The Blessedness

When Paul wrote his epistle to the church in Galatia, he did not waste much time before going straight to the heart of the matter.  After a brief introduction, he launched into the purpose of his letter with grave concern.  The growing church in Galatia had initially responded to the Gospel of Jesus Christ with great joy.  But after Paul left them, others came to the body of believers and perverted the message of the Gospel.  The people in the fellowship abandoned the simple grace of God and adopted a legalistic approach - that as followers of Christ, they were compelled to keep the ordinances given to Moses.  They had come to God through grace, yet they were deceived to think they were justified through their works.

The issue Paul dealt with severely in the Galatian church is not unfamiliar today.  There are many people who make a joyful acceptance of the Gospel yet it is not long before they are turned aside from the simplicity of it.  They heap upon themselves doctrines of men taught as the commands of God.  Some align themselves will Paul, Apollos, or Cephas instead of Christ!  Like the Pharisees before them, they work to measure up to an arbitrary standard and forget their calling to follow Christ and make disciples who follow Jesus too!  Christ drew them with His love, mercy, and grace, yet some professing believers do not demonstrate the same simplicity of heart.  How many have shipwrecked through devilish deceptions disguised as piety!  How many have become twisted, angry, frustrated souls, trying to accomplish through the flesh what Jesus has done through the Spirit!  My heart breaks for those who are turned aside from the Gospel through their revelations and knowledge.

The Galatians did what is common for all men:  they followed mere men.  They were fickle and easily fooled, not having a strong foundation in the Word of God.  God used Paul to expose them to the truth of the Gospel, but it was not long until they saw him as an enemy!  Paul wrote in Galatians 4:13-17:  "You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first. ¹⁴ And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me. ¹⁶ Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth? ¹⁷ They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them."  Paul did not come to Galatia as a grand orator, nor did he have any manipulative motives.  He was deeply burdened by the possibility they were not even born again, for their lives had no evidence of Christ's love or good fruit.

Beware the day when we trade the blessedness of the Gospel for anything less!  If any doctrine or emphasis begins to trump the Gospel of Jesus Christ, His love and grace, it is only a matter of time before we will begin to alienate ourselves from those who truly love us.  It is so tragic when Christians see fellow believers as enemies, reconcilable only if they choose to agree with their pet doctrine or emphasis.  People will know we are Christians by the love we have toward one another.  When we keep in clear view the blessedness of Christ's Gospel, His love will be evident and fruitful through us for God's glory.