A person doesn't lose his temper. They were happy persons while under the ministry of the apostle; as a Gospel ministry is a great happiness to any that enjoy it; for this is the way to find eternal life, to have spiritual peace and pleasure, joy and comfort, light and liberty, whereas a contrary doctrine leads to all the reverse. it is added, he conferred not with flesh and blood; neither went up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before him; but went into Arabia, and returned again, not to Jerusalem, but to Damascus, the place near which he had been called at first. 5:13-15 As for you, brothers, it was for freedom that you were called, only you must not use this freedom as a bridgehead through which the worst side of human nature can invade you, but in love you must serve one another; for the whole law stands complete in one word, in the sentence, "You must love your neighbour as yourself." occasioned great contentions, and threatened them with divisions, Bring in one part of law, and you fall under the authority of the whole. That they should all strive against sin; and happy would it be for the church if Christians would let all their quarrels be swallowed up of this, even a quarrel against sin--if, instead of biting and devouring one another on account of their different opinions, they would all set themselves against sin in themselves and the places where they live. Nay; he communicated unto them the gospel which he preached among the Gentiles. This would have flowed from Peter's conduct. He habitually measured things not so much by their bearing on Jews or Gentiles as by their effect on Christ's glory. The message of redemption through the cross was offensive. When they first knew him, there was no difficulty felt on this score; they heard him as an angel of God. They think that it is quite right, for the church especially, to appoint days for this and that saint; to have certain seasons to remind one of the Lord's incarnation, ministry, and crucifixion, of His resurrection, ascension, and so on. For they were saying that was it was necessary to be circumcised and to keep the law of Moses in order to be righteous before God, to be saved. I say something that is not of the Lord. Promise was before the law, and flowed out of the grace of God. And it is in the realm of the spirit where man meets God. And so, such things leaves an unending list of things of the flesh. Let us never confound the two. You cannot be ruled and dominated by your flesh.Now, it is interesting, a list similar to this is given to us in Revelation the twenty-first chapter, as it tells us those who are going to be excluded from heaven and outside were those who were doing these things: "The fearful, the unbelieving, the abominable, the murderers, the whoremongers, the sorcerers, the idolaters, and the liars," those who are outside. But his heart was too agitated not to betake himself at once to the point of their danger. Writing was a somewhat laborious task in those days, and it was a kind of profession to be a writer or scribe, before printing, of course, was known. They are acting like animals, satisfying their own desires of the flesh, in order to get back at those who differ with them. THE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP ( Galatians 5:1-12 ). You couldn't believe the things the Jehovah Witnesses believe, unless you read their screwy attitudes and ideas in their books. I'd say, "Open the doors and let me off." It is not a question of law at all. Basil called it "grief at your neighbours good fortune." In the meantime God had come and promised that Sarah would have a child, which was so difficult to believe that it appeared impossible to Abraham and Sarah; but in due time Isaac was born. And this I say, that the covenant confirmed before by God unto Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, can not annul so that it should make the promise of none effect." Enmity; the idea is that of the man who is characteristically hostile to his fellow men; it is the precise opposite of the Christian virtue of love for the brethren and for all men. For Jew and Gentile were alike guilty of crucifying Him. He had the faith that could by grace cleave to God if he had not a companion; but God blesses that faith, and acts by it on the conscience of others, even on those that, alas! Dr. Jimmy Young Buzzsprout-11368979 Thu, 22 Sep 2022 15:00:00 -0500 1898 Dr. Young,DJY,Grace Evangelical,Grace Evan,Germantown,Memphis,Collierville,Bible,Jeremiah,Church,God full false You Owe Me | Matthew 20.1-16 . And this directly follows his censure of their observance of times and seasons. THE INTRODUCTION ( Galatians 1:1-10) 1. The apostle concludes this chapter with a caution against pride and envy, Galatians 5:26; Galatians 5:26. If I am a Christian, I acquire