Law vs Grace Part 5

Law vs Grace????

A review of the basics Part 5

Are these really in conflict??

Lessons on how to explain what you believe!!!!

Review:

Here is a brief overview of what we have covered…..

ØDietary laws.

ØSabbath being changed.

Ø2 ‘New’ Commandments.

ØMessiah is the ‘end’ of the law.

ØThe law is fulfilled and is no more.

ØThe ‘faulty’ Old Covenant.

ØAnd many other issues……

We must once again state that we are not in any way shape or form teaching a salvation by works doctrine.

People tend to return to this when their belief system is being disassembled.

For most modern day believers, their entire faith is based on ‘Saved’ or ‘Not Saved’…. How they live their lives after salvation is based almost entirely on emotional responses, not sound biblical principles……

Today we are going to continue with the book of Galatians. We will pick back up in chapter 4 where we left off last week.

We skipped the 1st part of chapter 4 last week so we want to pick up starting in verse 1 of 4…..

Chapter 4 can be somewhat confusing and easily misunderstood, especially with the KJV and the NASB, so we will look at these verses in several translations and see if we can clear up the confusion.

Gal 4:1 Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything,

Gal 4:2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father.

Gal 4:3 So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world.

Gal 4:4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,

Gal 4:5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

Gal 4:6 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"

Gal 4:7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.

Gal 4:8 However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are no gods.

Gal 4:9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?

Gal 4:10 You observe days and months and seasons and years.

Gal 4:11 I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain.

Gal 4:12 I beg of you, brethren, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong;
Gal 4:13 but you know that it was because of a bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the first time;
Gal 4:14 and that which was a trial to you in my bodily condition you did not despise or loathe, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself.
Gal 4:15 Where then is that sense of blessing you had? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.

Its easy to conclude that Paul was saying that the Messiah had done away with the law..

were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world.

Therefore you are no longer a slave

were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world

However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves

how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things

So did Paul teach this or have we misunderstood what he was saying???

Lets see if the KJV helps to clarify this………….

Gal 4:1 Now1161 I say,3004 That the3588 heir,2818 as long as3745 he(5550) is2076 a child,3516 differeth1308 nothing3762 from a servant,1401 though he be5607 lord2962 of all;3956

Gal 4:2 But235 is2076 under5259 tutors2012 and2532 governors3623 until891 the3588 time appointed4287 of the3588 father.3962

Gal 4:3 Even2532 so3779 we,2249 when3753 we were2258 children,3516 were2258 in bondage1402 under5259 the3588 elements4747 of the3588 world:2889

Gal 4:4 But1161 when3753 the3588 fullness4138 of the3588 time5550 was come,2064 God2316 sent forth1821 his848 Son,5207 made1096 of1537 a woman,1135 made1096 under5259 the law,3551

Gal 4:5 To2443 redeem1805 them3588 that were under5259 the law,3551 that2443 we might receive618 the3588 adoption of sons.5206

Gal 4:6 And1161 because3754 ye are2075 sons,5207 God2316 hath sent forth1821 the3588 Spirit4151 of his848 Son5207 into1519 your5216 hearts,2588 crying,2896 Abba,5 Father.3962
Gal 4:7 Wherefore5620 thou art1488 no more3765 a servant,1401 but235 a son;5207 and1161 if1487 a son,5207 then2532 an heir2818 of God2316 through1223 Christ.5547
Gal 4:8 Howbeit235 then,5119 when(3303) ye knew1492 not3756 God,2316 ye did service1398 unto them which by nature5449 are5607 no3361 gods.2316
Gal 4:9 But1161 now,3568 after that ye have known1097 God,2316 or1161 rather3123 are known1097 of5259 God,2316 how4459 turn1994 ye again3825 to1909 the3588 weak772 and2532 beggarly4434 elements,4747 whereunto3739 ye(3825) desire2309 again509 to be in bondage?1398
Gal 4:10 Ye observe3906 days,2250 and2532 months,3376 and2532 times,2540 and2532 years.1763
Gal 4:11 I am afraid5399 of you,5209 lest3381 I have bestowed upon you labor2872, 1519, 5209 in vain.1500

Not much easier to understand is it??????

