Majoring on Minors - Gospel Freedom in Galatians - November 21 Readings: Galatians 6:11-18

 

 

Gospel Freedom in Galatians  

Background: What was the key issue in the early church? Race. Culture. Issues that are still with us today. The church at its inception on Pentecost was essentially 100% Jewish and the Apostles and the church in Jerusalem seemed content to keep it that way. Then God called a Pharisee named Saul to salvation and set him aside as an Apostle to the Gentiles. Over the next 30 years, the church became primarily Gentile with a Jewish minority, and many Jews fought it. 

Galatians was Paul's first letter, written at the end of his first missionary journey when Gentiles began to come to Christ in droves. A group, sometimes called Judaizers and sometimes the circumcision party, opposed the inclusion of Gentiles in the church. If they were to be part of the church, they needed to become Jewish - follow the law and Jewish rituals. Paul fought them tooth and nail his entire ministry. The gospel was for the whole world. 

Galatians is a powerful argument for a gospel free from the works of the law. 

As often as time allows, the reader is encouraged to read the entire book - it will not take more than a few minutes. Each day we will work our way through the book passage by passage. 

Today's Reading:  Galatians 1-6  Focus Passage - Galatians 6:11-18

 

Look at what large letters I use as I write to you in my own handwriting. 12 Those who want to make a good impression in the flesh are the ones who would compel you to be circumcised—but only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For even the circumcised don’t keep the law themselves, and yet they want you to be circumcised in order to boast about your flesh. 14 But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world has been crucified to me through the cross, and I to the world. 15 For both circumcision and uncircumcision mean nothing; what matters instead is a new creation. 16 May peace come to all those who follow this standard, and mercy even to the Israel of God!

17 From now on, let no one cause me trouble, because I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. 18 Brothers and sisters, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

 

Through the Bible Readings: Ezekiel 47-48, Hebrews 12:1–17, Psalm 128, Proverbs 28:17–19

If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings. 

Devotional: Majoring on Minors     

Paul has relentlessly argued that religion with its duties and rituals is not the way to spiritual renewal. Christ is all in all. He finishes his argument with a flourish in this passage, even writing this with his own hand. It is believed Paul had eye problems and used an amanuensis (a scribe) to write down his letters. This last tidbit he wrote in with his own hands, in his large letters, to make sure they knew how important it was. 

He stated, in verse 15, that circumcision and uncircumcision mean nothing, but that what matters is a new creation - both the new creation of Christ in our hearts and the new creation he will accomplish in this world. He is saying that religion so often gets bogged down in things that do not matter instead of being focused on what actually does - the work of Jesus in us and in this world. 

Think how many people act horrified that people read the Bible, but do not read their version of the Bible. That is a typical pharisaical act. To make a mountain out of the molehill of translation preferences instead of rejoicing that people are reading the life-giving word of God. Churches had knock-down, drag-out fights over whether they would praise God with slightly older hymns or slightly newer "praise and worship" music. They ignored the Bible's commands to honor one another and fought over the style of our praise! Religionists have condemned preachers who dare to enter the pulpit without a suit and tie - as if how the preacher is dressed is a key issue. Today, pastors are being fired because they do not support the "proper" presidential candidate - our focus is not on the things of Christ but on the things of this world. We've argued over the length of women's skirts, whether they can wear slacks, going to movies, and a host of extraneous, silly, fleshly, and nonsensical things. 

One marker of pharisaical religionism is majoring on minors. Those of the circumcision party cared more about whether people performed a certain physical act than whether Christ was being formed in their hearts. Paul was more concerned about whether people had a heart for Christ than a foreskin. (Sorry for being graphic, but remember Paul's strong statement in chapter 4?) He majored on Jesus Christ in all things. What mattered to him was that people were becoming like Jesus Christ, not that they were following manmade rules. 

May the spirit of Paul spread among us and the Spirit of Christ work in us!

Father, thank you for Paul's example of majoring on what matters. Help me not to be sidetracked by minor issues. May Christ be formed in me, in all of us!

Think and Pray:

Is your primary concern religious ritual and duty, or that Christ is formed in you? 

Do you find yourself sidetracked on minor things?