Faithful to His Promise

“To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, "And to offsprings," referring to many, but referring to one, "And to your offspring," who is Christ. This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.”

(Galatians 3:15-18 ESV)

Although none of us are perfectly honest, we understand the importance of keeping our word. We understand that, if we commit to something, we should follow through with it. And we both value and esteem those who do so.



We also tend to look down on those who are not trustworthy. We look down on those who are not true to their word. Because we do not deem them trustworthy, we do not count them believable or dependable.



We also understand that we cannot change the terms of an agreement once it’s been made. If we agree to a certain purchase price for a car or a house, we cannot change the terms if they no longer work to our advantage. If we agree to trade labor with someone, or to pay him for his services, we cannot later change the terms.



That being said, many Christians make the mistake of thinking that the people of Israel were under a different covenant than we are, today. They mistakenly believe that they were saved in a different way than we are, today.  While we are saved by the grace of God through faith in Jesus, they believe that the people of Israel, that the Jews, were saved through the law.



However, as Paul tells us above, this is not the case. He points out that, although God did give the law to the people of Israel, he had first given his promise to Abraham. And God’s promise is not replaced, it’s not annulled, by the law.



If that were the case, God would not be trustworthy. If that were the case, he has not been faithful to his Word. Because he first gave his promise, that promise must be honored.



The people of Israel, then, were saved in the same way that you and I are saved. They were saved by the grace of God. As they believed the promise of God, their faith was counted to them as righteousness. And the same remains true today.



Although we have the Ten Commandments, although we have the law of God, this is not our means of salvation. They are still applicable today, and they are to guide us today. But they are not, nor have they ever been, the means of salvation.



We, then, can find comfort in the fact that God is true to his Word. As his blessing is found in his promise, we don’t have to earn it in any way. We can simply look to him in faith, which is credited to us as righteousness.

True Assurance

“For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them." Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for "The righteous shall live by faith." But the law is not of faith, rather "The one who does them shall live by them." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us-- for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree"-- so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.”

(Galatians 3:10-14 ESV)

As I’ve visited with people about matters of faith, throughout the years, one thing has become clear. Although most people confess faith in Jesus, and although they understand that he died on the cross, this isn’t where they find the assurance of salvation. They look, instead, to themselves. They look to their efforts and their obedience to God’s commands.



This is true of people both inside and outside of the church. Even among those who are typically present in church most weeks, a large number think the same way. Even though they’ve heard the gospel countless times, they do not look to him as the source of their salvation.



Most believe that they will go to heaven when they die. But when asked why they believe this, they point to their own inherent goodness or to their good works. They say that they are a good person. They say that they try to live according to God’s commands. And they say that they generally do more good than bad.



If this is how we believe, we are in a dangerous place. As Paul points out in the above passage, all who rely on works of the law are under a curse. They are cursed because they do not abide by all things written in the book of the law.



No matter how good we believe ourselves to be, and no matter how we judge our own actions and intentions, the simple fact of the matter is that we’re guilty. We have sinned against God. And, because of our sin, we deserve only the judgment of God.



If we depend upon ourselves, if we place our trust in ourselves, we are lost. We are lost because nothing we do can erase our guilt or atone for our wrongdoing. And, for this reason, we’ll suffer the wrath of God.



The good news is that Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law. He’s done so by becoming a curse. He’s done so by giving his life for us upon the cross.



In this way, God’s blessing has come to all people. It can be received by all people. And the way that we receive it is through faith.



Our confidence, our assurance, cannot be found in ourselves. It can be found only in Christ. It’s only as we look to him in faith, it’s only as we trust in his work upon the cross, that we are saved.

Chosen People

“Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you shall all the nations be blessed." So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.”

(Galatians 3:7-9 ESV)

All throughout history, the people of Israel had believed themselves to be the people of God. They believed themselves to be his chosen people. And, according to Old Testament law, they made a clear distinction between themselves and the Gentiles. They were God’s children, they were the children of promise, while the Gentiles were not.



It’s for this reason that some of the Jewish believers tried to force their law upon the Gentiles. If they were to be saved, if they were to become the people of God, they first had to become Jews. They had to be circumcised and live under the ceremonial law.



In light of the gospel, Paul proclaimed a very different message. He emphasized not the lineage of the people. He preached that it was not his genetic makeup that made a person a child of God. It was his faith that did so.



Jesus emphasized the same thing in the eighth chapter of John. Even though they claimed Abraham as their father, Jesus told the Jews that this was not the case. They were, in fact, children of the devil. If they were children of Abraham, he said, they’d be doing the things that Abraham did.



Paul also shared this truth in Romans 9. He stated that not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel. He taught that not all are children of Abraham because they’re his offspring.



If this is true, we may wonder, who is a son of Abraham? Who is a child of God? Who are his chosen people? And who is it that belongs to Israel?



