Friday, November 25, 2022
Saturday, May 28, 2022
the un-fooled truths of grace
The legalist experiences practical and doctrinal
difficulties understanding grace, justification by faith, sanctification by the
Holy Spirit, and the relationship of faith to works.
First there was legalism (verses
16-17). Human nature has an amazing capacity for complicating the
gospel. The false teachers wove a web of rules and regulations
around the Colossian believers. As in Galatia it was taught that
Christians should also keep the Jewish weekly, monthly, and annual feasts. Paul
criticizes the loss of Christian freedom to religion of ritual and external
rules.
Paul
indicates that since the Law has been fulfilled and replaced by Christ, there
is no need for such law-keeping. Verse 17 says, “These things are
mere shadows of a coming reality; the reality has now come and it is found in
Christ.” The Colossians were mistaking shadow for
substance. OT Jewish ritual was only a foreshadowing of the truth
and the “reality” found in Christ. The “things that were
to come” have come with Christ. The Jewish food laws were of
little importance compared with the overriding truth of the
Cross. The letter to the Hebrews is a commentary on this verse (cf.
Hebrews 8:5; 10:1). Human nature enjoys “religious duties” but any
system of salvation that encourages the idea that man’s religious practices can
contribute to his own salvation is contrary to the gospel of the grace of God.
Christianity is more than the church. It is
Christ. He is the head.” Their big difference than idolatry of buildings forms and orders, the s indwelt awareness must be made alive through faith alone ,being led in sound s notice you have go live that way so we can break our
unholy schedules, learn how to hear inside so the fog goes away, of doubt ,,,and
we are found utterly barren on the last day in the added stuff ; stuff to appear novel I have no use for that still
out there is not waiting for the go away it’s taking lives over easily and
random that separate us form faith to
life apart ..
Legalism Has A Satanic Origin.
The tragedy of the Galatian
Christians was that they went sadly wrong after beginning so well. “Foolish” means
“spiritually dull and unwise”. (See Luke 24:25 where the same
Greek word “anoeetos” is
used.) Christians are
deceived, says Paul in verse one, when they take their eyes off the Cross as the center of
their Christian life. The cross of Christ was always central with
Paul.
Some commentators see the
question, “Who has bewitched you?” as a sarcastic rhetorical one and
favor a figurative explanation. For example, F. F. Bruce
paraphrases, “Who is it that has hypnotized you?” that
is huge today we have almost no historical knowledge other than the pc
indoctrination and giggle ville best guessing schemes as emotionally charged
..
Others offer a more literal
explanation involving witchcraft. Either way, the influence of a
cunning satanic power corrupted the faith of the Galatians and used legalism to
do so.
The Greek “baskaino”, Strong’s #940, translated “bewitched” (KJV; NIV)
or “ put a spell on?” (TEV; JB) occurs only here in the
NT. Thayer says it originally mean “to speak ill of one, to
slander” . Vine defines the word as “to slander anyone; to bring evil
on a person by feigned praise, or mislead by an evil eye, and so to charm, or
bewitch” (English, “fascinate” is connected); it is used
figuratively in Galatians 3:1 of leading into evil guessings? Wish not…
Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat
or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a
Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.
Do not let anyone who delights
in false humility and
the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person
goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs
him up with idle notions. He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by
its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.
Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you
still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: “Do not handle! Do not
taste! Do not touch!”? These are all destined to perish with use,
because they are based on human
commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an
appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed
worship, their false humility and
their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining
sensual indulgence.” Empty as ever !!
The truth
is cruel, but it can be loved, and it makes free those who have loved it.”[1]
“You will
know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” [2]
“May I never
boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has
been crucified to me, and I to the world.” “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.”
It is a
characteristic of human nature that, in different ways, we try to add to the
“finished work” of the cross. Legalism is an inherent part of our
sinful human nature for we find salvation by faith in Christ alone, hurtful to
our spiritual pride. Church and individual have frequently repeated
the foolishness of the Galatians. In all our Christian activities,
it is easy for us to miss what matters most to God, love for God and love for
our neighbor (Matthew 22: 37-40).
