Galatians 5:9
"A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump."
Now
in common language what's leaven? Yeast. And when we put yeast into the
dough it's not just going to leaven some of it, but rather all of it.
Now it's the same way with false teaching. If we let a little bit of
false teaching in as leaven it isn't long before it permeates the whole,
one leads to another and so forth until the whole is nothing but sin.
For those of us who know our Bible, what has happened to Christendom in
general? It's been leavened. Christianity today is leavened. All the
things that the Scriptures and Christianity stood against 1500-1600
years ago are now part and parcel of everyday experience. The sin that
so easily beset the world after Satan was kicked out of heaven, no more
to be an accuser of the brethren is so easily accepted in all the
churches. For it has become the habit of the many but not the few.
We'll
never forget a long time ago when we visited a church up North in
Wisconsin when we were there. And the pastor there made such a
tremendous point. All of the things of the world came knocking at the
Church's door and the Church said, "Yeah we can accommodate that, we can
live with that." And then it wasn't long that the door opened a little
wider and some of the other worlds stuff came in and the Church said,
"Yeah we can also live with that." And now you see the doors are wide
open and you can't tell the difference between the Church and the world.
What happened? "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump."
Now that one little church dried up and is no longer around. But the
analogy is the same for the church as a whole. Now verse 10.
Galatians 5:10
"I have confidence in you..."
See
Paul didn't give up on those people. He's not going to throw them to
the wolves he's still hanging in there and trusting that he's going to
bring them back to the truth. But like we said earlier on the basis of
what he wrote to Timothy what happened? They didn't come back, because
he said in II Timothy 1:15 "This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me;..." And
this is where these people were. They were in Galatia in Asia Minor,
but at this point in time this apostle still has not given up on the
fact that he's going to bring them back into the truth of this Gospel of
the Grace of God.
Galatians 5:10
"I
have confidence in you though the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise
minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he
be."
Now those are strong words aren't
they? In other words Paul is saying, "Whoever it is that is bringing in
this false teaching, and is leading you away from the Gospel of Grace,
his judgment is sure." He's going to one day stand before the Great
White Throne where only lost people and the unbelieving will stand, and
he's going to be judged, absolutely they are. We've said for years that
preachers and theologians who mislead people are going to have the
hottest corner in the lake of fire, because they are misleading
multitudes. Sad to say not many are listening not only to us but to the
Holy Spirit. They're not hearing the warnings of Paul in the Corinthian
letters or even here in this letter or the Epistle of Hebrews.
We know when we pick up this Book, we don't care if we're a Sunday School teacher, or if we're just leading a small devotional, every time we pick up this Book we
are accepting a tremendous responsibility, and don't think we don't
take it seriously. We never take teaching or sharing the Word of God
lightly. We also have to understand that if we would be guilty of
misleading someone to the place of missing heaven's glory then we would
have to answer for it. But so far we have never felt guilty of that. We
feel as though we've had so many people express a joy of salvation that
it just sort of puts the stamp of God's approval on His ministry. Over
and over people who have been steeped in their particular background,
Sunday School teachers, and church officers say, "For the first time in
my life I now know what it is to have a real salvation experience."
Well
if the Lord isn't blessing it then that could never happen. So we have
to feel that we are presenting the Word as close to the Truth as is
humanly possibly. We'd be scared of presenting an error. Now we're not
saying that we're above error because we're human, and we don't expect
everyone to agree with us on every thing, but on these
fundamentals of Who Christ is. That He was of virgin born, that He is
God the Creator, and that He has finished the atoning work of the Cross,
His death, burial, and resurrection has completed every bit of God's
requirement for our full salvation. He's coming again, and we will never
compromise those things. We'd rather go back and just simply stay in
our nothingness than teach or share any other way.
We
suppose a lot of people think we should have never opened our mouth,
but this is why we sound bold at times. See, we don't have to depend on
some denominational retirement account. We don't depend on a salary from
any of this, and if we were booted out of all of this situation then we
could just go back to our nothingness full time. We give God all the
thanks and glory for it is through His Grace that we do what we do.
We're going to proclaim the Truth as the Lord lays it upon us even as
the Apostle Paul did, and he said -
Galatians 1:10
"For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ." And listen, we're far more fearful of God and want to please Him more than we do men. So here in verse 10 Paul says -
Galatians 5:10b
"...but he that troubleth you (with his false teaching) shall bear his judgement, whosoever he be." It
didn't matter whether this false teacher was highly educated, a
philosopher, or a high man in Judaism, it doesn't matter. Paul says,
"This person will one day stand in judgment."
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Friday, June 29, 2012
Part CX on Galatians Study
Galatians 5:7
"Ye did run well; (your past has shown that you became believers) who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?"
In other words Paul says, "What's happening to you people?" Oh, he knew, but yet he's trying to put them on the defensive by asking the questions. You know that's what the Lord always did. He asked the question not because He needed the answer, but because He wanted to put His subject on the stump. And so here Paul is doing the same thing.
Galatians 5:7
"Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth."
We remember a gentlemen we knew down in the French area of Louisiana which we're sure is probably 99% Catholic. And he made this statement, but it's so appropriate in so many places. He said, "I knew somebody was down there that was not a Catholic." And we said "Who in the world fooled with you?" Well you know that's just exactly the way it is in so many instances. We run into a group of people and they've been so thoroughly programmed, or brain washed and when you find one that's different you wonder, "Who in the world blew you away?" Well that's what Paul is saying. "Here I had you indoctrinated, I had you taught correctly." Now who's come along and is blowing you away? Paul knew who it was, it was the Judaizers. The ones both John and Jude call the anti-Christ for they oppose this Gospel. Do you see that? Now verse 8.
Galatians 5:8
"This persuasion (to come away from Paul's Gospel of Grace) cometh not of him that calleth you."
Who called them? The Holy Spirit of God. Well if the Holy Spirit did not lead them away then what spirit did? The evil spirit, the spirit of the world or the prince of the powers of the air or the one called anti-Christ. Remember we've only got two spirits in the world. It's either of the Holy Spirit or of the Satanic evil spirit. Let's go back to John's little Epistles. We don't like to say anything unless we can show it from the Book. Go back to I John Chapter 4, and this is what the world is up against just as much as when Paul wrote to the Galatians. The human race hasn't changed one iota, not one bit.
I John 4:1
"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." And then you come on down to verse 3.
I John 4:3
"And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of anti-christ, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world."
So what are we up against? The two spirits. It's either of the Holy Spirit or of the evil spirit, the anti-Christ. Now of course Satan has his demons, but nevertheless it's going to originate in the Satanic powers, and this is what the world is up against. We mean it's up against everything that Satan can throw at them. We remind people, don't get the idea that all Satan can promote is what we call skid row behavior. Satan will promote the most beautiful things, Satan will promote that which we think is culture and enlightening as long as he can keep people from the Truth. And remember the Holy Spirit is called the Truth, just as Christ Jesus is called the Word. He doesn't care what he uses as long as people fall for it. With Satan the end always justifies the means. Satan will use good things but it will be of the evil spirit rather than the Holy Spirit that is speaking. Now come back again to Galatians Chapter 5, and look at verse 8 again.
Galatians 5:8a
"This persuasion..."
To go back under legalism didn't come from the Holy Spirit who brought them out of paganism, or the old traditions of Judaism but it came from the same evil spirit that held them in paganism until this Gospel freed them. You see Satan never gives up, and we'll see when we get further along in chapter 5 that for every believer there is a constant warfare isn't there? And it's between the two natures. One is Holy Spirit driven, and the other is the old Adam nature that still has its roots in the Satanic power of the curse, and so those two natures are in a constant warfare. So it is between the true believing community in general and the world in general. They are two total opposites. So we're up against two forces constantly. And so, even with the true believer, Paul says the spirit that is taking you back into a false gospel is not the same Spirit that brought you out. Now verse 9, and here comes the warning.
"Ye did run well; (your past has shown that you became believers) who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?"
In other words Paul says, "What's happening to you people?" Oh, he knew, but yet he's trying to put them on the defensive by asking the questions. You know that's what the Lord always did. He asked the question not because He needed the answer, but because He wanted to put His subject on the stump. And so here Paul is doing the same thing.
Galatians 5:7
"Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth."
We remember a gentlemen we knew down in the French area of Louisiana which we're sure is probably 99% Catholic. And he made this statement, but it's so appropriate in so many places. He said, "I knew somebody was down there that was not a Catholic." And we said "Who in the world fooled with you?" Well you know that's just exactly the way it is in so many instances. We run into a group of people and they've been so thoroughly programmed, or brain washed and when you find one that's different you wonder, "Who in the world blew you away?" Well that's what Paul is saying. "Here I had you indoctrinated, I had you taught correctly." Now who's come along and is blowing you away? Paul knew who it was, it was the Judaizers. The ones both John and Jude call the anti-Christ for they oppose this Gospel. Do you see that? Now verse 8.
Galatians 5:8
"This persuasion (to come away from Paul's Gospel of Grace) cometh not of him that calleth you."
Who called them? The Holy Spirit of God. Well if the Holy Spirit did not lead them away then what spirit did? The evil spirit, the spirit of the world or the prince of the powers of the air or the one called anti-Christ. Remember we've only got two spirits in the world. It's either of the Holy Spirit or of the Satanic evil spirit. Let's go back to John's little Epistles. We don't like to say anything unless we can show it from the Book. Go back to I John Chapter 4, and this is what the world is up against just as much as when Paul wrote to the Galatians. The human race hasn't changed one iota, not one bit.
I John 4:1
"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." And then you come on down to verse 3.
I John 4:3
"And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of anti-christ, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world."
So what are we up against? The two spirits. It's either of the Holy Spirit or of the evil spirit, the anti-Christ. Now of course Satan has his demons, but nevertheless it's going to originate in the Satanic powers, and this is what the world is up against. We mean it's up against everything that Satan can throw at them. We remind people, don't get the idea that all Satan can promote is what we call skid row behavior. Satan will promote the most beautiful things, Satan will promote that which we think is culture and enlightening as long as he can keep people from the Truth. And remember the Holy Spirit is called the Truth, just as Christ Jesus is called the Word. He doesn't care what he uses as long as people fall for it. With Satan the end always justifies the means. Satan will use good things but it will be of the evil spirit rather than the Holy Spirit that is speaking. Now come back again to Galatians Chapter 5, and look at verse 8 again.
Galatians 5:8a
"This persuasion..."
To go back under legalism didn't come from the Holy Spirit who brought them out of paganism, or the old traditions of Judaism but it came from the same evil spirit that held them in paganism until this Gospel freed them. You see Satan never gives up, and we'll see when we get further along in chapter 5 that for every believer there is a constant warfare isn't there? And it's between the two natures. One is Holy Spirit driven, and the other is the old Adam nature that still has its roots in the Satanic power of the curse, and so those two natures are in a constant warfare. So it is between the true believing community in general and the world in general. They are two total opposites. So we're up against two forces constantly. And so, even with the true believer, Paul says the spirit that is taking you back into a false gospel is not the same Spirit that brought you out. Now verse 9, and here comes the warning.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Part CIX on Galatians Study
Isaiah 61:10
"I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness,..."
Galatians 5:6
"For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love."
Now what love are we first and foremost talking about? The love of Christ as He poured out Himself during the last Supper and then on the Cross for us. Lets turn to Philippians Chapter 2 and look at a verse, and remember what we're talking about - The love of Christ that sent Him to the Cross.
Philippians 2:5-8
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus; Who, being in the form of God, (He was Yehovah-God) thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But (as Yehovah-God) made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, (in our humanity and flesh, a bond slave) and was made in the likeness of men: (for a short period of time, now here it comes. The word `love' isn't used but certainly implied) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."
What was the engine that drove His obedience? Love! His love for his creation, mankind, His love for the Father drove Him to accept the cup and its required obedience to the work of the Cross. And death on that Cross, which becomes our cup of obedience as well. This death was the most horrible death a person could possibly experience. Now another verse we need to look at is found in II Corinthians Chapter 5 and verse 14.
II Corinthians 5:14
"For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:"
But why did He die for all? Because of the love that constrains, denoting union with by force. There is another good one in the Book of Romans Chapter 13. This is Paul writing to believers, and this is one of those areas of Scripture that is so practical. There's nothing pie in the sky about any of these things that he writes, this is everyday practicality.
Romans 13:8
"Owe no man any thing, (defraud no one) but to love one another: for he that loveth another (under Grace of course) hath fulfilled the law."
Isn't that amazing? We don't have to have Temple worship, or a priesthood, or animal sacrifices, or the Ten Commandments constantly drilled into us. Once we've stepped under the Light of Grace and the Holy Spirit empowers us, God's Agape Love becomes the whole motivating power behind everything that we do, and then we automatically fulfill the Law. As we've said so often, can we steal from somebody you love? We can't comprehend it. Can we bear false witness, or can we gossip openly about someone you love? No. Can we covet something that a loved one owns and you wish it was yours instead of theirs? No. When love is operating, the Ten Commandments automatically fall away. They no longer become something that we must be taught and have drilled into us. For the Holy Spirit has written them on our re-birthed heart (now circumcised) and impressed them on our conscience. We thereby do them without knowing or thinking about doing them. Now reading on.
Romans 13:9-10
"For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery. (if your Christian love is operating you won't commit adultery.) Thou shalt not kill, (that's obvious. You certainly are not going to kill somebody you love.) Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness. Thou shalt not covet, and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (now here it is in a nutshell) Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."
Isn't that simple and practical? Now let's come back to Galatians Chapter 5 once again. Now verse 7, and don't lose the concept of this letter. These Gentiles had come out of paganism as a result of Paul's Gospel and now they were being deluged and undermined by the teaching of having to keep the Law - and now he says:
"I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness,..."
Galatians 5:6
"For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love."
Now what love are we first and foremost talking about? The love of Christ as He poured out Himself during the last Supper and then on the Cross for us. Lets turn to Philippians Chapter 2 and look at a verse, and remember what we're talking about - The love of Christ that sent Him to the Cross.
Philippians 2:5-8
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus; Who, being in the form of God, (He was Yehovah-God) thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But (as Yehovah-God) made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, (in our humanity and flesh, a bond slave) and was made in the likeness of men: (for a short period of time, now here it comes. The word `love' isn't used but certainly implied) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."
What was the engine that drove His obedience? Love! His love for his creation, mankind, His love for the Father drove Him to accept the cup and its required obedience to the work of the Cross. And death on that Cross, which becomes our cup of obedience as well. This death was the most horrible death a person could possibly experience. Now another verse we need to look at is found in II Corinthians Chapter 5 and verse 14.
