, he teaches them to do this not for his benefit, and not solely for the benefit of teachers other than himself.  It was for their own good.  More work will come from the one who is blessed for it.  I might also add, that to the believer spiritual blessings are eternal.  They never end.  However, material blessings are only temporary.  Thus the logic of Paul is such that what is the big deal to give up something that is temporary out of thanks for something eternal?  There can be no reply outside of pure cynicism.

Now Paul compares disregarding this command to mocking God.  Very few would actually mock God to his face, but we can deceive ourselves about our "mocking" actions.  So Paul tells them to beware of deception in this matter.  They were being led away from the truth (It is right to support materially those who bless you spiritually).  In doing so they were mocking God.  The word mocked means to literally turn your nose up to God, to scoff or hold him and his ways in derision.  So Paul's logic is this.  God has revealed that the taught should supply the needs of the teacher.  When we refuse to do this we are mocking him.  In fact, anytime we refuse to walk in the ways that God reveals in his word we are mocking God.  

Paul says that they deceive themselves if they think they can continue on the path of rejecting God's word and not run into a negative result.  God is not mocked, does not mean people don't do it.  Rather it means they don't do it and get away with it.  They will regret it and God's ways will be shown to have been right.  Here Paul brings back the concept of "in the flesh" and "in the Spirit."  In chapter 5 we are told to walk in agreement with the spirit and not the flesh.  We are also told that the Holy Spirit will evidence certain fruit (actions) in our life.  Here he uses the picture of a farmer sowing seeds.

All farmers know that if they want a particular crop then they are going to have to sow that kind of seed.  It is a no brainer that is self-evident.  But we too often forget this in life.  The only reason to reject God's truth about supporting teachers is because our "flesh" would rather keep that money, food, whatever for ourselves.  When we walk in agreement with our flesh we are sowing seeds that will eventually mature and when they do we will find that the action ruined things, spoiled things, and destroyed things, both in our lives and the lives of those around us.  However, if we walk in agreement with the Holy Spirit (thus believing and doing God's word) we are likewise sowing seeds that, when they mature, will bring everlasting life, both to us and many around us.  This sowing principle will be enough for the spiritual man to convince him.  It is a warning to the fleshly minded believer that they are not "protected" by grace from the negative consequences of their choices.

It is easy to grow weary in any task.  Paul doesn't say it will come but challenges them to ward off weariness.  Doing good is not easy.  It is hard work at times, but it always bears good fruit.  Paul points to the coming harvest.  The harvest literally comes in "our season."  I believe that this is pointing not to a personal time of getting something from God in this life, but rather the coming season when God will turn all things over to the saints during the milllennium.  This is not our season in the world.  Our season is coming.  Until then we keep working although it may seem as worthless as a farmer putting good corn into the ground and waiting for it to bear fruit.

They Should Do Good to All People

Now Paul begins to move away from the issue of caring for their teachers and gives a general principle that reminds us of the "love your neighbor as yourself," command.  The "all men" here does literally mean all men, unbelievers included.  Jesus, of course, reminded us to "love our enemies," because in doing so we would demonstrate that we are children of God.

The reality is that in spite of all the negative things that have been done under the banner of Christianity, Christians have historically been known for caring for those who are not their own.  Whether it is the orphans of Rome left on the garbage heap to die or the lepers and untouchables of India, Christians have been on the forefront of helping those whom no one else would help.  And, this is as it should be.  For our Lord commanded us not to treat the world in the same way it treats us.  We are to do them good and leave justice, vengeance to God.  That doesn't mean we shouldn't have governments and laws against evil.  The Christian is not called to look at people who are not believers and despise them, but rather to love them and do good to them in the name of Christ.  We are not talking compromise here.  Rather we are talking simply how we treat others.  You can graciously disagree with someone, but many are disagreeable even with those who are on their side.

However, we should note that Paul does add a qualifying clause that says we ought to give priority to those who are believers.  Thus the sense is, Believers should love everyone, but especially love each other.  This is a simple lesson in priority.  Jesus said, "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul?"  The rhetorical question obviously begs the answer, "nothing."  Surely it profits the world, but not the individual.  Even Jesus' sacrfice on the cross has a personal profit.  He will have us to spend eternity with him.  That was a joy to which he still looks forward.  Why would I take a mission trip to Equador to try and save people if I am not saved myself?  This is not an argument against missions or loving the lost, but rather a caution.