Evangelicals
often pride themselves on their superior knowledge of the Bible, and
Pentecostals\charismatics usually claim a superior spiritual experience, while
older denominations sometimes pride themselves on centuries of
tradition. Yet it is easy for all churches of all persuasions within
the community of the Christian faith, to be blind and deaf to uncomfortable in biblical
truths.
Jesus
emphasized that human tradition can never have the same authority as the Word
of God. He
forced people to look beyond the cultural and the traditional to find the
essential core of God’s Word. The apostle Paul said to the Galatians
that fellowship with God is a trust in Christ that works through love: “The
only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”(5:6) Extra
biblical rules may seem spiritual, even helpful and necessary, but given too
much emphasis become death to life in the Spirit, and to the individual freedom
to which God has called us in Christ.
For the
Christian, obedience is to the indwelling Holy Spirit, not to the letter of the
law, or religious rules. As Paul has it,“Not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the
letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Corinthians 3:6) inward
awareness !!
The
Pharisees of the New Testament were dedicated legalists and traditionalists
with a loveless, impersonal, and mechanical religion based on man-made rules
that Jesus emphatically rejected. In short, legalism is
substituting law for grace, achievement for faith. Yet many believers
have unthinkingly adopted a checklist of acceptable and unacceptable behavior
that requires such things as church attendance, a particular style of worship
or ceremony, compulsory tithing, a dress code, or undue deference to church
leaders, or denominational traditions, to the neglect of “more
important matters – justice, mercy and faithfulness” (Matthew 23:23).
The many additions is merely binding mechanism minus the spirit ledness.
While Jesus had earlier
used yeast as a symbol for the extensive growth of God’s kingdom (Matthew
13:33), it was also an image for
the corrupting power of evil to extend its influence. Jesus
twice warned his disciples against the “yeast”, that
is, the inner corruption of the teaching of the two groups of
religious leaders.
“Be on your guard” or “Beware” (KJV) or “Keep
a sharp eye out for” (The Message) translates the Greek “prosecho”, Strong’s
#4337. It means “to hold the mind towards, i.e. pay attention to, be
cautious about.” Vine defines it as “to turn one’s mind or attention
to a thing by being on one’s guard against it; it suggests devotion of thought
and effort to a thing.” Thayer says it means, “to give heed to
oneself, to guard oneself no idea what faith is operate like and how it see…
The
Pharisees provide a solemn warning about the danger of self-righteous
hypocrisy. They began as sincere people who valued God’s truth but
over time they developed their own understanding of the Old Testament to the
point where Jesus said their own traditions, human rules and regulations,
contradicted God’s revelation. It is easy to condemn this legalism,
yet be guilty of it ourselves in our relationships with others. Salvation
by works may be dressed in the most evangelical or charismatic of clothes and
imposed on an unthinking congregation.
Given that human nature is basically the same in every
generation, all Christians should beware of replacing inner spiritual
reality with outward religious ritual. Those who place human
traditions above the Bible, eventually lose the power of God’s Word in their
own lives. How
tragic that those who profess to be Christians should so practice their faith
that they become worse for doing so.
The danger with all religious rituals and institutions
is that they often acquire a life of their own. Whereas
once they blessed people, later they oppress people. What for one
generation may be a test of truth and a means of blessing may become an idol
and a hindrance to another generation. For example, in the OT
God commanded Moses to make a bronze figure of a snake and set it on a pole, so
that anyone bitten by a snake need only look at the bronze serpent and he would
live (Numbers 21:4-9; 1 Corinthians 10:9, 11). Centuries later King
Hezekiah of Judah destroyed the bronze serpent because the people had made it
an idol and gave it superstitious respect (2 Kings 18:4).
William Barclay explains:
“Assembly h is in danger of death
when it begins to worship its own past, when it lives on its memories instead
of finding a challenge in its hopes, when it is more taken up with its traditions
than its ideals. There are assembly s which are more concerned with
correct ritual than they are with living vitality. Assembly is in
danger of death when it loves systems more than it loves Jesus
Christ. The danger that any assembly runs is that it should become a
‘club’. Every assembly activity is necessary, but only as it serves
the primary activity of bringing men and women face to face with Jesus Christ.”
