After four chapters of pretty direct argument for these Gentile believers, we have taken a visual look at Paul’s arguments. While the context of Galatia is incredibly foreign to us, hopefully we have a better understanding of the argument Paul is making. Whether or not the Jews should follow the law is not up for discussion. This was never a problem for the New Testament community. It was obvious to them that Jews would carry the miqsat ma’asay haTorah — that was their role in the world and had been for generations.
The fiery debate was whether or not the Gentiles were free from that calling. Paul has made it quite clear to the Gentile believers in Galatia that if they cave into the pressure of converting to Judaism, they would be destroying the gospel (particularly for that region at that point in time). They needed to be walking billboards for the good news of Jesus and the inclusion of all people into the family of God. Now that we have this understanding for the book of Galatians, listen to one of the more popular passages from the letter:
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty. Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!
Suddenly the ending of the letter swings into context and has clarity that we didn’t appreciate before. Paul’s argument through the whole letter has been that they, as Gentiles, have been called to be free from the miqsat ma’asay haTorah; it is this very freedom that shows the world what the gospel is. In the same way that the Jews have been called to be set apart for the work of God in the world, the Gentiles have been set apart in freedom to make clear to the world that everybody is invited! If they let themselves be yoked to a system of rules, the Gentiles lose the essence of their call.
For many of my readers (Gentiles), it is important to realize your freedom from the “works of the Law” is essential to the body of Christ putting the gospel on display. You must observe that freedom, celebrate that freedom, and use that freedom well — use that freedom to show the world what God is like!
But some will cry that this freedom is just a license for sin; it’s a free-for-all promoting a “nothing-really-matters-and-everybody-is-invited” universalism. But this isn’t the case and it’s where Paul turns his attention next.
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Paul says that in order to use your freedom to show the world the risen Christ, you cannot use it for self — you must use it for others. This, by the way, happens to be (according to Jesus) the very essence of the Law itself. This is what the “pedagogue” was supposed to teach us from the beginning. Torah showed us how to walk according to the Spirit and not our own fleshly desires.
Of course this raises a question: Fine, Paul, but how do I know if I’m doing that right? If there is no law for me to follow and I’m to walk in freedom, how do I know if I’m walking according to the flesh or the Spirit? Paul will say (sounding strangely like Jesus when he does) that the test case for your walk is the fruit it produces.
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Paul says it’s obvious to know when you are walking in the Spirit. If the product of your walk is anger, rage, debauchery, division, and a lack of self-control, you are using your freedom for yourself. But if what’s coming out of your life is love and joy, peace and patience, kindness and goodness… well, those can only come from one place.
Gentiles, you have been called to freedom later in the story; now that we all know what faithfulness looks like, you are invited to take those principles of grace and extend them to everyone that you meet.
But in Christ, neither one of our calls is a call for self. Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female — we are all called to lay our lives down for the other. To pray for our persecutors. To love our enemies. The world could use a model of grace, love, forgiveness, mercy, and hospitality.
And I think it should start with a group of people who do that — Jew and Gentile — together.
Thank you for your work, Marty. I'd like to get a better sense of my gifts to offer to others.
ReplyDelete