Law versus Gospel
This doctrine was essential both to Luther’s writings and to C.F.W. Walther – one of the founders of the LCMS in America. Apparently, it was a great concern to the apostle Paul as well. In the middle chapters (ch.2-4) Paul defends the free grace given in the Gospel of Jesus Christ against Judaizers (Jewish Christians that want all converts to adopt the full Jewish Law, lifestyle, and customs). Read Galatians 3:1-14 for Paul’s exegetical argument.
Paul also worries that the free grace and Christian freedom he preaches could lead to antinomianism. Nomos is the Greek word for Law, thus antinomianism means “anti Law”. These believers were teaching that since we are now free from the penalty of the Law, we should just do what we want. Not a good idea!!!
Galatians 6:1-10 is Paul’s attempt at the end of this epistle to let every Christian know that although we are free from the penalty of the Law, living according to the will of God is the only real life.
In the conclusion of the epistle (6:11), Paul writes, "You see how large a letter I have written with mine own hand." Was he writing in big letters so that emphasis would be added? Did he take the pen from his scribe to make the point even more boldly? Alternatively, some commentators have postulated that Paul's recurring illness was poor eyesight, which caused him to write in characteristically large letters.
The following are memory verses that all of us should be eager to know:
Galatians 1:11-12 - “I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.”
Galatians 3:26-28 – “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Galatians 5:1 – “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
This doctrine was essential both to Luther’s writings and to C.F.W. Walther – one of the founders of the LCMS in America. Apparently, it was a great concern to the apostle Paul as well. In the middle chapters (ch.2-4) Paul defends the free grace given in the Gospel of Jesus Christ against Judaizers (Jewish Christians that want all converts to adopt the full Jewish Law, lifestyle, and customs). Read Galatians 3:1-14 for Paul’s exegetical argument.
Paul also worries that the free grace and Christian freedom he preaches could lead to antinomianism. Nomos is the Greek word for Law, thus antinomianism means “anti Law”. These believers were teaching that since we are now free from the penalty of the Law, we should just do what we want. Not a good idea!!!
Galatians 6:1-10 is Paul’s attempt at the end of this epistle to let every Christian know that although we are free from the penalty of the Law, living according to the will of God is the only real life.
In the conclusion of the epistle (6:11), Paul writes, "You see how large a letter I have written with mine own hand." Was he writing in big letters so that emphasis would be added? Did he take the pen from his scribe to make the point even more boldly? Alternatively, some commentators have postulated that Paul's recurring illness was poor eyesight, which caused him to write in characteristically large letters.
The following are memory verses that all of us should be eager to know:
Galatians 1:11-12 - “I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.”
Galatians 3:26-28 – “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Galatians 5:1 – “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
No comments:
Post a Comment