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Galatians 4-6
Fred R. Coulter—04/01/1989
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- Why is there so much confusion in doctrine and understanding?
- Why have the Scriptures become so difficult for people to understand?
- Who is the author of confusion? Satan the devil!
- Did he not have his counterfeits from the Jewish perspective?
- Did he not have his counterfeits from the pagan perspective?
They meet right here in the book of Galatians. Let's just review for just a minute; I just want to cover a couple of Scriptures.
- What does the Law do? Tells is the knowledge of sin! The breaking of the Law is sin!
- What did God do to cure the problem of sin? He sent His only Son—Who lived a perfect life, Who died for us, shed His blood.
- We are justified how? By His blood, resurrection and appearance in heaven above, for us!
You find in John 16 concerning judgment, concerning righteousness, 'because I go to the Father.' Righteousness is right standing with God through justification.
- What can substitute for the sacrifice of Christ?
- What can you do, or any law do, that is equal to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ?
- Nothing! Nothing! Nothing!
There is no law, no work that you can do apart from Christ that is going to be a substitute for the sacrifice of Christ.
- Can your not eating unclean food all your life substitute for the sacrifice of Christ? No!
- Could the perfect life of Job substitute for the justification that comes through God? No!
But it doesn't mean that you throw away the Law. It doesn't mean that you throw away the commandments. That is a part of Christian living, but it is not the sum total of Christian living.
- Do Jews keep the Sabbath today? Yes!
- Does it make them in right standing with God? No, because they reject Christ!
I just want to point out two things:
Galatians 1:3: "Grace and peace be to you from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for our sins, in order that He might deliver us from the present evil world, according to the will of our God and Father; to Whom be the glory into the ages of eternity. Amen" (vs 3-5).
Verse 13: "For you heard of my former conduct when I was in Judaism, how I was excessively persecuting the Church of God and was destroying it; and I was advancing in Judaism far beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more abundantly zealous for the traditions of my fathers" (vs 13-14)—that is Judaism.
Judaism is an anti-Christ 'religion'—period! So is Hinduism, Buddhism, Mohammedism, satanism, partially Catholicism, and to a lesser degree: Protestantism.
Verse 15: "But when it pleased God, Who selected me from my mother's womb, and called me by His grace, to reveal His own Son in me, in order that I might preach Him as the Gospel…" (vs 15-16). That becomes very important. When so even the Churches of God start minimizing Christ? When they get to much law ahead of Christ! Christ is the Gospel! Please keep that in mind.
- That is the focal point!
- That is the freedom!
- That is what God has done for us!
It is Christ! That's why Jesus said, 'I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no man can come to Me unless it were given to him of My Father'—period! That's the way to salvation! That is the Door! Christ is the Gospel! It is called the Gospel of Grace (Acts 20), which is through Christ; Gospel of the Kingdom of God. Who is the King? Christ! Christ is the Gospel; the sum total of Christ is the Gospel. Isn't that good news what God has done? That's what 'glad tidings' means, the Gospel.
- Jesus gave Himself for us
- Paul was advancing in Judaism
- Christ is the Gospel
Those are the three key things in the first chapter of Galatians.
Justification comes through Christ:
- through His blood
- through His resurrection
- through His appearance to God the Father
No other thing can justify you to God; not one thing else can justify you to God! Only through Christ!
Galatians 4:1: "Now then, I say, for as long a time as the heir is a child, he is no different from a [bondsman] servant… [slave of a household] …although he be lord of all; but he is under guardians and stewards…" (vs 1-2).
What did we find was our guardian to lead us to Christ? The Law! What is a 'steward'? Someone who is entrusted with someone else's property; to use it properly!
"…until the time appointed beforehand by the father…. [that's when the son receives the inheritance] …In the same way, when we were children, we were held in bondage under the elements of the world" (vs 2-3). Why were we held in bondage? What are the elements of the world? That's just the way that the world is! You're enslaved to the system! Remember: 'deliver us from this present evil age' (Gal. 1).
