Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Oh mih beautiful Friends in Christ, that’s most worthy advice from Bruh Paul! And this particular warning has to do with the differences of opinion on the testy, controversial subject of circumcision. This was a problem that raged between the older Jewish believers and some of the younger brethren in the early days of the Church. A hornet’s nest was stirred up on one occasion, after Bruh Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch from their missionary journeys, ‘And certain men which came down from Judea taught the brethren and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.’ (Acts 15:1) Obviously Bruh Paul and his followers vociferously objected to this, for the teaching of upholding the Mosaic Law to receive salvation was annulled by Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension. Furthermore, Jesus declared that salvation could only be achieved through the free grace of God and not of any works. And the disciples who had gone amongst the Gentiles, preaching the gospel and converting them to the faith, had not insisted on circumcision as a condition for receiving salvation. So, knowing Bruh Paul’s fiery nature, you can imagine the brouhaha that erupted. The Good Book says, ‘When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. (Acts 15:2) This they did, and were heartily welcomed by all, especially the good news of many Gentiles being converted. But there’s always a fly in the ointment, one who disagrees and stirs it up. ‘But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. And the apostles and the elders came together for to consider this matter. And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles (the centurion Cornelius and his people) by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost even as he did unto us. And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.’ (Acts 15:5-11) And there we have it Friends, the most definitive speech ever given by the rock on which Christ built His Church. Please understand that just like back then, there are busy bodies who try to pervert the faith, either by simple misunderstanding or purposeful deceit. Circumcision was one such tool then, even though Christ made it quite clear that salvation was only attainable through belief in Him, and it was the free grace of God, not dependent on human works. This Peter proved by witnessing to Cornelius and his group and seeing them receive the Holy Ghost. (Acts 10) That’s why Bruh Paul always emphasized living by faith and not the law that depended on works, consequently warning the Galatians to ‘Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.’ It’s interesting to note that Peter used the same term ‘yoke’ when referring to the Mosaic Law that neither the disciples nor their forefathers could bear. In other words my people, Jesus has set us free, let’s not put any unnecessary and/or false burdens on ourselves that will only make life harder and more complicated than it is already. ‘Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do (obligated to keep) the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosever of you are justified by the law, ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit, wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by LOVE.’ (Gal.5:2-6) Ah my Friends, our faith, though a wonderful way to live this earthly life, can bring lots of frustration and dissatisfaction, especially if we listen to the wrong people. In the long run though, the Bible, the Word of the Lord, is the ultimate authority, and we must each study it diligently to find the right and true answers. And then, as Bruh Paul advised the Philippians, re rejoicing in the Lord; ‘Therefore my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.’ (Phil.4:1) My Friends, I’m asking us to do the same thing today; stand fast in the Lord, so that in due course we shall reap the salvation He so faithfully promised. Much LOVE!…Jesus is the one and only answer…
Oh mih beautiful Friends in Christ, that’s most worthy advice from Bruh Paul! And this particular warning has to do with the differences of opinion on the testy, controversial subject of circumcision. This was a problem that raged between the older Jewish believers and some of the younger brethren in the early days of the Church. A hornet’s nest was stirred up on one occasion, after Bruh Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch from their missionary journeys, ‘And certain men which came down from Judea taught the brethren and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.’ (Acts 15:1) Obviously Bruh Paul and his followers vociferously objected to this, for the teaching of upholding the Mosaic Law to receive salvation was annulled by Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension. Furthermore, Jesus declared that salvation could only be achieved through the free grace of God and not of any works. And the disciples who had gone amongst the Gentiles, preaching the gospel and converting them to the faith, had not insisted on circumcision as a condition for receiving salvation. So, knowing Bruh Paul’s fiery nature, you can imagine the brouhaha that erupted. The Good Book says, ‘When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. (Acts 15:2) This they did, and were heartily welcomed by all, especially the good news of many Gentiles being converted. But there’s always a fly in the ointment, one who disagrees and stirs it up. ‘But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. And the apostles and the elders came together for to consider this matter. And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles (the centurion Cornelius and his people) by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost even as he did unto us. And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.’ (Acts 15:5-11) And there we have it Friends, the most definitive speech ever given by the rock on which Christ built His Church. Please understand that just like back then, there are busy bodies who try to pervert the faith, either by simple misunderstanding or purposeful deceit. Circumcision was one such tool then, even though Christ made it quite clear that salvation was only attainable through belief in Him, and it was the free grace of God, not dependent on human works. This Peter proved by witnessing to Cornelius and his group and seeing them receive the Holy Ghost. (Acts 10) That’s why Bruh Paul always emphasized living by faith and not the law that depended on works, consequently warning the Galatians to ‘Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.’ It’s interesting to note that Peter used the same term ‘yoke’ when referring to the Mosaic Law that neither the disciples nor their forefathers could bear. In other words my people, Jesus has set us free, let’s not put any unnecessary and/or false burdens on ourselves that will only make life harder and more complicated than it is already. ‘Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do (obligated to keep) the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosever of you are justified by the law, ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit, wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by LOVE.’ (Gal.5:2-6) Ah my Friends, our faith, though a wonderful way to live this earthly life, can bring lots of frustration and dissatisfaction, especially if we listen to the wrong people. In the long run though, the Bible, the Word of the Lord, is the ultimate authority, and we must each study it diligently to find the right and true answers. And then, as Bruh Paul advised the Philippians, re rejoicing in the Lord; ‘Therefore my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.’ (Phil.4:1) My Friends, I’m asking us to do the same thing today; stand fast in the Lord, so that in due course we shall reap the salvation He so faithfully promised. Much LOVE!…Jesus is the one and only answer…
SCRIP-BITS 