"I did not receive it [the gospel] from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ." - Galatians 1:12
"For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” - Galatians 2:19-21
These first two chapters of Galatians tells me something right from the start: the Galatians had some sort of issue with Paul. Whether it be that they did not quite believe him or they just were not sure exactly what to believe. Paul does acknowledge that before in his ministry and even in Galatia that there were those who were 'perverting' the Gospel. Sounds like the Galatians had quite a few televangelists running around in their area. I kid, but seriously, what might be some things that 'pervert' our view of the Gospel?
Let me move to the most uplifting verses in these two chapters. Christ Jesus came to die for us and give us that righteousness and free gift of grace. We talked alot at Man Group on Monday about righteousness, actually seems to be a true theme of our goal of studying the Word other than peace through Him, and I think this builds upon what we have talked about. By having faith in Christ and accepting what He did for us in a loving way He then becomes our righteousness and in God's eyes we are as perfect as Christ. The act of dying with Christ and 'rising' as a new being, a new humble person, who has been infused with Christ is an awesome moment. I wish it was that easy to keep that up all the time. If only our focuses or needs, as Powell brought up last week, did not distract us from righteousness and being as Christ would be as much as they do. We talked Monday about what that enemy could be for each of us and what can be donw about them. So I pray now that we may attack those enemies knowing again that Christ is now in us and through Him we can shine with His righteousness and beat the crap out of our worldy, disgusting and perverted personel gospel!
Men, I hope that today and everyday we can clothe ourselves in righteousness and that we would fully deserve to do it. Live for Him today and do not forget what He did.
Pew
First of all, praise Jesus that we're risen with Him in a new life, and that our righteousness is in Him. I am so grateful for that.
ReplyDeleteI think the division of the church is a symptom of perversions in the gospel. As the body of Christ, it is incumbent on us to be united and to grow together; any divisions in the body cannot be from the Lord. I'm not sure what specific divisions exist in the church, but I think to the extent the church can be united it becomes what it was meant to be.