July 8, 2013 Stick to the Right

Read Galatians 2 Stick to the Right Galatians 2:4-5 Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery—5 to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. DO YOU have people around you that try to turn you from what is true in various roles? For example, if you manage people, some will try to work their preferences into your methods. People often try to put their way into your ways. It is a natural part of a world whose nature is to disobey the right way. Paul had that problem—big time—in his ministry. To many Jews, who had grown up in the Law that required circumcision, they insisted Christians must be circumcised. Even after the Council of Jerusalem officially decided that Gentiles need not be circumcised, some Jews—called Judaizers—would follow Paul around to declare his ministry incomplete and false until circumcision was done. Galatians is written primarily to defend Christ’s Gospel against such teachings. Paul not only had to work hard to convince Jews and Gentiles of the Gospel’s grace, he had to work very hard to teach the Christians to receive Jesus’ grace. That can happen, can’t it? You confess your sins, and you confess Jesus as your risen Savior. Then someone says, “Do this!” But know this: the only “Do this!” you must do is what Jesus teaches. Saved in Jesus, you are no longer a slave to sin and unnecessary rules. You are free in Jesus’ grace. Do not submit to rules that remove you from Jesus. Be firm in his truths that draw you near to him. It’s True! By grace you have been saved. (Eph 2:5)