Paul tells us, above, that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. God had promised to Abraham that, in him, all the nations would be blessed. And this is how that promise is fulfilled. We are made part of the people of God as we share in the faith of Abraham.



This, then, is good news for us. It’s good news because we are assured that we are not outside of God’s promises. And it assures us that we are not excluded from his people.



We are made part of God’s people. And it’s not our bloodline or our actions that make this possible. This becomes possible by faith alone.



If we, then, have faith, we can know that we’re Abraham’s offspring. If we have faith, we can know that we’ve received the salvation of God. If we have faith, we can know that we are part of the people of God, his chosen people.



This is comforting because our salvation is not dependent on us in any way. Our confidence is found not within, but outside of ourselves. It’s found in Christ alone. It’s found only in the salvation he has accomplished on the cross.

Hold Fast to the Gospel

“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— just as Abraham "believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"?”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭3:1-6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

We, in the church today, live a strange contradiction. We confess that we’re saved only by the grace of God through faith in Jesus. This is the gospel after all. But, once we are saved, our mindset shifts.

We begin to live as though we grow in faith, as if we are sanctified, by our own efforts. We teach as though we grow in faith, as if we’re sanctified, by our own efforts. And, as we struggle with sin, our message is simply:Try harder.

We turn away from the gospel to a message of works righteousness. And this is not unique to us. It was a tendency shared also by the Galatians.

Paul obviously felt strongly about this. As he begins this passage, he calls them fools. And he asks who had bewitched them.

He does so because they had started out well. They had received the gospel. They had understood that the Spirit of God was received not by works, but through faith.

This, however, had changed in time. They had begun to depend upon their own efforts. They had begun to think and act as if they were perfected by the flesh.

He reminds them that every blessing they had received was given them through faith. And he reminds them that, in the case of Abraham, it was his faith that was counted to him as righteousness. In other words, they needed to continue as they had begun.

As they had trusted in Christ for his salvation, they were to continue to trust in him. As they had received the Spirit of God through faith, they were to recognize that he remained with them through faith. And as God had blessed them through faith, they needed to continue looking to him in faith for every blessing that was needed.

In the same way, we must continue as we began. We must realize that, just as we are justified by faith, so are we sanctified. Just as we received the Spirit of God through faith, he remains with us by faith. And just as God blesses us through faith in Jesus, so will he continue to bless us.

If we begin to depend upon our efforts for sanctification, we are fools. If we begin to depend upon our efforts for the Spirit’s presence and blessing, we are fools. If we do so, we’ll end up missing out on the very blessings he desires to lavish upon us.

The Prescription for Sin

“But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.”

(Galatians 2:17-21 ESV)

As we faithfully proclaim the truth that we are justified by faith, as we faithfully proclaim the truth that our works play no role in our salvation, a common reaction is seen. It is then suggested that this leads to antinomianism. What this means is that people are free to live however they please and remain in the grace of God.



In Paul’s case, as we see above, he asks if this makes Christ a servant of sin. If we’re found to be sinners, while we seek the justification that’s provided through faith in Christ, does this make Jesus a servant of sin?  Does it mean that Jesus promotes or allows sin in any way? And Paul’s answer to this question is “Certainly not!”



If he were to return to the law, if he were to once again follow all of the rules and regulations prescribed by the ceremonial law, it would not free him from sin. In fact, it would prove only one thing. It would prove only that he is a sinner. It would do so because the law reveals to us our sin and our need of a Savior.



You see, the prescription for sin is not the law. The law can do nothing to remove our sin. It can do nothing to minimize our sin. And it can do nothing to make our lives more godly.



The prescription for sin is the cross of Christ. Paul says that, through the law, he died to the law, that he might live for God. He says that he’s been crucified with Christ. And he says that it’s no longer he who lives, but Christ in him.



In the same way, we have been crucified with Christ. Our old life, our life of sin and rebellion, is a thing of the past. We’ve been given a new life. Christ now lives in us. And this is what brings about a life of obedience.



I’m not suggesting that, once we come to faith in Christ, sin is a non-issue. We will continue to sin as long as we live in this world. However, no longer do we pursue the desires of the flesh. We, instead, desire Christ and the things of Christ. We long to live for him and to glorify him.



Paul then reminds us that if righteousness were through the law, if we were made righteous by our obedience to the law, then Christ died for nothing. If we believe that we can earn our salvation, we have rendered his sacrifice meaningless. And if we believe that we can become righteous by our own efforts, then we have rendered his sacrifice meaningless.

Looking Outside of Ourselves

“We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”

(Galatians 2:15-16 ESV)

There’s nothing new under the sun. Not even that statement is new! And we see this also when it comes to our mindset regarding our justification. We have the same tendency that people have always had.



Most of us have heard the gospel countless times. Most of us know the gospel, and can even explain it. We can explain that Jesus gave his life on the cross, paying the penalty of our sin.



