Archived Daily Manna | Rejoice Fellowship | A mission to release people to rejoice in the world.

Message: First off, we must understand the specifics of what Paul is saying. Christians in Galatia were being persecuted by the Jews. The Jews had reached a sort of equilibrium of toleration with the Roman Empire. They were allowed to practice Judaism as long as they accepted Roman political authority. The Sanhedrin (especially the “Herodians”) was a political instrument of Roman collaboration. In return — as was so vividly demonstrated by Rome’s cooperation in the crucifixion of Jesus — Rome would assist the Sanhedrin in suppressing non-conforming religious sects. There would be no systematic, official Roman persecution of Christians until the 3rd century A.D. Persecution was erratic and, with the notable exception of Nero, was usually initiated by Jewish complaints. (We see a good example of how this could happen — albeit by complaint of Greeks — in Acts 19:21-40.) So we can understand why some Christians wanted to be circumcised and follow the law of Moses. It helped keep them “under the radar” of the Jewish authorities. They were not so obviously the members of a non-Jewish religion, but simply appeared to be practicing Judaism with a few odd twists. But despite some similarities, Chapters 3-5 of Galatians has just informed us that Judaism and Christianity are irreconcilable. “Whoever seeks to be justified by law cuts himself off from Christ and falls from grace.” (Galatians 5:4) As Christ said, we cannot serve two masters (Matthew 6:24); and we cannot follow Judaism and Christianity. Being circumcised, as an outward sign of reliance upon the law of Moses for salvation, demonstrates a lack of complete faith in Jesus Christ. But how does this relate to us, today? In two ways. The smaller sense is the specific one: there is no such thing as truly following both Judaism (in the religious sense) and Christianity. People who try to do it are confused. The greater lesson, however, is the more general one. Paul’s message that Christianity should not be compromised by outward compliance with another religion extends to non-religious activity that is inconsistent with Christian faith. If we attend a bachelor party, do we “go along with the crowd” to a strip club? If the women in our social circle wear frivolously expensive and immodest clothes, do we “have a little fun” and dress like them? Are we more afraid to be social outcasts or to offend almighty God? Looking back to Chapter 5, we can see that these are works of the flesh, rather than “fruits of the spirit,” and this is precisely what Paul means to criticize: “Those who want to make a good showing in the flesh . . . .”