Galatians: The Law is Flesh

The first part of the letter to the churches in Galatia speaks to the different Gospel that Christians from a jewish back ground were trying to impose on Christians from a Greek or non-jewish background… namely circumcision.

In other words the Greeks would be baptized then there would be a knife and a minor surgical procedure waiting to be performed on them.

Then there seems to be a transition to the “works of the flesh” and the “fruits of the Spirit” Is it really a transition or is it a continuation of the same subject?

Let me suggest that the “works of the flesh” actually describes the works of the judaizing Christian teachers. The purveyors of circumcision.

Note the parallel beginning in Galatians 5: 16… the desires of the Spirit vs. the desires of the Flesh and if “led by the Spirit” not “under the Law”

It shifts from Flesh to Law and then defines the works of the flesh (implied Law)

Keep in mind under the Mosaic Law all those “works of the flesh” could be solved by merely sacrificing an animal. That would not be the case under the New Law. The New Law required and requires spiritual perfection because of the superiority of God’s perfect sacrifice… Jesus Christ. It starts in the mind and the heart.

If judaizing Christian teachers could require circumcision then as the holy text explains they would be logically obligated to practice the whole of the Mosaic Law and could continue to practice the “works of the flesh” claiming that the blood of Jesus Christ allowed it just like the blood of animal sacrifices did.

Galatians: Types of Trees

The Galatian letter has a reference to the “fruits of the spirit” I asked my High School class if they saw a tree with oranges on it what kind of tree would that be? They correctly said… an Orange Tree.

Then I asked them if they saw a tree whose fruit was love, joy, peace, etc. what kind of tree would that be?

Conversely if they observed a tree whose fruit was sorcery, immorality, anger, etc. What kind of tree would that be?

Here’s a tough one. What if they saw a tree with mixed fruit… love, joy, peace but also anger and strife and trouble making?

That tree might be a newborn Christian in the faith who still has some work to do in the fruit department but is making progress.

Or it might be a mature tree that has become stunted and is not growing nor is it fulfilling the spiritual directive to become full, complete, blameless and pure… the very spiritual image of Jesus Christ himself.

From time to time we need to take a critical look at ourselves and see ourselves as others see us. Lets be one of the prettiest and most productive trees in God’s garden because… He deserves it.

Ephesians: In Heavenly Places

The phrase “In heavenly places” only occurs six times in the entirety of the New Testament and all those occurrences are in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Probably significant.

In fact, the epistle starts with “spiritual blessings in heavenly places” and ends with a war against “spiritual forces of evil in heavenly places” That is super significant.

First, what are the spiritual blessings in heavenly places? They are iterated in the Holy text as… being chosen, being pre-destined for adoption, being redeemed and forgiven, having God’s mysteries made known, inheriting an inheritance and finally and dramatically being “sealed” with the Holy Spirit.

Contrast “spiritual blessings in heavenly places” with “physical blessings in earthly places. We have both from God… good health, prosperity, families and Christian fellowship (to name a few)… all earthly and physical.

What are the differences between spiritual blessings and earthly blessings? Earthly blessings are temporary while spiritual blessings are permanent.

Why would Paul lead this letter talking about spiritual blessings? Because knowing and understanding those blessings are the first step in preparing us to be Christian warriors in the great battle against cosmic powers.

Have you ever heard the phrase, its not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog? Imagine a confident Chihuahua backing down a German Shepherd… it happens.

Understanding the permanent, unshakeable gifts God has given us builds confidence in our Faith and with even a little bit of faith (and no doubt) we can move mountains, we can walk on water and we can defeat the greatest of enemies.

Remember David and Goliath.