People like to say that they love Christ but hate his people, or have no problem loving sinners, but hate saints.  Now, I know that there are phonies out there, but we need to recognize that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.  Families always step on each other's feet and get in each other's personal space.  It is tougher to really love those who are closest to us because it costs us far more.  When I spend $2,000.00 to go overseas and share Jesus with someone, I'm there for a week or two and then I'm gone.  I have loved that person but not very deeply.  Paul's caution is that don't get so carried away with loving the world that you quit loving each other.  Our priority is to love each other well, then we are in a position to love the lost.

Picture the command that Jesus gives to his disciples.  They were to take the gospel to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.  Do you see the priority?  They were to make a global impact, but not without first making an impact at home.  Many ministers have learned this lesson the hard way as they "sacrificed" their own marriages and kids in trying to "love" the marriages and kids of other families.  Isn't that crazy?  Why would you give your neighbor's kid a smorgasborg when your kids are starving at home?  The point is not to squelch giving or love to others, but to ensure it is in Spirit and in Truth.  What is going on inside the person who easily loves those he doesn't know but can't truly love those he does?  Why is adultery so easy?  Because love is difficult and challenging.  It takes a real man and a real woman to love.  Adultery is another form of self love.  You can say you love that person you are trysting with, but in reality you only love yourself.  And, just as you run from the love of  your spouse today, you will run from the love of your adulterous partner tomorrow.  Love itself is a challenge.  As we go deeper in love, it hurts.  But as we die to our own comfort for the sake of others, joy is born and we enter into pleasures we have never known.

May God help us to live this kind of love for one another and for this lost world.

Protecting the Pure Gospel, Part 10

As we go into Galatians 6, Paul continues to "flesh" out some practical results of using our freedom to walk with the Spirit.  The list of fruit in Galatians 5 is filled with wonderful virtues, but they beg the question.  "Yeah, but what does that look like in everyday life?"  Now let me just insert at this point that the perfect and best answer to that question is, "Jesus."  He is the perfect expression of what love, joy, peace...and all the rest, look like when they are lived out.  Jesus walked in perfect harmony with the Holy Spirit and the fruit it produced is recorded in the New Testament for all to see.  It is this reality that supports the claims of Paul.  He is not just being pig-headed and wanting to control what believers believe.  Rather, he and his fellow Israelites have first hand experience of the kind of fruit that comes from law-keeping and walking in the flesh versus the fruit that comes from walking in agreement with the Spirit of God.

When an individual takes hold of the Gospel, or the Whole Truth about Jesus, by faith, then the Holy Spirit begins that lifelong task of making us over in the image of Jesus.  Of course God uses other godly people in that process and we also need to cooperate- walk in agreement with Him.  If the Galatians added Law-keeping to the Gospel then they would not come to be more and more like him.  If you ask, well where then is holiness in the Gospel?  Simple, Jesus is our holiness, and because he has fulfilled the law I am now free to walk in agreement with the Holy Spirit without the law hanging over my head.  Sure, I give myself to righteousness, but not out of threat, but rather out of a desire to be more like Jesus, which is love.  This is a vastly, different motivation that creates a vastly, different person over the long term.

Bear One Another's Burdens

Paul has been talking about freedom up to now, but here he commands them to literally "Be restoring the fallen, and Be bearing one another's heavy weights."  How do you go from freedom to being commanded?  There is a greater question that lies behind this and it is this.  "For what purposes will I use my freedom?"  Freedom should never be equated with laziness, inactivity, sloth, etc...  Those who give themselves to those anti-virtues find themselves eventually in great bondage, or anything but free.  It is in a sense a wasted freedom that is lost.  So freedom should always be connected in our minds to being able to choose the purposes to which we will employ our strength and labor.  Paul has already made the case back in chapter 5 that if they use their strength and labor to please their flesh then they will be ruined by it and disqualified from entrance into God's kingdom.  The counter point is to use their strength and labor to please the Holy Spirit, which produces good fruit in their life.