It still appears that Paul is saying that the law is no more and that we should not obey it……

Lets try the American Standard Version and see if that can help make sense….

Gal 4:1 But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a bondservant though he is lord of all;

Gal 4:2 but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed of the father.

Gal 4:3 So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the rudiments of the world:

Gal 4:4 but when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

Gal 4:5 that he might redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Gal 4:7 So that thou art no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.

Gal 4:8 Howbeit at that time, not knowing God, ye were in bondage to them that by nature are no gods:

Gal 4:9 but now that ye have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how turn ye back again to the weak and beggarly rudiments, whereunto ye desire to be in bondage over again?

Gal 4:10 Ye observe days, and months, and seasons, and years.

Gal 4:11 I am afraid of you, lest by any means I have bestowed labor upon you in vain.

Gal 4:12 I beseech you, brethren, become as I am, for I also am become as ye are. Ye did me no wrong:

Gal 4:13 but ye know that because of an infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you the first time:

Gal 4:14 and that which was a temptation to you in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but ye received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

Gal 4:15 Where then is that gratulation of yourselves? for I bear you witness, that, if possible, ye would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.

Are you in still confused???? Me too!!! Are we doing all of this ‘Torah Stuff’ in vain?? Have we went back to something that is of no profit????

Let’s try one more version and see if we can finally shed some light on this passage……

The Complete Jewish Bible…. CJB…..

Gal 4:1 What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a minor he is no different from a slave, even though he is the legal owner of the estate;

Gal 4:2 rather, he is subject to guardians and caretakers until the time previously set by his father.

Gal 4:3 So it is with us - when we were "children" we were slaves to the elemental spirits of the universe;

Gal 4:4 but when the appointed time arrived, God sent forth his Son. He was born from a woman, born into a culture in which legalistic perversion of the Torah was the norm,

Gal 4:5 so that he might redeem those in subjection to this legalism and thus enable us to be made God's sons.

Gal 4:6 Now because you are sons, God has sent forth into our hearts the Spirit of his Son, the Spirit who cries out, "Abba!" (that is, "Dear Father!").

Gal 4:7 So through God you are no longer a slave but a son, and if you are a son you are also an heir.

Gal 4:8 In the past, when you did not know God, you served as slaves beings which in reality are non-gods.

Gal 4:9 But now you do know God, and, more than that, you are known by God. So how is it that you turn back again to those weak and miserable elemental spirits? Do you want to enslave yourselves to them once more?

Gal 4:10 You observe special days, months, seasons and years!

Gal 4:11 I fear for you that my work among you has been wasted!
Gal 4:12 Brothers, I beg of you: put yourselves in my place - after all, I put myself in your place. It isn't that you have done me any wrong -
Gal 4:13 you know that it was because I was ill that I proclaimed the Good News to you at first;
Gal 4:14 and even though my physical condition must have tempted you to treat me with scorn, you did not display any sign of disdain or disgust. No, you welcomed me as if I had been an angel of God, as if I had been the Messiah Yeshua himself!
Gal 4:15 So what has become of the joy you felt? For I bear you witness that had it been possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me.

Now that gives us a little more clarity doesn’t it…….

The phrase ‘Under the Law’ means something completely different than what we were ever taught.

We were taught that phrase was speaking to anyone who lived their life according to the Law. Now we discover that the phrase has a completely different meaning.

The phrase ‘Under the Law’ means anyone who is using the Law to obtain their redemption. The most common belief in Paul’s day was that you had to obey the Law in order to obtain redemption. The death and resurrection of the Messiah not only provides and maintains redemption, it showed those who believed in salvation by works that it was not possible to do so…

So even though we are accused of being under the Law and teaching that, we are in fact NOT…. We do not teach this, we teach that salvation is by the Messiah and nothing else… We simply teach that we should live our lives after we are saved according to the Law… Especially when you consider that the Messiah lived His life according to the Law!!!!!!!!

Lets deal with verses 8 and 9. These 2 verses are used quite often in an effort to abolish the Law……..

Gal 4:8 In the past, when you did not know God, you served as slaves beings which in reality are non-gods.

A quick reading of this will make you think that Paul was saying the Law was ‘non-god’ and ‘weak and miserable’…. However, that is no true. Lets dig deeper……..

