psitspaul-blog

[psitspaul-blog]

So what is the final verdict on Paul’s approach to teaching?

This letter to the churches of Galatia has its appropriate approaches to issues and its inappropriate approaches to issues. 

The way Paul begins the letter can come off a little hostile as he confronts the Galatians for not believing in the gospel of Christ. It’s understandable that he is upset that missionaries have perverted the gospel of Christ but it is not the fault of the Galatians. Maybe this isn’t the most appropriate way to address the issue but Paul was in a rush to get the message across that his teachings were important. 

When it comes to explaining how to be justified in the eyes of God, Paul does a great job at explaining this. The way he brings in the example that Christ died so that those who have faith in Christ and in God can be justified through this faith alone and not in the works of the law. This was an appropriate way of explaining why Galatians don’t need to show that they observe the law; since Jesus observes the Law for His people, having faith in Jesus alone is enough to be justified. 

The following explanation of why circumcision doesn’t show justification is appropriate as well. However, Paul’s passion towards his teachings can sometimes lead to certain elements of the letter being a touch hostile. Like in Galatians 5:12 where Paul threatens to castrate the missionaries who place doubt in the minds of the Galatians. It’s moments like this where his approach to issues and teaching is a little inappropriate. Though it shows his love for the gospel of Christ, it may be too harsh and perhaps even a tad hypocritical. He says that he wishes he could castrate those who unsettle the Galatians but then goes on to say that the most important commandment is that of “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18). So through this example, he should not wish ill against the missionaries for they are his neighbors, though they may not believe in what he believes. Taking vengeance on his neighbors is against the codes put forth in Leviticus. 

Galatians ends with almost a threat to those who deny the teachings of Paul. “From now on, let no one make trouble for me; for I carry the marks of Jesus branded on my body” (Galatians 6:17). This seems kind of like a jab at the missionaries and at those who believe in the doubt the missionaries have put forth in them. 

Needless to say, Paul is certainly passionate about what he teaches, but sometimes his approach to teaching can come a bit out of left field. Though the importance of what he is trying to teach the Galatians through his letter is there, some of the added harshnesses, like “You foolish Galatians!” (Galatians 3:1), isn’t exactly necessary or helpful to his cause. There is probably a way he could’ve accentuated the importance of his message without expressing the anger he feels towards the missionaries. 

“May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters” (Galatians 6:18). 

[psitspaul-blog]

Listen!

“If you let yourself be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you” - Galatians 5:2

“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working through love” - Galatians 5:6 

[psitspaul-blog]

Listen!

“If you let yourself be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you” - Galatians 5:2

“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working through love” - Galatians 5:6 

[psitspaul-blog]

Exactly. Having faith in Jesus is enough to be justified. “I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing” (Galatians 2:21). God never intended the law to bring justification.  

How to be justified:

Yet we know that a person is justified not by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by doing the works of the law, because no one will be justified by the works of the law. - Galatians 2:16-17

[psitspaul-blog]

How to be justified:

Yet we know that a person is justified not by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by doing the works of the law, because no one will be justified by the works of the law. - Galatians 2:16-17

[psitspaul-blog]

Jesus IS a Friend of Mine

Greetings to all my brothers and sisters. Thank you for your faith Christ, and the way you are all holding me to account to the Gospel, the Word, of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

A few people have PM’d me worried that I spoke out of turn, that Jesus wouldn’t actually back me up with everything that I said. Those of you who are worried about the content of my letters are right to hold my thoughts up to the teaching of Jesus. Thank you for your dedication to integrity and honesty in the word. 

I wanted to assure you that when I wrote my letters I hoped to mirror Christ, to obey the good and gracious law the Lord gave to us, in referencing the OT far more than I referenced Jesus himself. Since Jesus referenced the OT far more, I decided to follow his lead. Still, to put you all at ease, I decided to look back through the books Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John wrote about Jesus’ life so that you can all see that I can back up everything I said in my letter with the words of Christ. In fact, once I put those references down, focus on what Jesus actually said and did and keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to keep you focused on the author and finisher of our faith. If you don’t believe me, that’s fine, all you need is Christ. 

My hope was to point you all back to our Lord and make the character of the Kingdom clear to all who claim Christ so that they may know how to live and how to protect themselves from all those haters/posers out there.

