Living Free as a Bondslave #12

Galatians 6:14 - (CSB) - "But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world has been crucified to me through the cross, and I to the world."

Paul concludes this letter by discussing his relationship with the Savior (6:11 -18). The Legalizers boast in the ceremony of circumcision (6:11-13). They are trying to make a good show while even they do not keep the Law. They want to show the Galatians off as a trophy of their accomplishment.

In opposition, Paul does not boast in earthly accomplishments. he only glories in the message of salvation – the Cross. Paul is stressing that the only thing that matters is if the person is a new creation or not. Then they will find true peace and mercy (eleos).

Paul then testifies concerning his sufferings for Christ (6:17-18). Paul said that no one could cause him concern or trouble because he knew who he belonged to. On his body, he wore the marks of his suffering for Jesus. This is called the stigmata. Stigmata is the plural of the Greek word στίγμα stigma, meaning a mark or brand such as might have been used for identification of an animal or slave. In other words, he was branded as belonging to Christ.

Paul then concludes this letter with the statement that they would have the Grace of Jesus in their spirits. He started this letter with a frustrated, angry tone. He has built argument after argument that there is only one Gospel - The Gospel of Grace.

Salvation is the Cross of Christ plus nothing, minus nothing. Living as Christians is the Cross of Christ plus nothing, minus nothing. Legalism is adding anything to the gospel to get saved or stay saved.

We are free to do as we want [want-to is changed] when we are covered by the blood of Christ.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, may I show the world my freedom in Christ by the truth of my "want-to's" have been changed. I accept that I am a bond-slave, may I now live like it. Amen.

Living Free as a Bondslave #11

Galatians 6:9-10 (CSB) - "Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith."

Paul is writing his final instructions to the Galatian believers, reminding them of three laws. First, there is the Law of Sharing and Caring (6:1-5). Paul calls it the Law of Christ. Jesus said that we are to obey His commandments in John 14 and 15. I would say this is one that He meant for us to keep. Too often we as the church “shoot our wounded.”

Paul goes on to show the nature of this Law (6:1-5). Spiritual believers are to gently restore fallen believers back to fellowship. The word trespass means one who has a lapse or deviation from truth and uprightness – a sin, a misdeed  The word restore in the Greek means to make perfect, make one what they ought to be. It is in the present imperative tense. And this is to be in a spirit of gentleness – mildly and meekly. Nowhere are we justified in God’s Word to be overbearing or obnoxious in helping others. Why – because we open ourselves to Satan to be tempted in that very area! We become proud of what we are not (v.3). We are what we are spiritually only by Christ.

We are told to take upon ourselves the weights of others. We are not to place more weight upon the person. But, what about verse 5? Verse 2 is in the present imperative – we ARE to do this. Verse 5 is in the future indicative – it will happen in the future. When we help others to shoulder their burden, they will become capable of doing it themselves.

So, the Law of Christ is that we shoulder the burden of others and help them become what they ought to be.The second Paul talks about the Law of Receiving and Giving (6:6). Those who are taught the Word of God should fellowship with them who has taught them. We should encourage and share with those who have taught us. We should share with one another. We should enter into fellowship, make one's self a sharer or partner with each other. We should receive instruction and be willing to fellowship with the one who instructs. In other words – be generous and do good to those who take time to instruct.

Finally, Paul instructs about the Law of Sowing and Reaping (6:7-10). Paul tells them not to be led astray - God is not mocked – this is a simple statement of fact in the Greek. Interesting way of putting this in the Greek - "whatever a man sows" – tense is that it may or may not happen, "that he will also reap" – tense is that it will definitely happen.

He is stressing that those who sow only sinful desires will reap everlasting death (6:8a). What is good will reap a never ceasing life (6:8b). So, never quit – no matter what (6:9). So, whenever we can – do good, however we can – do good. (6:10).

Prayer: Father, may I follow these laws of my Savior. As a bondslave, I want to do only what my Master desires. Guide my steps in all ways. Amen.

Living Free as a Bondslave #10

Galatians 5:16 (CSB) - "I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh."

Yesterday, we mused over the first part of Chapter 5 - our freedom in the Son. Today, we will consider the Fruit of the Spirit working in our lives.

Paul begins by describing the conflict we face the fierce struggle within the believer

(5:16-18). The Contenders in this conflict are presented for our understanding (5:17-18). We start with the first contender - our evil nature (5:17a) – our flesh. Often we say – “The Devil made me do it.”  When in reality, it is our own sinful nature that does it. Our evil nature is why we cannot keep the Law. That brings us to the second contender - The Holy Spirit (5:17b-18). When we are being led by the Spirit, we are no longer under the control of the Law. Yet, we will walk on the right path. 