Lets identify who Paul was talking to….. The Galatians, a group of people from Galatia. These people were not Jewish…

Paul is asking them to remember the time before they knew God, he wants them to remember that they served god’s that were not real. They were slaves to these things. They worshipped the gods of the Roman Empire…. Suns, stars, moons, planets, and mythical people. They did not know the law, they did not understand the principles.

Paul was comparing the hat former worship and bondage to the false doctrine that salvation comes from obedience to the Law. He was saying that both of those are slavery, that both of those are weak and beggarly.

Even the word ‘elemental’ bears out this…..

G4747

στοιχεῖον

stoicheion

Thayer Definition:

1) any first thing, from which the others belonging to some series or composite whole take their rise, an element, first principal

1a) the letters of the alphabet as the elements of speech, not however the written characters, but the spoken sounds

1b) the elements from which all things have come, the material causes of the universe

1c) the heavenly bodies, either as parts of the heavens or (as others think) because in them the elements of man, life and destiny were supposed to reside

Paul was simply saying that any belief, doctrine or religion that deviates from what God has said, is weak and beggarly. It doesn’t matter what you call it, what name you place on it, if it goes against what God has said, its wrong.

Many people in the modern day church will still say that the Law is weak and beggarly. Lets examine a few things and see how dangerous and foolish it is to say and believe such things….

We have been told that keeping laws like dietary laws, sabbath and holidays are weak and beggarly. So lets look at some scripture and see how weak and beggarly they actually are……

Isa 58:13 "If because of the sabbath, you turn your foot From doing your own pleasure on My holy day, And call the sabbath a delight, the holy day of the LORD honorable, And honor it, desisting from your own ways, From seeking your own pleasure And speaking your own word,

Isa 58:14 Then you will take delight in the LORD, And I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; And I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

Lev 26:13 'I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt so that you would not be their slaves, and I broke the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect.

Lev 26:14 'But if you do not obey Me and do not carry out all these commandments,

Lev 26:15 if, instead, you reject My statutes, and if your soul abhors My ordinances so as not to carry out all My commandments, and so break My covenant,

Lev 26:16 I, in turn, will do this to you: I will appoint over you a sudden terror, consumption and fever that will waste away the eyes and cause the soul to pine away; also, you will sow your seed uselessly, for your enemies will eat it up.

Lev 26:17 'I will set My face against you so that you will be struck down before your enemies; and those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee when no one is pursuing you.

Lev 26:18 'If also after these things you do not obey Me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins.

Lev 26:19 'I will also break down your pride of power; I will also make your sky like iron and your earth like bronze.

Lev 26:20 'Your strength will be spent uselessly, for your land will not yield its produce and the trees of the land will not yield their fruit.

Lev 26:21 'If then, you act with hostility against Me and are unwilling to obey Me, I will increase the plague on you seven times according to your sins.

Lev 26:22 'I will let loose among you the beasts of the field, which will bereave you of your children and destroy your cattle and reduce your number so that your roads lie deserted.

Lev 26:23 'And if by these things you are not turned to Me, but act with hostility against Me,

Lev 26:24 then I will act with hostility against you; and I, even I, will strike you seven times for your sins.

Lev 26:25 'I will also bring upon you a sword which will execute vengeance for the covenant; and when you gather together into your cities, I will send pestilence among you, so that you shall be delivered into enemy hands.

Lev 26:26 'When I break your staff of bread, ten women will bake your bread in one oven, and they will bring back your bread in rationed amounts, so that you will eat and not be satisfied.

Lev 26:27 'Yet if in spite of this you do not obey Me, but act with hostility against Me,

Lev 26:28 then I will act with wrathful hostility against you, and I, even I, will punish you seven times for your sins.

Lev 26:29 'Further, you will eat the flesh of your sons and the flesh of your daughters you will eat.

Lev 26:30 'I then will destroy your high places, and cut down your incense altars, and heap your remains on the remains of your idols, for My soul shall abhor you.

Lev 26:31 'I will lay waste your cities as well and will make your sanctuaries desolate, and I will not smell your soothing aromas.

Lev 26:32 'I will make the land desolate so that your enemies who settle in it will be appalled over it.