Yet, even though this is true of us, this is not how we live. It’s not where we place our trust. Instead of looking outside of ourselves, to the completed work of Jesus, we tend to look within. 



Most of us rely upon our actions for salvation. We rely upon works of the law for the assurance of salvation. We rely upon our obedience to God to gain for ourselves the forgiveness and salvation that we so desperately need.



The same is true as we consider others. We believe that “good” people are saved and that “bad” people are condemned. Even if someone has no faith in Jesus whatsoever, we tend to believe they are saved because of their goodness.



However, as Paul reminds us in the above passage, we are not justified by works of the law. He tells us that no one will be justified by works of the law. In other words, we are not made right with God by anything that we do. We are justified only through faith in Jesus Christ.



If we, then, are trusting in ourselves for salvation, we are not saved. If we’re trusting in our obedience to the law to gain for us the salvation that we need, we are not saved. If we’re relying on our inherent goodness for salvation, we are not saved.



We can possess a greater morality than most, and still be lost. We can do more good works than most, and still be lost. We can still be lost because, regardless of what we do, we are sinners deserving only death and hell.



Nothing we do can change this fact. Nothing we do can erase our guilt. Nothing we do can remove original sin from our heart. And nothing we do can make up for our shortcomings.



Only Jesus can do this. Only he can cleanse us from our sin. Only he can provide the perfect righteousness required for our salvation.

Something Worth Fighting For

“But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, "If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?"”

(Galatians 2:11-14 ESV)

Even though it saddens me to say it, the Church has no shortage of conflict. This has been true throughout the centuries. And it remains true even today.



Our tendency is to quibble over even the smallest of matters. What carpet color should we choose for the sanctuary? Do we sing hymns, choruses, or both? Do we use only the organ, or can we use a piano or guitar? Should we encourage people to dress up, or is casual dress acceptable? And these are only a few of the matters that divide us.



Much of this is ridiculous. It’s unnecessary. And, seeing this, we often become reactionary. We want to prevent any and all disagreement.



We fail to understand that, at times, we must take a stand. We fail to understand that there are matters worth fighting for. We fail to understand that, at times, these divisions are necessary.



We can see this in the above passage. Paul had already taken his message to the church in Jerusalem, where it was received. He’d been given the right hand of fellowship, and had his ministry both acknowledged and encouraged. However, Peter’s behavior suddenly changed when men arrived, who had been sent by James.



Prior to their arrival, Peter had eaten with the Gentiles. But, once these men arrived, he separated himself. Fearing the circumcision party, Peter would eat only with the Jews.



Not only was Peter’s behavior a problem in itself. It influenced others. The rest of the Jews in the congregation began also to separate themselves. Even Barnabas was led astray.



This was not a matter that Paul could just overlook. Their behavior was not in line with the truth of the gospel. And, for this reason, it had to be dealt with.



Paul, then, opposed Peter to his face. He addressed Peter’s hypocrisy. He did so publicly. And he did so for the sake of the church. He did so for the sake of the gospel.



We rarely think of conflict as being good for the church. We rarely think of it as being good for the gospel. But, in this case, it was.



Allowing Peter’s behavior to continue called the gospel itself into question. It reinforced the idea that we are saved, not by faith in Christ alone, but by our works. And this could, ultimately, lead people away from the salvation Jesus came to provide.



The same thing is often true today. Not all conflicts are pointless. Some, in fact, are necessary to preserve the gospel.



Many believers have had to fight for the gospel as their pastor, congregation, or denomination have denied the authority of Scripture. Many have had to fight for the gospel as destructive heresies and practices have crept into the church. And others have had to fight for the gospel for the same reason as Paul, because works righteousness was being promoted.



While there are many issues that are not worth fighting for, there are others that are. And may we pray for wisdom in distinguishing between the two. We don’t want to fight and divide the church over matters that are meaningless and that are not a matter of truth. But, when the gospel is at stake, we must.

Biblical Leadership

"You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

(Matthew 20:25-28 ESV)

One of the things we see as we look at society, as well as at the church, is a misunderstanding of what leadership is to look like. We share this misunderstanding regardless of whether we see authority in a positive or a negative light. And we tend to understand leadership, we tend to understand authority, as a matter of control. We tend to understand it as a matter of domination.



The one who is in charge, we believe, is the one who yells the loudest. The one who is in charge, we believe, is the one before whom everyone cringes. The one who is in charge, we believe, is the one who uses his strength to force submission upon everyone else.



This is why we often bristle when we hear the Bible’s instructions for the order of the household. This is why we bristle when we read that women aren’t to teach or to have authority over the men of the church. If men are truly the head, we take this to mean that they’re to dominate women. If men are truly the head, we take this to mean that they’re to dominate their spouse and children. If men are the head, we take this to mean that they’re to control everything that goes on. And this, we believe, is demeaning to women. This, we believe, is abusive of children.