Verse 4: "But when the time for the fulfillment came… [it was time for Jesus Christ to come] …God sent forth His own Son, born of a woman, born under law." Christ was subject to law. If Christ would have sinned once, the wages of sin is death, so therefore, he would have died for His own sins.
Can you imagine what a fantastic thing that was that God did, to send Christ? To let Him have 'the law of sin and death' within Him, to let Him be like any other human being, yet, demand that He be perfect? That's what God did! Nothing, brethren, can substitute for that; not even the Old Covenant can substitute for that.
Verse 5: "In order that He might redeem those who are under law… [the sonship] …so that we might receive … [including everyone and himself at that point] …the gift of sonship from God. And because you… [all separate from me] …are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, 'Abba, Father.' So then, you are no longer a servant, but a son. And if a son, you are also an heir of God through Christ" (vs 5-7). That means at the proper time, you receive the inheritance.
Verse 8: "Now on the one hand, when you did not know God…" When did they not know God? Before they were converted! Who were the Galatians? Those people who were not of Israel, but they were being troubled by those renegade Jews coming in and crossbreeding Christianity and paganism and their old practices. When you were not knowing God!
What did Jesus say to the woman at the well? What did He say to the pagan woman at the well of Samaria? 'You know not what you worship! We Jews know what we worship,' because they worshiped God even though it was under the Old Covenant. So, these people did not know God.
"…you were in bondage to those who are not gods by nature" (v 8). What are things that are not binding through gods? Anything that are not God, primarily:
- pagan gods
- pagan rituals
- traditions of the Jews
Verse 9: "But on the other hand, after having known God—rather, after having been known by God—how is it that you are turning again … [back to something they were doing before they knew God. What were they doing?] …to the weak and impotent elements, to which you again desire to be in bondage?" In other words, you are getting rid of the way of justification. What were they doing? Going back to their old ways! If they were pagans, what were they doing? Whatever the pagans did!
Verse 10: "You are of your own selves observing days, and months, and times and years." This throws everyone for a loop when they read this, because they think that they don't have to keep the Sabbath, they don't have to keep the Holy Days. Anywhere in here, does Paul say the Sabbath? He said 'days'—could be any day; months, times and years.
- Are there those things in paganism that were even in Judaism? We want to do an all encompassing here: pagan Judaism and pagan paganism. Yes, they were!
- Were those the days that God said to keep? No, they weren't!
- Did Paul know how to write 'Sabbath'? Yes!
- Did he write it? No! He said 'days'!
- Did he know how to write 'Holy Days'? Yes!
- Did he write it? No! He said 'months, times, years'!
- What did we learn of Judaism and the Talmud? That came out of Babylon?
- What did they have? They intermixed in Judaism all of the Babylonian stuff as well as the Jewish stuff!
Deuteronomy 18:9: "When you come to the land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not learn to do according to the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that uses divination, or an observer of times [Gal. 4:10]…" (vs 9-10).
- Do the Chinese have months? Yes!
- Do the Chinese have days? Yes!
- Do the Chinese have years? Yes!
- This is what year? The year of the dragon!
The way that look at it—it is not the year of the dragon as far as God is concerned—as far as the Chinese way of reckoning, it is!
- Where did that come from? Babylon!
God says, 'Don't be an observer of times.' "…or a fortuneteller, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or one who seeks oracles from the dead. For all that do these things are an abomination to the LORD. And because of these abominations, the LORD your God drives them out from before you" (vs 10-12).
Did God drive the Jews out of the Holy Land because they rejected Jesus Christ? Yes! They were doing the same practices that were here. Did we not read in Acts 13 about the Elymas the Jew who was a sorcerer? Yes!
Galatians 4:9: "But on the other hand, after having known God—rather, after having been known by God—how is it that you are turning again to the weak and impotent elements, to which you again desire to be in bondage?" They couldn't give up those things!
- Do we have it today?
- Do we have people who want to serve Christ but still keep Christmas? Yes, we do!
- Do we have those who observe Christmas and think they're serving God and doing what is right and don't consider themselves pagan at all? Yes!
Now you've got the clear picture here.