II Corinthians 5:14
"For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:"
But why did He die for all? Because of the love that constrains, denoting union with by force. There is another good one in the Book of Romans Chapter 13. This is Paul writing to believers, and this is one of those areas of Scripture that is so practical. There's nothing pie in the sky about any of these things that he writes, this is everyday practicality.
Romans 13:8
"Owe no man any thing, (defraud no one) but to love one another: for he that loveth another (under Grace of course) hath fulfilled the law."
Isn't that amazing? We don't have to have Temple worship, or a priesthood, or animal sacrifices, or the Ten Commandments constantly drilled into us. Once we've stepped under the Light of Grace and the Holy Spirit empowers us, God's Agape Love becomes the whole motivating power behind everything that we do, and then we automatically fulfill the Law. As we've said so often, can we steal from somebody you love? We can't comprehend it. Can we bear false witness, or can we gossip openly about someone you love? No. Can we covet something that a loved one owns and you wish it was yours instead of theirs? No. When love is operating, the Ten Commandments automatically fall away. They no longer become something that we must be taught and have drilled into us. For the Holy Spirit has written them on our re-birthed heart (now circumcised) and impressed them on our conscience. We thereby do them without knowing or thinking about doing them. Now reading on.
Romans 13:9-10
"For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery. (if your Christian love is operating you won't commit adultery.) Thou shalt not kill, (that's obvious. You certainly are not going to kill somebody you love.) Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness. Thou shalt not covet, and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (now here it is in a nutshell) Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."
Isn't that simple and practical? Now let's come back to Galatians Chapter 5 once again. Now verse 7, and don't lose the concept of this letter. These Gentiles had come out of paganism as a result of Paul's Gospel and now they were being deluged and undermined by the teaching of having to keep the Law - and now he says:
Part CVIII on Galatians Study
Romans 3:23-24
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely (without a cost) by his grace through the redemption (the process of buying us back) that is in Christ Jesus." Now we're going to skip verse 25 because of that great big word "propitiation." come down now to verse 26.
Romans 3:26a
"To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness; that he might be just, (or fair) and the justifier (the One who will declare that sinner justified) of him which (joins the Church? Speaks in tongues? Gets baptized? All these other things? No, but which) believeth..." Believe what? This Gospel, God's Word His spoken will through His hand picked Apostle Paul.
Now, we're not an easy believer, and we never teach easy believeism, but what we do maintain is that when we totally believe that Romans 3:23 is speaking about us and that we're sinners by virtue of us being sons of Adam as Satan's-child. And when we believe or rather receive that with all our heart and that the work of the Lord's Last Supper together with the Cross has done everything we need not only for our redemption but also our salvation - then at that point God justifies us, He changes us, He declares us righteous, and then He places us into the Body of Christ, where He sanctifies us, He glorifies, and makes us holy unto Him. For He has His own system of baptism by the Holy Spirit. This then is a brief explanation of the second blessing and our Gospel where in God takes it upon Himself to finish His works in us as adopted sons. This is also our point of entry into, by receiving through death the promised Eternal Life through which power Christ was raised and demonstrated its power within Himself by the works of wonder, signs and miracles and the transformation. All for our benefit not just the disciples or Israel's.
I Corinthians 12:13a
"For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body,..."
He does all this simply because we believe this Gospel of our salvation. See there's no legalism tied to that, that's pure Grace. Now let's come back to Galatians Chapter 5.
Galatians 5:4
"Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; (or works) ye are fallen from grace."
Now we know a lot of people think that they've been in Grace and fell out. No, that's not what the Apostle Paul is talking about. We haven't been in and fell out, but what he's really referring to is this. If we're going to put all those man made attachments and amendments on this Gospel, then we have literally turned our back on Grace. You're saying, "Thanks but no thanks I'll work for it, I'll take my chances;" and then you're not in Grace. Grace is when we just simply throw ourselves at His feet. And admit our bankruptcy and our total in ability to save our selves that He hears us through the Holy Spirit who is in us. Then Grace says that there's nothing that I merit. Grace says there is nothing that I can do. It is this that Israel rejected and continues rejecting because of hardness of heart or unbelief.
When we talk about Grace we always like to talk about Israel on the shores of the Red Sea with the Egyptians right behind them, mountains on the left and right and the Red Sea in front of them. The Israelites are trapped with no place to go. Did God scream at Moses, "Tell the people to do something." No, but rather God said, "Stand still!" Why? God would evidence His power. And as Israel by faith stood still, and didn't try to do anything, but rather just waited for the Grace of God to open the Red Sea. And listen that's where we are today. We are up against impossible odds of escaping. We are surrounded by the enemy, with a formidable Red Sea in front of us, and what does God say? Do nothing but BELIEVE this Gospel and God opens everything up. God breaks the chains of Satanic power. God makes us a whole new person, a God-child. Now verse 5.
Galatians 5:5
For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith."
This is the key to the second blessing and our being made righteous by the righteousness of God, through death. Now we don't want someone to misconstrue the word "Hope." Hope in Scripture does not mean "I hope it rains tomorrow because we could use some." No that's not the hope of Scripture. The hope of Scripture is first receiving and then believing in an absolute fact or Truth. And that is that this Gospel is true, it's secure, and when we receive it we're counted as believing it and we can claim all the promises that God has given in His Word. It's not something like, "Well I hope I can get there." We know that we have eternal life. So this whole idea through the Spirit is not just the hope of righteousness but it is that bonafide assurance that when we receive this Gospel and the righteousness of Christ as imputed to us, it literally becomes the clothing of righteousness that Adam and woman first experienced, and what we find in Isaiah 61:10:
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely (without a cost) by his grace through the redemption (the process of buying us back) that is in Christ Jesus." Now we're going to skip verse 25 because of that great big word "propitiation." come down now to verse 26.
Romans 3:26a
"To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness; that he might be just, (or fair) and the justifier (the One who will declare that sinner justified) of him which (joins the Church? Speaks in tongues? Gets baptized? All these other things? No, but which) believeth..." Believe what? This Gospel, God's Word His spoken will through His hand picked Apostle Paul.
Now, we're not an easy believer, and we never teach easy believeism, but what we do maintain is that when we totally believe that Romans 3:23 is speaking about us and that we're sinners by virtue of us being sons of Adam as Satan's-child. And when we believe or rather receive that with all our heart and that the work of the Lord's Last Supper together with the Cross has done everything we need not only for our redemption but also our salvation - then at that point God justifies us, He changes us, He declares us righteous, and then He places us into the Body of Christ, where He sanctifies us, He glorifies, and makes us holy unto Him. For He has His own system of baptism by the Holy Spirit. This then is a brief explanation of the second blessing and our Gospel where in God takes it upon Himself to finish His works in us as adopted sons. This is also our point of entry into, by receiving through death the promised Eternal Life through which power Christ was raised and demonstrated its power within Himself by the works of wonder, signs and miracles and the transformation. All for our benefit not just the disciples or Israel's.
I Corinthians 12:13a
"For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body,..."
He does all this simply because we believe this Gospel of our salvation. See there's no legalism tied to that, that's pure Grace. Now let's come back to Galatians Chapter 5.
Galatians 5:4
"Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; (or works) ye are fallen from grace."
Now we know a lot of people think that they've been in Grace and fell out. No, that's not what the Apostle Paul is talking about. We haven't been in and fell out, but what he's really referring to is this. If we're going to put all those man made attachments and amendments on this Gospel, then we have literally turned our back on Grace. You're saying, "Thanks but no thanks I'll work for it, I'll take my chances;" and then you're not in Grace. Grace is when we just simply throw ourselves at His feet. And admit our bankruptcy and our total in ability to save our selves that He hears us through the Holy Spirit who is in us. Then Grace says that there's nothing that I merit. Grace says there is nothing that I can do. It is this that Israel rejected and continues rejecting because of hardness of heart or unbelief.
When we talk about Grace we always like to talk about Israel on the shores of the Red Sea with the Egyptians right behind them, mountains on the left and right and the Red Sea in front of them. The Israelites are trapped with no place to go. Did God scream at Moses, "Tell the people to do something." No, but rather God said, "Stand still!" Why? God would evidence His power. And as Israel by faith stood still, and didn't try to do anything, but rather just waited for the Grace of God to open the Red Sea. And listen that's where we are today. We are up against impossible odds of escaping. We are surrounded by the enemy, with a formidable Red Sea in front of us, and what does God say? Do nothing but BELIEVE this Gospel and God opens everything up. God breaks the chains of Satanic power. God makes us a whole new person, a God-child. Now verse 5.
Galatians 5:5
For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith."
This is the key to the second blessing and our being made righteous by the righteousness of God, through death. Now we don't want someone to misconstrue the word "Hope." Hope in Scripture does not mean "I hope it rains tomorrow because we could use some." No that's not the hope of Scripture. The hope of Scripture is first receiving and then believing in an absolute fact or Truth. And that is that this Gospel is true, it's secure, and when we receive it we're counted as believing it and we can claim all the promises that God has given in His Word. It's not something like, "Well I hope I can get there." We know that we have eternal life. So this whole idea through the Spirit is not just the hope of righteousness but it is that bonafide assurance that when we receive this Gospel and the righteousness of Christ as imputed to us, it literally becomes the clothing of righteousness that Adam and woman first experienced, and what we find in Isaiah 61:10:
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Part CVII on Galatians Study
Galatians 5:3
"For I testify again (what does that imply? Hey, he's said it more than once before) to every man that is circumcised, (in other words if you're going to use this legalistic rite of circumcision as part of your salvation plus my Gospel in what Paul is implying) that he (that man) is a debtor to do the whole law."
In like manor or in the same token or vain if we're to exercise the practice of Holy-days, New Moons and Sabbaths we are held in or with the same contempt by God because our religious practice has been come to Him idolatry. For we've put our selves and our practices above what He has revealed through His Apostle. Now how many men have ever done the whole Law? Only one and that was Christ Himself. No one has ever been able to keep the whole Law as it's impossible. So when people think they can, they're just barking up the wrong tree. Every work or sign, wonder and miracle Jesus did was under the Law and therefore was a fulfillment of its requirement. They fulfilled the spiritual requirements not mans imposed rules or traditions. You cannot somehow or other gain salvation by doing something, and you're not going to gain salvation by saying, "Yes I believe Christ died for me and rose from the dead, but I've also got to do this and that in order to finish the work of the Cross." God wont have it!
If we do that then Christ shall profit us nothing. Why? Because God is a jealous God, that's why. God is jealous of what He has accomplished on our behalf, and what is that? That at the Last Supper and the Cross He finished every single demand of God on a sinful person. He would take all that guilt away from that person in the cup and on His person. Then the moment he believes and receives the cup in which Christ died and rose from the dead for our salvation, then he receives Christ's cup. Now listen, when we really analyze it, isn't it logical? When God has done so much, when God gave the very best that all of heaven and the Godhead had to offer. When God sent Him to earth, and put Him through the rigors of 33 years of life among sinful men. Then He went to the Cross, suffered and died, and then through the power of God rose from the dead, and then we say, "Well that's still not enough!"
No wonder God gets upset, no wonder God can consign unbelievers to Hell. We had a person say, "How can God send good people to such a horrible place?" we said, "Look, you wouldn't ask that question if you had a concept of how much God gave to save sinful men. To reclaim what was lost in the garden when man disobeyed God's voice." See it's those who cannot understand,( utter disparage and tremendous lost at Adams choice to follow his wife instead of standing with his Father) the work of the Last Supper and then the Cross. And how much God literally gave up on our behalf. And then when it's spurned He has every right that we can imagine to consign people to a lost eternity. That's why. Now we hate to see people lost. Or when we hear those who profess to believe say and do the things that we now know are contrary to God, we hate the sin but still love and pray for the sinner. We hate to think of a loved one as being lost, but we can't make excuses for them because we know that God suffered to such an extent for the salvation of everyone that when they spurn it there's nothing else that God can do. His hands are tied - He can't come back and say, "Well I'll give you a second chance." That's why it's appointed unto man once to die and after that the judgment. And we'd better take what the Scripture says and believe it. Now verse 4. Boy this just keeps piling it on doesn't it? It doesn't get any better, it keeps getting worse.
Galatians 5:4a
"Christ is become of no effect..."
Now think about that. Here we go through all these different things to somehow earn salvation by doing this and that, but we've never had any faith in this Gospel, and what's the end result? Christ is become of no effect. Now that's sad isn't it? But it is so true. All the accomplished works have become moot. We stand in our condemned state because we've said as the fool, NO God!
Galatians 5:4a
"Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law;..." (or legalism, or works, mans idolatrous ego)
A Scripture just came to mind in Romans Chapter 3 so let's turn there for a moment. Oh let's look at it again. Verse 23.
"For I testify again (what does that imply? Hey, he's said it more than once before) to every man that is circumcised, (in other words if you're going to use this legalistic rite of circumcision as part of your salvation plus my Gospel in what Paul is implying) that he (that man) is a debtor to do the whole law."
In like manor or in the same token or vain if we're to exercise the practice of Holy-days, New Moons and Sabbaths we are held in or with the same contempt by God because our religious practice has been come to Him idolatry. For we've put our selves and our practices above what He has revealed through His Apostle. Now how many men have ever done the whole Law? Only one and that was Christ Himself. No one has ever been able to keep the whole Law as it's impossible. So when people think they can, they're just barking up the wrong tree. Every work or sign, wonder and miracle Jesus did was under the Law and therefore was a fulfillment of its requirement. They fulfilled the spiritual requirements not mans imposed rules or traditions. You cannot somehow or other gain salvation by doing something, and you're not going to gain salvation by saying, "Yes I believe Christ died for me and rose from the dead, but I've also got to do this and that in order to finish the work of the Cross." God wont have it!
If we do that then Christ shall profit us nothing. Why? Because God is a jealous God, that's why. God is jealous of what He has accomplished on our behalf, and what is that? That at the Last Supper and the Cross He finished every single demand of God on a sinful person. He would take all that guilt away from that person in the cup and on His person. Then the moment he believes and receives the cup in which Christ died and rose from the dead for our salvation, then he receives Christ's cup. Now listen, when we really analyze it, isn't it logical? When God has done so much, when God gave the very best that all of heaven and the Godhead had to offer. When God sent Him to earth, and put Him through the rigors of 33 years of life among sinful men. Then He went to the Cross, suffered and died, and then through the power of God rose from the dead, and then we say, "Well that's still not enough!"