Thus the freedom of Christ is not that we have become our own master.  But that we have recognized the wisdom of Christ in the Word and in the Holy Spirit.  We listen to Him because any other counsel/couselor is folly, and that includes myself.

So it is not really Paul who commands them to carry each other's heavy burdens.  It is really Christ.  In fact we begin to see in this chapter that Paul is ultimately concerned with what we are bearing or carrying in life.  What am I using my strength to carry along with me in life?  Back in Chapter 5:10 he told them that the false teacher is going to have to "bear (or carry) his judgment."  He is using his strength to be at odds with the Holy Spirit and is also trying to draw believers away from Christ after himself.  Thus he is heaping up judgment for the things he does and when he gives account to God he will bear the crushing weight of that judgment.  Thus Paul is very clear that teaching false doctrine, which twists the Gospel, is not a light matter.

Just as the false teachers have something to bear, here Paul wants the Galatian believers to bear each other's heavy weights.  Next, in Galatians 6:5, he will point out that each believer will give account or bear their own load in life.  The argument and grammar point to the future judgment of believers.  Lastly, Paul points out that he has to bear or carry the marks of Jesus in his body.  A clear reference to the lashes and physical persecutions he has had to suffer.  This theme of bearing things naturally ties into the slavery of the law.  However, there is a deeper tie to the teachings of Christ.

Matthew 11: 28-30, "²⁸ Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (NKJV)

In this passage Jesus brings up the issue of the burdens we carry in life.  He had come to a people who were weary at trying to carry the Law.  This weariness was even heavier because of the religious leaders.  Here are a few more quotes from Jesus.

Mt. 23:2-4, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.³ Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. ⁴ For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselveswill not move them with one of their fingers." (NKJV)

Luke 11:46, "⁴⁶ And He said, “Woe to you also, lawyers! For you load men with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers." (NKJV)

The emphasis of Jesus is not on the normal load of life that we all should shoulder, such as maturing, marrying, raising a family, working, and relating with others.  He deals with excessive burdens.  He rebuked the scribes, Pharisees, and lawyers because they added to the laws of Moses their own traditions which increased the burden the people were expected to carry.  This social pressure to conform to a certain standard had not only wearied the people, but also threatened to ground to powder any faith they might have in God.  A key theme in the gospel is that God does not wish to grind you to powder and then send you to hell for not performing.  His compassion for the frailty and depravity of man sends rest in Jesus.  Jesus came to carry the heavy burden we could not.  So that now we can get up and follow him.  Paul's point is that if, in following Jesus, you don't feel like you are carrying enough weight then help your brother with his excessive weights.

Now this is precisely the opposite of what the false teacher has done.  The false teacher has come in among the Galatians and is trying to put a greater burden on them.  But Paul says if you are inclined to carry more weight then carry your brothers weight.  Don't put more on yourself and so fight against the gospel, and Christ.  Notice Jesus doesn't say that following him has no burden.  Rather he promises, my yoke is easy and my burden is light.  Wow!  Our freedom has a yoke?  Yes.  We make a choice what we are going to be yoked to.  You will either be yoked to your flesh, which will drag you to destruction, or yoked to the Spirit, which will lead to eternal life.  The flesh is hard and heavy and without lasting reward.  But the Spirit is gentle and light with eternal reward.

Do you want to be spiritual?  Then don't make up more rules to follow or go back to rules of the Law.  Rather help those who are falling off the path of Christ and help those who are weighed down with various heavy things of this life.  Paul brings up the former condition first.

Helping those who are falling off the path of Christ, is exactly what Paul is doing in this letter.  He is modelling it for them as he tells them to do it.  You want to be spritual?  Then help those who are doctrinally weak and easily swayed by false reason or temptation away from Christ.  Here Paul continues to explore the different kind of spirituality that happens under legalism versus freedom.  Legalists tend to think of themselves as spiritual, but generally do not help anyone.  They think highly of themselves for carrying so much weight and look down on others who cannot perform as them.  Paul points them to a different spirituality, which is of Jesus.  A spirituality that, if it does look "down" on others it is for the purpose of seeing their plight and helping their need.  Restore is to put something back in its proper place.  When my brother is fallen off the path part of the body of Christ is dislocated.  Imagine the pain that occurs when an arm or knee is dislocated.  In the same way that we use our "freedom" to get that joint back in proper alignment with the rest of the body, so we ought to help one another.  We ought to feel the "pain" that God feels when our brothers or sisters are tempted out of the grace and off the path of Christ.  Paul also points out that restoration needs to have a christ-like attitude about it.  Do it gently and self-reflectively.

