Oil and Water Don't Mix

We all heard the phase "oil and water don’t mix". This is true, today Paul is telling the Galatians that "works and faith don’t mix", when it comes to receiving salvation. He is telling them that they can not place their trust in the work of circumcision and the work of Christ at the same time. Faith must stand alone when it comes to salvation. Yes, our faith will involve us in works. There will be many things that we do in our lives because of our faith. But we must never trust in those works to receive salvation. In fact Paul warns us that the sheer fact that we try and earn salvation destroys the work of faith to the point of having no affect on us.

Gal 5:1-6
1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. 2 Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. 4 You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love. NASU

I want to ask you today, "Are you trying to earn salvation?" Are you helping in a church/mission so that you can get into heaven or receive some blessing from God? If you are, they will have no use to you. Unless you trust in the work of Christ death and resurrection alone you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Today, confess your sins and place your trust in Christ alone for salvation.

Explore for yourself.
1 From what did Christ set us free?
2. How does circumcision nullify Christ’s benefit?
3. What happens to those who are circumcised?
4, What do we do "Today" that places us under the law?
5. How could these severe us from Christ?
6. Why does Paul say we have fallen from Christ?
7. What is the only thing that matters to Christ?

Why carry that weight?

Who would want to walk around with extra weight strapped to their back? Yes, perhaps someone who is trying to strengthen themselves but truly most people would not want to be bother to do it all the time. But if carrying the weight did not bring any benefits no one would be interest in lugging that weight.

Gal 4:21-31 21 Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not A listen to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, A one by the bondwoman and B one by the free woman. 23 But A the son by the bondwoman 1 was born according to the flesh, and B the son by the free woman through the promise. 24 1 A This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from B Mount Sinai bearing children 2 who are to be C slaves; 3 she is Hagar. 25 Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But A the Jerusalem above is free; 1 she is our mother. 27 For it is written, "A REJOICE, BARREN WOMAN WHO DOES NOT BEAR; BREAK FORTH AND SHOUT, YOU WHO ARE NOT IN LABOR; FOR MORE NUMEROUS ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE DESOLATE THAN OF THE ONE WHO HAS A HUSBAND." 28 And you brethren, A like Isaac, are B children of promise. 29 But as at that time A he who was born according to the flesh B persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, C so it is now also. 30 But what does the Scripture say? "A CAST OUT THE BONDWOMAN AND HER SON, FOR B THE SON OF THE BONDWOMAN SHALL NOT BE AN HEIR WITH THE SON OF THE FREE WOMAN." 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, 1 but of the free woman. NASU

Paul is telling the Galatians that the law really explains that the promises of God are passed on through the free woman and not the bond woman. Why would carry the weight of trying fulfill the law (when it does not bring salvation) when it does not produce any benefits.

Explore for yourself
1. According to the law who was the free son of Abraham? Why?
2. What is the connection between Hagar, Mount Sinai and Jerusalem?
3. What is the Jerusalem above?
4. How are we like Isaac? What difference is there between those of the flesh and those of the spirit?
5.What will happen to those who are "born of the bondwoman"?

Let you love for Christ drive you to be obedience!

Are You Praying?

Have you been praying? That was a question that was put to me recently. The situation was such that a friend had called for my help, however, I was about 1 1/2 hours away at the time. As we talked I offered to travel the distance if need be but perhaps there would be others who could help. (You see I did have the spare key which would easily solve the problem). As we hung up the phone I spent time in prayer. I must admit, I really didn't want to make the trip either. After a long half hour I got a call back with that question. My reply was a simple YES! The voice on the other end said, "I thought so... we got the lock open and I got my keys! God answered your prayers."

The reason I write this is not to "pat myself" or to sound extra Holy. What we need to see, is when we pray, God gets the glory. Had I not spent time praying someone else (not God) would have gotten the glory. Yes, God did use a friend to help, but the situation was such that the normal means of getting the door unlock didn't work. Then out of the blue, they tried something that did work.