This is also why we have a natural tendency to resist those in authority over us. We don’t want to be controlled by anyone. And we won’t allow anyone to rule over us.



Yet, at the same time, we naturally desire to be that person in authority. We want to be the one in control. We want to be the one to whom everyone submits.



However, when we look at Jesus’ definition of leadership, it’s very different. Jesus tells us that, whoever would be great among us, must be our servant. He tells us that, whoever would be first among us, must be our slave.



In fact, he uses himself as the ultimate example of this truth. Even he, Jesus says, came not to be served. Even though he is God in the flesh, and even though he rightfully deserves to be served, that was not his purpose in coming among us. He came that he might serve. He came that he might give his life as a ransom for many.



In other words, to be a leader means to be a servant. To be a leader means to be a slave of all. To be a leader means that we willingly sacrifice ourselves for the benefit of others.



Even if we do have a measure of authority that’s been entrusted to us, we don’t use that authority for our own benefit. We use it for the benefit of those in our charge. We use it to serve.



We find the same thing in Ephesians 5, where Paul lays out the order of the household. The husband, he says, is the head. This, however, does not mean that he rules his household with an iron fist. He is called to lay his life down for the sake of his spouse. He is to use his authority for her blessing.



The wife, in turn, doesn’t submit simply because her husband demands it. She doesn’t submit because she’s forced to do so. She does it willingly. She does it voluntarily. She does so that, in this way, she might honor God and bless her husband.



We see this also, as Paul instructs children and fathers in Colossians 3. He tells children to obey their parents in everything. In this, we see the authority structure of this relationship. Yet, at the same time, he tells fathers that they’re not to provoke their children, lest they become discouraged. They aren’t to be harsh, they aren’t to treat their children unjustly, as they carry out their responsibility among them.



This is what it means to exercise authority at all levels. This is what it means to exercise authority as a husband, as a parent, as a church leader, or as a government official. This is what it means to exercise authority as a business owner or a manager. As Jesus used his authority to serve us, we’re to use our authority, whatever it may be, to serve those in our care.

The Right Hand of Fellowship

“On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.”

(Galatians 2:7-10 ESV)

As we look around at the Church, we see that ministry is carried out in various ways. There are wonderful preaching and teaching ministries. There are beautiful music ministries. There are exciting humanitarian ministries. There are engaging apologetic ministries.  There are ministries to specific people groups.  There are ministries targeting specific language groups.  There are ministries targeting specific age groups. There are ministries of translating Scripture, establishing congregations, and of evangelistic outreaches. And the list could go on for some time.



However, that being said, we have a tendency to believe that there is only one way to do ministry rightly. We have a tendency to believe that the best way to do ministry is the way that we do it. And only if others would get on board, if only they would do things our way, we think that the ministry of the Church as a whole would be so much better, and so much more effective.



As we look at the above passage, Paul was in the midst of a controversy. As he was reaching out to the Gentiles, some of the Jewish believers were insisting that they must be circumcised and follow all of the Jewish Law. Paul then went to the leaders of the church in Jerusalem to ensure that his ministry was not a waste of time. And he went to them to have his message validated.



As he did so, they added nothing to him. They added nothing to his message. And they recognized the specific nature of his ministry.



They acknowledged the fact that Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised. They acknowledged that they should go to the circumcised. And they acknowledged that Paul had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised. They acknowledged that he and Barnabas should go to the uncircumcised. And they gave to Paul the right hand of fellowship.



In other words, they acknowledged Paul as a brother in the Lord. They acknowledged him as a partner in ministry. They recognized his ministry, they validated it, and encouraged him to continue in it.



As we encounter our fellow believers who have a specific gifting, or a specific calling, we should do the same. Instead of arguing which form of ministry is more important, instead of bickering about which form of ministry is more effective, we should do the same. As long as their ministry is consistent with the gospel, we should give to them the right hand of fellowship and commend them to their ministry.

Realistic Expectations

The Church, here in America, has had it very easy. We have enjoyed the freedom of religion from our nation’s inception. We’ve been able to worship the Lord, practice our faith, and share our faith with great liberty.



I, personally, am grateful to God for this freedom. I’m grateful that we’ve been able to share the gospel not only among our fellow believers, but also among those who don’t know him. I’m grateful that we are able to share Jesus with our community, our nation, and the world with impunity.



This freedom, however, has caused us to feel shocked as we witness the suffering of believers in other parts of the world. We feel that they should possess the same freedom of religion that we enjoy. We feel that, like us, they should be able to worship freely, proclaim the gospel freely, and live out their faith freely.



We also experience the same sense of bewilderment as our freedoms are challenged here in our nation. We are shaken when others challenge our rights. We are shaken when our freedoms are contested.



We are surprised, we experience a sense of panic, even though this is to be expected. It should be expected because of what Jesus experienced. And it should be expected because of the warning he’s given us.



