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Show THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL "To whom we no, not for an gospel (Galatians gave place hour: by subjection, that the truth of the might continue with you. Paul 2: " 5) changed from a sinner to a saint, preacher, from a teacher of the law to a proc1aimer of grace, from a destroyer of the people of from a persecutor to a the way to a defender of the "Church of Jesus Christ." After his conversion on the road to Damascus, along the way He planted church after church. One of those church was that of the brethren in Galatia. He wanted them to stand ground and to be true believers in gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul laid the solid the on Page -1- strong foundation with his preaching of the Word but he got word that the people and are more more discouraged. So he and Barnabas and Titus got their heads together and sent this word of encouragement on the matter of liberty. the problem. False circumcision and Here is brethren had crept in among the believers, had come among the believers privately and saying that circumcision was the way to salvation. They wanted the were Greeks like the Jews to cut away the fore-skin as evidence of their relationship ( Ifnobody else, those who would be leaders along with Paul would have to go through this physical act. These false teachers were peddling the law of bondage, the law of works, something to God. Page -2- that would make what hope dependent on do. Notice that these false we teachers our telling people that the only a relationship with God was were way to have by some ceremonial behavior. On the other people to be salvation hand, Paul sure comes wants the that the truth is that through faith by grace. points to the Titus, who was fully Greek, and reminds the Galatians So Paul that He did not insist that Titus be circumcised. The truth is that there is no work that will justify any person before the Holy God. It is the work of deed or through God the Son that brings us to relationship with Him. It is by God's grace that we are saved. the God the Father Titus ran with Paul but Paul did not compel him to be circumcised. Page -3- If our salvation is based on what we many are not likely to get it done. A few my get it done but many must do, will fall short and be left out. To compel Titus to be circumcised would be to make him slave to the law. The truth of the Gospel is that God by His favor not our work. He is the One, long before we were born, sent His only begotten Son. While we saves us were us yet sinner, His Son gave His life for and won the victory over death and the grave. The law died as the instrument to rescue us and grace became God's merciful vehicle for our Page -4- hope. . |