Paul discusses the Council of God (5:16). “Live according to your new life in the Holy Spirit” (5:16a). “Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves” (5:16b) 

OK, that sounds simple enough. Right! 

Paul now expands this concept – as he talks about ... The children (5:19-26). 

First, he enumerates the fruits of the flesh (5:19-21). Immorality, idolatry, hatred, discord, selfish ambition, envy, drunkenness, etc. When we attempt to become righteous under our own efforts – living by the Law, we find that the flesh is able to sow its own seeds for harvest. And they grow like weeds. Paul is here stating that if one is attempting to get into heaven by his works – it won’t work. Get the message - WORKS WON’T WORK. 

He then turns to the fruit of the Spirit (5:22-26). Paul lists nine attributes of this fruit. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, and self-control. Some have thought because of Paul’s emphasis on love that the fruit of the Spirit is love. 

Notice that the word translated Works is plural in the Greek – while the word translated Fruit is singular. The remaining 8 words are adjectives describing this Love. 

• Joy (gladness) 
• Peace (moral peace – a rest with God) 
• Patience (slowness to seek revenge) 
• Kindness (integrity) 
• Goodness (upright heart and life) 
• Faithfulness (character of one who can be relied upon) 
• Gentleness (meekness, mildness) 
• Self-control (one who masters his desires and passions) 

Bearing the fruit of the Spirit is possible when we have crucified the flesh – how? Through Christ – GRACE. 

So catch this truth -- WORKS WON’T WORK, BUT GRACE GROWS THE GARDEN 

If we have received the Spirit – then we walk in the Spirit – not the Law. However, consider whether one would be fulfilling the Law by living in the Spirit? There would be no debate. 

Verse 26 – warns us to beware – when one tries to live by the law, see what they become. Conceited – eager for all the glory [they, after all, are the reason for their own salvation],

irritating – always challenging or confronting [their way does not allow for grace], and, envious - a feeling of discontent or covetousness with regard to another – in other words – breaking the 10th commandment [they are bitter inwardly for not having the freedom that Grace gives]. 

Prayer: Holy Spirit, I pry for the grace needed to see my garden flourish and grow. I know that the things I have tried on my own don't work, and when I let You control and run my ife the wonder of Your love flows through me. I can resist the works of the flesh, when I am walking in You. Amen.

Living Free as a Bondslave #9

Galatians 5:1 (CSB) - "For freedom, Christ set us free. Stand firm then and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery."

Paul will show us in this chapter how the miracle of justification brings about both freedom in the Son and the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

First, consider today the freedom in the Son. We have protection from the legalism of the legalizers (5:1-12). The work of Christ has freed us from the bondage of the law (5:1-4; 6-12) It is not the actual circumcision, but the reason for it. If one places themselves under the Law, they are then required to keep it all.

To “become estranged from Christ” means that He will not be of any future benefit to them. They have been “cut off” from Him. Carrying through the circumcision image. Paul is not speaking about salvation – but our relationship. The statement “Fallen from Grace” is a very misunderstood concept. It is NOT a loss of salvation as some would teach. Notice it does not say fallen out of grace – but from it. They had fallen from the higher plane of grace back to considering the field of keeping the law. Their progress for the Lord and in the Lord has stopped. They had become ineffectual and out of the relationship they had with Christ.

In verses 6 -12, Paul emphasizes that they started right – but now have been hindered in serving the Lord. This teaching of legalism did not come from God. (Verse 8). Paul says that he wishes that those who were teaching this would mutilate themselves. Basically be completely cut off. Again, he is sarcastically carrying on the circumcision image.

The work of Christ will (someday) free us from the bondage of our body (5:5). We are saved from the penalty of our sin, daily we are being saved from the power of sin, one day when we stand in His presence we will be saved from the presence of sin.

But Paul goes on to show the protection from the license of the libertines (5:13-15). Paul warns against using freedom to indulge the sinful nature. We must remember that salvation is not a license to sin. It is the license to do right. All of this is summed up in one word – love. Love one another – and we will do right by one another. We will automatically keep the law if we operate under the guise of love.

We can see that love would not:

1. Dishonor our family members
2. Kill another person
3. Would not commit sexual sins
4. Would not take something from another
5. Would not lie about people
6. And, would not want what belonged to someone else

In other words, the 6 commandments dealing with man’s relationship to man. Without love, we will seek to destroy others – and will in the process be destroyed. We have freedom in the Son by being protected from the legalism of the legalizers, and the license of the libertines.

The freedom of the Son gives us the power and privilege to Love. 