Verse 10: "You are of your own selves observing days, and months, and times and years. I am afraid for you, lest somehow I have labored among you in vain. Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am, for I also am as you are…" (vs 10-12). Did Paul keep the Sabbath? Yes! Did he keep the Holy Days? Yes! When you talk about justification, the only justification you can get is through Jesus Christ and none other!
"…you have not wronged me in anything. Now, you know that at first I preached the Gospel to you in the weakness of the flesh; and the temptation—namely, my trial in my flesh—you despised not, nor rejected with contempt; rather, you received me as a messenger of God, even asChrist Jesus Himself. What then was your blessedness? For I bear you witness that, if it were possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. Now then, in speaking the Truth to you, have I become your enemy?" (vs 12-16).
That's what happens to me when I called 'this voice in the wilderness' on the phone and said, 'What you're doing is entirely wrong.' He said, 'Well, I used to respect you.' That's what the Galatians were saying to Paul: we used to respect you, but now you come and tell don't do these things—who are you?
That's what they were doing. At first they said, 'Paul, you're an angel from God, take our eyes so you can see.' Not now! He said, 'Have I become your enemy because I tell you the truth.' Has that ever separated friends before? Yes!
Verse 17: "They… [anyone] …are zealous after you, but not for good; rather, they desire to exclude you, in order that you may be zealous after them." Have we not heard that before? Being zealous after a man? We put Christ somewhere to the side. Yes, we've heard that before!
We have exactly the same thing here. People were desirous for them to be zealous of a man and a leader. What should the leader always do? To whom should the leader always point, or teach or whatever? To whom did Paul always point to? Jesus Christ! What did Paul say of himself? 'Who is Apollos? Who is Paul?' (1-Cor. 3). We're nothing! He said, 'I planted, Apollos watered, but anyone who builds on any other foundation of Jesus Christ' isn't going to make it! You're going to have works of one kind or another, whether 'gold, silver, precious stone, wood, hay or stubble, and every man's work is going to be tried by fire to see how his works are.'
If they are good works they're going to burned up. That's exactly what was happening here. "They are zealous after you…in order that you may be zealous after them." Have you ever seen that before? It's called stroking: how wonderful you are; how great you are, how marvelous you are!
Verse 18: "Now, it is right to be zealous in a right thing at all times… [What is the right thing to be zealous in at all times? Jesus Christ! Salvation of God the Father!] …and not only when I am present with you." In other words, you don't do it just for show. Isn't that true?
Verse 19: "My little children, for whom I am again laboring in pain until Christ has been formed in you." What is the hope of glory? Christ in you is the hope of glory! (Col. 1:27)!
- How is Christ formed in you?
- By what means?
- By what method? The Spirit of God!
- If Christ is in you will you want to sin? No!
- Will you want to break the commandments of God? No!
Verse 20: "I desire to be with you now, and to change my voice, because I am at a loss concerning you." I guess so! What a mixture? I know how he feels. I get these letters all the time from these different 'voices in the wilderness.'
One guy says he's the two witnesses. If that's confusing, you ought to hear what he says, it's even more confusing. He became the two witnesses, because the one he said would be resurrected on whatever date. It's one year to the date—today, April 1st—that the Tribulation started. I am perplexed over this kind of thing; so is Paul.
- What is the perfection of any law in the world? The laws of God!
- What was it said of the laws given to Israel?
- What nation has ever had such great laws and commandments given to it like this nation—the United States—that is so near to God?
Then Paul makes this comparison. If you want law, let's look at the Old Covenant. The Old Covenant didn't give life, but it was the best law around—right?
Verse 21: "Tell me, you who desire to be under law, do you not hear the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons: one by the maidservant, and one by the free woman….[his wife] …Now on the one hand, he who came from the maidservant was born according to the flesh; but on the other hand, he who came from the free woman was born according to the promise; which things are allegorical, because these are the two covenants. The one from Mount Sinai, which is Hagar, is engendering bondage" (vs 21-24).
Why did even the Old Covenant bring forth the bondage? Because
- You were not justified through Christ; you were justified to the temple!
