“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?”
Galatians 3:1-4 NKJV
Judgement begins in the house of God
There are those, in deep error, who think that Christians are only to love and not judge, that we are to sit idly by while members of the body do what ever they choose. In reality, we are to judge, lovingly, using the discernment provided by the word through the Holy Spirit.
As an elder in my church, I am charged with keeping an eye on the flock, while at the same time, being held to a higher standard than they. Sometimes it is necessary to bring about church discipline, for a member has done something that has cast shame upon the name of Jesus. At other times, there are people who go about sowing discord, seeking to drive member against member.
Other times, there is one in the assembly who does not share the tenets of the faith, who demonstrates an unwillingness to adhere to the the doctrines of the local church. In all these incidences, the correction can seem harsh, for there is not room for negotiation in dealing with the essentials of the faith, such as baptism, evangelism, interpretation of Scripture, and some of the issues that affect the family.
To those who do not like the idea of bible based discipline, the passage in Galatians chapter three can seem overly harsh, even judgmental. Paul launches into the Galatians hard, who have turned from the Gospel given by he and the other apostles, to one focused on the flesh.
For the follower of Jesus, the Gospel is an essential for it is what saves. One is not saved by love and good feelings, for it took the gruesome death of Jesus on the cross to pay for our sins. Additionally, we are called by our Lord to go and tell, to go into all the world and take the Gospel.
“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.”
Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV
Inevitably, when the word of God is presented in the open square, there will be opposition, even arguments. But I tell you the truth, I am one who was persuaded by a humble Christian lady who diligently presented the Gospel to me. If not for her witness, I am not sure where I would be.
I was running a hellhound race, destined for damnation and self destruction. I was surely guilty and a sinner. I hated God and Christians. It was the power of the Holy Spirit that captured my heart, broke into what I thought was secured, and saved my soul.
It is of the utmost importance that we protect the doctrines of the Christian faith, and ensure that all who are called to be members of our community believe the same. It is essential. The local church is called to be united, for in that unity there is strength and power for the advancement of the Gospel.
“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”
Ephesians 4:1-6 NKJV
There is coming a time when those who stand on the fundamental doctrines of the faith will face great persecution from the world. Even now there are those who are falling away, choosing to embrace the wisdom of culture over the wisdom of God. For that reason, it is essential for those in the faith to make sure the things that are taught and believed.
There are even those who seek to interpret Scripture to serve their own flesh, thus sealing their destiny in hell.
“For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?” Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.”
I Peter 4:17-19 NKJV
It is far better to suffer for what is true and right than to be swept way into the abyss by a torrent of false beliefs.
Brothers and sisters, the falling away is beginning, and though it is but a trickle now, it will soon be a vast torrent as people turn away from God and to the world. There will be temptation to change the message, to make it more palatable, but we must resist this, for it is the truth of the word of God that convicts the sinner by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Let us be about the business of fruit inspection looking for signs of the fruit of the Spirit, in the hope that we can recognize when a brother or sister in error, or who is false and willfully demonstrates things contrary, or the works of the flesh.
“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Galatians 5:19-21 NKJV
May the fruit of the Spirit abound in the church:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”
Galatians 5:22-26 NKJV
Have a wonderful Sunday!
#prayfortheharvest
#prayforthepersecuted
#prayforthepeaceofIsrael
#prayforthegospeltospreadeverywhere
Musings from an idle mind 
The Lord grabbed my attention this morning in the Scriptures, as I was weighing decisions about the project on our house, and Pleading with the Lord to be a better follower.
Will you please pray the Lord will impact these items into my heart end character, as I work to lead and love our church community? I also love your handling of the nuances and essentials in church discipline. Thank you my friend!
1 Peter 3:8-11 (ESV) 8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; 11 let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.
LikeLike