The Carpenter's Chapel (5)

Thursday, Aug 5, 2004

Galatians 3:20

“Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.”

When we think of a mediator, imediately comes to mind is a stalemate in union
affairs and the company’s negiators. The negotiations have come to an impasse.
There are three possible solutions. (1) Both sides can just plain give up; (2) The
union members can go out on strike; and (3) A mediator can be appointed to go
between the two parties.

Now, a mediator requires more than one party. Paul is talking about a mediator, but
he throws a wrench into the machinery. “God is one.” In other scriptures we learn
that the law came by the mediation of angels. I would be foolish to say that God had
no hand in the law, but I am here distinguishing between the law, a mirror unto
sinfulness, and the promise of God unto salvation.

The law could have a mediator between man and the angels, but it would be
impossible to have a mediator between man and God. God is one. He does not
negotiate the terms of redemption. Jesus Christ is our Mediator between God and
man. Either we come by the cross under God’s terms, or we are passed by unto
eternal damnation. The sentence has been pronounced. It is a sure thing. In order for
us to be saved, we must have a mediator, we must have a Saviour. We cannot attain
this by ourselves. This Mediator, Jesus Christ, stands, as it were, before God
clothed in His righteousness. It is here He is our Mediator,,this is imputed
righteousness,,He alone speaks in our behalf and we are carried into the presence of
an holy God, cleansed and renewed in the robes of Christ....I am washed in the
blood of the Lamb...

Again, I wanted to make the conection between the law and the promise, and Paul
does this in verse 29, “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs
according to the promise.” We can lay hold to the Abrahamic Covenant, the
Promise, and the Seed, which is Jesus Christ. We have inalienable rights through
the mediation of Jesus Christ.

Thank you Lord for standing between me and God so that my filthiness, revealed by
the law, is purged by the promise, and I am an heir in Your righteousness.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Indeed, ethics begin with God, including areas of monetary gain. Blessings on the deacon who dared to choose God.

With Bev Shea we sing: "I'd rather have Jesus than anything this world affords to-day..."

Cheers, and thank you, Charles,

Jim

 

Monday, August 9, 2004

Galatians 4:5

"To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons."

Paul continues to talk about the law. He reminds the Galatians about the efficacy of the work of Christ on the cross, in removing a temporary law of conviction and condemnation, unto the adoption of a servant unto sonship in Jesus Christ.

Paul talks about the duties of a servant in relation to a son. "Thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ...." What a mervellous estate to find ourselves,,,,an heir of God...Yet, these people dared to fall back into their old ways, not that they had denied Christ or the work of Christ, but they had added their old ways. We often hear the expression "once saved; always saved." No single expression has done more harm in Christendom than that one. It leaves the impression that we can accept Jesus into our lives, live that for a season, and then do as we please. Paul says in verse 6 that we have received the Spirit of God's Son in our lives from the moment of our salvation, and our adoption is complete. Yet these people had without doubt fallen away. Paul does not talk about them losing their salvation, but rather says they have become weak and reattached themselves to the beggarly elements of the servant.

So, what's wrong with "once saved; always saved"? It leaves the distinct impression that we can do as we please. The believer is preserved unto complete sanctification. There is the word which contains the truth. Sanctification. The very word tells us that there is to be progress in the believer unto full sanctification. A state where we are justified; just as if we never sinned. Throughout the word we are told about the fruits of a believer and James dares to remind us that we are "to work out our own salvation." He is not talking about our redemption. That was done by Christ on the cross. It was sealed by His resurrection. So what does he mean? We are to continually work and show the fruit of our redemption. The two go hand in hand. We want to work because we are saved, and not to obtain our redemption. If we don't show these fruits, are we really saved? Well, Paul says there is a possibility that we can fall away so that the appearance of being unsaved is possible. In verse 20 he says, "I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you." Paul is saying again that our witness should prevail. We should continually show forth the Christ as evidence of our conversion.

Lord, help us to continually show forth what Christ has done in us and for us, that we may indeed be the sons of adoption, secured by your right hand.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Wednesday, Aug 11, 2004

Galatians 6

"Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ."

"For every man shall bear his own burden."

