THE SHACKLING OF GRACE
The Galatian Error
Greetings! Think about this...
I can say, Christ has been my only object; thank God, my righteousness too...
Hold fast to Christ.
-John Nelson Darby
In his letter to the Galatian church, Paul addressed a problem—a problem that had much to do with his fellow missionary, Simon Peter. In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, he said he confronted Peter in Antioch.
Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed (Galatians 2:11). What was Peter’s offense? Jewish law forbade eating with the uncircumcised Gentiles, but Peter regularly ate with the Gentile Christians—except when other Jews were around. When the Jews came around, Peter and Barnabas displayed double-mindedness, by not dining with the gentiles.
In our society, most Christians would be quite comfortable breaking bread with a Jew. However, it was of major consequence in Galatia and even though the circumstances differ today, the hypocrisy remains.
As the passage continues Paul addresses the fact that we are justified by faith and not by works of the law. He calls trying to be justified by law a matter of rebuilding those things which he destroyed which would make him a lawbreaker.
For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor (Galatians 2:18).
This problem was bigger than we think. Imagine yourself a Gentile in that day. Paul taught in his letter to the Ephesians,
Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself ONE new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity (Ephesians 2:11-16). In spite of Paul’s teaching, church leaders were practicing and teaching adherence to the law and separation from Gentiles.
A Simplistic View
We would be too simplistic if we merely took these Scriptures to mean that we as Christians, must accept Gentiles and Christian Jews as equals and treat them as such. Certainly, it means that, but there is so much more. Paul was by no means through with his discussion on the topic.
The Jewish converts had a long-held view that they were better than other people and races in the world. They scornfully referred to the Gentiles as “the uncircumcised” in their conversations. Assuredly, the Gentiles were aware of this attitude of superiority on the part of the Jews. When the Gentiles became Christians, they thought the Jewish attitudes would change, but they didn’t. The Jews were talking the talk but not walking it out in practice. Therefore, Paul refers to them as hypocrites.
The Jews saw themselves as superior to others for one reason or another. Today, some Christians might see themselves as better worshipers, speakers, mothers or friends than other Christians. All these examples, however, have one thing in common. They are based on self-righteousness, which in reality, is no righteousness at all.
Galatians 2:20
Sometimes I fear Christians misuse this cherished verse. We use it to prove that we were crucified with Christ, and now, ....not I, but Christ lives in me. This is true, but the context is that Paul is dealing with the Galatian error of self-righteousness.
How is self-righteousness accrued? It is accrued by meeting people’s expectations by living a more acceptable lifestyle, and by conforming to the norms of our society, our church, our home, and our friends. When we ask ourselves whether or not we are good Christians, the common response is to look at performance—thoughts, choices, emotions, behavior, actions, and speech—and decide whether or not they qualify us as "good." We, in effect, judge ourselves by whether we have measured up to our internal and external standards—our law system. After all, that is what we have been taught to work on all our lives. To this kind of system, which we use to judge our- selves and others, Paul says,
I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law (behavior), then Christ died in vain (Galatians 2:21).
Foolish Galatians
O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? (Galatians 3:1).
Paul might as well have said, "Where are you getting your information? Have you gone to see a witch?"
This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? (Galatians 3:2).
In other words, "How did you become a Christian? Did you have to work at it? Cleaning up your thinking, choices, emotions, speech, behavior, and action? Or did you accept the free gift of Christ Jesus Himself?"
Are you so foolish?
Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? (Galatians 3:3-4). This is asking the Galatians, "Once you become a Christian, do you think that you can become a better Christian by being circumcised or by not eating with the uncircumcised?"
In our day and age, do we believe we can become better Christians, or even superior Christians, by reading our Bible more, praying more, witnessing more and cleaning up our thought life? Could we get closer to God by thinking of Him more or attending church more often? To all this, Paul asks, "Who taught you these things? A witch? Where are you getting your information? Don’t be foolish. If you think you are saved by faith and made perfect by works, your thinking is wrong. You’re deceived!"
Learn more in my next email, "Only By Faith."
-Lee LeFebre
