Last Sunday, we continued our study in Galatians with a message titled, FAITH, THE ONLY WAY TO LOVE (Gal. 5:2-6). In this passage, God continues to call His children who “Christ has [already set]… free” to stay free by avoiding the perils of legalism and also license- to be discussed later in this chapter (Gal. 5:1, 13, etc.). While the act of circumcision in itself is neutral for a child of God today (e.g. Acts 16:1-3), doing that as a means to be put right with God would derail the Galatian Christians’ maturity in Christ and obligate them to a whole system of rules the false teachers in their day advocated (Gal. 5:2-3; 6:13; Deut. 27:26; James 2:10, etc.).
We also have legalistic teachers in our time who preach false gospels that ruin grace. To depend on their system of rules likewise requires relying on one’s own strength (i.e. the flesh) resulting in bondage for a Christian. The Holy Spirit refers to this state as “fallen from grace” as it makes “Christ… [of] no effect” in a child of God’s present-day life (Gal. 5:4 KJV).
Once again, the issue at stake here is present-day freedom and maturity, not being becoming God’s child (Gal. 4:6, 28, 31; 5:1, etc.). And He calls us to walk by grace in the power of the Spirit as we “eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith” (Gal. 5:5; Rom. 8: 19, 23, 25; 1 Cor. 1:7b; Phil. 3:20-21; Heb. 9:28, etc.). When we walk by faith and not by sight, our “faith… [works]through love”, and God is seen in us (Col. 1:27, etc.). This love is not the way the world defines it, but it is God’s true, holy, [Grk. agapáō], love (Gal. 5:6, 16-17, 22a; Rom. 5:5; 12:9; John 15:5, etc.).
Pastor Dave
My passion is to protect and promote the truth, and teach others to do the same through the faithful teaching of the Bible.
Gospel means “good news.” While we can have good news throughout our lives in many forms, the good news God shares with us is the forgiveness of sin through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.
My cell is 208-597-1508, or you can also reach me at pastor@springhillchurchspokane.org