I promised in last week's newsletter that I would address Galatians 5:4 this week.
When I wrote that I forgot that our young people are leading us in worship this Sunday
and I am not preaching. I WILL preach on this passage next week, but I will also visit it
now.
Galatians 5:4 is "You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be
justified by law, you have fallen from grace.' The context of these words is the very
purpose of Paul's letter. He is reminding them first of all that they were saved by grace
through faith in Jesus Christ, only.
Paul was also addressing the Jewish zealots who were following Paul on his
missionary journeys and casting doubts on the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the ministry
of Paul. The Judiazers refused to turn loose of the law and insisted that for a Gentile to
become a Christian they must also become a Jew, following Jewish traditions and
Jewish law. Their'gospel'was a gospel of 'and', the law and Jesus, the Gospel of
Jesus Christ is the Gospel of 'or', the law or Grace. The gospel of 'and' results in
bondage and guilt, the Gospel of 'or' found by grace through faith, results in freedom.
Paul is wracking his brain trying to show the Galatians the danger & foolishness
of finding grace through faith and then going backwards and putting distance between
themselves and Christ.
Many years ago a friend of mine (and Co-Laborer in the Gospel) became
entangled in the controversy that troubled the Southern Baptist Convention for a season
(and maybe longer). Another Christian Brother approached him and asked him why he
had "left the convention?" (ln fact, he had not.) But in answer to the question he replied,
"l didn't leave the convention, the convention left me."
Brothers and sisters in Christ, friends,God has promised to never leave us nor
forsake us. Christ promised us that He was going to Heaven to prepare a place for us,
and to return to get us so that where He is we can be also (John 14). God is not looking
for an opportunity to pull away from us, He is looking for the opportunity to draw us
nearer. To paraphrase my friend, Paul isn't saying that God has withdrawn His Grace
from the Galatians, but that the Galatians had 'moved', or fallen, from His Grace. God's
grace hasn't ever failed, and won't. But if God seems far away, guess who moved. And
guess who's waiting to welcome us home.
The prodigal son left, not his father. But the son never ceased to be his son, and
his father waited, and watched, for his return. Galatians 5:5-6 says, For we through the
Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither
circumcision avails anything, but faith working through love."
Jesus is tenderly calling us home, calling today, calling today, why from the sunshine of
love wilt thou roam farther and farther away? (1956 Baptist Hymnal. Pg 229)

                   Bro. Tom and Sister Sue