Gentle is when our strength is under control.  When a doctor works on a patient he can do gently or rougly.  His speech can be gentle and caring or it can be brusque and heartless.  Here we see the fruit of the Spirit.  We are not called to a Law that can be done with any attitude.  Rather the love of Christ stirs us to help our brother out of compassiona and with great care.

The second part of this is to watch ourselves less we fall into temptation.  It would be easy to see that in rescuing someone we don't want to be destroyed by the same thing that they have fallen to.  However, the warning is not just about my fallen brother's sin or temptation.  It can be just as much about my own pride in being the "rescuer, and helper."  Legalists don't always start out that way.  By helping those who have fallen a subtle, elitist, pride in our own great spiritual abilities can build up, layer by layer.  Until our prideful attitude undermines our faith in Christ.  At some point we can become proud in our own ability and have faith in our works rather than in the work of Christ.  Restoration is really the work of a truely spiritual person.  All others will fail.

So verse one encourages them to help those falling off the path of Christ and verse 2 tells them to help carry the excessive burdens.  He says that if they will do this they will fulfill the "Law of Christ."  In case you didn't know Christ had a law, then let me remind you of Paul's words in Romans 8:2, "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death." So there is a law to following Christ, however, it is simply the law of the Love of God and our fellow man.  So the law of Christ can only be fulfilled when we carry the burdens of our fellow believers.  There is not a contradiction between verse 2 and verse 5.  The word sometimes translated as burden in verse 5 is simply the idea of a normal load.  Whereas in verse 2 the picture of a load that is too heavy.  Sometimes people go through excessively heavy things.  It can be the result of temptation and sin or, like Job, it can just be the result of living in a fallen world where there is an enemy and a world that often does his work.  Job suffered under an abnormally heavy load.  His brothers should have come alongside of him and helped him carry that load.  Instead, they heaped up even more weight on Job's shoulders, "It's all your fault.  If you were a better believer this wouldn't be happening."

Many of us have had fairly good lives and things have gone our way.  If we were to honestly stop and try to determine, Why, we would come up with no real answer.  That's just the way it worked out.  You can say that God has blessed you and that would be true, but what about the person he hasn't "blessed" quite so much as you?  What about the believer in Indonesia who is struggling with the explanation that God just hasn't blessed them as much as you.  Why?  God is no respecter of persons.  You did not deserve it more than them.  In fact, perhaps God has blessed you so that you can help those who have not been blessed.  In that way God will be glorified.  The law of Christ here really looks back to the Matthew 11:28-30 passage and says, "Quit carrying the Law and start carrying your brother and those who are less fortunate than you."  Many of you might remember the old song, "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother."  Love often carries weights that no law can command and out of far nobler purposes and to a far greater glory.

The legalist looks to the great amount of works that he has done to keep the law and thinks well of himself.  He never thinks to help his brother other than to point out what more he should be carrying.  In the end he carries no one but himself and still falls short of perfectly keeping the law.  Let me give you an example to help illustrate this.  Picture a house that has caught on fire and you are part of the fire crew showing up to help put it out.  As you arrive on the scene you see a man coming through the front door and his arms are loaded with a computer, and other electronic gadgets, he is dragging a large TV, and for comical purposes, let just imagine he is some Hercules of a guy and you can barely see him under the pile of stuff he is saving from this fire.  The guy, let's call him Hercules, gets out to the lawn and with a great smile and air of self-satisfaction sets down all the stuff he has saved.  A part of you marvels at the ability of this man to rescue all this stuff.  But then you see the door open again, and out of the house comes a small woman, let's call her Grace.  And Grace only holds in her hand one thing, a little child.  Now who is the hero is in this story and whose efforts were truly greater?  How are you judging your "accomplishments" for God?  What are you dragging out of this life?  To what is your great strength being applied, is it anything eternal?  We can tell ourself that our great law keeping is of eternal value, but God's word tells us it isn't.  The kingdom of heaven is not about what you eat or drink, it is about righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.  Grace will rejoice that she saved her child.  But Hercules may never see the deep problem he has.  He is consumed with the things of this world more than the things of God.  Hercules has deceived himself.