No wonder God gets upset, no wonder God can consign unbelievers to Hell. We had a person say, "How can God send good people to such a horrible place?" we said, "Look, you wouldn't ask that question if you had a concept of how much God gave to save sinful men. To reclaim what was lost in the garden when man disobeyed God's voice." See it's those who cannot understand,( utter disparage and tremendous lost at Adams choice to follow his wife instead of standing with his Father) the work of the Last Supper and then the Cross. And how much God literally gave up on our behalf. And then when it's spurned He has every right that we can imagine to consign people to a lost eternity. That's why. Now we hate to see people lost. Or when we hear those who profess to believe say and do the things that we now know are contrary to God, we hate the sin but still love and pray for the sinner. We hate to think of a loved one as being lost, but we can't make excuses for them because we know that God suffered to such an extent for the salvation of everyone that when they spurn it there's nothing else that God can do. His hands are tied - He can't come back and say, "Well I'll give you a second chance." That's why it's appointed unto man once to die and after that the judgment. And we'd better take what the Scripture says and believe it. Now verse 4. Boy this just keeps piling it on doesn't it? It doesn't get any better, it keeps getting worse.
Galatians 5:4a
"Christ is become of no effect..."
Now think about that. Here we go through all these different things to somehow earn salvation by doing this and that, but we've never had any faith in this Gospel, and what's the end result? Christ is become of no effect. Now that's sad isn't it? But it is so true. All the accomplished works have become moot. We stand in our condemned state because we've said as the fool, NO God!
Galatians 5:4a
"Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law;..." (or legalism, or works, mans idolatrous ego)
A Scripture just came to mind in Romans Chapter 3 so let's turn there for a moment. Oh let's look at it again. Verse 23.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Part CVI on Galatians Study
Romans 7:4-6
"Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter."
Romans 7:4-6
"Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; (or the work of the Last Supper and the Cross) that ye should be married (begin to be conjoined)to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, (that old Adam nature. We were spiritually dead) the motions of sins, which were by the law, (remember all the Law could do was condemn. The Law always made whoever was trying to keep it, guilty. And yet that's the very thing that people somehow like to resurrect and bring back into their lifestyle) did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. (Remember the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life. That's the two opposites) But now (as a result of believing our Gospel) we (believers) are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held (this Hebrewism holds true even to today); that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter (the letter also refers to mans flesh which carries the penalty or curse of the letter)."
Remember that the letter kills (condemns) but the Spirit gives Life, resurrection Life into those who have died to self-will and the spirit of the world. Do you see how plain that is? We're not to be laboring under that old system of Law which is now crucified as far as God is concerned, it's dead, it's gone, and oh we saw that especially in the letters to the Corinthians. Remember that veil that was never taken away for Israel? They could never understand that the Law was now finished and done with and that's why they're still trying to keep it today. But we're to know better. We know that the Law has been satisfied, set aside, crucified and put to death. Now back to Galatians Chapter 5. Also remember when we speak of the Law we're not just talking about the Ten Commandments and Temple worship, BUT RATHER WE”RE TALKING ABOUT ANYTHING THAT WE CAN ATTACH TO THE BEAUTIFUL GOSPEL WE BELIEVE FOR OUR SALVATION. THAT'S LEGALISM! Legalism is anything that we can make up in our mind that we're going to do and then go and do it.That makes it Idolatry.
Now when we speak of legalism, we recall a little book that took place back in southwestern Missouri. We used to say, "Hey this is the river where that little fellow was the main character of the book we read." But we'll never forget the little fellow in the book was about 12 or 14 years old and he'd been kind of a little rascal, and he said, "Well I guess if I really want to please mama I'd better go and join the church." Does that sound typical?
Now we say that with a smile, but listen how many adults today come to that same place? Well maybe it's time we quit sewing our wild oats and we'd better settle down and we'd better go join a church." What is that? That's legalism. That's doing something that you can make up in your mind, "This is what I'm going to do!" Others will say, "Well I guess I should go and get baptized!" That's the same thing. It's still something that we can do, it's a works religion, it's legalism, and you could just as well take your sacrifices to some imagined temple someplace, because your accomplishment has the same end. Now reading on.
Galatians 5:1-2
"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul (now he always emphasizes his Apostleship. We saw that in the Corinthian letters.) say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, (in the flesh for salvation now remember) Christ shall profit you nothing."
Now we've got to remember in the context, what was the point of legalism that these Galatian believers were being subjected to? Well circumcision, because that was the main point of legalism in Judaism. So circumcision was the big point then - today we've got other things. Circumcision is not the point today that will lead people astray, but here at Galatia this was the crowning mis-teaching that they were being subjected to. And Paul says, "If you're going to practice the Jewish rite of circumcision as a part of salvation then my Gospel how that Christ died for you and rose from the dead for you will profit you nothing!" This is true of any doctrine of mans concoction which man adds to his religious legalism and its results is the same, it profits them nothing because like Israels example its idolatry.
Now that we've shaken people up over the years - we know we have when we say now don't just limit that to circumcision. We can put anything in there that a man or woman can do when they add anything to Paul's beautiful Gospel for salvation, we don't care what it is. We've had people say, "My pastor said that unless I speak in tongues I can't be saved." Well let's just put it in there so you can see, and this is no malice toward anyone.
"Behold I Paul say unto you that if you speak in tongues as a requirement for salvation then Christ shall profit you nothing." Now we've got you thinking haven't we? All right let's use another word, baptism! Yeah, we see heads nodding all over the place.
"Behold I Paul say unto you that if you are baptized in water as a requirement for salvation then Christ shall profit you nothing." If we have to tell God that we have to be baptized in order to be saved, then God's going to tell us, "Sorry I'll have nothing to do with you."
Now that's strong language and we know it is, but listen that's what the Book is talking about. If we say, "Well I'm going to go and join a church," and if we're expecting that to somehow be part of our salvation then immediately we cancel the work of the Last Supper and the Cross. That's what the Book says, it's not our private idea or opinion. It would be great if we could do things like that for salvation. We wish we could tell people, "Go join a church and you'll make it to heaven." We remember an old neighbor of ours years ago and we were talking across the fence, and one of the local pastors had come out and told him if he would just come in and join his church and give $5.00 a year, he'd go to heaven when he died. And the old boy told me, "Now even I know better than that." Well thank God there are still people a little smarter than the others. But listen the world is full of these crazy ideas, but they reject the simplicity of this Gospel. Now verse 3.
"Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter."
Romans 7:4-6
"Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; (or the work of the Last Supper and the Cross) that ye should be married (begin to be conjoined)to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, (that old Adam nature. We were spiritually dead) the motions of sins, which were by the law, (remember all the Law could do was condemn. The Law always made whoever was trying to keep it, guilty. And yet that's the very thing that people somehow like to resurrect and bring back into their lifestyle) did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. (Remember the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life. That's the two opposites) But now (as a result of believing our Gospel) we (believers) are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held (this Hebrewism holds true even to today); that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter (the letter also refers to mans flesh which carries the penalty or curse of the letter)."
Remember that the letter kills (condemns) but the Spirit gives Life, resurrection Life into those who have died to self-will and the spirit of the world. Do you see how plain that is? We're not to be laboring under that old system of Law which is now crucified as far as God is concerned, it's dead, it's gone, and oh we saw that especially in the letters to the Corinthians. Remember that veil that was never taken away for Israel? They could never understand that the Law was now finished and done with and that's why they're still trying to keep it today. But we're to know better. We know that the Law has been satisfied, set aside, crucified and put to death. Now back to Galatians Chapter 5. Also remember when we speak of the Law we're not just talking about the Ten Commandments and Temple worship, BUT RATHER WE”RE TALKING ABOUT ANYTHING THAT WE CAN ATTACH TO THE BEAUTIFUL GOSPEL WE BELIEVE FOR OUR SALVATION. THAT'S LEGALISM! Legalism is anything that we can make up in our mind that we're going to do and then go and do it.That makes it Idolatry.
Now when we speak of legalism, we recall a little book that took place back in southwestern Missouri. We used to say, "Hey this is the river where that little fellow was the main character of the book we read." But we'll never forget the little fellow in the book was about 12 or 14 years old and he'd been kind of a little rascal, and he said, "Well I guess if I really want to please mama I'd better go and join the church." Does that sound typical?
Now we say that with a smile, but listen how many adults today come to that same place? Well maybe it's time we quit sewing our wild oats and we'd better settle down and we'd better go join a church." What is that? That's legalism. That's doing something that you can make up in your mind, "This is what I'm going to do!" Others will say, "Well I guess I should go and get baptized!" That's the same thing. It's still something that we can do, it's a works religion, it's legalism, and you could just as well take your sacrifices to some imagined temple someplace, because your accomplishment has the same end. Now reading on.
Galatians 5:1-2
"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul (now he always emphasizes his Apostleship. We saw that in the Corinthian letters.) say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, (in the flesh for salvation now remember) Christ shall profit you nothing."
Now we've got to remember in the context, what was the point of legalism that these Galatian believers were being subjected to? Well circumcision, because that was the main point of legalism in Judaism. So circumcision was the big point then - today we've got other things. Circumcision is not the point today that will lead people astray, but here at Galatia this was the crowning mis-teaching that they were being subjected to. And Paul says, "If you're going to practice the Jewish rite of circumcision as a part of salvation then my Gospel how that Christ died for you and rose from the dead for you will profit you nothing!" This is true of any doctrine of mans concoction which man adds to his religious legalism and its results is the same, it profits them nothing because like Israels example its idolatry.
Now that we've shaken people up over the years - we know we have when we say now don't just limit that to circumcision. We can put anything in there that a man or woman can do when they add anything to Paul's beautiful Gospel for salvation, we don't care what it is. We've had people say, "My pastor said that unless I speak in tongues I can't be saved." Well let's just put it in there so you can see, and this is no malice toward anyone.
"Behold I Paul say unto you that if you speak in tongues as a requirement for salvation then Christ shall profit you nothing." Now we've got you thinking haven't we? All right let's use another word, baptism! Yeah, we see heads nodding all over the place.
"Behold I Paul say unto you that if you are baptized in water as a requirement for salvation then Christ shall profit you nothing." If we have to tell God that we have to be baptized in order to be saved, then God's going to tell us, "Sorry I'll have nothing to do with you."
Now that's strong language and we know it is, but listen that's what the Book is talking about. If we say, "Well I'm going to go and join a church," and if we're expecting that to somehow be part of our salvation then immediately we cancel the work of the Last Supper and the Cross. That's what the Book says, it's not our private idea or opinion. It would be great if we could do things like that for salvation. We wish we could tell people, "Go join a church and you'll make it to heaven." We remember an old neighbor of ours years ago and we were talking across the fence, and one of the local pastors had come out and told him if he would just come in and join his church and give $5.00 a year, he'd go to heaven when he died. And the old boy told me, "Now even I know better than that." Well thank God there are still people a little smarter than the others. But listen the world is full of these crazy ideas, but they reject the simplicity of this Gospel. Now verse 3.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Part CV on Galatians Study
Galatians 5:1a
"Stand fast therefore (because of what he has just shown us) in the (what's the next word?) liberty..."
We Americans understand that more than any other people on earth, don't we? Now, liberty isn't license. It's turning into that, sad to say, but it was never intended for liberty to be license. But nevertheless we stand now as free men and women under Grace and never, never give in to the horrors of religions legalism (the customs of the Hebrews or Judaism, Islam and a host of others).
Remember Ishmael stood for the Law and legalism whereas Isaac was a picture of the freedom and liberty that we have in Grace because of the promises of God. Now that's what it all really boils down to. God has promised that if we will believe first for our our conversion into redemption and then unto salvation what Christ has done for us in the finished work of the Cross, then we are His for eternity. It's just like the Lord Jesus said, in John Chapter 17-
John 17:9
"I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine."
That was a different setting than the Church Age believers, but yes that holds for us as well. We are literally God's gift to the Son in response to His obedience to the work of the Cross. Then we become His heirs as we receive the discipline of the Holy Spirits teaching and training. For the illumination of the scriptures of the Old in the Light of the New and we by this revealing see our sinfulness and the utter sinfulness of sin. And then the revelation of what the Last Supper, garden cup and the death on the cross on through the Lord's ascension is to us. All right these next few verses are going to shock a lot of people - they have in the past and we're sure they will again in the future if we continue on. Where Paul writes now to us as well as to the Galatian believers -
Galatians 5:1
"Stand fast therefore in the liberty (or the freedom) wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."
Because the yoke of bondage has been done away with, but yet people will just go to all lengths and extremes it seems to pull that bondage back into their lifestyles. They think they have to have some kind of a works religion to satisfy the ego. It has to be the ego because when you're saved by Grace there's be no ego left. There is no pride because we deserve none of it, and we know that we have to ask the Lord constantly, "Why have you seen fit to give out such Grace on us?" You see dead men have no ego, or pride nor can the spirit of the world any longer harass them. We feel that the Lord has just blessed us so abundantly, but not because we deserve his Grace and blessing. We don't deserve a nickel's worth of it. But we've been crucified in Christ with Christ and that alone changes us. Because we've been translated into being a God-child from being a Satan-child.
But, oh, the liberty that we have in Christ because of what He's accomplished on our behalf. We need to look at a verse in Colossians Chapter 2. It's a verse that we use quite often and we love it because it just rings like a bell.
Colossians 2:13-14
"And you, (believers as members of the Body of Christ) being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, (as Gentiles we were just as lost as anybody could be) hath he (Christ) quickened (made alive spiritually) together with him, having (already) forgiven you all trespasses; (how many? All of them from start to finish.) Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;"
Now isn't that a beautiful way of putting it? He took the Law and all of it's demands, and all of legalism with its penalty, and just literally jerked it away and nailed it to His Cross. Picture that in your mind. As He hung there and was crucified for the sins of the world, the Law was crucified with Him (the hidden meaning of the Lord's Supper) and as we've shown we were in Him there as well. And it is now a dead system, and oh, the human race is constantly pulling it back out of the grave. With every “Christmas” and every “Easter” ceremony of customs of man, they rehear His earthly walk. And thereby keeping Him in the flesh of man. Have you ever fooled with something that's been dead for a while? It's not pretty is it? Listen, that's the way we must feel about legalism, and this is what Paul is trying to hammer home with these Galatians and people today. "Why do you go back with that weak and beggarly stuff that's been done away with?" It's been crucified. That thought reminds us of Romans Chapter 7, and let's look at verse 4.
"Stand fast therefore (because of what he has just shown us) in the (what's the next word?) liberty..."
We Americans understand that more than any other people on earth, don't we? Now, liberty isn't license. It's turning into that, sad to say, but it was never intended for liberty to be license. But nevertheless we stand now as free men and women under Grace and never, never give in to the horrors of religions legalism (the customs of the Hebrews or Judaism, Islam and a host of others).
