Christ The Liberator Part II
Don’t allow your fear of the past affect the outlook of your future. Live for what tomorrow has to offer your life and not what yesterday may have taken away. Our scriptural focus for today states – Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: If you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ will be of no benefit to you. {Gal 5:2 NLT}
Those false teachers who were laying claim to the law as the only way to God, wanted the Galatian Christians to believe that they were missing something very important that would help them to be more spiritual if they agreed to practice it. The Holy Spirit through Apostle Paul issues a strong warning to the Galatian Christians who were already considering submitting to the circumcision rite, that if they do with the intention of seeking righteousness with God, Apostle Paul declared that Christ will be of no benefit to them. Apostle Paul did not condemn circumcision in itself, for he had Timothy circumcised (Acts 16:1-3) so that the young man would have a wider ministry. He was opposing the theology of Judaism which insisted that circumcision was necessary for salvation. Anyone who was circumcised for that reason has taken the path of righteousness by works and demonstrates faithlessness in the work of Christ.
For us today, circumcision is no longer an issue of faith but has become a medical requirement for male children, but the focus is now on the motive behind the things we do in order to gain peace and righteousness with God. If you’re counting on any good work/works done in the church as a means of gaining God’s favour, then Christ will be of no benefit to you. Under our walk with God on the basis of grace, what we can do or cannot do no longer counts, what counts is our unshaken believe in the work of Christ as the only way to gain God’s favour and remain in righteousness.
Christ will only benefit you in grace.
Have a Grace filled day – Good News awaits you.
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Last modified: December 13, 2016