Ask yourself, Are my works like the works of Jesus?  Are the things I am concerned with the same things Jesus was concerned with?  Let's get spiritual for a moment.  Perhaps you are an elder or pastor in a church.  Is your day consumed with the things that consumed Jesus?  Was Jesus consumed with how much money they had in the purse and how they were going to make it another year?  Was Jesus concerned with fighting and protecting the physical temple or did he lay down his own temple so that many spiritual temples might be brought into the kingdom?  Are the things I'm rejoicing in really a twisted evil of which I should repent?  Do I say in my heart, "Lord, I'm glad I'm not like that loser over there.  Thanks for blessing me so much."  God forgive us that we use the blessings and strength that he gives for our own pleasures and not for eternal gain.  

So last question and I'm done, "What are you carrying?"

Protecting the Pure Gospel, Part 8 & 9

In Galatians 5 Paul moves back to encouraging them to stand firm in Christ's freedom.  However he is also going to explain why freedom in Christ does not mean free to do anything you want (i.e. sin purposely).  Freedom is a concept that, if only spoken about in general terms, many will agree that it is good.  Similarly to talk about "connecting with God" in general terms sounds good to over 90% of the world.  But the Bible always details and gives specificity to what God means by what he says.  God is not vague.  He couldn't be more clear about sin than when his son's bloody corpse was hanging on a cross.  Thus Paul is going to get into the details of what it means to live in the freedom of Jesus.

Believers Should Stand Firm in the Freedom of Christ.

Paul clearly commands the Galatian believers to quit going after the "Law-Persuasion" and stand firm in the Freedom of Christ.  He also reminds them that Christ set us free so that we could live freely, not go back into bondage.  Part of the purpose of Christ's death on the cross was to purchase our freedom.  Thus to go back under the Law would be to make Christ's death meaningless.  When Jesus quotes Isaiah 61 and says that he has come to set the captives free he meant it.  This would be equivalent to special forces breaking out a prisoner of war only to have the prisoner of war pull an alarm and run back into his jail cell, locking it.  It is not just nonproductive to the mission, it questions the very mission itself.

Paul continues to keep the imagery of freedom next to bondage.  As any who have tried to keep the law or any group of laws know, it is impossible to perfectly keep them and we ultimately come to despise them.

Now Paul makes an interesting point about circumcision that some would say contradicts what he says later in vs. 6.  First he will make the point that if they circumcise themselves then they will get zero benefits from Christ.  Ouch!  That would include salvation.  However in vs. 6 he says that neither circumcision nor uncircumcision can accomplish anything.  Is this a contradiction?  Of course not.  It is only a contradiction for those who have their fingers in their ears and don't want to hear the truth.  Vs. 6 represents the principle of Truth:  circumcised or not circumcised means nothing when it comes to accomplishing God's will.  That's right, they are irrelevant.  However, in the case of the Galatians, they are being persuaded that circumcision is not just something, but something so big that they won't be saved if they don't do it.  This is only one issue.  Days of worship, feasts, and foods are other issues that are irrelevant for the believer in Jesus.  However, they can become part of a persuasion that says, you must obey the laws in order to obtain any benefit from Jesus.  In that context, the Galatians would no longer be embracing Jesus in faith.  Rather they would be putting their faith in the Law and more specifically their own works.  Thus he warns them.  For them circumcision was an act that was coming not from faith in Jesus, but faith in the Law and their own ability to keep it.  This is like trying to mix oil and water, Gospel and anti-gospel, Christ and anti-christ.  You can't do it!  Thus the warning that they will forfeit the benefits of Christ.