Remember Ishmael stood for the Law and legalism whereas Isaac was a picture of the freedom and liberty that we have in Grace because of the promises of God. Now that's what it all really boils down to. God has promised that if we will believe first for our our conversion into redemption and then unto salvation what Christ has done for us in the finished work of the Cross, then we are His for eternity. It's just like the Lord Jesus said, in John Chapter 17-
John 17:9
"I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine."
That was a different setting than the Church Age believers, but yes that holds for us as well. We are literally God's gift to the Son in response to His obedience to the work of the Cross. Then we become His heirs as we receive the discipline of the Holy Spirits teaching and training. For the illumination of the scriptures of the Old in the Light of the New and we by this revealing see our sinfulness and the utter sinfulness of sin. And then the revelation of what the Last Supper, garden cup and the death on the cross on through the Lord's ascension is to us. All right these next few verses are going to shock a lot of people - they have in the past and we're sure they will again in the future if we continue on. Where Paul writes now to us as well as to the Galatian believers -
Galatians 5:1
"Stand fast therefore in the liberty (or the freedom) wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."
Because the yoke of bondage has been done away with, but yet people will just go to all lengths and extremes it seems to pull that bondage back into their lifestyles. They think they have to have some kind of a works religion to satisfy the ego. It has to be the ego because when you're saved by Grace there's be no ego left. There is no pride because we deserve none of it, and we know that we have to ask the Lord constantly, "Why have you seen fit to give out such Grace on us?" You see dead men have no ego, or pride nor can the spirit of the world any longer harass them. We feel that the Lord has just blessed us so abundantly, but not because we deserve his Grace and blessing. We don't deserve a nickel's worth of it. But we've been crucified in Christ with Christ and that alone changes us. Because we've been translated into being a God-child from being a Satan-child.
But, oh, the liberty that we have in Christ because of what He's accomplished on our behalf. We need to look at a verse in Colossians Chapter 2. It's a verse that we use quite often and we love it because it just rings like a bell.
Colossians 2:13-14
"And you, (believers as members of the Body of Christ) being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, (as Gentiles we were just as lost as anybody could be) hath he (Christ) quickened (made alive spiritually) together with him, having (already) forgiven you all trespasses; (how many? All of them from start to finish.) Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;"
Now isn't that a beautiful way of putting it? He took the Law and all of it's demands, and all of legalism with its penalty, and just literally jerked it away and nailed it to His Cross. Picture that in your mind. As He hung there and was crucified for the sins of the world, the Law was crucified with Him (the hidden meaning of the Lord's Supper) and as we've shown we were in Him there as well. And it is now a dead system, and oh, the human race is constantly pulling it back out of the grave. With every “Christmas” and every “Easter” ceremony of customs of man, they rehear His earthly walk. And thereby keeping Him in the flesh of man. Have you ever fooled with something that's been dead for a while? It's not pretty is it? Listen, that's the way we must feel about legalism, and this is what Paul is trying to hammer home with these Galatians and people today. "Why do you go back with that weak and beggarly stuff that's been done away with?" It's been crucified. That thought reminds us of Romans Chapter 7, and let's look at verse 4.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Part CIV on Galatians Study
Galatians 4:27
"For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not; for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband."
Now the idea here is that this is speaking of Sarai, because she was the one who had never had childbirth. She was the one who was barren. Now in the last half of the verse we feel, is speaking of Ishmael as being spiritually desolate or totally earthy. That has to be a reference to Hagar. And then again, look at the real world. Who ended up with far more progeny. The offspring of Ishmael or the offspring of Isaac? Ishmael did! The Arab world outnumbers the Hebrews today 50 to 1. And so it's perfect. She that had a husband, which would have to refer to Sarai and Isaac, had far fewer in number than she who didn't.
Galatians 4:28
"Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise."
What kind of a promise? Tell you what the promise was. That when Christ finished the work of redemption, what did God promise Him? That everyone who put their trust in what He had just accomplished would be His for all eternity (Psalm 2:8). God-Yehovah made the promise, that every believer would be His for all eternity. He didn't die in vain. He's not going to get near as many as we think He should, but the multitude or residue that have become true believers are His and no one can ever take them from Him.
Galatians 4:29
"But as then he that was born after the flesh (Ishmael) persecuted him that was born after the Spirit (Isaac.) even so it is now."
Has anything changed? No. It's still the same. The unbelieving world outnumbers us, and we're not going to put a percentage on it, but it's by a tremendous amount. And what do they do? They are constantly trying to put us down. We've seen that in just the last few months. How that when a group will adhere to the Scriptures, what does the world do? They just scream and holler. It's always been that way. And it's not going to change.
Galatians 4:30-31
"Nevertheless (in spite of everything) what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son; (why?) for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free."
The part that we want you to remember as we go to bed tonight, "Cast out the bondwoman and her son because" what are they a picture of ? Religious Legalism!! If we're not known for anything else by now, it's that we hate, we detest religious legalism, and legalism for legalisms sake, because God does. And so the whole admonition of Scripture now is, that once we understand this Gospel of Grace, what do we do with legalism? You cast it out, just exactly like Abraham and Sarah sent Hagar and Ishmael into the desert. It is a beautiful picture. He didn't build them a tent next door. He didn't say, "Well let's have consort even though we may not be in the same building." No Sir! There had to be a total break between grace and legalism. And if we don't remember anything else, remember that. Cast out the bondwoman and her son for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. Then Paul puts the cap on it in verse 31.
Galatians 4:31
"So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free." Paul just kept right on writing and so after he makes his point with the allegory, what does he say next?
"For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not; for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband."
Now the idea here is that this is speaking of Sarai, because she was the one who had never had childbirth. She was the one who was barren. Now in the last half of the verse we feel, is speaking of Ishmael as being spiritually desolate or totally earthy. That has to be a reference to Hagar. And then again, look at the real world. Who ended up with far more progeny. The offspring of Ishmael or the offspring of Isaac? Ishmael did! The Arab world outnumbers the Hebrews today 50 to 1. And so it's perfect. She that had a husband, which would have to refer to Sarai and Isaac, had far fewer in number than she who didn't.
Galatians 4:28
"Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise."
What kind of a promise? Tell you what the promise was. That when Christ finished the work of redemption, what did God promise Him? That everyone who put their trust in what He had just accomplished would be His for all eternity (Psalm 2:8). God-Yehovah made the promise, that every believer would be His for all eternity. He didn't die in vain. He's not going to get near as many as we think He should, but the multitude or residue that have become true believers are His and no one can ever take them from Him.
Galatians 4:29
"But as then he that was born after the flesh (Ishmael) persecuted him that was born after the Spirit (Isaac.) even so it is now."
Has anything changed? No. It's still the same. The unbelieving world outnumbers us, and we're not going to put a percentage on it, but it's by a tremendous amount. And what do they do? They are constantly trying to put us down. We've seen that in just the last few months. How that when a group will adhere to the Scriptures, what does the world do? They just scream and holler. It's always been that way. And it's not going to change.
Galatians 4:30-31
"Nevertheless (in spite of everything) what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son; (why?) for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free."
The part that we want you to remember as we go to bed tonight, "Cast out the bondwoman and her son because" what are they a picture of ? Religious Legalism!! If we're not known for anything else by now, it's that we hate, we detest religious legalism, and legalism for legalisms sake, because God does. And so the whole admonition of Scripture now is, that once we understand this Gospel of Grace, what do we do with legalism? You cast it out, just exactly like Abraham and Sarah sent Hagar and Ishmael into the desert. It is a beautiful picture. He didn't build them a tent next door. He didn't say, "Well let's have consort even though we may not be in the same building." No Sir! There had to be a total break between grace and legalism. And if we don't remember anything else, remember that. Cast out the bondwoman and her son for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. Then Paul puts the cap on it in verse 31.
Galatians 4:31
"So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free." Paul just kept right on writing and so after he makes his point with the allegory, what does he say next?
Friday, June 22, 2012
Part CIII on Galatians Study
Galatians 5:1b
"...and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."
Now let's see what the Apostle Peter said about the Law. Come back to Acts chapter 15, and pick up the text at that great Jerusalem counsel. This is when the Judaizers and the Jewish leaders, and that included Peter and the eleven, were coming down hard on the Apostle Paul. Remember his message for teaching the Gentile believers was faith in the finished work of the Cross + nothing. But those at Jerusalem were trying to convince him that those Gentiles also had to practice circumcision and keeping of the Law and all the statues and ordinances for them to be saved. (Acts 15:1-5) And we know that Paul adamantly refused to accept that.
Then finally Peter wakes up, the Holy Spirit gave him a big push, and he realizes that - "Hey, years ago up there in Caesarea, God used me to take the Word to a Gentile by the name of Cornelius." We know that Peter witnessed the salvation of those Gentiles, and again God had the long term in view, not the near, so God had Peter all primed and ready to come to Paul's defense by using something that took place 12 years earlier. It doesn't say 12 years here but chronologically that's what it was.
Acts 15:7
"And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them. Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe." Now look how Peter describes the Law in verse 10.
Acts 15:10
"Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples (the believers up there at Antioch who had become believers of Paul's Gospel) which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?"
Now goodness sake what was the yoke? The Law! The Law was a heavy yoke of bondage. We've made that point before that living under the Law was severe. For example if the old High Priest goofed in one little detail, what happened? He was dead! We don't know how much truth there is to it, but you've all heard the account that the High Priest actually had a rope around his ankle when he went in behind the veil. Now if that be true we can see why, because if he would have goofed with any part of that ritual on the Day of Atonement, he was a dead man. And of course the Hebrews realized that was always a possibility so they had a rope on his foot to drag him out. They certainly couldn't go back behind the veil and carry him out. But the point we're making here is that the Law was SEVERE! It was like a heavy yoke on the neck of an oxen, and a yoke is never an easy burden to bear, and that's what the Law was. We've said that it was a corral and tutor which served to hem in, keep them separated and was used to train and was intended to keep the Hebrews separate from those around them, but it failed to do so. All right now coming back to Galatians chapter 4 once again. Paul is using that same analogy, that the Law was the flesh, it was like a heavy yoke, it only brought in bondage. Just as Aaron's priesthood could only deal with the external. Now verse 25 of Galatians 4.
Galatians 4:25a
"For this Agar is (typically now in the allegory) Mount Sinai in Arabia,..."
Now you've heard us say that we feel that the Apostle Paul spent one year at Sinai. What one great event do you always associate with Sinai in Arabia? The Ten Commandments. Now, that's what Paul says. Hagar is a picture of the giving of the Ten Commandments on Sinai. Now let's go on.
"...and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."
Now let's see what the Apostle Peter said about the Law. Come back to Acts chapter 15, and pick up the text at that great Jerusalem counsel. This is when the Judaizers and the Jewish leaders, and that included Peter and the eleven, were coming down hard on the Apostle Paul. Remember his message for teaching the Gentile believers was faith in the finished work of the Cross + nothing. But those at Jerusalem were trying to convince him that those Gentiles also had to practice circumcision and keeping of the Law and all the statues and ordinances for them to be saved. (Acts 15:1-5) And we know that Paul adamantly refused to accept that.
Then finally Peter wakes up, the Holy Spirit gave him a big push, and he realizes that - "Hey, years ago up there in Caesarea, God used me to take the Word to a Gentile by the name of Cornelius." We know that Peter witnessed the salvation of those Gentiles, and again God had the long term in view, not the near, so God had Peter all primed and ready to come to Paul's defense by using something that took place 12 years earlier. It doesn't say 12 years here but chronologically that's what it was.
Acts 15:7
"And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them. Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe." Now look how Peter describes the Law in verse 10.
Acts 15:10
"Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples (the believers up there at Antioch who had become believers of Paul's Gospel) which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?"
Now goodness sake what was the yoke? The Law! The Law was a heavy yoke of bondage. We've made that point before that living under the Law was severe. For example if the old High Priest goofed in one little detail, what happened? He was dead! We don't know how much truth there is to it, but you've all heard the account that the High Priest actually had a rope around his ankle when he went in behind the veil. Now if that be true we can see why, because if he would have goofed with any part of that ritual on the Day of Atonement, he was a dead man. And of course the Hebrews realized that was always a possibility so they had a rope on his foot to drag him out. They certainly couldn't go back behind the veil and carry him out. But the point we're making here is that the Law was SEVERE! It was like a heavy yoke on the neck of an oxen, and a yoke is never an easy burden to bear, and that's what the Law was. We've said that it was a corral and tutor which served to hem in, keep them separated and was used to train and was intended to keep the Hebrews separate from those around them, but it failed to do so. All right now coming back to Galatians chapter 4 once again. Paul is using that same analogy, that the Law was the flesh, it was like a heavy yoke, it only brought in bondage. Just as Aaron's priesthood could only deal with the external. Now verse 25 of Galatians 4.
Galatians 4:25a
"For this Agar is (typically now in the allegory) Mount Sinai in Arabia,..."
Now you've heard us say that we feel that the Apostle Paul spent one year at Sinai. What one great event do you always associate with Sinai in Arabia? The Ten Commandments. Now, that's what Paul says. Hagar is a picture of the giving of the Ten Commandments on Sinai. Now let's go on.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Part CII on Galatians Study
Galatians 5:1b
"...and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."
Now let's see what the Apostle Peter said about the Law. Come back to Acts chapter 15, and pick up the text at that great Jerusalem counsel. This is when the Judaizers and the Jewish leaders, and that included Peter and the eleven, were coming down hard on the Apostle Paul. Remember his message for teaching the Gentile believers was faith in the finished work of the Cross + nothing. But those at Jerusalem were trying to convince him that those Gentiles also had to practice circumcision and keeping of the Law and all the statues and ordinances for them to be saved. (Acts 15:1-5) And we know that Paul adamantly refused to accept that.
Then finally Peter wakes up, the Holy Spirit gave him a big push, and he realizes that - "Hey, years ago up there in Caesarea, God used me to take the Word to a Gentile by the name of Cornelius." We know that Peter witnessed the salvation of those Gentiles, and again God had the long term in view, not the near, so God had Peter all primed and ready to come to Paul's defense by using something that took place 12 years earlier. It doesn't say 12 years here but chronologically that's what it was.
Acts 15:7
"And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them. Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe." Now look how Peter describes the Law in verse 10.
Acts 15:10
"Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples (the believers up there at Antioch who had become believers of Paul's Gospel) which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?"