- You had no Holy Spirit to lead you!
- Christ was not in you!
The wages of sin is death; was there any promise of eternal life? No! Even though you use the perfect laws of God, unless there is Christ, is there life? No!
Verse 25: "Because Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to the present Jerusalem; and she is in bondage with her children." Was she in bondage at that time? Yes! The Romans were ruler her! {note John 8 where Jesus said, 'If you will obey the Truth, the Truth will set you free.' But they said, 'We be under bondage to no man.' Jesus said, 'He who is a servant of sin is under bondage to sin.'} They didn't have their sins forgiven. He said, 'They were serving their father the devil.'
What a clever counterfeit! What an absolutely clever counterfeit! Take and twist and turn, retain of what sounds like God as you can, but you bring them into total sin.
Verse 26: "But the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all; for it is written, 'Rejoice, O barren who did not bear! Break forth and cry, you who were not travailing…'" (vs 26-27). Who is he talking about? In an analogy concerning Sarah with Isaac being born of promise! Concerning anyone being brought into the relationship with Christ. Before the New Testament there were the Prophets and so forth.
"'…because many more are the children of the desolate than of her who has the husband.'" (v 27). The one that was barren before is actually having more children than those under the Old Covenant through Hagar. The one that has the husband—'andra'; the man. Did Hagar have a man? Yes, she did! Who was the man? Abraham! Was Abraham her husband? No! It just means man in this particular case, not husband.
Verse 28: "Now we, brethren, like Isaac, are the children of promise. But as it was then, so also it is now: he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit" (vs 28-29).
- Do we still have that today?
- Do we still have the persecution of the Arabs against the Jews?
- Do we still have the persecution of the Muslim religion of the Arabs against Christianity of any form?
- Yes!
Verse 30: "Nevertheless, what does the Scripture say? 'Cast out the maidservant and her son; for in no way shall the son of the maidservant inherit the promise with the son of the free woman.'" He's saying very clearly: 'You guys who want the law, look what happened with the law. Look what happened with the one in the flesh. Look what happened to Ishmael and Isaac. Who received the promise? Ishmael? or Isaac? Isaac received the promise! That's what he's leading up to.
Verse 31: "So then, brethren, we are not children of the maidservant, but of the free woman."
We'll try to simplify it and summarize it: When you trust in Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the Spirit of God, you are sons of promise!
- Whose promise? God's promise!
- Who is your Master and your Boss and Ruler? Christ!
Now you can understand that when there is some great leader in the Church, this is dangerous to preach—isn't it? You cannot have a leader hold over your head the threat of any power he has with God that's going to keep you from entering into the Kingdom of God, because you're a child of promise!
- God Himself has called you!
- God Himself has given you the Spirit!
Here's another one that's a little difficult for people to understand, however I think we can understand it as we go along.
Galatians 5:1: "Therefore, stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free…" What is the freedom?
- Freedom from sin!
- Freedom from tradition!
- Freedom from the rule of men in our lives concerning Christ!
Christ rules in our lives. Who's to be formed in us? Jesus Christ! Any man? The pope? Anybody else you want to put in there? No! Christ in us! That's why you can have confidence.
"…and do not be held again in a yoke of bondage. Behold, I, Paul, tell you that if you become circumcised…" (vs 1-2)—as a requirement for salvation; if you're not circumcised you cannot be saved. Baloney! That's what Paul is saying. You are saved through Christ, not circumcision! Is it wrong for a person to be circumcised? No! Does that make them any better than anybody else spiritually speaking? No!
He's talking about relying on that circumcision as an entrance into salvation. Salvation is spiritual and the circumcising of the flesh does not do a thing spiritually.
Verse 2: "Behold, I, Paul, tell you that if you become circumcised… [as a requirement for salvation] …Christ shall profit you nothing!" Why? Because you're relying on the circumcision and not on Christ!
- Do the Jews do this today? Yes!
- Do they have great religious circumcision on the eighth day? Yes!
- Do they have Christ? No!
- Does Christ profit them anything? No!
- Does their circumcision profit them anything? No!