In John 15:18-19, Jesus says: "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”

We shouldn’t be surprised by what’s being experienced by our fellow believers around the world, nor should we be surprised when others attempt to curtail our freedoms, because the world hated Jesus. When Jesus came into the world, he was despised and rejected. When he came into the world he was not received.

The world continues to have the same response to Jesus even today. The world continues to despise him and reject him. The world will not receive him any more now than it did then.

It’s to be expected, then, that we will also be hated. Because of it’s hatred of Jesus, the world will naturally hate us. Our association with Christ will automatically bring this response.

Realizing this, we should make use of our freedoms while we have them. We must not neglect this freedom. We must proclaim Jesus with all fervency, realizing that we may not possess these freedoms forever.

Yet, we must also be realistic when it comes to the world’s response to us. Although we don’t generally welcome suffering, we shouldn’t consider it an anomaly. We must understand that this is to be expected. And, like our brothers in faith around the world, we must continue to faithfully proclaim Christ, even in the face of hatred and persecution.

The Pursuit of Greatness

There are many great people in the world. There are many who fill positions of power and authority. Due to their office, they have influence over peoples and nations. They are able to turn the tide of world events by the power afforded them.



We know of these people. It’s impossible for them to escape our notice. Their decisions, actions, and statements constantly come before us. They are seen on TV. They are heard on the radio. We receive notifications of their activities on our phones. Yet, as powerful and influential as they may be, I do not consider them among those who have most impacted my life.



As I consider those who have most influenced me, I think of people like my parents. I think of the pastor under whom I grew up. I think of Sunday School teachers, youth leaders, and others who have discipled me, or mentored me in the faith.  I think of teachers at school and others who have taught to me useful life skills or given to me godly advice.



In short, those who have most influenced my life are those who’ve served me in some way. They have ministered to me in some capacity. Even though they may not be great in the eyes of the world, they are great in mine.



This fits the definition of greatness given by Jesus in Mark 10. As two of his disciples requested the positions of greatest honor in his kingdom, Jesus told his disciples what it means to be truly great. And we find that greatness in the eyes of God is a stark contrast to that of the world.



Even though the rulers of the Gentiles lord their position over their subjects and exercise authority over them, this isn’t how it’s to be among the people of God.  Jesus says that anyone who wants to be great among us must be our servant, and whoever would be great among us must be the slave of all.



He then points to himself as the ultimate example of this truth. In verse 45, he says: “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus came into this world not to be served by his people, but to serve them. And he came to serve them by giving his life on their behalf.



If anyone deserves to be served, it’s Jesus. He is, after all, the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He’s the eternal, almighty, and omniscient God. He’s the creator and sustainer of all that exists. He’s the giver of life, both in this world and in eternity.



However, even though this is true of him, he didn’t use his position to demand service. He, instead, used his position to serve. He went to the extent of giving his life upon the cross to accomplish our redemption.



Even knowing this, we continue to seek greatness in the worldly sense. We continue to seek power and influence. We continue to seek fame and fortune.



We do so without realizing that the greatest influence is attained when we emulate Jesus. The greatest influence is attained when we serve those that God has placed around us and under our care. We attain the greatest influence as we love and care for our children. We attain it as we teach Sunday School or work with the youth. We attain it as we use the gifts God has given us to serve him and the body of Christ.

Enamored by Influence

“And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me.”

Galatians 2:6 ESV

We get caught up with influence. We seek for it. And we fawn over those who seem to have it.

This is true not only in society. It’s true not only when it comes to celebrity culture or the political realm. It’s true also in the church.

We look to the saints of old, counting them as better than ourselves. We look to those higher in the pecking order of the church hierarchy, believing them to be more holy. We look to pastors, missionaries, bishops, and popes, believing them to be worthy of adoration.

This is true even in the Protestant Church, where the priesthood of all believers is the rule of our practice. We laud celebrity pastors, buying their books, and placing them on a pedestal. We separate, anew, clergy from the laity. We re-create a class system where one believer is more significant than another.

Scripture is clear that we’re to respect those in authority. It’s clear that we’re to respect our spiritual leaders. And although some err by failing to give these people the respect they’re due, others err by regarding them too highly.

As we look at the second chapter of Galatians, Paul had gone to the leaders of the church in Jerusalem as conflict raged. As he preached the true gospel, others came in who added to the gospel of Christ. And he went to those who seemed influential to check himself, to check his message. He went to them  to ensure that he wasn’t running his race in vain.

However, notice his words: he went to those who seemed influential. He then adds that what they were made no difference to him. And he goes on to say that God shows no partiality.

In the eyes of God, there is no distinction. In the eyes of God, there is no totem pole. Although there is a difference in terms of the roles we’re called to play, there is none when it comes to our status in Christ. 

