Through the Bible - Song of Solomon 4-6, Galations 2
Good morning,
You may have heard the saying or motto regarding the church, "In essentials unity, in non essentials liberty, in all things charity". Dr. Mark Ross writes, "Often attributed to great theologians such as Augustine, it comes from an otherwise undistinguished German LLutheran theologian of the early 17th century, Rupertus Meldenius. The phrase occurs in a tract on Christian unity written (circa 1627) during the Thirty Years War (1618-1648), a bloody time in European history in which religious tensions played a significant role."
The New Testament reading plan, above, has brought us into the book of Galations where Paul is dealing with a church that is having it's own struggles and controversies including a form of legalism.
Today's verse comes from Galations 1 where Paul expresses his surprise at how the "gospel" was being "perverted" to something that it is not supposed to be.
Gal 1:6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. NKJV
or from the NLT
or from the NLT
Gal 1:6 I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News 7 but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ.
The same kind of thing has gone on through the centuries and is sure to continue. There is the prospertity gospel being preached, that God wants you to be healthy and wealthy, where He is your cosmic vending machine, there to give you what you want. But what happens when unemployment, health issues or the death of a loved one come along? On the other side we have the legalists where Christianity, from the outside, is seen as a strict set of rules, regulations, and traditions to live by, where there is little grace, mercy or compassion.
The same kind of thing has gone on through the centuries and is sure to continue. There is the prospertity gospel being preached, that God wants you to be healthy and wealthy, where He is your cosmic vending machine, there to give you what you want. But what happens when unemployment, health issues or the death of a loved one come along? On the other side we have the legalists where Christianity, from the outside, is seen as a strict set of rules, regulations, and traditions to live by, where there is little grace, mercy or compassion.
From Barnes notes, " It is remarked by Luther (his commentary at the place) that Paul uses as mild a word as possible here. He does not employ the language of severe reproof, but he expresses his astonishment that the thing should have occurred. He was deeply affected and amazed, that such a thing could have happened. They had cordially embraced the gospel; they had manifested the tenderest attachment for him; they had given themselves to God, and yet in a very short time they had been led wholly astray, and had embraced opinions which tended wholly to pervert and destroy the gospel. They had shown an instability and inconstancy of character, which was to him perfectly surprising."
The challenge and call from Paul is similar to that which was expressed to the Corinthian church.
1 Cor 15:1 Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it. 2 It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you—unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place.
Perhaps the phrase that we started with might serve as a good motto for every church and denomination today. The key to it is to know what the "essentials" are, which involves knowing your Bible, holding fast to in, but doing so while loving others, even those that may disagree with you without turning away from God in doing so. Let us be consistant and constant in the essentials.
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace NIV
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace NIV
Gal 1:1-11
1 Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), 2 and all the brethren who are with me,
To the churches of Galatia:
3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Only One Gospel
6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. NKJV
No comments:
Post a Comment