Prayer: Holy Spirit, take control of my life and lead me to fulfill the Law by living the way that Grace empowers me. May I be an example of Jesus to those I come in contact with today. Amen.

Living Free as a Bondslave #8

Galatians 4:19 (CSB) - My children, I am again suffering labor pains for you until Christ is formed in you. "

Yesterday we considered Paul's attempting to free the Galatians from the fetters of legalism by appealing to their head. Today, muse over his appeal to their h

Paul starts by rebuking them (verses 4:8-20). They served idols before – remember that they are Gentiles he is writing to (4:8). But, now they are returning to a legalistic view of serving God (4:9). He finds fault in their returning to legalism. He is concerned that he was mistaken in their salvation (4:10-11, 20). Paul reminds them that they once were his friends (4:12-15). He brought them the message of the Grace of God. Even during a severe bout with a physical infirmity, obviously some eye issue (4:15). He never held back from them the truth (4:13). They received him as a messenger of God – a spokesman for Jesus Himself (4:14). Paul wants to know if they are now his foes? (4:16-18). Since he has spoken the truth to them, some view him as an enemy. (4:16)

He says that the Judiazers (legalists) are courting them to add them to their side – the side of bondage to the Law (4:17). He commends zealousness – if it is for the right reason (4:18). Paul is willing again to suffer the pains of childbirth until Christ is developed in them (4:19). He is very concerned that they: first of all have a true salvation experience, and that they are leading others astray. (4:20).

That is a major problem that Paul is concerned about. The Galatians leading others astray. Keeping others from being saved. Satan works very hard to distort our understanding of the Gospel Once we are saved, he cannot get us back. But, he can keep us from leading others to the truth.  He will distort our testimony –“live like the Devil.” He will distort our teaching so that others miss the truth.

The Gospel appeals to our heads and hearts. Not by feelings, but by the facts. We must understand the process - Facts first, then the feelings follow.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, may I take the facts that You bring to my mind and heart and apply them to the way that I live my life. MAy I not lead others away from the Savior, but to Him. Amen.

Living Free as a Bondslave #7

Galatians 4:21 (CSB)- "Tell me, you who want to be under the law, don’t you hear the law?"

In this chapter, Paul is attempting to free the Galatians from the fetters of legalism by appealing to their head and their hearts. Let us look briefly at the thoughts he shares under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Today we will ponder the depths of Paul's HEAD words (4:1-7; 21-31).

To make his point in this part of his letter, he offers two illustrations for us. He starts with a LEGAL illustration (4:1-7). Consider a Roman father and his son (4:1-2). We start with the frustration (4:1) in this arrangement. Until he comes of age, the son can enjoy very little of his father’s estate. Even though there is a promise of the future, it is not available to the son. But, there is freedom (4:2). Upon coming of age the son can enjoy all of his father’s estate. When the time is right – the son gets it all.

Paul then ties this to the Redeemed's Father and the Father’s Children (4:3-7). Once again we see the frustration (4:3). While under the law they enjoyed very little of the Father’s estate. The human nature had control – and it was a losing battle. But again there is freedom (4:4-7). Upon coming of age (effected by the death of Christ) they can enjoy all of the Father’s estate. There is a beautiful picture of adoption in Roman Times that we don't have time to expand at this point, however consider from the times Paul lived in that as an adopted son, we have full rights to all that is the inheritance.

Paul then uses the example of Hagar and Sarah, two Old Testament women to allegorize the Law of Moses and the Grace of God. This is an allegory –a story that has a deeper or more general meaning in addition to its surface meaning. 

Allegories are composed of several symbols or metaphors. For example, in The Pilgrim's Progress, by John Bunyan, the character named Christian struggles to escape from a bog or swamp. The story of his difficulty is a symbol of the difficulty of leading a good life in the “bog” of this world. The “bog” is a metaphor or symbol of life's hardships and distractions. Similarly, when Christian loses a heavy pack that he has been carrying on his back, this symbolizes his freedom from the weight of sin that he has been carrying. 

We find many allegories in Scripture. Nathan (2 Sam. 12:1-4) addresses David in an allegorical narrative. [Confronting David over Bathsheba] Jesus’ parables follow this concept.

Here Hagar is an allegory of the Law. She was a slave (4:21-22). Her marriage to Abraham was fleshly directed (4:23a). Her son Ishmael was naturally born (4:24). Their son persecuted Abraham’s second son, Isaac (4:29). Her child was not considered Abraham’s rightful heir (4:30-31a). She corresponds to earthly Jerusalem (4:25).