So I ask you again, "Are you praying?" I will pray that you will be praying for everything.

On that day there was no greater joy then to say, "Yes!" because God received the glory and praise.... not me.

Leading the Way

Paul issue a challenge to the people of Galatia to become like him because he was like them. Now when you read that, it sure sounds confusing. Remember, he is speaking to people who were straying from a life of faith to one that attempted to keep the law to be justified. Paul is telling them, he also is a man of faith and not intent on the keeping to the law in order to find forgiveness from God. The group that had come to the Galatians were telling them their faith was good but.... they need to keep the balance of God’s law.
Paul is concern that simply because he has continued to preach the truth the Galatians are treating him like he was an enemy. However, Paul warns them that those who come with all those "requirements" aren’t coming because they care but they want to people under their control. This you be a warning to each one of us. We need to be alert to those that come with lists so that we will become "better Christians."

Gal 4:12-21
12 I beg of you, brethren, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong; 13 but you know that it was because of a bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the first time; 14 and that which was a trial to you in my bodily condition you did not despise or loathe, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself. Where then is that sense of blessing you had? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. 16 So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17 They eagerly seek you, not commendably, but they wish to shut you out so that you will seek them. 18 But it is good always to be eagerly sought in a commendable manner, and not only when I am present with you. 19 My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you — 20 but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you. NASU

Is Christ being formed in you today? If that is true of you then you are leading the way for others.

Explore for yourself.

1. Why did Paul challenge the Galatians to become like him?
2. If Paul was not harmed who or what might be harmed?
3. How did the Galatians look upon Paul’s affliction?
4. How had the Galatians felt about Paul and the gospel message? What did they loose?
5. Why did Paul want to know if he was an enemy?
6. What is the ultimate purpose of those who seek us out? How should this challenge Christians?
7. How long did Paul labor among them? What would change his tone?

Clueless

I spent nearly 20 years doing carpentry. During those years there were many times that I did not know the fine details of the particular job. My task was to do what I was told and not worry about how the whole project was going to come together. I was a time when I worked in a much closer relationship with my employer and although I didn’t know all the details there were certainly more things that I was aware of when it came to completing the project. The difference between that job and the others was "the boss" and I became very good friends. We share many things about our lives and each day started with prayer. We were close to each other. Paul is describing the difference between being a slave and knowing (or being known by) God. But Paul says that now that you are known by God why would you ever want to turn back to a time when you did not know God.

Gal 4:8-11
8 However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are no gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years. 11 I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain. NASA

If you ever cry out to God for salvation don’t turn away. If you walked away from that truth now is a good time to come back to that which is worthwhile.

Explore for yourself.

1. Did we really know God or know by God while we were slave?
2. Why did Paul fear that he labored in vain?

Growing Up

When we grow up there is always some "rights" of passage. You get to ride a two wheel bike, then you get to leave the sidewalk or cross the street, later you get a learner’s permit to drive a car and then...after passing your test. You get to drive the car alone. Paul also described another right of moving from a child "who isn’t any different than a slave" to being the true heir of everything that owned by his father. But there is a day when everything changes, that day, set by the father, when all the rights and privilege are passed along by the father. What happen in the natural sense happens in a similar way in the spiritual world. Notice what Paul says, "as children we are held in bondage under the things of the world." That changed when God sent His Son at the right time (fullness of time) to make it possible to be set free.

Gal 4:1-7 Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father. 3 So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. 4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, " Abba! Father!" 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God. NASU

We are all born under the law. Not one of us does good. The Son’s purpose is to redeem us from that law by making adoption as sons possible. Then we can cry Abba Father (like saying Daddy) and changed from being slaves to being son. The joy of passing from one life to the other.

Explore for Yourself

1. How are children and slaves the same?
2.When would we have been considered "children" and why?
3. What did God send "in the fullness of time" and what was the purpose?
4. What is significant in that the Son was SENT?
5.What do we receive when we are redeemed?
6.What did we receive when we became sons by adoptions?
7. What changes?