See why I took so long leading up to this. Now you understand it.
Verse 3: "Again, I am personally testifying to every man who is being circumcised that he is a debtor to do the whole law."
- Though we keep the commandments of God, do we do every law contained in the Old Testament? No!
- Do we do animal sacrifices? No!
- Do we have the priest come and inspect the house when there's sickness? No!
- Can you do the whole law? Twice no!
- You can't do the animal sacrifices because they're to be performed at the temple in Jerusalem—you cannot do that, there is no temple or priesthood.
- What was given to the ministry then to make decisions concerning what you should keep and should not keep were in relationship not to the Ten Commandments, not to the Holy Days, but to the smaller things of what we should and should not do.
But if you say that circumcision is a requirement for salvation, then you are doing away with the sacrifice of Christ and you're a debtor to do the whole law and you've got save your own skin, and you can't do it. What Paul is saying is that what you are doing is an impossibility!
Verse 4: "You who are attempting to be justified by works of law, you are being deprived of any spiritual effect from Christ…. [Who put you in right standing with God? Jesus Christ! Does circumcision put you in right standing with God? No!] …You have fallen from grace!" See how that flows along. Now you can understand the difference between justification by law and justification by the Spirit, by faith.
Verse 5: "For we through the Spirit are waiting for the hope of righteousness by faith."
(go to the next track)
Why then circumcision? It was required under the Old Covenant! What if a child were circumcised on the eighth day according to the law, the way it should be. The Jews were claiming that if he were circumcised on that day, God had to, God was indebted to this person and give them salvation. That was the heresy that was going through the Church.
That's why Paul later stressed the circumcision that is in Christ, in your mind! That's what needs to be circumcised. That's every human mind. That's why Paul was saying to those who want to be circumcised, 'Look, it doesn't do anything for salvation.'
Verse 6: "Because in Christ Jesus… [to have Christ, or for Christ to have you ] …neither is circumcision of any force, nor uncircumcision… [You're not going to force God, you're not going to have any power over God because of circumcision.] …rather, it is the inner working of faith through love"—is what brings you salvation; not circumcision. That's what Paul is talking about.
Verse 7: "You were running well…. [because we all have to run the race of salvation] …Who hindered you, persuading you not to obey the Truth?" What was the Truth? They weren't looking to Christ! They were looking to the physical things.
Verse 8: "This persuasion is not coming from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump" (vs 8-9). Now we're back to leaven and sin are taking you away from Christ.
Verse 10: "I am persuaded concerning you in the Lord that you will be otherwise minded; and he who troubles you shall bear the judgment, whoever he may be." Paul didn't name the man, but whoever it was that was doing this.
Verse 11: "But I, brethren, if I still proclaim circumcision… [as the requirement for salvation] …why am I yet being persecuted?…. [by the Jews. Remember what happened to him? They ran him out of town. They started riots against him.] …Then the offense of the cross has been taken away. I would that they would even make themselves eunuchs—those who are throwing you into confusion" (vs 11-12).
"…offense of the cross…"—because Christ would not be Messiah, what would be salvation? Circumcision! If circumcision were salvation, what need is there for Christ? None! They were trying to substitute law-keeping and circumcision inner-mixed with paganism as a substitute for Christ and still claiming they had salvation. Never work!
Verse 12: "I would that they would even make themselves eunuchs—those who are throwing you into confusion. For you have been called unto freedom, brethren; only do not use this freedom for an occasion to the flesh; rather, serve one another with love" (vs 12-13). That's how it needs to be.
I might mention that in our past experience years ago, what was the main ingredient that was missing in within the congregation? What holds the congregation together?
- Law? No!
- Force? No!
- Rulership? No!
LOVE! Love, brethren, holds it together. Love working within you! Now we start coming back to the simplicity of Christ.
Verse 14: "For the whole law is fulfilled in this commandment: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" That doesn't mean that's all there is. You have to love God with all your heart, mind, soul and being. That's the whole meaning of the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread. Love God with all your heart, mind, soul and being, and your neighbor as yourself, and love the brethren as your own family. That's what God wants! That's what makes it go!
