The three readings assigned for the 6th Sunday after Pentecost are Isaiah 66:10-14 (Jerusalem rejoice), Galatians 6:1-10, 14-18 (Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision), and Luke 10:1-20 (Appointing 70). The text chosen to apply is Galatians 6:16 which reads “And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.”
When one thinks of the main teaching of Christianity, it is “salvation by grace, through faith” not by works lest anyone should boast. Then what do we do with this verse which speaks about walking “according to this rule”? Once more we realize that a superficial reading of the Bible can lead to apparent contradictions in the Bible when in reality an indepth king and queen approach clears them up.
The king of theology is context (Scripture interprets Scripture) and the queen of theology is application (Law and Gospel). The context appears in the previous verse in which Paul is making the point that it is no longer important whether one is circumcised or uncircumcised. That, of course, was not true under the ceremonial laws, but “in Christ” as verse 15 begins, the ceremonial laws are no longer in effect.
Then why are the ceremonial laws abrogated? The previous verse 14 explains, “But God forbid that I should glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” There is the new paradigm or new testament replacing the old testament agreement of Exodus 24. Now God alone is our salvation without any merit or worthiness in us that is needed.
In this context walking “according to his rule” of verse 16 is clear. The “rule” is not a new set of commandments but rather a standard to be believed; namely, that our salvation is no longer on the basis of our works (even the ceremonial laws) but on the basis of the works of Christ’s death and resurrection. Paul emphasizes this new paradigm with verse 18 by saying, “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.”
Name:Tom Baker
Pastor Tom
Now going into the second year of thinking this way and I admit it is just cracking the surface of my reasoning.
I see that value of enduring and being patient as these realities are just not naturally grasped nor are they being so radical upon my flesh that it is being deadened!!! Grrrrrr I see a law in my flesh warring with the Law of the Spirit Life received from God Himself.
How much easier it is to side with sympathy about it, because the hard reality and indepth understanding of the king and queen of applying it is just not easily grasped or understood!
What, apply this….., thinking, ok, what MUST I DO THEN?
Oh how difficult it is to realize the doing is DOING NOTHING! grrrr, “yeah but PASTOR, I must do something, right?”
How do you do nothing?
Ah, ok, go ahead and try!!!!
Yes and amen to these TRUTHS. My prayer is that more people within the Church community will gain the results of this king and queen of Scripture application and finally REST IN THE FINISHED WORK!!!
It becomes much more clear why we see such opposites here too when thinking this way, the new paradigm:::>
Isa 53:4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.
Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
This does not make sense; let’s see, he is wounded and I am healed! hmmmmmm
Or this one:::>
Heb 4:9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God,
Heb 4:10 for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.
Heb 4:11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.
Here again, nothing easy to understand about this, I strive and struggle and labor to REST! Hmmmmmm
Or this one too:::>
1Jo 1:6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
1Jo 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
1Jo 1:8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
GRRRRR, which is it? Are we in sin or not?
As we say around here, thanks to you Tom, the answer is BOTH!
Huh?
Oh the Wisdom of God!!!!
You wrote above this:::> “When one thinks of the main teaching of Christianity, it is “salvation by grace, through faith” not by works lest anyone should boast.”
How wonderful He is!
It is His Gift of Grace by His Gift of Faith and there indeed is nothing left for us to do other than believe and receive and be set free from the old way of thinking in light of the new!
Thanks again
Michael
Eureka, Ca.