However, as a point for us today, here is the truth.  You do not need to circumcise your children nor do you need to fret if you were circumcised.  In fact, in WWII, many soldiers were required to be circumcised by the miltary as a way to help avoid diseases (not to say that it worked).  It is not some kind of unpardonable sin.  It just doesn't matter.  What does matter is why you do it.  If it is for medical reasons, whether actually helpful or not, then you are free to circumcise.  But if you think for a moment that a "good christian" really should be circumcised then watch out.  You are treading on dangerous ground.  Because that idea is counter to the gospel.

So in verse 3 Paul warns them that they can't pick and choose parts of the Law.  If they are putting their faith in the law then they are obligated to keep the whole law.  This is a clear challenge to them.  Theya re not free to mix the part of the law they want with the part of the gospel they want.  It is either or.  Though it is popular to say "both and" today, in this case that would be spiritual suicide.

In case he hasn't been understood up to this point, Paul makes his case stronger.  Some of them were already alienated from Christ and had fallen from grace.  I am not going to get into the theological battles that can wage around verses like this for Calvinists and Arminianists.  However, he is making the statement that they haven't just sinned and need to repent.  He says they have become foreigners to Christ and fallen out of grace.  Picture if you will a Sumo wrestling match.  The object of this sport is to stay within a circle in spite of the attempts of your opponent to knock you out.  Thus the earlier command to stand firm in the freedom is also a command to stand firm in the Grace of Christ.  Don't let the enemy through whatever means knock you out of Grace and away from Jesus.  In their minds they weren't denying Christ but in reality their actions were actions of unfaithfulness, and spiritual adultery.

Paul reminds them in vs. 5 that the true believer is waiting for the Hope of Righteousness by faith.  Now Paul surely understands and has taught that we are made righteous in God's sight at salvation, because of our faith in Christ.  However here he is looking forward (Hope) to a future time.  Paul understands that part of the "persuasion" of going back under the law is that we don't trust grace.  We like the false sense of security that comes from attempting to keep laws.  Especially when we can compare ourselves to others who aren't as good as us at keeping the laws.  Paul is saying that if they are true believers they will not only realize that their attempts to keep the law are pitiful, but they will also realize that God has offered to make us righteous in actuality.  Let me be clear hear.  At salvation we are righteous because of our faith but we all feel the inadequacy of our actions.  We are given the freedom to fight against sin in this life because it's threat over us has been neutralized.  We find that our own flesh is our worst enemy in this battle.  Its lusts continually spring up no matter how much weeding we do.  In the resurrection God will purify this flesh as he brings forth our glorified bodies and makes us righteous in faith and in deed, that is, like Christ.  This is the true Hope of every believer.  Not that I can do it now that I have Jesus.  But rather, Praise Jesus that he has provided for me the Hope that one day I will stand before Him and be like Him.  Praise be to God alone!

This leads to a statement of the Gospel Truth:  Our actions in the flesh are not what justify us, only our faith in Christ.  However Faith in Christ will always express itself in loving actions towards others.  Thus, in many things, it is not the action that is sinful or righteous, but the faith or lack thereof that is.  So quit looking for the things that you are supposed to do and start trusting Jesus to teach you how to truly love and serve others.  Follow him, be his disciple.

Paul then goes back to warn them about those who are stirring them up towards the Law.  Paul had given them the gospel and they were running well, the long distance race of faith.  But, vs. 7, someone not only cut in on them, but did so in such a forceful way that it has knocked some of the Galatians off the track and now they were like Charlie Brown who thought he was winning the race, but in reality he had run off the track and was out in the woods.  Paul asks the question of Who is the cause of this tragedy?  Who is persuading you in another direction?  They are not being led nor sent by God.  They have at best sent themselves and at worst are willing tools of satan.

In verse 9 Paul uses the analogy of yeast or leaven.  Just as only a little yeast is used for a whole batch of bread, so a little antichrist doctrine, if not removed, will puff up and ruin the Galatian believers.  These false teachers will be judged by God, no matter who they are.  Jesus warned about this in Matthew 18:6-7, "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.  Woe to the world because of offenses!  For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes." 

