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Wednesday,
November 11, 2009
Speed Bumps
Galatians 5:6-8 For in Jesus Christ
neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith
which worketh by love. (7) Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye
should not obey the truth? (8) This persuasion cometh not of him that
calleth you. (KJV)
Ever go down the road and all of a sudden
bang you got jolted, and when looking back you saw what would be described
as a speed bump, something to slow one down and observe what is going on?
For Paul the apostle he hit a major speed bump; as we do also when walking
in the Spirit and then trying to incorporate the works of the law, you too will
get jolted out of your seat.
Williams New Testament translation
of Acts 21:22-25:
22. What is your duty then? They will certainly hear that you have
come. 23. Now you must do just what we tell you. We have here four men who are under a
vow. 24. Take them along with you, purify yourself with them, and bear the
expense for them of having their heads shaved. Then everybody will know that none of
those things they have been told about you are so, but that you yourself
are living as a constant observer of the law. 25. As for the heathen who
have become believers, we have sent them our resolution that they must
avoid anything that is contaminated by idols, the tasting of blood, the
meat of strangled animals, and sexual immorality."
Paul went to Jerusalem to get answers and
bring conclusion to this matter of the old law, and what did he end up
with? Basically more of the same by those people he thought would bring
this matter to conclusion. What these elders had decided was to keep
appeasing the Jews and let the Gentiles be the guinea pigs as far as
ignoring the old law.
Galatians 2:1-3 Then fourteen years after
I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. (2)
And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I
preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation,
lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. (3) But neither Titus,
who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: (KJV)
Bottom line people, no matter what, when,
or who, always let God be true and man the liar. Having read the accounts
in the book of Acts, we have a better understanding of what Paul was
writing to the Galatians. You also may have discovered in your search for
truth that many are still holding to the old and not walking in the newness
of life.
Galatians 2:6-9 But of these who seemed
to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God
accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in
conference added nothing to me: (7) But contrariwise, when they saw that
the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of
the circumcision was unto Peter; (8) (For he that wrought effectually in
Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me
toward the Gentiles:) (9) And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to
be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and
Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen,
and they unto the circumcision. (KJV)
Paul’s conclusion concerning his journey
to Jerusalem was basically him saying that he hit some major spiritual
speed bumps from those that seemed to be pillars in the church. Today, when
you encounter those that seem to be pillars as well and yet they continue
to hold to the old law and rituals no matter how it manifests, will you be
as observant as Paul or will you just go with the flow?
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