As Paul went to the church in Jerusalem, it wasn’t the validation of greater men that he sought. It wasn’t the validation of a greater apostle. It was a validation of the gospel by the church that he desired.

And this validation is exactly what Paul got. They added nothing to him, Paul says. In other words, they neither challenged nor sought to change anything of the message that he proclaimed.

In the same way, although we should respect those called by God to lead us, and although we should honor those sent by God to proclaim his Word, we must not go too far. We must not make too much of them. We must realize that, like us, they are sinners saved by the grace of God. We must realize that, like us, they are men who are gifted by God to serve his church. We must realize that what is truly important is the gospel itself.

Preserving the Gospel

“But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in-- who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery-- to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.”

 (Galatians 2:3-5 ESV)

There are times in life when we can be flexible. There are situations in life in which we should bend. There are circumstances when it’s proper to allow the preferences of others to take priority over our own.



Our tendency is to be stubborn in all things. Our tendency is to insist on our own way. However, when the issue is not one of truth, when it’s not a matter of right and wrong, when it’s a matter of personal taste and preference, it’s then that we can and should give priority to the preferences of others.



However, there are times when we should not bend. In fact, there are circumstances in which we must not bend. There are situations in which it would be harmful to do so.



This is what Paul is addressing in the above passage. Some were insisting that the Gentiles, who were coming to faith in Christ, must be circumcised. And Paul saw this for what it was: a perversion of the gospel.



We are saved only by the grace of God through faith in Jesus. And to allow anything to be added to the gospel is to pervert it. Allowing anything to be added to the gospel would lead people to trust in something other than Christ for this blessing that we so desperately need.



This would hinder the salvation of the lost. It would prevent them from hearing and receiving the gospel, by which we are saved. It was truly a life or death matter.



For this reason, Paul stood firm. He did not yield in submission to these people for even a moment. He would not do so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved.



In the same way, there are times we cannot bend. There are circumstances where we must not bend. And this is especially true when the salvation of souls is at stake.



We must not alter the truth of God’s Word. We must not amend the gospel of Christ. To do so would mean abandoning the call given to us by God. To do so would mean denying salvation to the lost. To do so would mean leading astray the souls for which Jesus died.

Connections

“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty."

(2 Corinthians 6:14-18 ESV)

As we come to faith in Christ, and even after we’ve trusted in him for many years, many of us maintain an unhealthy connection with the world around us. We continue to derive our primary fellowship, not from our brothers and sisters in Christ, but from the world. And we continue to do so in spite of the differences between us.



This often acts as a hindrance in our life of faith. The non-believers, with whom we are bound, pull us away from the Lord and the blessings he provides. They tempt us and lure us into the beliefs and practices of the world.



We often take the above passage to speak to marriage. But, while it certainly applies to marriage, the context is much broader. And we are told plainly that we’re not to be unequally yoked with an unbeliever.



Now, this isn’t saying that we have to cut ourselves off from the world completely. Nor does it mean that we must completely cut ourselves off from unbelievers. In that case, it would be difficult to reach out to the lost and to make disciples.



However, we are not to be joined together with unbelievers. We’re not to be mismatched or bound together with them. We’re not to have the same connection with them that we have with the church.



Paul’s reason for this is clear. We have nothing in common with them. Just as light and darkness have nothing in common, just as Christ and Satan have nothing in common, and just as righteousness and lawlessness have nothing in common, neither do we have anything in common with an unbeliever.



We’ve been called by God to be separate from them. We’ve been called to be holy. We’ve been called to be the sons and daughters of God.



While we must ensure that this isn’t taken to far, our primary relationships are to be with fellow believers. This includes our marriage partner. But it also includes our primary friendships, our business partnerships, and so on. We are to seek the encouragement of those who are like us, who are distinct from the world, and who will build us in faith.

Running in Vain?

“Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain.”

Galatians 2:1-2 ESV

I’m blessed to have the support of my local congregation. I’m blessed to have the support of our church leadership. And, more than that, I’m blessed to have the support of our national body, the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations.

I’m blessed also to have many resources available to me. I’m blessed to have many different translations of the Bible. I’m blessed to have a selection of commentaries. I’m blessed to have books containing the history of the church. I’m blessed to have resources in the Biblical languages, Hebrew and Greek. I’m blessed to have a computer program that helps me with these languages. And I’m blessed to have internet access for further study.

We often think, as believers, that all we need is Jesus and me. And we tend to think the same way when it comes to ministry. We believe that, with the Lord and his help, we have all we need.

However, we fail to recognize that the Lord works through his people. We fail to recognize that we also need the support and encouragement of other believers. We fail to recognize that we need the teaching and instruction of other believers. And we fail to recognize that we need the correction of other believers.

We see in the above passage that, although Paul had received the gospel directly from the Lord, and although he didn’t initially seek the approval of the other apostles when it came to his ministry, he now sought them out. He did so because of a revelation. And he did so to ensure that he was not running his race in vain.