Now goodness sake what was the yoke? The Law! The Law was a heavy yoke of bondage. We've made that point before that living under the Law was severe. For example if the old High Priest goofed in one little detail, what happened? He was dead! We don't know how much truth there is to it, but you've all heard the account that the High Priest actually had a rope around his ankle when he went in behind the veil. Now if that be true we can see why, because if he would have goofed with any part of that ritual on the Day of Atonement, he was a dead man. And of course the Hebrews realized that was always a possibility so they had a rope on his foot to drag him out. They certainly couldn't go back behind the veil and carry him out. But the point we're making here is that the Law was SEVERE! It was like a heavy yoke on the neck of an oxen, and a yoke is never an easy burden to bear, and that's what the Law was. We've said that it was a corral and tutor which served to hem in, keep them separated and was used to train and was intended to keep the Hebrews separate from those around them, but it failed to do so. All right now coming back to Galatians chapter 4 once again. Paul is using that same analogy, that the Law was the flesh, it was like a heavy yoke, it only brought in bondage. Just as Aaron's priesthood could only deal with the external. Now verse 25 of Galatians 4.
Galatians 4:25a
"For this Agar is (typically now in the allegory) Mount Sinai in Arabia,..."
Now you've heard us say that we feel that the Apostle Paul spent one year at Sinai. What one great event do you always associate with Sinai in Arabia? The Ten Commandments. Now, that's what Paul says. Hagar is a picture of the giving of the Ten Commandments on Sinai. Now let's go on.
"...and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."
Now let's see what the Apostle Peter said about the Law. Come back to Acts chapter 15, and pick up the text at that great Jerusalem counsel. This is when the Judaizers and the Jewish leaders, and that included Peter and the eleven, were coming down hard on the Apostle Paul. Remember his message for teaching the Gentile believers was faith in the finished work of the Cross + nothing. But those at Jerusalem were trying to convince him that those Gentiles also had to practice circumcision and keeping of the Law and all the statues and ordinances for them to be saved. (Acts 15:1-5) And we know that Paul adamantly refused to accept that.
Then finally Peter wakes up, the Holy Spirit gave him a big push, and he realizes that - "Hey, years ago up there in Caesarea, God used me to take the Word to a Gentile by the name of Cornelius." We know that Peter witnessed the salvation of those Gentiles, and again God had the long term in view, not the near, so God had Peter all primed and ready to come to Paul's defense by using something that took place 12 years earlier. It doesn't say 12 years here but chronologically that's what it was.
Acts 15:7
"And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them. Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe." Now look how Peter describes the Law in verse 10.
Acts 15:10
"Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples (the believers up there at Antioch who had become believers of Paul's Gospel) which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?"
Now goodness sake what was the yoke? The Law! The Law was a heavy yoke of bondage. We've made that point before that living under the Law was severe. For example if the old High Priest goofed in one little detail, what happened? He was dead! We don't know how much truth there is to it, but you've all heard the account that the High Priest actually had a rope around his ankle when he went in behind the veil. Now if that be true we can see why, because if he would have goofed with any part of that ritual on the Day of Atonement, he was a dead man. And of course the Hebrews realized that was always a possibility so they had a rope on his foot to drag him out. They certainly couldn't go back behind the veil and carry him out. But the point we're making here is that the Law was SEVERE! It was like a heavy yoke on the neck of an oxen, and a yoke is never an easy burden to bear, and that's what the Law was. We've said that it was a corral and tutor which served to hem in, keep them separated and was used to train and was intended to keep the Hebrews separate from those around them, but it failed to do so. All right now coming back to Galatians chapter 4 once again. Paul is using that same analogy, that the Law was the flesh, it was like a heavy yoke, it only brought in bondage. Just as Aaron's priesthood could only deal with the external. Now verse 25 of Galatians 4.
Galatians 4:25a
"For this Agar is (typically now in the allegory) Mount Sinai in Arabia,..."
Now you've heard us say that we feel that the Apostle Paul spent one year at Sinai. What one great event do you always associate with Sinai in Arabia? The Ten Commandments. Now, that's what Paul says. Hagar is a picture of the giving of the Ten Commandments on Sinai. Now let's go on.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Part CI on Galatians Study
Genesis 21:4
"And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him. And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him. And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me. And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age. and the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned."
Now we like to make a point that chronologically now Isaac has to be 5 years old when he's weaned, and that of course makes Ishmael about 18 or 19.
Galatians 4:22-24
"For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; (remember God had nothing to do with that birth) but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar."
Paul is going to use this allegory now in this Age of Grace so keep all this in mind as we go back now to Genesis and pick up the account in chapter 21. First we have the conception of the boy Ishmael by the slave girl Hagar and his birth. And we found that Hagar taunts Sarai because she was with child and Sarai wasn't, and we found that Sarai just literally kicks her out, whereupon the Lord sent her back. Why does God send her back? Because we know 18 years later she's going to go back to that same desert. But you see God's always got the big picture in mind. God doesn't look at the here and now necessarily, but He can leap thousands of years in Scripture as though it were a day, and that's exactly what He did here.
We think this whole scenario in the episode of these two sons, one by the slave girl and the son of promise was programmed by God so that Paul could use it as a tremendous lesson for us today. Now that's the way we look at Scripture. None of this comes by accident. All right, as we carry on, we find Isaac is 5 years old and is weaned, and Ishmael is about 18 and again that same attitude of rebellion and taunt come in and now we find in verse 9 of chapter 21-
Genesis 21:9
"And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking."
In other words Ishmael was simply teasing that little 5 year old Isaac. And you know what teenagers can do with little `tail-enders,' that's what we call them. Ishmael was just making life miserable for little Isaac, and of course Sarah, who by then was 95, just couldn't take it, and says -
Genesis 21:10
"Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac."
Have you got the picture? Get him out of here. Now does she say move them next door? Does she say "send them down the trail a half mile?" No sir, but rather, "out of sight, out of mind." Now we know in reality that Isaac and Ishmael did come back together for the funeral of Abraham. But spiritually and naturally speaking we know that there was no union between them, just as there isn't today, they remain factions (The Saudi Arabians with its twelve tribes have very little to do with Israel.) Isaac of course continues on in the spiritual line, and gets a wife from the relatives up in Syria. Ishmael on the other hand marries an Egyptian, just a total diversion of the genealogy of these two young men. But the part that we really want all to see is back here in chapter 21 is what the Scripture says -
Genesis 21:10b
"...Cast out this bondwoman and her son for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son even with Isaac."
Now remember this is more than just the thought of a mother or a woman, this is now the Word of God. "Cast out this bondwoman." Now we're ready to go back to Galatians chapter 4, and put the whole allegory into common sense interpretation. Why did all this happen? Well of course there is more than one reason. But one of which was so that Paul could use this very typical setting in that Middle Eastern desert economy of these families, and now he can bring it to such a lesson for us today. Now let's come back again to verse 24 of Galatians chapter 4. These two boys, one born after the flesh, the other born as a result of promise -
Galatians 4:24
"Which things are an allegory: for these (2 young men) are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar."
So in reality what is spoken here as bondage. The Law! In fact come on over to chapter 5 for a moment. We'll be there later-
Galatians 5:1b
"...and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."
"And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him. And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him. And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me. And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age. and the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned."
Now we like to make a point that chronologically now Isaac has to be 5 years old when he's weaned, and that of course makes Ishmael about 18 or 19.
Galatians 4:22-24
"For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; (remember God had nothing to do with that birth) but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar."
Paul is going to use this allegory now in this Age of Grace so keep all this in mind as we go back now to Genesis and pick up the account in chapter 21. First we have the conception of the boy Ishmael by the slave girl Hagar and his birth. And we found that Hagar taunts Sarai because she was with child and Sarai wasn't, and we found that Sarai just literally kicks her out, whereupon the Lord sent her back. Why does God send her back? Because we know 18 years later she's going to go back to that same desert. But you see God's always got the big picture in mind. God doesn't look at the here and now necessarily, but He can leap thousands of years in Scripture as though it were a day, and that's exactly what He did here.
We think this whole scenario in the episode of these two sons, one by the slave girl and the son of promise was programmed by God so that Paul could use it as a tremendous lesson for us today. Now that's the way we look at Scripture. None of this comes by accident. All right, as we carry on, we find Isaac is 5 years old and is weaned, and Ishmael is about 18 and again that same attitude of rebellion and taunt come in and now we find in verse 9 of chapter 21-
Genesis 21:9
"And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking."
In other words Ishmael was simply teasing that little 5 year old Isaac. And you know what teenagers can do with little `tail-enders,' that's what we call them. Ishmael was just making life miserable for little Isaac, and of course Sarah, who by then was 95, just couldn't take it, and says -
Genesis 21:10
"Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac."
Have you got the picture? Get him out of here. Now does she say move them next door? Does she say "send them down the trail a half mile?" No sir, but rather, "out of sight, out of mind." Now we know in reality that Isaac and Ishmael did come back together for the funeral of Abraham. But spiritually and naturally speaking we know that there was no union between them, just as there isn't today, they remain factions (The Saudi Arabians with its twelve tribes have very little to do with Israel.) Isaac of course continues on in the spiritual line, and gets a wife from the relatives up in Syria. Ishmael on the other hand marries an Egyptian, just a total diversion of the genealogy of these two young men. But the part that we really want all to see is back here in chapter 21 is what the Scripture says -
Genesis 21:10b
"...Cast out this bondwoman and her son for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son even with Isaac."
Now remember this is more than just the thought of a mother or a woman, this is now the Word of God. "Cast out this bondwoman." Now we're ready to go back to Galatians chapter 4, and put the whole allegory into common sense interpretation. Why did all this happen? Well of course there is more than one reason. But one of which was so that Paul could use this very typical setting in that Middle Eastern desert economy of these families, and now he can bring it to such a lesson for us today. Now let's come back again to verse 24 of Galatians chapter 4. These two boys, one born after the flesh, the other born as a result of promise -
Galatians 4:24
"Which things are an allegory: for these (2 young men) are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar."
So in reality what is spoken here as bondage. The Law! In fact come on over to chapter 5 for a moment. We'll be there later-
Galatians 5:1b
"...and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Part C on Galatians Study
Genesis 16:1-2
"Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing; I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai."
Now when we share this we like to make the point, who is totally lacking in this conversation? Well God is. God hasn't said a word yet. All God has said back in chapter 12 was:
Genesis 12:2a
"And I will make of thee a great nation,"
Now all this had to start with a son. But here in this conversation in chapter 16, God hasn't said a word, and that's why when we get back to Galatians this whole scenario of Hagar and Ishmael is called, "after the flesh." This is after the flesh, or in mans sufficiency, works and when Isaac comes along it will be the, "promise of God." For is spiritual because he is the one promised to Abraham and then to Sarai. Can you see the difference? God isn't involved here at this time at all. Now we know sovereignly He is. We know that the Sovereign God had to be somehow or other controlling the flow of all these events, but nevertheless so far as the text is concerned God has nothing to say about having a child by the slave woman after the flesh. Now don't forget that. Lord knows we've all had our Hagars and Ishmeals. Now verse 3.
Genesis 16:3-4
"And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. (so that she could have a child by him, and of course she does in verse 4.) And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes."
Now in verse 5, we have to understand the female of the species, and under the customs of the day, and according to the laws of the old Babylonian czar, if a wife could not have a child physically then it was perfectly moral and upright in their culture to have a child then by a servant or slave girl, and that's what they practiced here. They were not going against morality of their day, but on the other hand God has not told them to do it this way. To do this their stepping outside the pure family boundaries. So they did it in the energy of the flesh, and now is with child, and look what happens in verse 5.
Genesis 16:5
"And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom: and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised (that enters into the make-up of the species) in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee."
Now all of a sudden Hagar was literally making a fool out of Sarai, simply because Hagar was able to bare a child and Sarai wasn't. It just infuriated Sarai and she said, "the LORD judge between me and thee." Now verse 6.
Genesis 16:6
"But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand: do to her as it pleaseth thee. (and bingo, what happened? Sarai kicks her out. Let's just put it in plain English.) And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face."
Because after all Sarai was the boss we'd say, she was the mistress of the house, and so Hagar the Egyptian slave girl fled. Now remember Hagar hasn't had her child yet. Now verse 7.
Genesis 16:7-9
"And the angel of the LORD (this was Christ or God the Son in His Old Testament appearance) found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness by the fountain in the way to Shur. And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai. And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands."
Now that was a command from God. "Go back to Sarai and Abram." No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Now verse 10.
Genesis 16:10-11
"And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, (that is coming out of Ishmael, twelve tribes it would be) that it shall not be numbered for multitude. And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction."
So Hagar goes back to the tent of Abram or Sarai, and allow us to explain that. We saw a documentary a few years ago where the film crew were visiting a Arab Sheik (I hope I'm pronouncing that right) out in the desert of the Negev, it was a very interesting situation. He served them in what he called his tent, and there really wasn't much there. But out behind his tent were 4 smaller tents. While he was making coffee for them and they were sitting there on the ground, all of a sudden here come 24 of the prettiest little kids you can imagine. They were all pretty much the same size, and they just about smothered the crew. They tried to get the rings off their fingers and were looking at their hair, and they were just having a ball, and all of a sudden the old fellow just made one bark like a dog and those kids were gone. Well, after they had their coffee and were able to roam around a little bit they saw those 4 tents out behind his tent and they found out that those were his four wives. So if you divide 24 X 4 then they had an average of 6 kids. But it just immediately set the setting for this lesson here.
Now when we speak of Hagar coming back and dwelling with Abram and Sarai, they weren't in the same tent. The women had their own individual tent out behind Abram's (and that's evident when you read a little later when the Lord comes and says that they're going to have a child). Then Sarai was standing in her tent door as the Lord was dealing with her. You know the account. Just picture that in your mind. Now come on over to chapter 21. Ishmael is now nearly 14 years old, a typical teenager.
Genesis 21:1-3
"And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. (now remember Sarah is 90 and Abraham is 100) And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac."
Alright, do you see the difference? This child is a result of God's promises. God has said you're going to have a son, and you're going to call his name Isaac which means laughter. So now we find that the promised child is finally making his appearance. The child of the flesh, Ishmael, is still with them, because that's where God told Hagar to go, but now you see it's coming to a head. Now reading on.
"Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing; I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai."