a new kind of responsibility. Now, if you're walking in love, supreme love for God and supreme love for your fellow man, then there is no law. The whole legal institution depended on a people lineally descended from Abraham, as their priests on a similar succession from Aaron. They thus acted and pronounced according to the evident intention of God conveyed in the character of their apostolates respectively. This they never thought of doing. This, be it observed, was part of God's way with him beyond all others. I have known a divine who had a character for intelligence use these words as a motto and sanction. But the liberty is not a liberty to indulge my flesh in anything that I may desire to do after the flesh. Partisan strife will be fatal to the Christian community as a whole. This passage, however, indicates they are having disputes. He takes the story involving Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, Ishmael and Isaac ( Genesis 16:1-16; Genesis 17:1-27, Genesis 21:1-34), which in the Old Testament is a straightforward narrative and he allegorises it to illustrate his point. What! And I encourage you to just read your Bible.Now, why is it that Jehovah Witness can't tell you that? "Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.". You got to walk the tight rope. In grace, God in the person of His Son speaks and accomplishes ALL; and thus He is glorified from first to last. Exhortation to Stedfastness; Persuasives to Stedfastness. Galatians 1:1-24. The context behind the Galatians church We have been crucified to the requirements of the law Kill our desire or need to keep the law as a means of gaining justification Galatians 2:15-16 Being crucified to self Matthew 16:24 There is only one throne in our hearts and life, and only one person can sit on it Galatians 5:24 "Bite" refers to the sudden action brought on by uncontrolled emotions that hurt other members of the church. That is just another way of saying that the essence of Christianity is not law but a personal relationship to Jesus Christ. Don't despise the chastening of the Lord. If they took that gr. Having brought in the true character of the Christian's life as flowing simply and solely from Christ, and from Christ crucified too, so here he takes up the Holy Ghost. Christ on high had called him. Their predicament would only become worse, as evidenced by the fact that already they are biting and devouring one another instead of growing closer to one another. The apostle specifies the works of the flesh, which must be watched against and mortified, and the fruits of the Spirit, which must be cherished and brought forth (Galatians 5:19; Galatians 5:19, c.) and by specifying particulars he further illustrates what he is here upon. Hagar stands for the old covenant of the law, made on Mount Sinai, which is in fact in Arabia, the land of Hagar's descendants. But when men would have anything fraught with distress to His people, when through their folly confusion must ensue, contrary to all that His heart loved, then it was left to others. Make a child thoroughly happy, and you will soon see that its duty becomes comparatively light and a joy. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith ( Galatians 5:5 ). Note, 1. (14) An exhortation to the duties of charity, by the profit that follows from it, because no men proved worse for themselves than they that hate one another. There was no consciousness of the identification of the saint with Christ. It is used of the athlete's discipline of his body ( 1 Corinthians 9:25) and of the Christian's mastery of sex ( 1 Corinthians 7:9). "Are ye so foolish? Leave room for God, and for God alone. He will not hear of any pretended misunderstanding. But to the end of the day there remained for Paul two obligations. He does not condescend to reason about their place in the matter, but puts them at once in their due relationship. The Holy Ghost is given as the seal of faith in Christ on the accomplishment of redemption, not before nor otherwise. He does not deny that others preached it; but if so, they preached the same truth. Eternal life is spoken of in this double way in scripture (Romans 6:22-23); and I also press this as a truth of no small importance and but too much forgotten. And as, by specifying these works of the flesh and fruits of the Spirit, the apostle directs us both what we are to avoid and oppose and what we are to cherish and cultivate, so (Galatians 5:24; Galatians 5:24) he informs us that this is the sincere care and endeavour of all real Christians: And those that are Christ's, says he (those who are Christians indeed, not only in show and profession, but in sincerity and truth), have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. There could be but one answer. Thence he advances to another point of his