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Today's Little Lift
by Jim Bullington
The Larger Context: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.” (Galatians 5.1-6; all emphasis mine above and below, jb).
This inspired biblical letter was penned by the apostle Paul and addressed to the churches in the region of Galatia (modern-day Turkey). The gospel had been well received in the region; congregations of the Lord’s people, though probably not huge by today’s standards, dotted the landscape. In a region that was predominantly Gentile, both Jews and Gentiles worshiped together under the covering of God’s great love. But, all was not well. False teachers had invaded the ranks of the saved and were drawing away disciples after themselves by means of the unbiblical doctrines that they were spreading. Specifically, these men taught that Christians were expected of God to keep certain portions of the Old Testament Law in addition to the ordinances of our Lord. Paul directly contradicted their doctrines and showed the horrid result of buying into their pitch.
Circumcision, according to Paul, was of no avail. For that matter, neither was uncircumcision. In other words, God was not moved one way or the other by the rite of circumcision. This did not mean that He never had been or that it was not at one time a rite that God expected of some people. It does mean that the time of regard had passed! God had not changed, but His law had and with it His expectations for humanity. However, the fact that circumcision availed nothing under the gospel system did not mean the same for all other acts and deeds of believers.
Paul quickly added the affirmation that “faith working through love” does avail. While one thing (circumcision) was weak and without strength, still other things were powerful, strong, and capable. These things that did avail were special; they were “works” even as the inspired wording demands, but they were not just any works. They were works performed as a result of faith and motivated by love. It is not enough merely to do what God says; it is mandated that we do it for the reason and with the motives that God specifies. Love is the specific motive demanded here, and in fact, it must characterize all acts of obedience in order for them to be effectual before God.
The alternative to allowing faith to work through love results in estrangement from Christ and Paul said as much in our focus text. There are powerful messages here that must be heard. One most important lesson is this: Regardless of how much we might wish the contrary to be true, when we seek God through avenues that God has not appointed, we force God away from ourselves rather than drawing nigh to Him! God demands that we act out of faith and faith ONLY comes by hearing God speak (Romans 10.17). No deed of man which is done without God’s authority can be a deed of faith! We can call it faith, but so can we call a dog’s leg a tail. Calling it such does not change its true character!
Faith Working Through Love is one of the world’s most powerful forces. Working without faith and/or working without love is one of the world’s most impotent forces; it is only a delusion to think otherwise!
Questions:
1. What motives may have been behind those who taught that circumcision was required of believers?
2. What resulted when men followed the demands of those who taught these doctrines?
3. How does faith come (Romans 10.17)? Can one have true biblical faith in something about which God has not spoken? Why or why not?
4. What does it mean to be estranged from Christ? Were those to whom Paul penned this letter believers or unbelievers? Can one who formerly believed in Christ become estranged from Him?
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