1) “The attempt to acquire merit
before God through the performance of various rituals and
practices.” [6]
(2) “Legalism is a
distortion of obedience that can never produce truly good
works. Its first fault is that it skews motive and purpose, seeing
good deeds as essentially ways to earn more of God’s favour than one has at the
moment. Its second fault is arrogance. Belief that one’s
labour earns God’s favour begets
contempt for those who do not labour in the same way. Its third
fault is lovelessness in that its self-advancing purpose squeezes humble
kindness and creative compassion out of the heart.
So
far, then, from enriching our relationship with God, as it seeks to do,
legalism in all its forms does the opposite. It puts that
relationship in jeopardy and, by stopping
us focusing on Christ, it starves our souls while feeding our
pride. Legalistic religion in all its forms should be avoided like
the plague.”
Legalism
is the attempt to please God by
erecting hard and fast rules where the Bible does not give them,
and then making them binding on oneself and others. It is not a
matter of following those things that are commanded, or that have clear
biblical principles associated with them. It is a matter of raising
so-called doubtful things to the level of commands.
Legalism
effectively ousts love as the dynamic of the gospel and the Christian life (and
so banishes joy from religion), by reducing both to obedience or conformity to a set of external
commands or rules, after the manner of the scribes and Pharisees in the
gospels.”
The
Pharisees mistook religious practices for real devotion. Have we not
known people who kept all the rules, whose habits were faultless, and yet whose
“sanctity” was cold and unattractive? They lacked a sense of the
significant, giving priority to trivialities, putting procedure before people,
and conformity before compassion. Their religion was all law and no grace.”
Legalism
is an attitude, a mentality based on pride. It is an obsessive
conformity to an artificial standard for the purpose of exalting
oneself. A legalist assumes the place of authority and pushes it to
unwarranted extremes. It
results in illegitimate control, requiring unanimity, not
unity. Pride, which is at
the heart of legalism, works guilt, fear and shame. It leads
to an emphasis on what should not be, and what one
should not do. It flourishes in a drab context of
negativism.
Legalistic
obedience, life before God based
on religious achievement, does not bring one into right
relationship with God (Galatians 2:16; 3:3) but to alienation from him
(Galatians 5:4), to rejection of God’s grace (Galatians 2:21), to a life of
legalistic bondage (Galatians 4:9, 21; 5:1), and to the curse of
death. (Galatians 3:10–13)” “Whenever men forget the love and the
forgiveness and the service and the mercy that are at the heart of religion and
replace them by the performance of rules and regulations religion is in
decline. Christianity has at all times consisted far more in doing
things than in refraining from doing things. People matter far more than systems. Persons are
far more important than rituals. The final arbiter in the use
of all things is love and not law.”
The
Greek word “grammateus” Strong’s
#1122, occurs 67 times in the NT. In the KJV it is translated “scribe” in
every occurrence except Acts 19:35, where it is translated as “town-clerk”. Other
versions favour “teachers of the law” (NIV; TEV) or“doctors
of the law” (NEB). Arndt and Gingrich comment, “A term for
experts in the law, scholars versed in the law, scribes mentioned with the high
priests and the elders with whom they formed the Sanhedrin.”
Thus the scribes or “lawyers”
were scholars and teachers of Scripture, the custodians of Jewish traditions
and experts in the study of the law of Moses (the Torah). In Jesus’
day, they were usually associated with the Pharisees (Matthew 12:38; Mark 7:5;
Luke 6:7) and the Sanhedrin, the highest legal and administrative body in the
Jewish state.
They questioned the identity and
credentials of Jesus (Mark 2:6; 3:22; 11:27-28) and they disliked his frequent
association with the disreputable elements of society (Mark
2:15–17). As the major opponents of Jesus, they were involved in his
trial and mocked him on the cross (Mark 15:31).
For
the scribes, following the traditions that had grown up around the Law became
the measure of a person’s devotion and spirituality. The scribes’
official interpretation of the meaning of the Law eventually became more
important than the Law itself. Consequently “the results were an
exceedingly shallow view of religious and moral life. Religion was reduced to legal
formalism. All religious and moral life was dragged down to
the level of law.”