Sarah, on the other hand is an allegory on Grace. She was a free woman (4:22). Her marriage to Abraham was Spirit directed (4:23). Her son, Isaac, was supernaturally born (4:27) [Isaiah 54:1]. Their son was persecuted by Ishmael (4:29). Her child was considered Abraham’s rightful heir (4:28). Sarah represents the New Covenant (4:27). She corresponds to heavenly Jerusalem (4:26). He states that we are not children of God by the “bondwoman” (the Law), but by the “free” woman – the grace of God.

So, Paul has appealed to their Head, and tomorrow we will see his appeal to heart.

Prayer: Father, as I meditate upon these illustrations of Paul, open my mind to see the distinction between the Law and Grace. I want to live Free as a Bondslave. Show me the way. Amen.

Living Free as a Bondslave #6

Galatians 3:24-26 (CSB) - "The law, then, was our guardian until Christ, so that we could be justified by faith. But since that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for through faith you are all sons of God in Christ Jesus."

Continuing with the final two arguments that Paul gives demonstrating the sufficiency of Justification by faith alone. Let us ponder the argument from the work of Jesus Christ (verses 13-14).

Paul tells us what He did (13a). He redeemed or bought us back from the curse. He took our sentence on Himself. So, how did He do it (13b)? By “hanging on a tree.” He took our curse or punishment. If we are honest as we look at ourselves we wonder why would He do it (14)? That we might have the Blessing of Abraham given in  Genesis 12:3. He did it so that the Spirit could be given.

The final argument Paul makes is based upon the work of the Holy Spirit (verses 26-29). What does the Spirit do (verses 26-27)? Well, consider through His work, we are adopted into God’s family – through our faith in Christ. We have Christ living in us. And He does all of this so that we can be united, be one (verses 28-29). There are no divisions except that of believer/unbeliever in God's Kingdom.

We have studied five arguments that demonstrates the sufficiency of Justification by faith alone. We are saved by faith, kept by faith, and delivered by faith. Faith alone. Sola Fidelis! We can know that the truth is that of faith alone because of the Galatians’ experience, the life of Abraham, the Law itself, the work of Jesus Christ, and the work of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer: Spirit of the Holy God, fill me, teach me, open my heart to God's great and glorious Word. I am saved by grace through faith alone - outside of the Law, outside of any of my feeble efforts, outside of anything man can devise. Praise and Honor to Jesus' full provision for me. Amen.

Living Free as a Bondslave #5

Galatians 3:10 (CSB) - "For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, Everyone who does not do everything written in the book of the law is cursed." 

Paul offers us five arguments demonstrating the sufficiency of Justification by faith alone. 

Paul starts with the argument based upon the Galatians themselves (verses 1-5). They became believers by turning to the Gospel (1-2). To obey means to yield to, or have confidence in (not works or actions). They were to have their confidence in the crucified Savior. Paul asks them, “Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or the hearing of faith?” They are becoming bewitched by turning from the true Gospel (verses 3-5). The word translated “bewitched” means to be charmed or given the evil eye. To put under a spell. So, he challenges them to consider, having begun with the Spirit – were they now made complete by human means? So – is salvation by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith?

He then gives an argument based upon Abraham (verses 6-9 and 15-18). Paul starts by considering how Abraham was saved (verses 6-9). In verse six Paul refers to Genesis 15:6 - "just like Abraham who believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness?" In the following verses (7-9) he stresses that our salvation is only for those who are of the faith are true sons of Abraham (consider Gen. 12:3). He teaches them that Abraham was saved by "the seed" - Jesus Christ (verses 15-16). And, if that is not enough, consider that Abraham was saved 430 years before the Law was even given,

The last of the arguments we will consider today is from the Law itself (verses 10-12, 19-25). There is a major problem with the Law for salvation (verses 10-12). The only way to have salvation is to keep the whole Law. The one trying to stay under the Law must live by the whole Law – or they are accursed. James teaches – that if one breaks one point, he is guilty of the whole law and condemnation (2:10). In this passage we find a reference to Habakkuk 2:4. Some have called this the "Song of the Reformation." It is called in Latin - Sola Fidelis (faith alone). This quotation is found three times in the New Testament. I believe God wants us to get the message!

Paul gives the purpose of the Law for man (verses 19-25). He says it points out our sin (19-20). It prepares us for the Savior (21-25). It is our tutor, the one who was responsible for the care and discipline of the children. It taught us how we failed.

Tomorrow we will meditate upon the final two arguments that Paul gives to prove the facts behind our freedom.

Prayer: Thank You Glorious Father that You have made Your Plan, Purpose, and Provision is made clear as we study Your Word. May I live in the excitement of of freed man - yet a bondslave to You. Amen.