Yet, also know that I literally gain nothing at all by speaking the truths the Holy Spirit and Christ himself have revealed to me by their grace. If they are harsh, welcome the conviction of the Holy Spirit and contemplate the holiness of our God. Hold them up to the rest of Scripture and see if what I have spoken is true. I was a pharisee, a master of knowledge about the law of Moses, . I am just as weak saved by my faith in Christ alone. But I digress. Here are the references just to the Gospels, folkerinos:

Galatians 1:4 → Matt 20:28; John 15:19

Galatians 1:14 → Matt 15:2

Galatians 1:15 → Luke 1:15

Galatians 1:19 → Matt 12:46

Galatians 2:12 → Luke 15:2

Galatians 2:19 → Luke 20:38

Galatians 2:20 → John 17:23

Galatians 3: 7 → Luke 19:9

Galatians 3:10 → Matt 5:19

Galatians 3:14 → John 7:39

Galatians 3:16 → Luke 1:55

Galatians 3:24 → Matt 5:17

Galatians 3:26 → John 1:12

Galatians 4:4 → Mark 1:15, John 1:14, Luke 2:21, 22, 27

Galatians 4: 14 → Matt 10:40

Galatians 4:30 → John 8:35

Galatians 5:1 → John 8:32

Galatians 5:14 → Matt 7:12, Matt 22:40, Matt 19:19, John 13:34

Galatians 6:2 → John 13:34

Galatians 6: 9 → Matt 10:22

Galatians 6:10 → John 9:4

Galatians 6:15 → John 3:5,7

Look guys, God has revealed himself to us through Scripture. The great enlightenment thinker Rousseau would argue that we have failed and should never try to describe the nature of God. I agree. We shouldn’t try but the Lord is well within his right and his power to describe himself. If he is who he says he is, his description is the best, the most accurate, the most holy. He has done it. The Lord, in his mercy, through scripture, through Christ, has told us all we need to know about himself. Anything that does not align with scripture and the words of Christ is false. All we need to do to remain strong and faithful to him is to remember that. I wrote my letters to remind you that we actually have everything we need in Christ. We are set. We can finally obey the command “Do not be afraid,” because we have been given the Spirit and the Word to walk this earth as our comfort, refuge and strength. The Shepherd has drawn close to his sheep and we have drawn close to him by faith and faith alone. Do not allow your doubts of me to lead you to doubt what God has already done and said. His word endures forever. Allow your doubts to lead you closer to the Lord, to walk with him, by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

P.S. If you want my references to the Old Testament there’s even more since, you know, Jesus is the embodiment of the word, was there from the beginning, and the perfect follower of the law and quoted the OT more than anyone I know. If you wanted to those I’d be down to post them here for ya but I also encourage you to meditate on the law day and night (as David writes in the Psalms) and find out for yourself.

[psitspaul-blog]

I didn’t mean to come off so harsh. There was a crisis happening since missionaries were questioning how I evangelized Gentiles. The way I addressed the Galatians was more in haste than in harshness. 

There is no other gospel...

“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you in the grace of Chirst and are turning to a different gospel” - Galatians 1:6

[psitspaul-blog]

There is no other gospel...

“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you in the grace of Chirst and are turning to a different gospel” - Galatians 1:6

[psitspaul-blog]

“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Galatians 6:10

@psitspaul You speak of taking on another’s burdens to help restore them, is this similar to helping out the less fortunate and not denying people who are truly in need of help?What about the people who are involuntarily taking on the burdens of people of the same ethnicity or religious background? Are we to deny helping them as well, or should we accept those burdens with them?

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

[psitspaul-blog]

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

@psitspaul You speak of taking on another’s burdens to help restore them, is this similar to helping out the less fortunate and not denying people who are truly in need of help?What about the people who are involuntarily taking on the burdens of people of the same ethnicity or religious background? Are we to deny helping them as well, or should we accept those burdens with them?

[psitspaul-blog]

“Since we live by the Spirit, Let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” Galatians 5:25-26

“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.”

—

Galatians 5:13-15 (via psitspaul) 

So this kind of relates to today and history. When we are at odds with our neighbors, (other countries or way back to the colonies and the North and south), when people don’t get along or have the same ideals, it can lead to violence?

[psitspaul-blog]

Nothing can come without some repercussions when straying from your path.

“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.”

—

Galatians 5:13-15 (via psitspaul) 

So this kind of relates to today and history. When we are at odds with our neighbors, (other countries or way back to the colonies and the North and south), when people don’t get along or have the same ideals, it can lead to violence?

[psitspaul-blog]

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.

Galatians 5:13-15

[psitspaul-blog]

“So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

[psitspaul-blog]

Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring; it does not say, ‘And to offsprings,’ as of many; but it says, 'And to your offspring,’ that is, to one person, who is Christ. My point is this: the law, which came four hundred thirty years later, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.

Galatians 3:16-17 NRSV (via quotesfromscripture)