While
many scribes were Pharisees, the two groups were not identical. The
origin of the Pharisees is obscure but seems to begin in the second century
B.C. Although the root meaning of the word “Pharisee” is uncertain,
it is probably related to the Hebrew verb “parash”, meaning “separate” or “divide.” [18] Thus the name “Pharisee” is
usually taken to mean “the
separated ones.” It may mean that they separated themselves from
the common people or that they separated themselves to the study and
interpretation of the Law. Also they would have nothing to do with
the Gentiles whom they considered to be “unclean”. In first century
AD Palestine they were one of the power brokers of Jewish society.
In
general, the Pharisees in the NT
are a sad indictment of religious legalism, sectarianism, traditionalism,
isolationism, and formalism. They began as an important
spiritual movement that promised moral renewal, a purging of the nation’s
idolatry, and a restoration of national reverence for God’s Law. However,
the Pharisees developed their own body of interpretations, expansions, and
applications of the Law that they came to regard as of divine
origin. Mark (7:3) describes these extra-biblical rules as “the
tradition of the elders” (NIV) or “old established tradition” (NEB)
or “the tradition of their ancestors” (Knox).
The Pharisees thought they could reach God’s
standards by keeping all the outward rules. Luke says they “trusted in themselves that they
were righteous.” (18:9). This can easily happen when
religious people think God’s will is the same as their list of what they can
and cannot do. Their desire to keep all of God’s laws was
commendable, but they put the emphasis on the wrong places so that minor
details became a major concern, and they forgot the more important
things. The Pharisees despised “sinners” especially people like tax
collectors and prostitutes. Christians
need to remember that they themselves are sinners in God’s eyes, and that
Christ died for everyone.
It is important to make a clear distinction between the
gospel and “cultural and spiritual baggage”; otherwise there is the danger of
making aspects of one’s culture the gospel message. Christians need
to be aware of popular ideas or cultural norms as well as assembly traditions
that would “nullify the word of God.”
There is the deeply dumbed spirit fast bond to loss unable escape into faith, or fallen from grace they have no part in grace … often the word
of God is spirit, not print something
many do not grasp for a long time I
believe JESUS LEFT NO WRIT FORTHE EXPRESS PURPOSE OF THE IDOLTRY LATCHED ONTO…
TO EASILY , HE LIVES INHIS QUESTIONIS WHEN WILLTHAT TAKE NOTE OF THE NEW ….
…THEY WERE TO Be Spirit LED, still foreign??
take the book away what is left??? Will it be a vacuum or an awareness, to what
the inward presence actual is about 1 Corinthians
1-4 do they have any idea what that is composed of through the exercise of God in us what faith
is? Or even looks like? if a man can do
it is not faith ?? There is no glory for God in the practice. sarxism, non …
God loves the
impossible, for man, away from the dead conformity to a life apart , there were
no books for the most centuries, the spirit was in them and they knew heard, and known,, tremendous wonders in those of
faith in Languedoc, later on, is open they
were often murdered by the conformists of
the satanic onslaught used to surpass
them , their state religion stop the spirit going today through all the junk
added back in little has changed, few it
be???… it would be wise to know some
real history besides terms of assumption
or minus the guess a me stuff, relieve one- self emotionally, charged
assumption making void truths so amazing
clear as stated … voiding the pc’s
parrot cage , unreal joke to say the least..loss is huge …
We are not at liberty, as did the Pharisees, to manipulate,
distort, rationalize, formalize, externalize, trivialize, or displace it.
However, all these first century errors still exist
today. They remain part of the Christian community where believers
try to tame God’s Word with narrow traditions and dogmatic personal
opinions. For example, they may be seen in the church where a leader
tyrannizes an entire fellowship with the “weaker brother” argument, yet he will
not live in the spirit of Romans chapter 14. It is the weak
believers who need the security of rules and regulations and who are afraid of
their freedom in Christ.
It Is Easy To Be Lured
Into Legalism.