He was being challenged by others, as he carried out his ministry, regarding Jewish ceremonial practice. He’d been teaching that the grace of God was sufficient for salvation. And he’d been teaching that faith alone enables us to receive this grace. But others insisted on circumcision and the practice of Jewish Law for believers in Jesus.

As he appeared before the church leadership, he presented to them the gospel that he proclaimed among the Gentiles. He did so that they might have opportunity to correct him if necessary. And he did so that they might affirm this message.

This is the blessing I have as I enjoy the fellowship of my congregation and church leadership. This is the blessing I enjoy as I maintain a relationship with other pastors and ministries of the AFLC. And this is the blessing that I enjoy as I make use of my books and resources.

In this way, I’m able to have the message that I proclaim validated. I’m able to receive correction or additional teaching. And I’m able to ensure that I’m not running my race in vain.

I’m able to go to them to make sure that my understanding of Scripture is correct. I’m able to go to them to make sure that my presentation of Scripture is correct. And I’m able to go to them to grow in my understanding of Scripture, and in my presentation of the Word of God.

My race would be in vain if the message I proclaimed was wrong or unscriptural in some way. In that case, it would be empty and devoid of power. It wouldn’t have the impact that the Lord, or I myself, desire for it. In fact, it could even have the opposite effect.

This is why Paul sought the affirmation of the church in Jerusalem. And this is why I cherish my brothers and sisters in Christ, those of the present and of the past. Knowing that I’m sinful, knowing that I’m imperfect, I need them to speak into my life.

The Depths of Sin

I can’t recall where I came across it, but it’s something I’ve found true in my life of faith. Someone once told me, or perhaps I read it somewhere, that the more you grow in faith the more you recognize the depth of your sin. As we grow in our understanding of the Word of God, as we grow in our understanding of the gospel, the greatness of our sin is better realized.



As we encounter the gospel for the very first time, the reality of our sin is acknowledged. After all, it’s our sin that has brought condemnation upon us. We are in need of a Savior because of our guilt.



However, and it seems this is largely the state of Christians in our nation today, we don’t think we are all that bad. Overall, we think of ourselves as pretty good people. We tend to think that, although we sin, our desires and intentions are basically good.



We look at our outward adherence to the Ten Commandments as the measure of our sin. If we haven’t stolen, if we haven’t killed anyone, and if we’ve remained faithful to our spouse, we think we’re doing pretty well. Even though we may acknowledge that fact that we’re a sinner, we don’t believe our sin is all that great.



We learn in time that, even if we haven’t outwardly broken God’s commands, we have done so internally. We've done so in our heart. We find that our heart desires not to obey the Lord, but to disobey.



Although we haven’t physically murdered anyone, we haven’t desired their well-being. In fact, we’ve often desired their harm. We may not have taken what doesn’t belong to us, but we haven’t sought to preserve our neighbor’s wealth and property. We may not have cheated on our spouse, but adulterous desires have filled both our heart and mind.



We then run across the words of Scripture that describe our true condition. For example, in Ephesians 2:1, Paul says that we were dead in the trespasses and sins in which we once walked. In Colossians 1:21, he says that we were alienated and hostile in mind.  And in Romans 5:10, Paul says that we were enemies of God.



We learn that we’re not a mostly innocent people who occasionally slip up. We're not a mostly good people who make the occasional mistake. Our natural state is one of hostility and enmity toward God. It not only resists the will of God, but actively opposes it.



Although this may seem discouraging, it makes the gospel that much sweeter. It reveals to us the greatness of God’s love. It shows the immensity of the grace he has lavished upon us.



Completing Paul’s thought in Colossians 1, he says: “And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him…”



Our sin is greater than we can imagine.  However, despite our condition, God has reconciled us to himself by the death of his Son. In this way, and in this way alone, are we counted holy and blameless before him.

Responding to the Season

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.”

 (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 ESV)

With the new year upon us, one of the things that we naturally consider is time. We often note how quickly the time passes. We note that, the older we get, the faster time seems to go. And, for this reason, we are bent on managing our time well. We’re consumed with controlling the time that we have.

The passage, above, is a familiar one for most of us. It’s familiar because we often hear it read at funerals. It’s often chosen because of its reference to death and a time to die. But, at the very least, we know this passage from the famous song by the Byrds, Turn, Turn, Turn.

The point of this passage, however, is something we need desperately to take to heart. It’s something we tend to miss.  But it’s something we see clearly as we stop and consider the individual phrases being used.

There is a time to be born and a time to die. Yet, both of these times are outside of our control. We have no choice in the time of our birth. We have no choice in birth itself. And, in the same way, we have no control over death.

There is a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted. But, again, both of these times are outside of our control. Farmers plant when the time is right, when the conditions are right. And they harvest when the proper time comes.