Lev 26:33 'You, however, I will scatter among the nations and will draw out a sword after you, as your land becomes desolate and your cities become waste.

Deu 6:5 "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

Lev 19:18 'You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD.

Doesn’t sound too weak to me!!!!!!

Let’s look at an example of what happens when you disobey God’s commandments…..

2Ch 12:1 When the kingdom of Rehoboam was established and strong, he and all Israel with him forsook the law of the LORD.

2Ch 12:2 And it came about in King Rehoboam's fifth year, because they had been unfaithful to the LORD, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem

2Ch 12:3 with 1,200 chariots and 60,000 horsemen. And the people who came with him from Egypt were without number: the Lubim, the Sukkiim and the Ethiopians.

2Ch 12:4 He captured the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem.

2Ch 12:5 Then Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and the princes of Judah who had gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak, and he said to them, "Thus says the LORD, 'You have forsaken Me, so I also have forsaken you to Shishak.'"

2Ch 12:6 So the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, "The LORD is righteous."

2Ch 12:7 When the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, "They have humbled themselves so I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some measure of deliverance, and My wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by means of Shishak.

2Ch 12:8 "But they will become his slaves so that they may learn the difference between My service and the service of the kingdoms of the countries."

We are accused of being in bondage, slaves, to the Law but when you read scripture. You find out that real slavery is when you don’t obey the commandments of God, when you forsake His ways for man’s ways!!!!!!!

Let’s deal with verses 12-15, which are usually discarded as unnecessary and meaningless…..

Gal 4:12 Brothers, I beg of you: put yourselves in my place - after all, I put myself in your place. It isn't that you have done me any wrong -
Gal 4:13 you know that it was because I was ill that I proclaimed the Good News to you at first;
Gal 4:14 and even though my physical condition must have tempted you to treat me with scorn, you did not display any sign of disdain or disgust. No, you welcomed me as if I had been an angel of God, as if I had been the Messiah Yeshua himself!
Gal 4:15 So what has become of the joy you felt? For I bear you witness that had it been possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me.

What is Paul talking about here??? Why does he start talking about a disease and gouging out their eyes?? What does this have to do with the Law??? Does this mean that keeping the law will give you a disease and lose you eyes????

Not at all, Paul is trying to make them remember that before this silly doctrine, salvation by works, came in, they were happy and full of love. Even for those who were not easy to look at…..

When you obey God’s Law, life is so much easier.

Let’s jump into chapter 5…… We once again run into the language of certain translations, how the language can be easily misunderstood, so we will once again look at several translations….

Lets start off in the New American Standard……

Gal 5:1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

Gal 5:2 Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you.

Gal 5:3 And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law.

Gal 5:4 You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.

Gal 5:5 For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness.

Gal 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.

Gal 5:7 You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?

Gal 5:8 This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you.

Gal 5:9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.

Gal 5:10 I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view; but the one who is disturbing you will bear his judgment, whoever he is.

Gal 5:11 But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished.

Gal 5:12 I wish that those who are troubling you would even mutilate themselves.

Gal 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Gal 5:14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."

Gal 5:15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

Sounds like Paul is saying that anyone who is circumcised, or keeps the law, is subjecting themselves to slavery. He goes so far as to say that these Law Keepers have fallen from grace. He even wishes that these Law Keepers would go mutilate themselves….

Paul sounds a little upset and that he is very Anti-Law.

Or perhaps, the common teaching is wrong, lets see what the KJV says………

Gal 5:1 Stand fast⁴⁷³⁹ therefore³⁷⁶⁷ in the³⁵⁸⁸ liberty¹⁶⁵⁷ wherewith³⁷³⁹ Christ⁵⁵⁴⁷ hath made us free,^{1659,
2248} and²⁵³² be not³³⁶¹ entangled again with^{1758,
3825} the yoke²²¹⁸ of bondage.¹³⁹⁷

Gal 5:2 Behold,²³⁹⁶ I¹⁴⁷³ Paul³⁹⁷² say³⁰⁰⁴ unto you,⁵²¹³ that³⁷⁵⁴ if¹⁴³⁷ ye be circumcised,⁴⁰⁵⁹ Christ⁵⁵⁴⁷ shall profit⁵⁶²³ you⁵²⁰⁹ nothing.³⁷⁶²