Legalism is a “gospel plus” distortion and deviation of
Christianity that is difficult to disprove as it is usually mixed with sound
evangelical doctrine. Legalism, which teaches
that a person’s justification [being made right with God] and sanctification [becoming
holy like Jesus] depends upon a person’s efforts and obedience to church rules,
is an enemy of the gospel of grace. Some people respond to a faith that is
not afraid to make heavy demands on its followers. It is seen as an
attractive alternative to some mainstream churches that may lack authority or
spiritual vitality.
Today the keeping of
certain assembly rules or ceremonies is sometimes made the condition of
salvation and Christian maturity. The issue is not simply one of
grace versus obedience, as some legalists would make of it. It is
fatally easy for we Christians, having begun by simple faith in Christ for
salvation, to live the Christian life in our own strength, and by keeping
rules, try to make ourselves acceptable to God and to assembly leaders.
Paul makes it very clear
that to alter the gospel message in any way is to desert the loving God “who
called you by the grace of Christ.” Other passages in Paul’s
writings have “gospel” and “grace” used in the same context,
implying that the only channel of divine grace is the “truth of the gospel”
(Galatians 2:5, 14.)
In verse 6 Paul uses the
Greek “metatitheemi”, Strong’s
#3346. It is translated “removed from” (KJV, RSV)
or “turned away from” (JB) or “transferred your
allegiance” (Phillips) or “deserting” (NIV,
NASB). It implies the idea of following. In secular Greek
it meant “to bring to, or set in another place; a change of place or change of
mind. The Septuagint translation uses it for removing boundaries,
transplanting peoples, or translating from the earth [Hebrews 11:5] as well as
for convincing or talking around.”
Quenching the legal;
spit !! of satan
Vincent says, “The verb
is used in Greek and Roman classical authors of “altering a treaty, changing an
opinion, desertion from an army. Lightfoot renders it: ‘are turning
renegades.’” [39] “The word ‘deserting’ carries with it the idea of changing
one’s mind, of a willful forsaking of one’s former loyalty and adoption of
another. The term may be rendered as “abandoning,” “leaving to the
side,” or even “going off and forgetting.” [40]
The Greek “tarasso”, Strong’s #5015, is
translated “trouble” (KJV) or “unsettle your minds” (NEB) or
“confusing” (Exp. Para.) or “disturbing” (NIV). Thayer defines the word as “to agitate,
to make restless, to render anxious or distressed, to perplex the mind by
suggesting scruples or doubts.” [41] A gospel
of legalism that adds works to faith can only bring unsettling doubts and
confusion because it undermines one’s In verse 7 Paul uses the Greek “metastrepho”, Strong’s #3344,
which means “to transform into something of an opposite character.” [42] Arndt and
Gingrich define the word as “to alter, to pervert, to change something into
something else, often its opposite.” [43] It is
translated “distort” (NEB,
NASB) or “pervert” (NIV, RSV)
or “twist and change” (NLB)
or “reversing”
(Barclay). The same word is used in Acts 2:20, “the sun shall be turned into
darkness” (quoting Joel 2:31). Bertram also notes that Paul’s
opponents turned the gospel into its opposite.[44] The false teachers were turning the (neb
)really nails the spitter,s poisons,, the light of God’s truth into the
opposite of the gospel, the darkness of error.
assurance of
salvation. It is the opposite of Christ’s gift of peace.
The significance of
what Paul says comes from the contrast between the two words translated “different” (verse 6) and “another.” (verse 7). Paul
is amazed that the Galatians had embraced a “different” (Greek “heteros”, Strong’s #2087) gospel (verse
6). In reality, what they have adopted is not “another” (Greek “allos”, Strong’s #243) gospel
(verse 7). Buchsel comments, “heteros” is used for “another gospel”;
and “allos” for “which is not another,” i.e., which is no gospel at all but a
human teaching.” [45] Thayer explains
“heteros” as “another i.e. one not of the same nature, form, class, kind,
different.” [46]
Paul says that the Galatian drift of apostasy toward “a different gospel” is the acceptance
of false teaching. The
Galatians were deceived and were deserting the free gospel of salvation. Any system
of salvation that differs from it is counterfeit. Since
salvation is in Christ by grace alone, the legalistic Galatian emphasis on the
idea that one must work for his salvation was definitely a flawed
doctrine. The UBS Handbook Series comments on verse 7, “In some
languages it may be necessary to say “to take away the good news about Christ
and to put in lies,” or “to substitute false words for true words in the good
news about Christ.” [47] The TEV translates verse
7 as, “Actually, there is no
‘other gospel’.”