argument. They're wanting to strive, they're wanting to argue; they're wanting to prove their points how that baptism is essential for salvation. All this is counted a great, wise, and sensible help to devotion. I call your attention particularly to this, brethren, that an act apparently so simple as Peter's ceasing to eat with the Gentiles had such a solemn character in the eye of the apostle Paul, that he considered it a question of the truth of the gospel. As far as this temper prevails among Christians, they will be ready to slight and despise those whom they look upon as inferior to them, and to be put out of humour if they are denied that respect which they think is their due from them, and they will also be apt to envy those by whom their reputation is in any danger of being lessened: and thus a foundation is laid for those quarrels and contentions which, as they are inconsistent with that love which Christians ought to maintain towards each other, so they are greatly prejudicial to the honour and interest of religion itself. Theirs was the slave's son Ishmael. He saw that the tree was pleasant to look upon, it was tasty to eat and it would make him wise as God. My business is to act consistently with the new place in which grace has put me. Instead they are unkind and cruel to each other. Paul now warns them about a consequence of this. But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. What Paul is saying is, "This legalistic movement may not have gone very far yet, but you must root it out before it destroys your whole religion.". No one's ever seen this before but oh, bless God, He's revealed it to us in these days. Let us not be desirous of vainglory ( Galatians 5:24-26 ), Now, these men who were coming with this teaching were really out to get notches on their belts. What did hinder you? But the fruit of the Spirit ( Galatians 5:22 ), Now, "walk in the Spirit, you'll not fulfill the lust of the flesh." at least as zealous for the Jews' religion as any Jew of the straitest sect. The superior Trinity is made up of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. But he lists some of the works of the flesh. On the other hand, the spirit (the renewed part of us) strives against the flesh, and opposes the will and desire of it: and hence it comes to pass that we cannot do the things that we would. Keeping God's commandments is not bondage. Adultery, fornication, uncleanness [sexual impurities], [wantonness] lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft [drug abuse] ( Galatians 5:19-20 ). This never can bring man to God any more than glory to God. All is confusion. For God does speak elsewhere, and even on this occasion, of a numerous seed. He had been trained up under the most distinguished teacher the great Rabbin Gamaliel; but "when it pleased him, who had separated him from his mother's womb, and called him by his grace, to reveal his Son in him." But when I do fail, the Spirit is right there, and that's why I know I'm a child of God. "Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; though it be but a man's covenant, yet, if it be confirmed, no man annulleth or addeth thereto." The truth of the gospel, to the apostle Paul's mind, was at stake. You cannot go farther. The cross paid it all. 2 Behold, I, Paul, tell you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing. Christ has set us free! Take heed that ye be not consumed - As wild beasts contend sometimes until both are slain. Did they know that for a Gentile Christian to take up Judaistic elements is in principle to go back to heathenism? It was the practice that priests and really devout worshippers of Cybele mutilated themselves by castration. Alas! It was not to keep people under the law, still less could it be to put any under the law, but to bring them clean out if they had been under it before. Thus, then, God directed and ruled that the apostle should go up and have the evil condemned on the spot, and at the centre from which it had emanated. Thus, the idea is, in their contentions they would destroy the spirituality and happiness of each other; their characters would be ruined; and the church be overthrown. For the world there is nothing yet executed, any more than the great results of grace for the saints as yet appear in their fulness. He leaves it to spiritual wisdom to gather what was the evident impression of the truth. For if a man "keeps the whole law, yet he offends in one point, he is guilty of all" ( James 2:10 ). Jesus, the rejected Messiah, was the Son of the living God, the giver of life, the quickening Son of God. He begins with the works of the flesh, which, as they are many, so they are manifest. Galatians 5:1-15 focuses on what those in Christ should do with our freedom in Christ. The apostle does not say, if grievous wolves should enter in among you and not spare the flock; but suggests if they themselves should act the part of wolves to one another; having reference to their controversies about the law and circumcision, and the necessity thereof to justification and salvation; which were managed with great heat and bitterness, occasioned great contentions, and threatened them with divisions, parties, and factions; and were attended with envy and malice, with reproachful words, biting sarcasms, scandalous invectives, and injurious actions, which must be of bad consequence: hence he adds. And so, Paul is picking up, now, the same phrase. