We are free. Today we move to chapter 2 of Galatians. Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. 2 I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain. 3 Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. 4 This matter arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. 5 We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. The issue Paul is talking about here is that there were Jewish Christians in the early church that said in order to be a follower of Jesus, a person had to be circumcised. Remember the Gospel started with the Jews and Paul then took it to the Gentiles. So the Jews were adding a task for people who wanted to be a Believer. Paul stands firm. The freedom he speaks of in verse 4 is that to be a Believer in Christ, circumcision was not necessary. This was a final break with the law for Christianity. Remember the law said “do, do, do” and because of Jesus death on the cross, we say, “done, done, done.” To you and I this has great meaning. If someone comes to you and says there are things you have to do in order to be a Christian or in order to get to heaven, then they are being like the Jews of Paul’s day. Read Ephesians 2:8-9. As I have said before, salvation is an act of the heart. Don’t let anyone saddle you down with rules. Christianity is not a set of rules. It is you and I following Jesus and living our lives according to God’s Word – the Bible. We are free in Christ. Don’t be a servant to “do’s and don’ts.” Have a great Saturday and I will see you in the morning.
Posted on: Sat, 07 Sep 2013 12:43:40 +0000
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