Verse 15: "But if you bite and devour one another… [I've experienced that; haven't you experienced that? Yes!] …watch out lest you be consumed by one another." Has that happened? Has people's lives been consumed by backbiting, backstabbing, trying to run people's lives for them.
I just heard of an occasion where one man, who follows what we're doing, worked and someone else new came to work there, and this person was in the church that the other man left. So, the minister came and told the man that was newly hired that he couldn't work there because he was working alongside someone who had supposedly left the Church. A work of a law!The minister's law that says, 'thou shalt not work alongside someone we don't approve of.' Who is he? You cannot have this overbearing thing on you when you realize that it's Christ, not a man! That's what they're doing: devour and backbite!
Verse 16: "Now this I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh." That is true. How can you overcome lust? By filling your mind with the Word of God, by the Spirit of God! Let the Spirit of God lead you. What happens when you sin? Always repent and put yourself under the blood of Christ, under the grace of God and go forward. That's how to do it.
Are any of us here fulfilling the desire of the flesh? The lust of the flesh? No, we're not! We're being led by God's Spirit. That doesn't mean we're not trying to overcome; that doesn't mean that we're perfect. But I've heard of congregations where they've had wife-swapping in the congregation and legally justify it by letting them divorce and marry each other. Lust runs free! I've heard of church leaders going out and committing adultery ad infinitum—right? I've heard of church leaders church money and buying the most of expensive of everything while crying wolf that 'we're running out of money.' Perfect example.
Verse 17: "For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these things are opposed to each other… [Rom. 7] …so that you cannot do those things you wish to do." In other words you cannot do things that you desire or would.
Verse 18: "But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law." Notice the word 'the' is not there. You're not under law for justification. If you're being led by Christ, if you're fulfilling the things that ought to be, then you are not under law for justification, but Christ!
We are through all the difficult parts, that is all the difficult parts in Galatians, believe it or not. I know that this has been very laborious to go through it. It has been a detailed study to go through, brethren. I do really sincerely appreciate your patience. I know that in some cases it has been brain-straining to do so. But you've gotten through it and just think how much you understand. I'll have to say this has been the most thorough and in-depth study that I have ever done as a minister.
Verse 19: "Now, the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: adultery… [That's one of the biggest problems in the world.] …fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, strifes, jealousies, indignations, contentions, divisions, sects, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such things as these; concerning which I am telling you beforehand, even as I have also said in the past, that those who do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God" (vs 19-21).
It's very clear, he's telling them very clearly: You can't go sin! You can't go do the things in the world! You can't go out and do all these miserable and abominable things and say we are delivered to do them, wipe your mouth clean from all the swill that you are into and say, 'God, I am circumcised, therefore, you are indebted to give me salvation.' It sounds ridiculous at this point to even state that, but that's the sum of it.
Verse 22: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love…" The very love of God, the very love we need to have for each other that keeps everything going. That's what really makes it go, brethren. That love, respect, kindness and understanding that comes from God's Spirit. That's not to say that you aren't human. That's not to say that you might not have anger. Some people think that a Christian should not have any anger. That's ridiculous! Did Jesus have anger? Yes! Even healed in anger! What does the Bible say? A sharp tongue stops the laagered! Balance it out!
"…joy, peace…" I'll have to say in our little church we have peace. We're the 'no hassle church' we have peace! I want peace more than anything else.
"…long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control; against such things there is no law" (vs 22-23). What law are you going to create against that? To say you're breaking it and you're sinning? None!
Verse 24: "But those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts." How do you crucify that? Your whole life!
Luke 14:25: "And great multitudes were going with Him; and He turned and said to them, 'If anyone comes to Me and does not hate… [love more in comparison to] …his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers and sisters, and, in addition, his own life also, he cannot… [it's impossible] …be My disciple' And whoever does not carry his cross… [that's what means to be crucified with Christ] …and come after Me cannot be My disciple" (vs 25-27). If you're in Christ, you have crucified the passions and the lust of the flesh.