"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not"

These three verses leaped out at me as I read the 6th chapter of Galatians. If one reads these two verses in isolation and without thinking, it appears that Paul is contradicting himself. Just what is Paul saying?

In Verse 2, we are exhorted to "bear one another's burdens..." Think back to verse one and Paul talks about spiritual men restoring those who have fallen away. This indicates that Paul is talking about spiritual shortcomings. We have a responsibility to "bear" those burdens of others. We can be so quick to see clearly the sins of others. We can be so critical by times. Paul is saying that it is our responsibility to bear these burdens and uphold the brethren no matter how they may fall apart. We can make much ado about nothing within the church body, when in fact, we are to uphold each other in spiritual matters. When was the last time you/I took a brother aside and offered prayer fellowship right there and then? When was the last time you or I placed an arm on their shoulder and told them what their lives meant to us in the Lord Jesus?

In verse 5, Paul talks about us bearing our own burden. In brief, verse 5 is saying...whilst we have a duty in Christ to uphold the brother...the guilt of another person is not excuse for us to sin. We must bear our own burden. We are obligated by the laws of CHrist to be a spiritual people. We sometimes look at the world and pity the poor sods who know not the Christ, and we determine their lost estate. We can easily determine it is their own fault. Yet, Paul says we are to bear one another's burden...then every man is responsible for his own burden. We are to be separate from the world, and yet we are to be integrally responsible for the world.

And this brings me to the last verse of attention. Verse 9 "Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

We must keep on going on to reach the lost and to reach the brethren who lack the spiritual acumen with which the Lord has blessed us. The harvest does not come without labour and insight. We must ever be conscious of the needs around us. The needs of the world and the needs of the brethren; equal responsibility, according to Paul, as I see it.

Lord, help us not to be weary in well doing that we may indeed experience the harvest in Christ Jesus.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Friday, August 13, 2004

Galatians 6:14

“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by
whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”

The Galatians had been boasting about the things in which they gloried. Paul says, I
glory in something also. They gloried in the fact that they kept the law. They did
marvellous works, they had gone the step beyond other Christians. Paul says he
cannot boast about what he has done or what he can do. His glory is in one
direction only; the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul not only talks about the
cross, but in verse 17 he states: “For I bear in my body the marks of the Lord
Jesus.” You show me your good works and I will show you my scars in the name of
Christ.

Paul is not only crucified unto Christ, but he is crucified unto the world, and all the
material benefits it may afford. All my gains, I count lost. You can have all the
physical and temporal gains. I will advance in my suffering for Christ. In Paul’s
day, they could look at physical sufferings. He was jailed. He was whipped. He was
beaten to within an inch of his life. We know little of this suffering to-day in the
free world. It is hard for us to comprehend the sufferings of Paul and the other early
disciples. It cost them dearly to be a believer. Oh that we would appreciate what we
have in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Spurgeon writes of this passage: “He (Paul) cared nothing for the marks in his flesh
which proved him to be a Jew, he valued far more those scars which he had
received while engaged in the service of Jesus; these he looked upon as being the
Lord’s brand upon him, like the ear mark which was received by a Hebrew servant
when he resolved to abide with his master for life. It is useless to oppose a man of
Paul’s order, he is too resolute to be turned aside, it is wisest for the enemy to let
him alone.”

When we talk about sorrows and suffering, far too often it is personal, and most
likely something we have imposed on ourselves. Not so Paul. He had much to
complain about, but he counted it a gain to suffer for Christ. This was the driving
force in his life. He did not allow private ailments to cause him pain, but counted
only the stripes which were placed upon Jesus’ back for him and us.

It was Jim Elliot, a young missionary, who would tell fellow students at Wheaton
College: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot
lose.” In just a few short months, Jim Elliot would give his life in the service of the
Lord Jesus Christ. Not many are called to this noble a service, but I wonder how we
would respond. It was like the quip we often used when a difficult and
life-threatening mission field needed servants. “Here am I, Lord, send her.” We
scorned women seeking a preaching role, but we dispatched them to the mission
field.

I am reninded of the hymn:

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God;
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.

Lord, help us to focus on the things that matter most in our lives; the cross of
Christ, and all that should mean to us.

Cheers,

Jim