Setting – Paul addresses circumcision with the Galatians
Content – Verse 2 states is well (NLT) “If you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ cannot help you.” The Galatians were having circumcision performed to make themselves more right with God. This was one of the acts that they were being persuaded to do and following parts of the Law. So Paul makes this statement (v. 3-NLT) “If you are trying to find favor with God by being circumcised, you must obey all of the regulations in the whole law of Moses.” In other words, you can’t pick and choose what you want to do in the law either follow all of the law or nothing at all. But if you choose the route of the law (v. 4-NLT) “For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God's grace” But to those who follow the spirit of the law, rather Christ (v. 5-NLT) “But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive everything promised to us who are right with God through faith.”
We place our faith in Christ we follow Christ only and not Christ and the law. Because (v. 6-NLT) “when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, it makes no difference to God whether we are circumcised or not circumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love.” God takes us where we are at when we follow Christ. We don’t need to add or subtract who we are.
Application – This is a great section for non-believers coming to Christ. God, “it makes no difference to God whether we are circumcised or not circumcised” takes us for who we are. Then for us who have been in the church, we don’t need to do more ministries to gain favor with God.
We come to Christ because of God giving us our faith to do so and we perform ministries because of our love for Christ and His family. Doing ministries because we need to complete our checklist is wood, hay and stubble (1. Cor. 3:12).
Content – Verse 2 states is well (NLT) “If you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ cannot help you.” The Galatians were having circumcision performed to make themselves more right with God. This was one of the acts that they were being persuaded to do and following parts of the Law. So Paul makes this statement (v. 3-NLT) “If you are trying to find favor with God by being circumcised, you must obey all of the regulations in the whole law of Moses.” In other words, you can’t pick and choose what you want to do in the law either follow all of the law or nothing at all. But if you choose the route of the law (v. 4-NLT) “For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God's grace” But to those who follow the spirit of the law, rather Christ (v. 5-NLT) “But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive everything promised to us who are right with God through faith.”
We place our faith in Christ we follow Christ only and not Christ and the law. Because (v. 6-NLT) “when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, it makes no difference to God whether we are circumcised or not circumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love.” God takes us where we are at when we follow Christ. We don’t need to add or subtract who we are.
Application – This is a great section for non-believers coming to Christ. God, “it makes no difference to God whether we are circumcised or not circumcised” takes us for who we are. Then for us who have been in the church, we don’t need to do more ministries to gain favor with God.
We come to Christ because of God giving us our faith to do so and we perform ministries because of our love for Christ and His family. Doing ministries because we need to complete our checklist is wood, hay and stubble (1. Cor. 3:12).
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