Paul reminds them that if he taught this same perverted gospel he would no longer be persecuted.  The message of the cross offends people, but it especially offends those who think they are something in the flesh.  The cross says "God died that you might live: that's how bad your sin was.  Now walk in his righteousness, not your own."  We must be careful not to remove or ameliorate the offense of the cross.  All who come to God must do so through the scandal of the cross.  It cannot, nor dare not be avoided.

Paul's passion in this matter is so great that he takes the picture of circumcision and wishes those who teach such things would not only circumcise themselves but also castrate themselves.  Paul is clearly not talking literally here.  He doesn't wish them bodily harm.  Rather, he is speaking spiritually.  A castrated person would be unable to produce offspring and herein lies the problem.  These guys are not content to circumcise themselves and leave others alone.  Instead they want to "have children" or followers who believe in their teachings.

At this point Paul begins to detail out what it means to walk in the Freedom of Christ.

The Freedom of Christ is Our Faith Expressing Itself Through Love to Others.

Paul first starts out in verse 13 by describing the purpose of freedom and how it can be abused.  It should not be used to give our flesh opportunity.  Jude vs. 4 refers to this as changing the grace of God into ungodliness.  The lusts of our flesh seek to be satisfied whether they are sexual, social, religious, or whatever.  It is always looking for leverage against our will to get its way.  We must not think that it is acceptable to use the freedom that we have in Christ to satisfy those desires.  Do we fail at times?  Sure.  Is there forgiveness in Christ?  Of course.  But that is not Paul's point.  He is speaking to the purpose of our freedom and it is clearly not in order for us to freely sin.

Rather, we are to serve one another through love.  Although he doesn't mention faith at this point it is the basis by which we can love one another.  If we have no faith in Christ then we will have no ability to truly serve each other through love.  Here he reminds them of the "2nd Greatest Command,"  love your neighbor as yourself, and the fact that their Lord had commanded them to do so.  If their is a law we should obey it is the law of Love.

Paul warns them with the grotesque imagery of canibalism to not destroy each other.  It is clear that he intends them to understand this as a result of giving opportunity to the flesh.  It will not only destroy you but others around you.  So to satisfy the lusts of your flesh leads to obeying the command, Consume one another.  But God has called us to Love one another.

So the purpose of our Freedom is clear, to serve one another through love.  Now Paul speaks to our motivation.  What is driving how we use our freedom?  In verse 16 he commands them to walk in step with or in agreement with the Holy Spirit.  If they do this it will protect them from satisfying their flesh and consuming one another.  So our motivation isn't to stamp out all our fleshly desires, but rather to go after the godly desires promoted by the Holy Spirit.  The life that results from this motivation will keep us from satisfying the lusts of the flesh.  Notice he doesn't say they will cease to exist and you will never have a problem again.  Nor does he say it will be an easy battle.  However, in the end our motivation in expressing the freedom of Christ needs to be walking as the Spirit directs us.

Now Paul points out that the Spirit of God and our Flesh are opposed and hostile to one another.  You cannot trust your desires.  No matter how good they may look to you they are vicious enemies of God and will lead you away from him.  You need to go to God's Word and the Holy Spirit to see what you should desire.  It is a work that the Holy Spirit does in our life as we crucify our desires and yield our will to the desires of the Spirit.  So that when I don't want to forgive someone who has offended me, I must crucify that desire and yield my will to forgiving them.  That doesn't mean we can't confront them, but we must do so as the Holy Spirit would have us, not how our flesh would have us.  If we let the flesh lead it will destroy us.  If we let the Spirit lead he will heal us.  This brings us to two lists.  The first one demonstrates the fruit or works of giving opportunity to our flesh.  If you listen and satisfy the desires of your flesh it will lead to these types of activities.  Paul's main point is that this isn't rocket science.  It is not a mystery whether we are following our flesh or the Spirit.  Each believer can clearly see the evidence of what he or she is walking with, flesh or Spirit.

