Title: Obey the Truth
7 You ran well, and who stopped you from obeying the truth? 8 The exhortation does not come from him who called you, 9 A little leaven leaven spreads throughout the whole lump. But I am convinced in the Lord that anyone who stirs you up will be judged. 11 Brothers, if I have preached circumcision until now, why now? will you suffer persecution, and the crucification of the cross would cease. 12 May those who disturb you cut themselves off.
1. Words that begin
The modern era is an era of moral and ethical confusion, and an era of extreme values. Also, the religious world, especially the Christian world, who should lead the world is also in a state of confusion and spiritual confusion. This lack of ethics and morals, confusion of values, confusion of the Word and spiritual confusion are, in fact, a transitional phenomenon that has occurred in any era. If anything else, it's just a degree difference. Therefore, the most important thing is to be sure of the truth of God who provides all things in the universe, including humans. According to 2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.”
2. Fake teachers stop church members from running
In the early church, the churches in Galatia, established as a result of the mission of the apostle Paul, stood upright in the truth of the gospel under the guidance of the apostle Paul, and they were also running well in faith. In other words, they were justified by the Holy Spirit through faith in the Lord preached by the Apostle Paul, and according to the indwelling Holy Spirit, they were living a holy life of obedience to the truth and at the same time changing society. He was becoming more sanctified day by day, hoping for a truly glorious eternal life.
However, false teachers who claim to be saved by obeying the law blocked the path of the church members who were running well in faith. False teachers taught that Gentiles must be circumcised and obey the law, even if they believe in the Lord, in order to be saved. At first glance, it may seem that you are acknowledging your faith in the Lord, but in reality, your faith becomes obsolete. In this way, the false teachers obeyed the truth of the gospel, deceived the members of the church who lived in the grace of their own sanctification and social sanctification, so that they forsook God's grace. Their false doctrine, not the truth that came from God who called the members, was spreading among the church members like leaven in the whole mass. Therefore, the Galatians are in danger of falling down the road of destruction again! has been
Bible commentator Matthew Henry also said, “New believers must be prepared that Satan will place a stumbling block in their swords. And we must also be prepared that we will do everything we can to get them to deviate from the path of faith.”
How are you? During this time of confusion and spiritual turmoil, are you not looking back, not being distracted from the left or right, and are you sprinting with the guidance of the Holy Spirit? Are you acting worthy of the gospel in your home, church, work, or society, convinced that the gospel is not only the truth of salvation but also the truth for a holy life? Are you prepared to obey only Jesus Christ, who is the truth, no matter what kind of damage or even martyrdom?
If you look at the history of the church, there are countless number of warriors of faith who were martyred for following the truth of the gospel. Even in our country alone, we do not know how many Christians were martyred during the late Joseon Dynasty, certain times, and during the communist period. Please believe that the blood of their martyrdom has become the foundation for the revival of the Korean church today.
Henry Boss said, "If I have two heads, I will dedicate them both to Christ." Castilla Rupiah said, "Even if you throw me down the hill, my soul will come again." In order to obey the truth of the gospel, the apostle Paul followed the work of the Holy Spirit and beat himself, and furthermore, he lived a life of killing himself every day.
Everyone, always remember that false doctrines and ideologies originated from one or two people and spread like the flames of hell, and I hope you always run with the truth as a lamp to your feet and a light on the path of your life.
3. Expectations of church members and warnings of tempters
The Apostle Paul still puts hope in the faltering Galatians. So, he said, “I am convinced in the Lord that you will have no other mind.” In other words, after reading the book of Galatians, they firmly believe in the Lord that the gospel of Christ is the only truth of salvation and that they will lead a life of obedience to the truth of the gospel.
Because humans are finite and imperfect beings, they can make mistakes and make mistakes. However, you must not fall twice on the same stone. In any case, we, who have been forgiven of our sins by believing in the Lord, should do our best to keep them in the truth rather than condemn them. And you have to be sure that good results will come from them. A heart to love the wrongdoer, an attitude to believe in him, and counsel and writings based on the truth of the gospel are bound to bring about beautiful results.
Convinced that the wavering Galatians would once again obey the truth, the Apostle Paul sternly warned that those false teachers who stirred them from the truth of salvation would face God's judgment.
The apostle Paul explains that the reason he is being persecuted is because he opposes false teachers who say that the law represented by circumcision is the way of salvation and preaches that the only way to salvation is through Christ on the cross. In fact, the Apostle Paul opposes not only the doctrine of salvation by works of the law, but also any religious doctrine or thought that says that salvation is possible through human strength or effort.
4. Conclusion
We are living in an era of lack of existing ethical and moral values, confusion of values, confusion of the Word and spiritual confusion. Various doctrines and ideas of salvation and a view of salvation similar to the truth of the gospel are deceiving us everywhere. To be deceived means to fall into the path of eternal destruction. No doctrine, no thought, is the truth of salvation. Only through faith in Christ Jesus, who came into this world according to the eternal promise of God, can we be saved. We must be firmly convinced of the truth of this gospel and obey this truth at home, at church, at work, and in society.
We earnestly pray that all of us will sprint and follow the gospel until we obtain eternal life and the inheritance of heaven.
(Poongseong Methodist Church. Book: Completed New Testament Commentary Series/ Interpretation of difficult scriptures/ Prayer of Prosperity/ Salvation before the birth of Jesus/ Sermonbook 17. 426-3051)