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us [all?]. But they drank it in the proportion of three parts of water to two of wine. I wish that those who are upsetting you would get themselves not only circumcised but castrated! You can see the Santa Rosa and San Miguel and San Nicolas and say, "Hey, hey, all right, we're right on course." When He had anything unfailing to do or say, He loved to appear in grace; He said it Himself, and did it for Himself. No effort, no work on your part. The word used here ( dakno), means, properly, to bite, to sting; and here seems to be used in the sense of contending and striving - a metaphor probably taken from dogs and wild beasts. The word is hairesis ( G139) , from which comes our word heresy. You are bound to carry it out consistently. Such was the will of God the Father that had raised Christ from the dead. See Luke 9:54. This then is what the law brought in. another; having reference to their controversies about the law "You've been called unto liberty." How could it be otherwise with one persecuting at the moment that he was arrested, in hot deadly opposition to God's church up to his most unexpected call from heaven? There is a work of God's Spirit within his heart, and he is born of the Spirit, and now again has a spirit that is alive and is conscious of God. Paul adds a grim bit of advice. Glory, the glory of man is indeed empty; it's vain. Every word he uses has a picture behind it. Paul begins chapter 5 by stating flatly that Christ has set us free in order that we should be free. of The idea is that of a man who is so far gone in desire that he has ceased to care what people say or think. He heartily avows what they counted a defect; and not Only so, but with the greatest solemnity assures them that he had not seen the apostles, save only Peter, and James the brother of the Lord, and these but for a short space. The flesh began to rule, and man's consciousness was now filled and absorbed with the body needs and the body appetites. Therefore, that righteousness is perfect. Acts 15:1, 5 ). It is not a vague general expression for all saints, but implies that fleshly Israel was nothing now. This epistle, as those to the Corinthians, opens with an assertion of his apostolic place. The liberty that we have is not to do the things of the flesh. Romans chapter six, "Know ye that the old man was crucified with Christ? Such is the reasoning in which the apostle uses this very remarkable prophecy. Those that were used of Satan, both to oppose the apostle in person, and also to distrust that testimony which they had not spirituality enough to appreciate, busily insinuated doubts into the minds of these Gentile brethren, and found too ready an ear among them. Such is the only possible way in which blessing can be brought in, in order that such souls as we are should be blessed and maintained in it. There is such a thing as, by patient continuance in well doing, to seek for eternal life. Uncontrolled temper ; the word Paul uses means bursts of temper. His testimony was characteristically though not of course exclusively heavenly, as it was also the witness of grace to the fullest. Note, (1.) He will gain transgression thereby; nothing more, nothing better. But this was not all. Which means: Peaceable Christians realize that apart from Jehovah God, they have no lasting peacemaking ability. Galatians 5:22-23 THE END (GOAL) IS GROWING FAITH IS LOVE 2 Peter 1:5-7 PAUL'S GREAT DESCRIPTION OF LOVE 1 Corinthians 13:4-6 BOTH GOD & LOVE INCLUDE Joy Peace Forbearance Kindness Faithfulness Gentleness Self-control Faith Goodness Knowledge Self-control Perseverance Godliness Mutual affection Patient Kind Truth Protection Trust Hope Perseverance He advances to another point of his Son speaks and accomplishes all ; and thus is. [ all? ] this before but oh, bless God, he 's revealed it to us these... Upsetting you would get themselves not only circumcised but castrated for God, and you will soon see that duty... And even on this score ; they heard him as an angel of God 's way with him beyond others... Empty ; it 's vain that we have is not of the flesh wisdom to what. 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