Gal 5:3 For¹¹⁶¹ I testify³¹⁴³ again³⁸²⁵ to every³⁹⁵⁶ man⁴⁴⁴ that is circumcised,⁴⁰⁵⁹ that³⁷⁵⁴ he is²⁰⁷⁶ a debtor³⁷⁸¹ to do⁴¹⁶⁰ the³⁵⁸⁸ whole³⁶⁵⁰ law.³⁵⁵¹

Gal 5:4 Christ⁵⁵⁴⁷ is become of no effect²⁶⁷³ unto you, whosoever³⁷⁴⁸ of you are justified¹³⁴⁴ by¹⁷²² the law;³⁵⁵¹ ye are fallen¹⁶⁰¹ from grace.⁵⁴⁸⁵

Gal 5:5 For¹⁰⁶³ we²²⁴⁹ through the Spirit⁴¹⁵¹ wait for⁵⁵³ the hope¹⁶⁸⁰ of righteousness¹³⁴³ by¹⁵³⁷ faith.⁴¹⁰²

Gal 5:6 For¹⁰⁶³ in¹⁷²² Jesus²⁴²⁴ Christ⁵⁵⁴⁷ neither³⁷⁷⁷ circumcision⁴⁰⁶¹ availeth²⁴⁸⁰any thing,⁵¹⁰⁰ nor³⁷⁷⁷ uncircumcision;²⁰³ but²³⁵ faith⁴¹⁰² which worketh¹⁷⁵⁴ by¹²²³ love.²⁶

Gal 5:7 Ye did run⁵¹⁴³ well;²⁵⁷³ who⁵¹⁰¹ did hinder³⁴⁸you⁵²⁰⁹ that ye should not³³⁶¹ obey³⁹⁸² the³⁵⁸⁸ truth?²²⁵

Gal 5:8 This persuasion³⁹⁸⁸cometh not³⁷⁵⁶ of¹⁵³⁷ him that calleth²⁵⁶⁴ you.⁵²⁰⁹

Gal 5:9 A little³³⁹⁸ leaven²²¹⁹ leaveneth²²²⁰ the³⁵⁸⁸ whole³⁶⁵⁰ lump.⁵⁴⁴⁵

Gal 5:10 I¹⁴⁷³ have confidence³⁹⁸² in¹⁵¹⁹ you⁵²⁰⁹ through¹⁷²² the Lord,²⁹⁶² that³⁷⁵⁴ye will be none otherwise minded:^{5426,
3762, 243} but¹¹⁶¹ he that troubleth⁵⁰¹⁵ you⁵²⁰⁹ shall bear⁹⁴¹ his judgment,²⁹¹⁷ whosoever^{3748,
302} he be.⁵⁶⁰⁰

Gal 5:11 And¹¹⁶¹ I,¹⁴⁷³ brethren,⁸⁰ if¹⁴⁸⁷ I yet²⁰⁸⁹ preach²⁷⁸⁴ circumcision,⁴⁰⁶¹ why⁵¹⁰¹ do I yet²⁰⁸⁹ suffer persecution?¹³⁷⁷ then⁶⁸⁶ is the³⁵⁸⁸offense⁴⁶²⁵ of the³⁵⁸⁸ cross⁴⁷¹⁶ ceased.²⁶⁷³

Gal 5:12 I would³⁷⁸⁵ they were even²⁵³² cut off⁶⁰⁹ which trouble³⁸⁷ you.⁵²⁰⁹

Gal 5:13 For,¹⁰⁶³ brethren,⁸⁰ye⁵²¹⁰ have been called²⁵⁶⁴ unto¹⁹⁰⁹liberty;¹⁶⁵⁷ only³⁴⁴⁰ use not³³⁶¹ liberty¹⁶⁵⁷ for¹⁵¹⁹ an occasion⁸⁷⁴ to the³⁵⁸⁸ flesh,⁴⁵⁶¹ but²³⁵ by¹²²³ love²⁶serve¹³⁹⁸ one another.²⁴⁰

Gal 5:14 For¹⁰⁶³ all³⁹⁵⁶ the law³⁵⁵¹ is fulfilled