To make sure that the Galatians understood the seriousness of
the situation, Paul twice says that anyone, even an angel from heaven, who
proclaimed any other form of gospel than that which Paul had preached, “let him be accursed.” (KJV)
or “devoted to destruction,
doomed to eternal punishment.” (Amp. Bible) or “eternally condemned” (NIV). The Greek word “anathema”, Strong’s #331, means “being
given over to divine condemnation.”
Serious charge for the hectate!!!….
In verse 13 Paul uses two different Greek words that the NIV
translates as “hypocrisy”. The
first word is “sunupokrinomai”Strong’s
#4942, which occurs once in the NT. It means “to join in pretending
or playing a part, join in playing the hypocrite.” [51] The word means literally “to answer from under” i.e. from
under a mask as an actor would do on stage while playing a part or
role. Hence “hypokrites”
means “actor”.
The second word is “hupokrisis” “Strong’s
# 5272 which gives us our English word “hypocrite”. Arndt and
Gingrich define it as “playing a part, hypocrisy, pretense, outward
show.” [52] Thayer says, the verb means “to make an answer on
the stage, to personate anyone, play a part. Hence to simulate,
feign, pretend.” [53]
Vine explains, “Pretending to act from one motive, whereas
another motive really inspires the act. So in Galatians 2:13, Peter
with other believing Jews, in separating from believing Gentiles at Antioch,
pretended that the motive was loyalty to the Law of Moses, whereas really it
was fear of the Judaizers.” [54]
Justified”, the Greek “dikaioo”, Strong’s #1344, a key
word in this passage, occurs three times in verse 16. Justification
is an image drawn from the law court. To be justified is to be
declared innocent by the presiding judge. It is translated as “put right with God” (Barclay;
TEV);or “to be declared righteous and put in right
standing with God” (Amp. Bible). It means “to judge,
declare, pronounce righteous and therefore acceptable. It is used
respecting God who declares such men as put faith in Christ to be righteous and
acceptable to him, and accordingly fit to receive the pardon of their sins and
eternal life.” Not by law or the observance of it…
The second word
“ethelothreeskia”, in verse 23, Strong’s #1479, is found only here in the
NT. It is variously translated as
“self-imposed worship”, (NIV) or “will-worship” (KJV), or “self-imposed
devotions” (JB), or “self-made religion or delight in religiousness” (NASB), or
“forced piety” (NEB), or “self-willed worship” (Exp. Para.). love the neb
super they did a great job dw, K….
Thayer defines this word
as “voluntary, arbitrary worship i.e. worship which one devises and prescribes
for himself, contrary to the contents and nature of the faith which ought to be
directed to Christ; said of the misdirected zeal and practices of
ascetics.”[72] Arndt and Gingrich define
the word as “self-made religion, would-be religion.” [73]
He describes the
consequences of Peter’s actions as “not acting in line with the truth of
the gospel.” (NIV verse 14). The Greek“orthopodeo” Strong’s #3716, means
“to walk straight, walk upright, figuratively act rightly, be
straightforward.” [55] Other
translations have: “This
behaviour was a contradiction of the
truth of the gospel” (Phillips) or “not living up to the truth of the Gospel” (Amp. Bible) or “straying away from the right path which the
gospel lays down” (Barclay). This mistake was related to
the very heart of the gospel itself. After twenty centuries, have we
learned this lesson even today.