Now when we share this we like to make the point, who is totally lacking in this conversation? Well God is. God hasn't said a word yet. All God has said back in chapter 12 was:
Genesis 12:2a
"And I will make of thee a great nation,"
Now all this had to start with a son. But here in this conversation in chapter 16, God hasn't said a word, and that's why when we get back to Galatians this whole scenario of Hagar and Ishmael is called, "after the flesh." This is after the flesh, or in mans sufficiency, works and when Isaac comes along it will be the, "promise of God." For is spiritual because he is the one promised to Abraham and then to Sarai. Can you see the difference? God isn't involved here at this time at all. Now we know sovereignly He is. We know that the Sovereign God had to be somehow or other controlling the flow of all these events, but nevertheless so far as the text is concerned God has nothing to say about having a child by the slave woman after the flesh. Now don't forget that. Lord knows we've all had our Hagars and Ishmeals. Now verse 3.
Genesis 16:3-4
"And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. (so that she could have a child by him, and of course she does in verse 4.) And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes."
Now in verse 5, we have to understand the female of the species, and under the customs of the day, and according to the laws of the old Babylonian czar, if a wife could not have a child physically then it was perfectly moral and upright in their culture to have a child then by a servant or slave girl, and that's what they practiced here. They were not going against morality of their day, but on the other hand God has not told them to do it this way. To do this their stepping outside the pure family boundaries. So they did it in the energy of the flesh, and now is with child, and look what happens in verse 5.
Genesis 16:5
"And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom: and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised (that enters into the make-up of the species) in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee."
Now all of a sudden Hagar was literally making a fool out of Sarai, simply because Hagar was able to bare a child and Sarai wasn't. It just infuriated Sarai and she said, "the LORD judge between me and thee." Now verse 6.
Genesis 16:6
"But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand: do to her as it pleaseth thee. (and bingo, what happened? Sarai kicks her out. Let's just put it in plain English.) And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face."
Because after all Sarai was the boss we'd say, she was the mistress of the house, and so Hagar the Egyptian slave girl fled. Now remember Hagar hasn't had her child yet. Now verse 7.
Genesis 16:7-9
"And the angel of the LORD (this was Christ or God the Son in His Old Testament appearance) found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness by the fountain in the way to Shur. And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai. And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands."
Now that was a command from God. "Go back to Sarai and Abram." No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Now verse 10.
Genesis 16:10-11
"And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, (that is coming out of Ishmael, twelve tribes it would be) that it shall not be numbered for multitude. And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction."
So Hagar goes back to the tent of Abram or Sarai, and allow us to explain that. We saw a documentary a few years ago where the film crew were visiting a Arab Sheik (I hope I'm pronouncing that right) out in the desert of the Negev, it was a very interesting situation. He served them in what he called his tent, and there really wasn't much there. But out behind his tent were 4 smaller tents. While he was making coffee for them and they were sitting there on the ground, all of a sudden here come 24 of the prettiest little kids you can imagine. They were all pretty much the same size, and they just about smothered the crew. They tried to get the rings off their fingers and were looking at their hair, and they were just having a ball, and all of a sudden the old fellow just made one bark like a dog and those kids were gone. Well, after they had their coffee and were able to roam around a little bit they saw those 4 tents out behind his tent and they found out that those were his four wives. So if you divide 24 X 4 then they had an average of 6 kids. But it just immediately set the setting for this lesson here.
Now when we speak of Hagar coming back and dwelling with Abram and Sarai, they weren't in the same tent. The women had their own individual tent out behind Abram's (and that's evident when you read a little later when the Lord comes and says that they're going to have a child). Then Sarai was standing in her tent door as the Lord was dealing with her. You know the account. Just picture that in your mind. Now come on over to chapter 21. Ishmael is now nearly 14 years old, a typical teenager.
Genesis 21:1-3
"And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. (now remember Sarah is 90 and Abraham is 100) And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac."
Alright, do you see the difference? This child is a result of God's promises. God has said you're going to have a son, and you're going to call his name Isaac which means laughter. So now we find that the promised child is finally making his appearance. The child of the flesh, Ishmael, is still with them, because that's where God told Hagar to go, but now you see it's coming to a head. Now reading on.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Part XCIX on Galatians Study
II Peter 1:21
"For the prophecy (or again the speaking forth) came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved (or carried along) by the Holy Ghost." And that’s the inspiration of Scripture. And we can pick it up all the way through the Book. We don’t ridicule very often, but when people will make foolish, stupid, statements like "Luke must have been a tremendous keeper of a diary or he could have never written any of the Four Gospels and the book of Acts." Now, to us, that is ridiculous. No writer of Scripture went back to notes in a diary. They didn’t write on what they had remembered. They didn’t write on the basis of hearsay. They wrote as the Holy Spirit funneled those thoughts through their hearts mind, soul. And they were moved – that’s the inspiration of the Scripture.
Otherwise, how in the world could Enoch speak of our present Age of Grace, Moses write about creation, which took place 5,000 to 2,500 years before? How in the world could Moses write about his own death, which was out in front of him? But he did. That’s the inspiration of the Scriptures. See? And the same way with all of the writings of Scripture. How could these men name King Cyrus 150 years before he was ever born? By inspiration. How could Daniel lay out so perfectly the coming Gentile empires, one after the other, long before they happened? By inspiration. And so it is throughout this whole Book, that which is still future, it is just as reliable as that which is past. So the Holy Spirit moved holy men to write the things that God wanted written and, of course, as Paul puts it in II Timothy:
II Timothy 3:16
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"
All right, now then guess we can go on into chapter 4, and verse 20. Now you know in the original there were no chapter breaks. But, horror of horrors, what has happened to the truth of the inspired scriptures? Oh, it’s been attacked and underwritten and undermined, by what kind of people? False teachers. Now back to Galatians:
Galatians 4:20
"I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; (or raise my voice and get your attention so that you hear what I'm saying) for I stand in doubt of you." Why? Because they were falling for this stuff. Now verse 21.
Galatians 4:21-22
"Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, (you who desire to want to do something in addition to this Gospel) do ye not hear the law? For it is written (in the Old Testament) that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman."
Now of course most of us know what he's talking about, but there may be some out there that have never heard this before so for their benefit we're going to go over it again, and that takes us back to the Book of Genesis chapter 16. Now this is written within a couple of chapters of the Abrahamic Covenant, but years have been rolling by chronologically, and so Abram, as we still know him here, has already been waiting 36 years for the promises in Genesis 12 to be fulfilled. And that is that he would have a son, and out of that son would come a special breed and race or nation of people.
Now as we read this don't get too impatient with the old fellow, because we know most of us would have felt the same way, that God had forgotten that He had given him this promise. 36 years is a long time in any period of time in human history, and no child. Sarai has no signs whatsoever of ever being able to have a child. So finally she's the one that gives up first in chapter 16. Just as the woman given to Adam did in the garden which caused his and our demise so here she almost causes another. But God's plan prevails and we get a split in the road which will be repeated again and again. Now as we read, Sarai and Abram's names will not be changed to Sarah and Abraham until some time later.
"For the prophecy (or again the speaking forth) came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved (or carried along) by the Holy Ghost." And that’s the inspiration of Scripture. And we can pick it up all the way through the Book. We don’t ridicule very often, but when people will make foolish, stupid, statements like "Luke must have been a tremendous keeper of a diary or he could have never written any of the Four Gospels and the book of Acts." Now, to us, that is ridiculous. No writer of Scripture went back to notes in a diary. They didn’t write on what they had remembered. They didn’t write on the basis of hearsay. They wrote as the Holy Spirit funneled those thoughts through their hearts mind, soul. And they were moved – that’s the inspiration of the Scripture.
Otherwise, how in the world could Enoch speak of our present Age of Grace, Moses write about creation, which took place 5,000 to 2,500 years before? How in the world could Moses write about his own death, which was out in front of him? But he did. That’s the inspiration of the Scriptures. See? And the same way with all of the writings of Scripture. How could these men name King Cyrus 150 years before he was ever born? By inspiration. How could Daniel lay out so perfectly the coming Gentile empires, one after the other, long before they happened? By inspiration. And so it is throughout this whole Book, that which is still future, it is just as reliable as that which is past. So the Holy Spirit moved holy men to write the things that God wanted written and, of course, as Paul puts it in II Timothy:
II Timothy 3:16
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"
All right, now then guess we can go on into chapter 4, and verse 20. Now you know in the original there were no chapter breaks. But, horror of horrors, what has happened to the truth of the inspired scriptures? Oh, it’s been attacked and underwritten and undermined, by what kind of people? False teachers. Now back to Galatians:
Galatians 4:20
"I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; (or raise my voice and get your attention so that you hear what I'm saying) for I stand in doubt of you." Why? Because they were falling for this stuff. Now verse 21.
Galatians 4:21-22
"Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, (you who desire to want to do something in addition to this Gospel) do ye not hear the law? For it is written (in the Old Testament) that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman."
Now of course most of us know what he's talking about, but there may be some out there that have never heard this before so for their benefit we're going to go over it again, and that takes us back to the Book of Genesis chapter 16. Now this is written within a couple of chapters of the Abrahamic Covenant, but years have been rolling by chronologically, and so Abram, as we still know him here, has already been waiting 36 years for the promises in Genesis 12 to be fulfilled. And that is that he would have a son, and out of that son would come a special breed and race or nation of people.
Now as we read this don't get too impatient with the old fellow, because we know most of us would have felt the same way, that God had forgotten that He had given him this promise. 36 years is a long time in any period of time in human history, and no child. Sarai has no signs whatsoever of ever being able to have a child. So finally she's the one that gives up first in chapter 16. Just as the woman given to Adam did in the garden which caused his and our demise so here she almost causes another. But God's plan prevails and we get a split in the road which will be repeated again and again. Now as we read, Sarai and Abram's names will not be changed to Sarah and Abraham until some time later.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Part XCVIII on Galatians Study
Galatians 4:18
"But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you."
In other words, when Paul was in their physical presence they could evidently hold everything pretty much together. But as soon as he left, then in would come the false teachers like hungry wolves, and they would just simply tear these little congregations apart. There could be said here of the other side, the evil world and its influence on and in the church, governments, society, mental and physical health and a host of other areas to many to list. All of which all people groups are subjects of but ignore or deny their existence of. Now verse 19, and here is one of our very favorite portions of scripture. We've always said if you're ever put on the spot to have a devotional for your Sunday School or one of your men or woman’s group, then here's the best one you could use. Oh this is a dandy, and it's so easy to present.
Galatians 3:19
"My little children of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you."
In other words, Paul is saying? "Just like the mother's birth pains of bringing forth that beautiful innocent baby," And Peter says, until the day star is formed in your heart, we'll look at this first. Paul felt these pagans and Hebrews who also had been transformed and had made a regularly burping process into the eternal things as a result of his Gospel.
And Paul was thrilled by that, but now they were in trouble. They were listening to false teachers and he says-
Galatians 4:20
"I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; (or raise my voice and get your attention so that you hear what I'm saying) for I stand in doubt of you." Why? Because they were falling for this stuff. But before we move on with Paul lets look at Peter a moment in this regard.
2Peter 1:19-21
“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
II Peter 1:19a
"We have also a more sure.…" Now what does that tell us? Do we have to have exhilarating experiences like the transfiguration to believe? No. We can take all this by faith, we don’t have to have sight. We don’t have to have experiences. We take it by faith. And that’s why we think in this Age of Grace we have so little of the supernatural, if any, because now God has given us the sure, tried and proven Word of God and He expects us to believe it. And that’s why it’s going to be so awful for people of unbelief because all He’s expected the human race to do is to believe what He’s said - and when they refused to believe, it’s almost a slap in the face, as it were, and telling Him, "But I don’t believe it."
All right, now look at this next verse - even as great as that transfiguration experience was, Peter can yet say, again by inspiration, never forget this.
II Peter 1:19
"We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:" Well now Who’s the Day Star? The Lord Jesus Christ. And how does He arise in our hearts? By faith! We take it all by faith and He becomes real to us. He’s with us moment by moment.
Now, once in a while things will happen to families and we can appreciate when they begin to wonder, "Where is God’s grace?" when just one horrible thing after another can happen. And that’s a human reaction. But on the other hand, we have to come right back and claim the promises of God that are sure - that, in spite of whatever may happen, He’s aware of us. He knows. And He’s with us and He’ll never leave us nor forsake us. All right, and so He is already in our walk of faith; He is the Day Star that has already arisen in our hearts. Especially in those who have accepted His terms and conditions as revealed in the Lord Last Supper. Because it held the mystery hidden from view of all that was called and everlasting covenant under the Old Testament economy. Now verse 20. Here is that which is more sure than even the proof of His transfiguration.
II Peter 1:20
"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation." Or a better translation would be, of "human origin." We can look at this Book and it is more of a manifestation of Who God is and what He has done and what He is to us, than the transfiguration was to Peter, James and John. Now we know that’s a strong statement. But listen, this Book is so refined. It is so intricately put together that we never have to doubt it. And it just proves itself precept upon precept. And even though the scoffers may scream and ridicule it, yet, we who see the intricacy of it, we know it is the Life giving Word of God. And we know it’s true. And we know that everything it says is going to happen IS going to happen.
We don’t have to have any doubt whatsoever. And so we like to make that comparison. Yes, Peter, James and John saw Christ transfigured. They saw His Glory with their physical eyes. But we’ve got something that’s even more sure and that is the Living Word of God itself. Now that’s exhilarating! Isn’t it? All right, let’s go on. Looking at the first part of that verse again.
II Peter 1:20a
"Knowing this first, (and above everything) that no prophecy.…" Now the word ‘prophecy’ here in the New Testament, usually does not mean telling the future, it means speaking forth, proclaiming the Truth, this Gospel. That’s why in I Corinthians 14, the greatest gift was prophecy, the giving of the gift to speak forth the Word of God before it was printed. Now, you all remember, we're always emphasizing, there were about eighteen years from the time that Paul began his ministry among the Gentiles until he writes his first Epistle. So, for eighteen years, what did the early believers depend on? Gifted men who could speak forth the Living Word of God, in Spirit and in Truth and that’s why it was the primary gift. And then verse 21 is the answer.
"But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you."
In other words, when Paul was in their physical presence they could evidently hold everything pretty much together. But as soon as he left, then in would come the false teachers like hungry wolves, and they would just simply tear these little congregations apart. There could be said here of the other side, the evil world and its influence on and in the church, governments, society, mental and physical health and a host of other areas to many to list. All of which all people groups are subjects of but ignore or deny their existence of. Now verse 19, and here is one of our very favorite portions of scripture. We've always said if you're ever put on the spot to have a devotional for your Sunday School or one of your men or woman’s group, then here's the best one you could use. Oh this is a dandy, and it's so easy to present.
Galatians 3:19
"My little children of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you."
In other words, Paul is saying? "Just like the mother's birth pains of bringing forth that beautiful innocent baby," And Peter says, until the day star is formed in your heart, we'll look at this first. Paul felt these pagans and Hebrews who also had been transformed and had made a regularly burping process into the eternal things as a result of his Gospel.