Adultery,

Fornication (basically sexual immorality-any sex outside of marriage)

Uncleaness (another general term that all of the list would be)

Idolatry (Faith in anything above God/Jesus)

Sorcery (any attempts to connect to the spirit world outside of God himself)

Hatred (hostility, enemity)

Contentions (quarreling and strife)

Jealousies (hot desires for the things of others)

Outbursts of Wrath (hot-headed, quick tempered)

Selfish ambitions (literally politicking or electioneering)

Dissensions (causing divisions and disunity)

Heresies (factions and camps around individuals and their interpretations)

Envy

Murders

Drunkeness

Revelries (drinking parties, carousing)

This list is clearly not exhaustive as he ends with, "and the like."  Paul makes the clear warning that those who "practice" these things WILL NOT inherit the kingdom of God.  Even if you say you believe in Jesus and his blood covers your sin, you cannot then continue to practice these kinds of things which are evidence that you are rejecting the leading of the Holy Spirit and letting your flesh lead.  Our eternal salvation is at stake.  So you are free in Christ.  But if you use your freedom to satisfy the flesh and reject the Spirit then you will end up destroying yourself.  Unless, of course, you repent and turn back to the Holy Spirit and Jesus.  This same point is made in other letters by Paul.  1 Corinthians 6:9-11, "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?  Do not be deceived.  Neither fornicators, nor idolates, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.  And such were some of you.  But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God."

Now Paul shows us the difference of the life that is being led by the Holy Spirit.  It has different kind of fruit.

Love

Joy

Peace

Patience

Kindness

Goodness

Faithfulness

Gentleness

Self-Control

When Paul says, "there is no law against these things," he is showing the Galatian believers that Freedom in no way means being lawless.  If we use our freedom to follow the Spirit we will see the fruit of God's righteousness growing in our life.  Not by our power but by the power of the Spirit as our faith trusts and follows him.

Now the bottom line for Paul is that those who truly belong to Christ have crucified their flesh.  That is they have come to a place where they agreed with God that their flesh deserved to die.  Of course we must put it to death daily, even moment by moment as its desires surface in our life.  His point being that no one can belong to Christ who hasn't turned their back on the flesh.  Again, I say, do we fall to temptation at times?  Sure.  Is there forgiveness?  Of course.  But Paul's earlier use of the word "practice" implies more than a one time mistake here and there but a pattern of giving ourself to it.  What is the arrow of your desire?  Do you desire the things of the Spirit or the things of the Flesh?  More importantly which of these two is in the driver seat of your will?  If you continue to let the flesh drive it will destroy you.

In verse 25 Paul challenges them.  If you live in the Spirit, that is say you are spiritually born again, then walk with the Spirit, that is let the Spirit direct your desires and actions.  Don't just talk about Jesus but walk with the flesh.  Let your walk match your talk.  You might think, how is this different from following the law?  Well first of all much of the law dealt with the sacrificial system and ceremonial cleanliness.  They weren't commanded because they were morally right but because they were symbolically right.  The sacrificial laws were intended to teach us about what Jesus did for us at the cross.  The ceremonial cleanliness laws were symbolically to teach us that things in this life can make us unacceptable to God.  Even the part of the law that was moral and ethical, you shall not murder, could only work on actions.  How do you enforce a law that says, you must not think murderous thoughts towards your brother?  You can't.  At least science isn't there yet.  We are not obligated to keep the symbolical laws of the Old Covenant.  But we are free to obtain wisdom from why God designed them that way.  But even if you say, "Yes, but we must keep the ethical commands of the Law."  Herein is the problem, if you focus on the law you will be obligated to it and condemned by it.  But if through Christ you listen to the Spirit he will begin to change you from the inside out.  A far more powerful work that produces real righteousness not fake righteousness.  And, that is why Paul ends with the exhortation.

Do not become conceited and envy one another.  The law promotes a system of conceit in those who are better at keeping it and an envy in those who are not.  These are obvious works of the flesh that destroy us even as we attempt to please God through our own strength.

Christian, don't be troubled by those who say you should be going to church on Saturdays not Sunday.  Don't fear those who say if you worship on Sunday you have taken the mark of the beast.  Don't be persuaded by those who say you are in error if you don't keep the feast days of the Old Testament and other such remnants of the Law.  Instead, continue to follow Jesus and serve others through the Love that God has given us in Christ.  As Christ has sacrificially love you, so you should sacrificially love others in your life.  Through that the Spirit will make you over until you eventually stand before him and look like him.  Amen!