Paul kept his integrity in Christ; he was able to confront
Peter’s hypocrisy and fears because he held firmly to “the truth of the gospel.” Group pressure is one aspect of the spirit of
legalism that seeks a dictatorial and oppressive control over a church. This
problem still exists in many evangelical\pentecostal\charismatic churches. As an
a ecclesia Christian there is no institution
but each person no unholy
secret or esoteric unions to groups as such unions nor is 501-3 sold I do succumb
to the heard instincts , their was no such condition till after Constantine when
endless comprise became the new norm of their day to this day !!!! many are
unable to delineate between the most simple of terms -forms ,,,,,,
By the way that process
was used when we charge d the word ecclesia to church form simple body to compared
to an institution reacted by man going back to the law,, or modern new age
quackism, which is even more deluded named after sea witch Circe that is what Tyndale died for ,, he knew the
cult forms and would comprise the scripture tire with hectate, s name oh ye temple of Jupiter,,, God bless you
Tyndale wise words for deeply lost generations and forms that have replaced the
beauty of his people with ego ,,, unwise
move he died we still have no idea what we are saying do we??
The word “bewitched” suggests the use of
magic, particularly the casting of a spell through the use of the evil
eye. The belief that one person could cast a spell over another is
common in many parts of the world, but one must not deduce from this statement that
Paul believed in magic. He is more likely using “bewitched” in a
metaphorical sense, and he probably means by it “to pervert,” “to lead astray,”
or “to confuse the mind.” The second word
“ethelothreeskia”, in verse 23, Strong’s #1479, is found only here in the
NT. It is variously translated as
“self-imposed worship”, (NIV) or “will-worship” (KJV), or “self-imposed
devotions” (JB), or “self-made religion or delight in religiousness” (NASB), or
“forced piety” (NEB), or “self-willed worship” (Exp. Para.). love the neb super they did a great job dw, K….
Thayer defines this
word as “voluntary, arbitrary worship i.e. worship which one devises and
prescribes for himself, contrary to the contents and nature of the faith which
ought to be directed to Christ; said of the misdirected zeal and practices of
ascetics.”[72] Arndt and Gingrich define
the word as “self-made religion, would-be religion.” [73]
G. Delling offers a more literal
interpretation of “baskaino”. He
says, “This is not an exaggerated metaphor, for behind magic stands the power
of falsehood and this has been exercised to do harm to the
Galatians. The dangerous feature is that the Galatians have
willingly yielded to these magicians and their influence without realising to
what powers of falsehood they were surrendering.” [
Flesh or Spirit?
In verse 3 Paul makes a sharp contrast between the (Holy) “Spirit”, and “the flesh” (NASB) or “human effort” (NIV) or “your own power” (TEV). The
Greek “sarx” Strong’s #4561,
means “human nature apart from divine influence, and prone to sin and opposed
to God. It includes whatever in the soul is weak, low, debased,
tending to ungodliness and vice. It is the entire nature of
man without the Holy Spirit.” [63] E. Schweizer
notes that the flesh as a wrong disposition away from God becomes a controlling
power, and that legal observance is itself a manifestation of ‘sarx’.” [64]
The nature of the
Colossian heresy is evident from two key words used by Paul to describe it.
The first word “tapinophrosunee”, Strong’s #5012,
used in verses 18 and 23, is translated “false humility” (NIV, Phillips) or “self-abasement” (RSV) or “self-mortification” (NEB) or “self-humiliation” (Exp.
Para.). Thayer notes that it is “used of an affected and
ostentatious humility” in this context. [69] Arndt and
Gingrich also comment that this humility or modesty can be wrongly
directed. [70] W. Grundmann
observes, “the term is a concept in the Colossian heresy and it either means
‘fasting’ or ‘mortification’.” [71] A humility in
which a person takes delight is only pride.
The second word “ethelothreeskia”,
in verse 23, Strong’s #1479, is found only here in the NT. It is
variously translated as “self-imposed
worship”, (NIV) or “will-worship” (KJV),
or “self-imposed devotions” (JB), or “self-made religion or delight in
religiousness” (NASB), or “forced
piety” (NEB), or “self-willed
worship” (Exp. Para.). love the neb super they did a great job dw, K….