And Paul was thrilled by that, but now they were in trouble. They were listening to false teachers and he says-
Galatians 4:20
"I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; (or raise my voice and get your attention so that you hear what I'm saying) for I stand in doubt of you." Why? Because they were falling for this stuff. But before we move on with Paul lets look at Peter a moment in this regard.
2Peter 1:19-21
“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
II Peter 1:19a
"We have also a more sure.…" Now what does that tell us? Do we have to have exhilarating experiences like the transfiguration to believe? No. We can take all this by faith, we don’t have to have sight. We don’t have to have experiences. We take it by faith. And that’s why we think in this Age of Grace we have so little of the supernatural, if any, because now God has given us the sure, tried and proven Word of God and He expects us to believe it. And that’s why it’s going to be so awful for people of unbelief because all He’s expected the human race to do is to believe what He’s said - and when they refused to believe, it’s almost a slap in the face, as it were, and telling Him, "But I don’t believe it."
All right, now look at this next verse - even as great as that transfiguration experience was, Peter can yet say, again by inspiration, never forget this.
II Peter 1:19
"We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:" Well now Who’s the Day Star? The Lord Jesus Christ. And how does He arise in our hearts? By faith! We take it all by faith and He becomes real to us. He’s with us moment by moment.
Now, once in a while things will happen to families and we can appreciate when they begin to wonder, "Where is God’s grace?" when just one horrible thing after another can happen. And that’s a human reaction. But on the other hand, we have to come right back and claim the promises of God that are sure - that, in spite of whatever may happen, He’s aware of us. He knows. And He’s with us and He’ll never leave us nor forsake us. All right, and so He is already in our walk of faith; He is the Day Star that has already arisen in our hearts. Especially in those who have accepted His terms and conditions as revealed in the Lord Last Supper. Because it held the mystery hidden from view of all that was called and everlasting covenant under the Old Testament economy. Now verse 20. Here is that which is more sure than even the proof of His transfiguration.
II Peter 1:20
"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation." Or a better translation would be, of "human origin." We can look at this Book and it is more of a manifestation of Who God is and what He has done and what He is to us, than the transfiguration was to Peter, James and John. Now we know that’s a strong statement. But listen, this Book is so refined. It is so intricately put together that we never have to doubt it. And it just proves itself precept upon precept. And even though the scoffers may scream and ridicule it, yet, we who see the intricacy of it, we know it is the Life giving Word of God. And we know it’s true. And we know that everything it says is going to happen IS going to happen.
We don’t have to have any doubt whatsoever. And so we like to make that comparison. Yes, Peter, James and John saw Christ transfigured. They saw His Glory with their physical eyes. But we’ve got something that’s even more sure and that is the Living Word of God itself. Now that’s exhilarating! Isn’t it? All right, let’s go on. Looking at the first part of that verse again.
II Peter 1:20a
"Knowing this first, (and above everything) that no prophecy.…" Now the word ‘prophecy’ here in the New Testament, usually does not mean telling the future, it means speaking forth, proclaiming the Truth, this Gospel. That’s why in I Corinthians 14, the greatest gift was prophecy, the giving of the gift to speak forth the Word of God before it was printed. Now, you all remember, we're always emphasizing, there were about eighteen years from the time that Paul began his ministry among the Gentiles until he writes his first Epistle. So, for eighteen years, what did the early believers depend on? Gifted men who could speak forth the Living Word of God, in Spirit and in Truth and that’s why it was the primary gift. And then verse 21 is the answer.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Part XCVII on Galatians Study
II Timothy 1:14-15
"That good thing (the Gospel) which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us. This thou knowest, (in other words it wasn't just Paul's idea. Even Timothy and Titus and his other helpers realized it) that all they which are in Asia (and that would include Galatia) be turned away from me;..."
In other words how much effect did the letter have on the Galatians in the long term? Well almost none. Oh this little letter is so good for us, don't get us wrong. It's part of the Word of God, but so far as it's impact on the Galatians congregation, it evidently fell on pretty much deaf ears because several years later when he writes to Timothy in the verses we just looked at he has to say by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, "that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me." Well you know what they did? They all succumbed to legalism, and consequently none of those churches survived. This is attested by the first three chapter of Revelation. There isn't one of those cities left today, they've all fallen into the dust of history, and all because they refused to stay with Paul's simple Gospel of Grace. Now that's sad isn't it? Today there Islamic and under the rule of the horseman of Revelation chapter six, especially the third seal with its black horse with the balances as this religion has both vile religion and Sharia Law held in the balance. But listen the world hasn't changed a bit, it's still the same way today. Oh they just ridicule this concept of Faith + Nothing. "Just where in the world are you coming from?", people ask. We'll tell you where we're coming from, the Book! as seen through Spiritual eyes, the way its suppose to be understood. Now back to Galatians chapter 4 and looking at verse 16 again.
Galatians 4:16
"Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?" That hasn't changed either. Usually people don't like the truth do they? Now verse 17.
Galatians 4:17
"They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them."
Now in order to explain that verse, let's let the Scriptures do it for us by coming back to chapter 1. See a lot of these verses are kind of hard to comprehend. Just what is the apostle driving at? See, what he was driving at was that they were beginning to believe those Judaizers who were coming in and demanding circumcision, and Law-keeping over against Paul's pure Gospel of Grace. And what does he call it?
Galatians 1:6
"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel;"
The Grace of Christ is what brought them out of their idolatry, and Judaism but what were they slipping into? The influence of another Gospel. For he says "so soon removed from Him that called you" well who's the Him? God for it is God who opened Lydia's heart, the lady from Lud (a district of Asia Minor where Ephesus, Smyrna, Thyatira, and Sardis were located) and their hearts to receive His revelation of Christ. In whom were hid all mysteries of God's heart. Now verse 7.
Galatians 1:7
"Which is not another; (it's not something that is totally different, but a perversion) but there be some that trouble you and would pervert the gospel of Christ."
The perversion finally succeeded evidently, otherwise Paul wouldn't have written to Timothy, "that all they which be in Asia have turned away from me." Now coming back to Galatians chapter 4. Now we're going to see how the Apostle Paul is going to miraculously use the Scripture to teach us a lesson. If the Galatians didn't catch it at least let's hope that we do. Now verse 18.
"That good thing (the Gospel) which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us. This thou knowest, (in other words it wasn't just Paul's idea. Even Timothy and Titus and his other helpers realized it) that all they which are in Asia (and that would include Galatia) be turned away from me;..."
In other words how much effect did the letter have on the Galatians in the long term? Well almost none. Oh this little letter is so good for us, don't get us wrong. It's part of the Word of God, but so far as it's impact on the Galatians congregation, it evidently fell on pretty much deaf ears because several years later when he writes to Timothy in the verses we just looked at he has to say by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, "that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me." Well you know what they did? They all succumbed to legalism, and consequently none of those churches survived. This is attested by the first three chapter of Revelation. There isn't one of those cities left today, they've all fallen into the dust of history, and all because they refused to stay with Paul's simple Gospel of Grace. Now that's sad isn't it? Today there Islamic and under the rule of the horseman of Revelation chapter six, especially the third seal with its black horse with the balances as this religion has both vile religion and Sharia Law held in the balance. But listen the world hasn't changed a bit, it's still the same way today. Oh they just ridicule this concept of Faith + Nothing. "Just where in the world are you coming from?", people ask. We'll tell you where we're coming from, the Book! as seen through Spiritual eyes, the way its suppose to be understood. Now back to Galatians chapter 4 and looking at verse 16 again.
Galatians 4:16
"Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?" That hasn't changed either. Usually people don't like the truth do they? Now verse 17.
Galatians 4:17
"They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them."
Now in order to explain that verse, let's let the Scriptures do it for us by coming back to chapter 1. See a lot of these verses are kind of hard to comprehend. Just what is the apostle driving at? See, what he was driving at was that they were beginning to believe those Judaizers who were coming in and demanding circumcision, and Law-keeping over against Paul's pure Gospel of Grace. And what does he call it?
Galatians 1:6
"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel;"
The Grace of Christ is what brought them out of their idolatry, and Judaism but what were they slipping into? The influence of another Gospel. For he says "so soon removed from Him that called you" well who's the Him? God for it is God who opened Lydia's heart, the lady from Lud (a district of Asia Minor where Ephesus, Smyrna, Thyatira, and Sardis were located) and their hearts to receive His revelation of Christ. In whom were hid all mysteries of God's heart. Now verse 7.
Galatians 1:7
"Which is not another; (it's not something that is totally different, but a perversion) but there be some that trouble you and would pervert the gospel of Christ."
The perversion finally succeeded evidently, otherwise Paul wouldn't have written to Timothy, "that all they which be in Asia have turned away from me." Now coming back to Galatians chapter 4. Now we're going to see how the Apostle Paul is going to miraculously use the Scripture to teach us a lesson. If the Galatians didn't catch it at least let's hope that we do. Now verse 18.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Part XCVI on Galatians Study
II Corinthians 12:9
"...My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness."
So it was in that weakness with this affliction of the flesh when Paul thought he was unfit to go into these pagan sophisticated people, especially when he was in a place like Mars Hill when he was among all the big wheel philosophers, and here he is with this affliction that was not very nice to look at. So he must have pleaded with the Lord to please take this away from him so at best people would not be turned off by what they saw. But God says, "Paul, that's not the name of the game. The name of the game is your message and the power of My Spirit."
If folks would just ask and seek the Lord the Holy Spirit He would open up the Scriptures so they would know what the Bible says, and know it forward and backwards not through their individual sufficiency but rather His sufficiency then when this counterfeit stuff comes along they'll see it right away. So that's really our main purpose for helping reveal the Scriptures. Prayerfully then they'll be able to separate the Scriptures between Law and Grace. Separate what was written to the Hebrews and what's written to the One Body of Christ. And be able to separate the writings of Paul the Apostle to the Gentiles and the rest of the Scriptures. Then we'll be able to see the Scriptures we can claim for your own, and the Bible will become exciting and just open up to us.
Now in Galatians chapter 4:15 we'll just pick up where we left off. Remember that the Book of Galatians is Paul proving that we're not under the Law, but rather we're under Grace. And Galatians is appropriate for us today. We think after we finish that you'll agree with us that we're totally under that beautiful freedom of Grace.
Galatians 4:15
"Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me."
Now what's Paul saying? That there was such a bond of affection between these pagan Galatians who had come under Paul's Gospel, and the transforming power of it. These Galatians loved the man in spite of his physical inadequacies, and they would have given their healthy eyes to replace his sickly ones. Let's turn to II Thessalonians for a moment and we think this is typical of all of Paul's converts with the exception of some of the Jewish believers. Whenever Paul went into a pagan community it was all steeped in idolatry, but when they heard his true Gospel message here are the results – we as true believers are due the same results for God promises them to us.
I Thessalonians 1:9
"For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God."
Now doesn't that say it all? He came into this strange city with no fanfare, no trumpeting introducing him and he merely began to confront people with the Gospel of the Grace of God, how that Christ had died for their sins, and had been raised from the dead. And they believed it, they received the illumination of it and they turned from their idols to the True and Living God. Now in Galatians it was the same way. They had entered into such a joy of their salvation realizing that it was all of Grace.
And then just like it happens all the time today, we see it over and over how that when we have a new believer who comes under the power of the True Gospel. They come away from all this other stuff, and they enter into God's true salvation by Grace, what happens? Oh they start getting bombarded with all of the pressure to come back to all that other stuff. We had a phone call from a man who was just beside himself because he'd come out of this false teaching, he had seen the truth of the Word the way we reveal it, and believed it for salvation. But oh, the constant pressure to come back to where he was before. Listen this is not new. The Galatians were under the same thing. Paul had told them that they were in such a state of blessedness, that they would have plucked out their own eyes for him...and now -
Galatians 4:16
"Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?"
Can we show what the truth did? Turn to II Timothy chapter 1 for a moment. Now listen if you think you get discouraged sometimes and wonder why you or us or anybody else cannot have the results that we'd like to have, listen it's always been that way, and that's why we don't get discouraged. My lands, when you come to Noah's flood with probably a few billion that were on the earth at that time, how many were saved? Eight! You get to Jesus at the end of His 3 years of ministry in the area of Jerusalem and how many true believers were there? 120. Just 120 people. Hey that's next to nothing. That's the way it's been all the way up through Scripture. So here again, look what happened to these converts that Paul had brought out of paganism and Judaism. Now remember Galatia was in Asia Minor. Always remember geography when you read Scripture because geography and history all fit together with the overall working of the Holy Spirit. So look what happened here in II Timothy.
"...My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness."
So it was in that weakness with this affliction of the flesh when Paul thought he was unfit to go into these pagan sophisticated people, especially when he was in a place like Mars Hill when he was among all the big wheel philosophers, and here he is with this affliction that was not very nice to look at. So he must have pleaded with the Lord to please take this away from him so at best people would not be turned off by what they saw. But God says, "Paul, that's not the name of the game. The name of the game is your message and the power of My Spirit."
If folks would just ask and seek the Lord the Holy Spirit He would open up the Scriptures so they would know what the Bible says, and know it forward and backwards not through their individual sufficiency but rather His sufficiency then when this counterfeit stuff comes along they'll see it right away. So that's really our main purpose for helping reveal the Scriptures. Prayerfully then they'll be able to separate the Scriptures between Law and Grace. Separate what was written to the Hebrews and what's written to the One Body of Christ. And be able to separate the writings of Paul the Apostle to the Gentiles and the rest of the Scriptures. Then we'll be able to see the Scriptures we can claim for your own, and the Bible will become exciting and just open up to us.
Now in Galatians chapter 4:15 we'll just pick up where we left off. Remember that the Book of Galatians is Paul proving that we're not under the Law, but rather we're under Grace. And Galatians is appropriate for us today. We think after we finish that you'll agree with us that we're totally under that beautiful freedom of Grace.
Galatians 4:15
"Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me."
Now what's Paul saying? That there was such a bond of affection between these pagan Galatians who had come under Paul's Gospel, and the transforming power of it. These Galatians loved the man in spite of his physical inadequacies, and they would have given their healthy eyes to replace his sickly ones. Let's turn to II Thessalonians for a moment and we think this is typical of all of Paul's converts with the exception of some of the Jewish believers. Whenever Paul went into a pagan community it was all steeped in idolatry, but when they heard his true Gospel message here are the results – we as true believers are due the same results for God promises them to us.
I Thessalonians 1:9
"For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God."
