Galatians

Galatians 5:14

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

The Book of Galatians consists of six power packed chapters. Although we can never reach the full richness of the Word of God, for this day, this is what I have taken from this Awesome Book. It was written by the Apostle Paul, a sinner saved by Grace through Faith, Amen.

If I mix the Traditions of men into the Gospel of Grace, then I have perverted the Gospel of Christ, putting Him to death in vein. (Galatians 1:7, 1:14, 2:21). (King James Version)

Paul (Apostle to the Gentiles) was previously a zealous Jew. He was deeply rooted in the Traditions of his fathers. When God called him by GRACE, he did not confer with flesh and blood, but he received the Gospel of Christ through revelation. After three years he went to Jerusalem and spent fifteen days with Peter (Apostle to the Jews) (Gal.2:8). At that time, he saw no other apostles besides James (Jesus’s brother). He spent the next fourteen years preaching the Gospel of Grace among the Gentiles. After fourteen years, he went to Jerusalem by revelation (Acts 16:9).

I need to stop here, and reflect; This says to me that if I want to be led by the Spirit, I need to spend time with the Lord. I am absolutely guilty of conferring with others for the comfort and direction that Only the Lord can give.

I also found it noteworthy that false brethren had crept in to spy out the Liberty of the Gospel of Christ. It appears that “these people” seemed to be something Special, but Paul makes it clear that God accepts No mans Person.

I can’t count the times that I have marveled at the thought of heaven, where all of us are actually regarded equally! If I could only remember Who I am in Jesus I could live in that reality on this side of life, and why do we marvel when false brethren are among us? It’s nothing new. They have always been slipping in with some prestigious appearance to pervert the Gospel of Christ. Discernment is also found at the feet of Jesus, Amen.

Paul does Not teach us that Grace allows us to live an ungodly lifestyle (Romans6:1-4, Ephesians 41-5), yet he lived by grace each day. There’s some depth here! Consider Paul’s “Thorn in his flesh” (which I believe was Ophthalmia) (Gal. 4:15,6:11); In the Jewish religion it would have deemed him useless for Priestly duties, but not only did God Almighty choose him to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I think that He gave him that “Thorn” to save Paul from that ugly thing that we all fight with called Self (Acts 9) (2Cor. 12:8)). Amen!

We are the children of God by Faith in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:26). The law cannot disannul the Covenant that God confirmed in Christ four hundred and thirty years before it was even written (Gal.3:17). No man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith (Gal.3:11).

Now Abraham had two sons, one by a bondmaid, and the other by a free woman. The son born of the bondmaid was born after the Flesh; but the son of the free woman was a child of Promise. These are an allegory: for these are the two Covenants; the one from Mount Sinai which genders bondage is Agar, but we as Isaac, are children of Promise (Gal.4:22-31).

The Word makes it clear to us, “Cast out the bondwoman and her son”(Gal.4:30)! We have fallen from Grace if our Faith is justified by the works of the flesh (Gal. 5:4). Let’s take this scripture into context here; a little leaven leavens the whole lump (Gal5:9).

I can still hear Pastor Don Dwyer quoting Galatians 5:7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that you should not obey the truth?

Why would we be so foolish to justify ourselves by our traditions, and not take into consideration the works of the flesh or the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:17-26)? Would not the world in which we are to be a light, consider us to be as whitewashed tombs full of hypocrisy?

Let us Cast out the bondwoman and Freely open our hearts to Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, for we are saved through Faith: and that Not of ourselves: it is the Gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast (Eph. 2:8-9).

With God it’s Always been about the Heart, Amen