Thayer defines this word
as “voluntary, arbitrary worship i.e. worship which one devises and prescribes
for himself, contrary to the contents and nature of the faith which ought to be
directed to Christ; said of the misdirected zeal and practices of ascetics.”[72] Arndt and
Gingrich define the word as “self-made religion, would-be religion.” [73]
The dreadful absence
endless gossip slander der condemnation, it’s goon the jack ass of Satan’s ministry be broke by
grace!!! Turned into love like that
of it’s savior
The basis of Christian
freedom is the person and work of Jesus Christ. Therefore
test all teaching against who Christ is and what he has done. Test
what is not sure against the sure. Hence the need to know God’s
Word. Jesus replied to the Sadducees, “Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or
the power of God” (Mark 12:24).
Scripturally speaking,
the first of these definitions best fits what will be addressed in this
article. However, in practice "legalism" has become the principal
term of choice for "grace only" advocates to describe the belief that
obeying the Law of God is required of believers. It is frequently redefined by
those who use it, but "legalism" is generally meant to slander, disparage,
and cast doubt upon the beliefs so labeled. Due to the negative connotation of
the word, those tagged as "legalists" are immediately put on the
defensive regarding their beliefs.
For if righteousness come
by the law; if a justifying righteousness is to be attained unto by the works
of the law, or men can be justified by their obedience to it,
then Christ is dead in
vain; there was no necessity for his dying: he died without any true reason, or
just cause; he died to bring in a righteousness which might have been brought
in without his death, and so his blood and life might have been spared, his
sufferings and death being entirely unnecessary; which to say is to cast
contempt upon the wisdom, love, and grace of God in this matter, and to offer
the greatest indignity to the person, character, sufferings, and death of
Christ.
Wherefore it may be
strongly concluded, that there is no righteousness by the law of works, nor to
be attained that way, otherwise Christ had never died; and that justification
is solely and alone by his righteousness. The second word
“ethelothreeskia”, in verse 23, Strong’s #1479, is found only here in the
NT. It is variously translated as
“self-imposed worship”, (NIV) or “will-worship” (KJV), or “self-imposed
devotions” (JB), or “self-made religion or delight in religiousness” (NASB), or
“forced piety” (NEB), or “self-willed worship” (Exp. Para.). love the neb
super they did a great job dw, K….
Thayer defines this word
as “voluntary, arbitrary worship i.e. worship which one devises and prescribes
for himself, contrary to the contents and nature of the faith which ought to be
directed to Christ; said of the misdirected zeal and practices of
ascetics.”[72] Arndt and Gingrich define
the word as “self-made religion, would-be religion.” [73]
wisdom?
I have often wondered why it is that Conservatives are called the "right" and Liberals are called the "left."
By chance I stumbled upon this verse in the Bible:
"The heart of the wise inclines to the right,
but the heart of the fool to the left."
Ecclesiastes 10:2 (NIV)
Thus sayeth the Lord. Amen.
Can't get any simpler than that.
Saturday, May 21, 2022
freedom of grace !!!!
What the Bible says about Led by the Spirit
(From Forerunner Commentary)
This verse is especially helpful in understanding the fruit of the Spirit because it directly precedes Paul's naming them: "But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law." Being led by the Spirit (Romans 8:14) is a necessary precursor to producing the fruit of the Spirit in us. John W. Ritenbaugh |
Verse 18 appears as a summary statement in light of all that Paul wrote previous to this. It needs a bit of defining. According to what the apostle wrote earlier, to be "under the law" includes three areas:
Paul's statement, then, must be seen in context of all that has been written before. Notice what Kenneth Wuest writes in Word Studies in the Greek New Testament, Volume 1, page 156. This is a typical Protestant statement regarding verse 18.
To understand this truthfully, all he needs to do is reread what Paul wrote. What the apostle contrasts is Spirit with flesh, and Spirit with those under the law—not the law per se. But this commentator made no attempt to define what Paul means by "under the law," as Paul himself uses it in the epistle. Also, there was no attempt to define what the author of the commentary means by "legalism." We have already seen what Paul means by "under the law." To these people, legalism is "the belief that one is obligated to obey the law." The key word in that definition is "obligated." They hate it (Romans 8:7), and therefore lawkeeping is seen as a burden, a yoke of bondage, despite the undeniable fact that God (through James) says it is a "law of liberty" (James 1:25; 2:12). John W. Ritenbaugh |
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