Now doesn't that say it all? He came into this strange city with no fanfare, no trumpeting introducing him and he merely began to confront people with the Gospel of the Grace of God, how that Christ had died for their sins, and had been raised from the dead. And they believed it, they received the illumination of it and they turned from their idols to the True and Living God. Now in Galatians it was the same way. They had entered into such a joy of their salvation realizing that it was all of Grace.
And then just like it happens all the time today, we see it over and over how that when we have a new believer who comes under the power of the True Gospel. They come away from all this other stuff, and they enter into God's true salvation by Grace, what happens? Oh they start getting bombarded with all of the pressure to come back to all that other stuff. We had a phone call from a man who was just beside himself because he'd come out of this false teaching, he had seen the truth of the Word the way we reveal it, and believed it for salvation. But oh, the constant pressure to come back to where he was before. Listen this is not new. The Galatians were under the same thing. Paul had told them that they were in such a state of blessedness, that they would have plucked out their own eyes for him...and now -
Galatians 4:16
"Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?"
Can we show what the truth did? Turn to II Timothy chapter 1 for a moment. Now listen if you think you get discouraged sometimes and wonder why you or us or anybody else cannot have the results that we'd like to have, listen it's always been that way, and that's why we don't get discouraged. My lands, when you come to Noah's flood with probably a few billion that were on the earth at that time, how many were saved? Eight! You get to Jesus at the end of His 3 years of ministry in the area of Jerusalem and how many true believers were there? 120. Just 120 people. Hey that's next to nothing. That's the way it's been all the way up through Scripture. So here again, look what happened to these converts that Paul had brought out of paganism and Judaism. Now remember Galatia was in Asia Minor. Always remember geography when you read Scripture because geography and history all fit together with the overall working of the Holy Spirit. So look what happened here in II Timothy.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Part XCV on Galatians Study
Galatians 4:13
"Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first."
Paul is always bringing up the fact that he passed on to them that which he had received first from the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul also brings up the fact that he is at the head of that long line of sinners saved by Grace that comprises the One Body of Christ as we see in I Timothy. But here's the thing once saved he acknowledges that he is no longer that same old sinner saved by Grace but is rather an new creature posing Grace. In fact God through Christ tells him that now His Grace is all that he'll ever need or require because His strength is mad greatest by our weakness.
I Timothy 1:15-16
"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (or first. Chief here is like the chief of a tribe, or a governor. It means first in line not the worse.) Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting." Now back to our text in Galatians. Let's read verse 14 of Galatians 4.
Galatians 4:14
"And my temptation (the word for testing, to examine through trial is a better word here) which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus."
Again go back to II Corinthians chapter 12. What was the Apostle Paul's testing? That three times he asked the Lord to take it from him. But the Lord didn't heal him, the Lord answered him. The setting for this was in Asia Minor at Lystra when Paul was stoned and left for dead 14 years earlier, and was caught up into the third heaven right into the abode of God. He then wrote that eyes had not seen or ears heard the things that God has prepared for them that love Him. So now he comes back from that experience and says -
II Corinthians 12:6-8
"For though I would desire to glory, (or brag. We have no idea what Paul saw in glory) I shall not be a fool; (God had told him he couldn't tell about the experience) for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, (withhold telling about heaven although the pressure was beyond imagination) lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be or that he heareth of me (can you see the danger of knowing someone who had actually been to glory and could tell what he saw? My goodness the world would beat a path to his door. So that's why God had to tell him that he couldn't reveal or share what he had seen.) And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, (lest Paul should get boastful and puffed up, not for what he had seen in glory, but even for these tremendous revelations that God had given him. This was enough to give anybody the big head.) there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, (and for what purpose?) lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me."
We don't know exactly how all of this came about, but we do know that God permitted Paul to suffer an affliction, much like he did Job. God didn't inflict it, but rather He permitted Satan to do it. Paul asked the Lord three times to take this affliction away from him. Now we're sure it must have been an eye affliction, and we're sure some will disagree with us. We think his affliction was a typical middle eastern eye disease. It would matter, and flow, and it was awful to look at, so the apostle must have literally said, "Now Lord how can people stand to look at me? How can I stand up and preach to these people when I look so awful? " But God says what?
II Corinthians 12:9
"...My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness...."
We're sure God says, "Now Paul that's when I can use you." You know we've pointed out that Moses is a good example of that. God took Moses to the back side of the desert into the wilderness and there he was a sheep herder for 40 years. Have you ever been around sheep? They don't smell very good. Also there weren't many people around him, and on top of that Joseph of Egypt made it so plain to the brethren when they came down to Goshen for them not to tell Pharaoh that they were shepherds, because a shepherd in the eyes of an Egyptian was an abomination. In other words for all practical purposes Moses was an Egyptian, at least that's the culture he had been raised in for 40 years. Then to look at himself and smell himself and say, "I'm nothing but an abomination." Then God says, "OK Moses now we're ready to use you, let's go to Pharaoh." Do ya Get the picture?
So here we have the same thing in Paul. He would have liked to have been something nice to look at. Paul probably would have liked to have been a big handsome Hebrew like King Saul was, but he wasn't. Now look what God told him.
"Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first."
Paul is always bringing up the fact that he passed on to them that which he had received first from the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul also brings up the fact that he is at the head of that long line of sinners saved by Grace that comprises the One Body of Christ as we see in I Timothy. But here's the thing once saved he acknowledges that he is no longer that same old sinner saved by Grace but is rather an new creature posing Grace. In fact God through Christ tells him that now His Grace is all that he'll ever need or require because His strength is mad greatest by our weakness.
I Timothy 1:15-16
"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (or first. Chief here is like the chief of a tribe, or a governor. It means first in line not the worse.) Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting." Now back to our text in Galatians. Let's read verse 14 of Galatians 4.
Galatians 4:14
"And my temptation (the word for testing, to examine through trial is a better word here) which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus."
Again go back to II Corinthians chapter 12. What was the Apostle Paul's testing? That three times he asked the Lord to take it from him. But the Lord didn't heal him, the Lord answered him. The setting for this was in Asia Minor at Lystra when Paul was stoned and left for dead 14 years earlier, and was caught up into the third heaven right into the abode of God. He then wrote that eyes had not seen or ears heard the things that God has prepared for them that love Him. So now he comes back from that experience and says -
II Corinthians 12:6-8
"For though I would desire to glory, (or brag. We have no idea what Paul saw in glory) I shall not be a fool; (God had told him he couldn't tell about the experience) for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, (withhold telling about heaven although the pressure was beyond imagination) lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be or that he heareth of me (can you see the danger of knowing someone who had actually been to glory and could tell what he saw? My goodness the world would beat a path to his door. So that's why God had to tell him that he couldn't reveal or share what he had seen.) And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, (lest Paul should get boastful and puffed up, not for what he had seen in glory, but even for these tremendous revelations that God had given him. This was enough to give anybody the big head.) there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, (and for what purpose?) lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me."
We don't know exactly how all of this came about, but we do know that God permitted Paul to suffer an affliction, much like he did Job. God didn't inflict it, but rather He permitted Satan to do it. Paul asked the Lord three times to take this affliction away from him. Now we're sure it must have been an eye affliction, and we're sure some will disagree with us. We think his affliction was a typical middle eastern eye disease. It would matter, and flow, and it was awful to look at, so the apostle must have literally said, "Now Lord how can people stand to look at me? How can I stand up and preach to these people when I look so awful? " But God says what?
II Corinthians 12:9
"...My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness...."
We're sure God says, "Now Paul that's when I can use you." You know we've pointed out that Moses is a good example of that. God took Moses to the back side of the desert into the wilderness and there he was a sheep herder for 40 years. Have you ever been around sheep? They don't smell very good. Also there weren't many people around him, and on top of that Joseph of Egypt made it so plain to the brethren when they came down to Goshen for them not to tell Pharaoh that they were shepherds, because a shepherd in the eyes of an Egyptian was an abomination. In other words for all practical purposes Moses was an Egyptian, at least that's the culture he had been raised in for 40 years. Then to look at himself and smell himself and say, "I'm nothing but an abomination." Then God says, "OK Moses now we're ready to use you, let's go to Pharaoh." Do ya Get the picture?
So here we have the same thing in Paul. He would have liked to have been something nice to look at. Paul probably would have liked to have been a big handsome Hebrew like King Saul was, but he wasn't. Now look what God told him.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Part XCIV on Galatians Study
I Corinthians 4:16
"Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me."
I Corinthians 11:1
"Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ." And Paul was lead of the Holy Spirit, do you seek for power? Then learn the lesson of both Christ Jesus and Paul, Trust the Holy Spirit in everything. Its good to study the four gospels but “IF” you learn nothing of the Jesus in them then your study is wasted effort on your part. If, you want to learn of Him and take His yoke then you have to learn from Him through His revelation given to and through Paul by the Holy Spirit.
II Corinthians 11:5
"For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles."
We don't know what the average person thinks, but when you read that term "the very chiefest apostle," who do you think of? Peter. Of course Peter was the spokesman and leader of the 12 disciples for the Nation of Israel. And when you go back into Acts chapter 2 and 3 when those Hebrews sold all their goods and transferred it into cash, at who's feet did they lay it? Peter. So Peter was the spokesman, he was the authority of the Twelve. So we're sure this is what Paul is relating to especially since some in the congregation thought Peter was the only authority.
So here in verse 5 Paul says, "I was not a whit behind Peter in authority." Not very long ago we had a thought that we'll share with you. These various opposers of Paul and his apostleship - we're sure their argument always was, "But Peter and the others had 3 years with Jesus. They spent 3 years with Him going up and down the roads of Palestine, you didn't." Paul may not have spent 3 years in Palestine, but he spent only a year at most with, a private tutor, the Lord Jesus Himself in the wilderness of Arabia. So again even in time spent with the Lord, he's not one whit behind Peter. And that's why it had to be about a year at Mount Sinai, because surely it didn't take that long just to learn the things that he was going to be preaching. For when it comes to spiritual things the Lord makes a short work of first undoing the old junk and then reprogramming us. So in order to give him the authority with the full time spent with the Lord, we think now that's what he spent about a year the wilderness. Now let's look at verse 23.
II Corinthians 11:22-23
"Are they (Peter and the eleven) Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? (to be a son of Abraham this was the crowning bragging rights of a Hebrew) so am I. (so they have nothing on Paul there.) Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more: in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft."
Then Paul goes on to show how much he had suffered for them and us. We're sure he told them, "You mean I went through all of this in vain?" And look at what he suffered.
II Corinthians 11:24
"Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one."
Which was 39. Now listen, if you understand scourging which this was, usually a man could not take 39; he would die. So usually they had to stop short of 39, but he took the 39 on 5 different occasions without benefit of antibiotic or hospital care. So how this man suffered. He could because he know that the Grace and power of God was sufficient for him, he know through trial His Grace.
I Corinthians 11:25-27
"Thrice (3 times) was I beaten with rods, (that was sort of like the American kid they caned in one of the foreign countries a few years ago. And remember the outcry that it was brutal and inhuman, but this apostle went through that 3 times.) once was I stoned, (and we know the account of that up there in Asia Minor) thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeying often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, (the man was human. He got tired just like we do. He hurt, he ached, of course he did.) in hunger and thirst, in fastings, often, in cold and nakedness."
Then Paul comes down to chapter 12 and repeats again why he can write the things that he writes and we can just literally rest on them.
II Corinthians 12:11
"I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles (and again we think he's making reference to Peter.) though I be nothing." Now reading Galatians 4:13 again.
Galatians 4:13
"Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first."
"Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me."
I Corinthians 11:1
"Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ." And Paul was lead of the Holy Spirit, do you seek for power? Then learn the lesson of both Christ Jesus and Paul, Trust the Holy Spirit in everything. Its good to study the four gospels but “IF” you learn nothing of the Jesus in them then your study is wasted effort on your part. If, you want to learn of Him and take His yoke then you have to learn from Him through His revelation given to and through Paul by the Holy Spirit.
II Corinthians 11:5
"For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles."
We don't know what the average person thinks, but when you read that term "the very chiefest apostle," who do you think of? Peter. Of course Peter was the spokesman and leader of the 12 disciples for the Nation of Israel. And when you go back into Acts chapter 2 and 3 when those Hebrews sold all their goods and transferred it into cash, at who's feet did they lay it? Peter. So Peter was the spokesman, he was the authority of the Twelve. So we're sure this is what Paul is relating to especially since some in the congregation thought Peter was the only authority.
So here in verse 5 Paul says, "I was not a whit behind Peter in authority." Not very long ago we had a thought that we'll share with you. These various opposers of Paul and his apostleship - we're sure their argument always was, "But Peter and the others had 3 years with Jesus. They spent 3 years with Him going up and down the roads of Palestine, you didn't." Paul may not have spent 3 years in Palestine, but he spent only a year at most with, a private tutor, the Lord Jesus Himself in the wilderness of Arabia. So again even in time spent with the Lord, he's not one whit behind Peter. And that's why it had to be about a year at Mount Sinai, because surely it didn't take that long just to learn the things that he was going to be preaching. For when it comes to spiritual things the Lord makes a short work of first undoing the old junk and then reprogramming us. So in order to give him the authority with the full time spent with the Lord, we think now that's what he spent about a year the wilderness. Now let's look at verse 23.
II Corinthians 11:22-23
"Are they (Peter and the eleven) Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? (to be a son of Abraham this was the crowning bragging rights of a Hebrew) so am I. (so they have nothing on Paul there.) Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more: in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft."
Then Paul goes on to show how much he had suffered for them and us. We're sure he told them, "You mean I went through all of this in vain?" And look at what he suffered.
II Corinthians 11:24
"Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one."
Which was 39. Now listen, if you understand scourging which this was, usually a man could not take 39; he would die. So usually they had to stop short of 39, but he took the 39 on 5 different occasions without benefit of antibiotic or hospital care. So how this man suffered. He could because he know that the Grace and power of God was sufficient for him, he know through trial His Grace.
I Corinthians 11:25-27
"Thrice (3 times) was I beaten with rods, (that was sort of like the American kid they caned in one of the foreign countries a few years ago. And remember the outcry that it was brutal and inhuman, but this apostle went through that 3 times.) once was I stoned, (and we know the account of that up there in Asia Minor) thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeying often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, (the man was human. He got tired just like we do. He hurt, he ached, of course he did.) in hunger and thirst, in fastings, often, in cold and nakedness."
Then Paul comes down to chapter 12 and repeats again why he can write the things that he writes and we can just literally rest on them.
II Corinthians 12:11
"I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles (and again we think he's making reference to Peter.) though I be nothing." Now reading Galatians 4:13 again.
Galatians 4:13
"Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first."
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