If you're married, stay married to your one wife all of your life. That's it; have no lust toward any other woman/have no lust toward any other man. If it is that you have something, do it lawfully, legally, properly. If you make any mistakes, then change and work it out. Repent to God!
Galatians 5:25: "If we live by the Spirit, we should also be walking by the Spirit. We should not become vain-glorious, provoking one another and envying one another" (vs 25-26). Have you seen a church run on vain-glory? Yes, you have! That's why we're here and they're there.
Galatians 6:1: "Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in some offense, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of meekness… [If they are willing to listen. If they're not willing to listen then let them know, very firmly.] …considering yourself, lest you also be tempted." Why? Because we all have weakness of the flesh!
Verse 2: "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ…. [Interesting statement!] …For if anyone thinks himself to be something,when he is nothing, he is deceiving himself" (vs 2-3). That means anyone should not think himself to be something, because he's really only nothing. All of us, as human beings, compared to God are nothing. So what if the person is the greatest potentate in the world, if they don't have Christ they are absolutely nothing! You don't come along and say, 'Oh, let me show you how to do it, I'm thus-and-such, and I'm better than you and I'll show you how to do this.' Nonsense! Not the way!
When I first read that—if man think himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself—but he doesn't deceive himself if he's really something. Talk about reading in a circle!
Verse 4: "But let each one prove his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another." Who's that boasting going to be? In Christ! Jesus said, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice.' And the boasting ought to be in the mercy of God for the glory of God.
Verse 5: "For each one shall bear his own burden. Let the one who is being taught in the Word share all his good things with the one who is teaching him. Do not be deceived. God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh shall reap corruption from the flesh. But the one who sows to the Spirit shall reap eternal life from the Spirit. Now we should not lose heart in doing well because we who do not faint will reap in due time" (vs 6-9). If we don't get weak and give up.
Verse 10: So then, as we have opportunity, we should do good to all, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand. As many as desire to make a good impression in the flesh, these are the ones who compel you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ." (vs 10-12).
They were trying to avoid persecution by the Jews. It's like some going out here and trying to receive the adulation of the Catholic priest, or the Orthodox priest, or the Buddha priest. We've got them everywhere, all kinds of priests, all kinds of religions. Who would have thought of it. They're making a big Buddha temple here in California, a great big, huge Buddhist temple. That's because of all of the Japanese moving in from Japan.
Who's the famous ex-governor of California who follows Buddhism and is going to save the world? Jerry Brown! Buddhism is one of the religions of the world that says that you can save yourself through your own works of meditation. That is a work of a law. See how you can apply a work of a law does not save you? It is Christ Who saves you!
Verse 13: "For those who are circumcised, neither do they keep the law themselves, but they want you to be circumcised in order that they may boast in your flesh." Look at the proselytes we have! Look how many were converted! How do you know they're converted?
Verse 14: "But as for me, MAY IT NEVER BE that I boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." Very profound statement buried way back, almost at the end of the book of Galatians.
Verse 15: "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is of any spiritual force; rather, it is a new creation that avails." Christ formed in you!
Verse 16: "And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God… [which is the Church] …From this time forth, let no one trouble me, for I bear the brands of the Lord Jesus in my own body. Brethren, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen" (vs 16-18).
We've gotten through the most difficult book in the entirety of the Bible. Now we need to get back to some of the things concerning love, joy and peace and those things that bring that. I hope, brethren, that you really understand, through this, the whole operation of Christ and salvation even more.
All Scriptures from The Holy Bible in Its Original Order, A Faithful Version by Fred R. Coulter
Scriptural References:
- Galatians 1:3-5, 13-16
- Galatians 4:1-10
- Deuteronomy 18:9-12
- Galatians 4:9-31
- Galatians 5:1-24
- Luke 14:25-27
- Galatians 5:25-26
- Galatians 6:1-18
Scriptures referenced, not quoted: John 8
- Acts 20
- John 16
- Acts 13
- 1 Corinthians 3
- Colossians 1:27
- John 8
- Romans 7
FRC:bo
Transcribed: 1-6-13
