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Galatians 2: 1 – 10 Speaking Up For What Is True….

by fol CHURCH on May 22, 2019

In this letter to the new church in Galatia Paul begins by recounting his own conversion and that his subsequent mission to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to the gentiles was from God and not as a result of any human intervention (including the apostles of Christ). Paul’s initial concern relates to the new church having embraced a “different gospel”. He goes on to recount one of his visits to Jerusalem where he confronts an example of what happens when a false gospel is preached.

At that time the issue which threatened to divide the church the most was the issue of circumcision. There were some in the Jerusalem church who taught that circumcision was necessary to be in church fellowship. That without being circumcised a man was in some way not complete before God. This in turn was seen by Paul to represent justification before God not through faith, as taught and shown in the life of Jesus, but by deeds or rituals. It may help to use the salvation rather than justification, they mean the same thing.  So by teaching that the ritual if circumcision still needed to be adhered to, these teachers were missing the whole point of Jesus’ life and sacrificial death on the cross.

This is crucial to our own faith. In Ephesians 2:8 we know that our salvation comes by grace through faith and not through any rituals or patterns of living w may choose to live by. We can unconsciously add “extras” to the gospel message. It may be to do with our choices. Attending church every Sunday (I suspect we do that for a whole list of other reasons as well as our love for the Lord). We should always remember and give thanks for the fact that the gospel gives us freedom and not slavery. We are free to love God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He meets us where we are and however we are dressed or feeling, if we invite Him into our lives.

Paul’s main concern in this letter is that he wants the Galatians to get the gospel right so that they can live in freedom. This too should be our concern daily. Promoting a gospel with extras is no gospel at all. Remember the definition of gospel is good news.

 

 

 

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For reflection:  think carefully if you have added any extras to the gospel of our Lord Jesus. If you have determine to remove them less they rob you of the joy and freedom in Christ that is ours through His sacrifice.

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