2020-06-05
Good Morning Dear Ones,
A question arose about whether people must obey the Law of Moses or believe Paul’s teaching, in order to be right with God. This controversy came up in Galatia, a Roman province of what was then Asia Minor (today’s Turkey). Two different theories of when this book was written also arose, the northern, which said it was written in 53 AD, and the southern, which said it was written as early as in 48 AD (before the book of Acts). Paul wrote this letter to quell the controversy in favor of his teaching about being a true Christian. Remember that Jesus died on the cross around 33 AD. Paul defended his right to be called an apostle of Jesus Christ, pleading that this was not on human authority, but instead, the action of God. His ministry was to the Gentiles. He develops the argument that FAITH + NOTHING = SALVATION. Paul’s argument in GA ends with the notion the good deeds are a natural outgrowth of faith in Jesus Christ.
During this time in history, there was opposition to the Gospel teaching from such groups as the Jews and the believers in Gnosticism. The Jews insisted that Jewish law be obeyed in a lock-step fashion. They reject Christ’s deity entirely. Gnostics denied that Christ was anything but a temporary god, who occupied His position until physical death. They taught that Christ was only god of Earth. Their philosophy was very human-crafted and placed people in social positions from which there was no escape. Other notions that mattered greatly to Paul were about God’s grace, being true believers in Christ, and the freedom and responsibility of being Christian.
Paul’s relationship with fellow Gospel writer, Mark, was put to the test when Mark left the mission journeyers to return home to Jerusalem as they docked in Perga, a city in Pamphylia on their way to Pisidian Antioch [AC 13: 13]. They later reconciled. Prophesy has been another important element of God’s teaching. Back in 2 SAM 7: 12-13, the Lord covenanted with David that the future King would come from David’s royal line, and that He would rule forever. Jesus Christ is that Descendant from David’s line that would be the Savior of those who believe in Him. Consummation of that prophecy would be seen in DN 9: 26-27, IS 53: 1-12, GA 3: 13, and REV. Prophecy mattered to Paul, as it does to all truly believing Christians. We have seen it fulfilled, except for what God has left to our future. Even a man with the sad ending of his life not quite fulfilled, such as John the Baptist, would utter prophetically, “Prepare the way! The Savior of the world will come soon!” as he announced the coming of Jesus Christ. John’s humility shone through his comment, “I am not good enough to take His sandals off His feet” [AC 13: 25]. It wasn’t long before he was decapitated and his head carried on a tray to the daughter of Heroditus, Salome. Even the act of not recognizing Who Jesus was, prophecy was carried out, and He was crucified and resurrected. His unparalleled act of sacrificial giving of Christ’s own physical life and what followed was an answer to prophecy. His Atonement would bring salvation, eternal forgiveness for sins, and justification to believers in Jesus Christ.
Deep, abiding faith gave rise in Paul to his own humility, as he said, in AC 20: 24, “But I reckon my own life to be worth nothing to me; I only want to complete my mission and finish the work that the Lord Jesus gave me to do.” These were his parting words as he left Ephesus after remaining there longer than anywhere else on his mission trips. Everything that happened in Christ’s betrayal, arrest, scourging, suffering, denials by Peter, crucifixion, and resurrection was consummation of prophecies. They’re was no denying it! [HB 1: 5; 1 COR 15: 4-8; PS 2: 9; PS 16:10; JN 1: 1-4; JN14: 9, 11; AC 13: 38-39; RO 4: 3; 1 JN 1: 9]. First the Jews heard Mosiac law in the synagogues. Then, they heard the preaching of Paul and Barnabus. The latter got the attention of those who would eventually convert to Paul’s teaching, while others rejected it. Permanent forgiveness from sins was not a part of traditional Judaism, but it was taught to those who had faith in Jesus Christ. This is just one feature of Paul’s teaching that appealed to Jews. GA 13: 44-47 revealed the coming of a “light to the Gentiles” in the work of Paul and Barnabus. There was nothing accidental about the tasks and the conversions to Christianity that happened. It was all part of God’s plan of salvation.
PRAYER: O Lord, Your power to do good is unmatched, to bring people to be right with You, and to be converted to faith in Christ. Other beliefs, Paganism, Gnosticism, etc. are heresies. Traditional Judaism rejects the deity of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Your unconditional love and desire for eternal fellowship with Your human creation is an example of it. We study the events of human history and can see Your goodness, kindness, and willingness to keep all Your promises in it. Eternal forgiveness of sins, deeming Your creation acceptable, and bringing Your people to Your side in heaven are real. The example of the personhood of Jesus Christ is a paradigm that will bring us great blessing if we follow it. Our Lord Jesus was humble, truthful, kind, and caring. He shows us what love is and sends us heavenward in our pursuit of it. As we follow the example He set for us, we are not lazy, nor do we look for the easy way in dealing with our challenges. During those challenges, we grow in our maturity spiritually and ethically. If they are too great for us, He stretches out His helping hand to take ours. He has told us that He will never send us a challenge that is so great that it will break our resolve to be obediently faithful to Him [1 COR 10: 13]. We ask for the presence and intervention of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We say this prayer in the holy/mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.