There is a time to kill and a time to heal. Now killing, of course, is not something we should desire. But there are times when it’s necessary. Perhaps it’s when we must engage in a just war. Perhaps it’s when government authorities are punishing a doer of evil. Or perhaps it’s when our home is violated and our loved ones are threatened. These circumstances are outside of our control, but they do come. And, in the same way, so do opportunities to heal.

We can go through these verses line by line and see the same truth. There are times and seasons of life that come upon us. And they are outside of our control. They are ordained, they are determined, by God alone.

We must recognize this fact. We must recognize that we can do nothing to alter the times and seasons. And, for this reason, we must stop fighting them.

We must recognize that the only thing we can do is act when it’s appropriate. The only thing we can do is respond to the season in the appropriate way. We can plant when it’s time to plant. We can mourn when it’s time to mourn. We can keep silence when it’s time to do so, and speak when it’s appropriate.

Many of us struggle with our desire to control. But when we receive this Word, when we take it to heart, it’s quite liberating. It’s liberating as we recognize our limits, as we recognize and submit to the will of God, and act in the appropriate way at the appropriate time.

Called by God's Grace

The desire of God’s heart is the salvation of the lost. We learn in Scripture that God desires for all to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4). And this desire is most clearly seen in Jesus, who is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2).

This desire is reflected also in the call God has given us. And what a great call this is. After receiving his grace and mercy through faith in Jesus, he calls us to carry the message of the gospel to others. He calls us to make disciples of all nations. He calls us to preach the gospel to the whole creation.

This is an intimidating thought to most of us. We don’t feel worthy of such a calling.  We think that a call like this is better suited for those who surpass us.

What we fail to understand is that, just as we are saved by the grace of God, so too are we called by God.  We see this in the words of Paul, spoken to his young colleague Timothy: “…share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us an called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace…(2 Timothy 1:8-9 ESV).

Just as our goodness and efforts play no part in the salvation of God, neither does it play a role in the call of God. His call is not something that’s given to those who are deserving. It’s given to us because of his grace.

If it were given only to the deserving, if it were given only to the qualified, none of us would be worthy of God’s call. None of us would be worthy because, as Scripture tells us, none of us are good. We have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.

The call of God is an undeserved gift, an unmerited blessing, that he offers us. We bring absolutely nothing to the table. We neither deserve it, nor are we qualified for it. Yet, for his own purpose, he has chosen us to carry out this great task.

What, then, should our response be to the call that God has placed upon our life? Instead of rejecting it on the basis of our unworthiness, we should receive it as a gift and a blessing of God.  Instead of rejecting it because it seems to be a burden, we should receive it for the benevolence that it is.

Not Man’s Gospel

“For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother. (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only were hearing it said, "He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy." And they glorified God because of me.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭1:11-24‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Many, today, think of the gospel as the teaching of man. They think of the Bible as the teaching of man. They believe it was authored because of the desire and intention of man.

For this reason, they believe the Bible to be flawed. The men who wrote the Bible, after all, were sinners like the rest of us. And it stands to reason that, just as we can’t do anything perfectly, just as we can’t do anything without our sin becoming apparent, neither could they.

For this reason, it’s also believed that it was a sinful motivation that led to the preaching of the gospel. They believe that it was a desire for power and control that led to its proclamation. They believe that a desire to overturn the regime of the day led to its proclamation. They believe that a desire for personal gain led to its proclamation.

However, as Paul makes clear above, the gospel he proclaimed was not his own. It wasn’t his own message. Nor was it the message of any other man.

He tells us that he didn’t receive this message from any man. It wasn’t taught to him by man. And, as he set out to proclaim this message, he didn’t consult with anyone.

Paul had received this message by a revelation of Jesus Christ. In other words, this message was given to him by Christ himself. He proclaimed only the message that Christ himself had shared with him.

Knowing that this message was given by Christ, sin is removed from the equation.  As Christ is perfect, so too is his Word. There are no mistakes or flaws to be found within it.

Paul also makes it clear that he had no sinful motives in proclaiming this message. He had, in fact, opposed this message at the outset. He was very zealous for the Jewish faith and for the traditions of his people. And, for this reason, he’d rapidly advanced among them.

He also mentions how he’d violently persecuted the church of God. He’d sought to destroy it. But, then, Jesus graciously revealed himself to Paul.

This tells us, unequivocally, that he had nothing to gain by the proclamation of the gospel. In fact, he’d surrendered everything that could benefit him. He renounced everything that could lead to his personal advancement.

Paul’s point, in this passage, is that the gospel is trustworthy. It’s completely reliable. It’s detached in every way from the sin and wicked intentions of man.

For this reason, we can hear this message with confidence. And, for this reason, we can proclaim this message with confidence. We can hear and proclaim it for what it truly is: the Word and Gospel of Jesus Christ.