METAMORA PATTER'S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER ARTICLE
FALLEN FROM GRACE
BY PAT GULLEY
Gal 5:4
Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. (KJV)
The Christians in the Churches of Galatia were having a hard time understanding the simplicity of their Salvation. This was in part due to the many Jewish rabbis and teachers who came to them and told them they must obey the Laws of Moses if they wanted to be ‘truly’ saved. They were told that first of all that they had to be circumcised. This came as quite a shock to these men and women who had obeyed from the heart the preaching of the Apostles and Evangelists.
The Galatian Christians had received Jesus by faith and witnessed the same by being baptized in water. But as is often the case, some were convinced that there were other acts of religion they had to follow in order to please God. But the Apostle Paul is not happy when he hears about this and writes them a letter saying as much.
Gal 1:6-7
6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. (KJV)
Grace is an amazing thing. You cannot buy it and you cannot earn it. It is freely given by God of His own will and volition. But still there were those who were giving advice and instructions to these new Christians regarding their new walk with the Lord. They gave them a list of do’s and don’ts from the Penetuch (also known as the Law of Moses), and from the interpretations of those laws as written by the Rabbis and Lawyers.
Paul calls these new Christians foolish because they were so easily deceived. They had but a simple knowledge of the teachings of Jesus and yet they believed the Jewish religious leaders and what they said without checking with the Apostles first.
Gal 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? (KJV)
Paul then asks them a simple question.
Gal 3:2-3
2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? (KJV)
The goal of every young Christian is to be perfect and pleasing in God’s sight. The Apostle Paul tells these babes in Christ that it is only by learning to trust and obey the Spirit of Christ who lives in our hearts by faith that they can grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Do not fall from grace into empty acts of religious activity, but count on God’s amazing grace to see you through each and every day. Keep your eyes on Jesus who saves you by grace and keeps you from falling.
BY PAT GULLEY
Gal 5:4
Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. (KJV)
The Christians in the Churches of Galatia were having a hard time understanding the simplicity of their Salvation. This was in part due to the many Jewish rabbis and teachers who came to them and told them they must obey the Laws of Moses if they wanted to be ‘truly’ saved. They were told that first of all that they had to be circumcised. This came as quite a shock to these men and women who had obeyed from the heart the preaching of the Apostles and Evangelists.
The Galatian Christians had received Jesus by faith and witnessed the same by being baptized in water. But as is often the case, some were convinced that there were other acts of religion they had to follow in order to please God. But the Apostle Paul is not happy when he hears about this and writes them a letter saying as much.
Gal 1:6-7
6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. (KJV)
Grace is an amazing thing. You cannot buy it and you cannot earn it. It is freely given by God of His own will and volition. But still there were those who were giving advice and instructions to these new Christians regarding their new walk with the Lord. They gave them a list of do’s and don’ts from the Penetuch (also known as the Law of Moses), and from the interpretations of those laws as written by the Rabbis and Lawyers.
Paul calls these new Christians foolish because they were so easily deceived. They had but a simple knowledge of the teachings of Jesus and yet they believed the Jewish religious leaders and what they said without checking with the Apostles first.
Gal 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? (KJV)
Paul then asks them a simple question.
Gal 3:2-3
2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? (KJV)
The goal of every young Christian is to be perfect and pleasing in God’s sight. The Apostle Paul tells these babes in Christ that it is only by learning to trust and obey the Spirit of Christ who lives in our hearts by faith that they can grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Do not fall from grace into empty acts of religious activity, but count on God’s amazing grace to see you through each and every day. Keep your eyes on Jesus who saves you by grace and keeps you from falling.
posted by Metamora Patter at 1/25/2007 08:28:00 AM
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