Textual Tuesday 08/25

　
“But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That is was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.” Acts 15:5
　
Paul tells us in Galatians 2:4 who these of the sect of the Pharisees were. He calls them “…false brethren… who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage.”

It appears that these ‘false brethren’ were trying to pervert the gospel. They were teaching grace + law. They taught that believing in Jesus was not enough to be saved, you must also be keeping the law. (vs. 1)

These men professed to be acting with the commission and authority of the apostles, though in truth, they were not. ( vs. 24) They had slipped in among the brethren to spy out their freedom in Christ Jesus and try to persuade them to go back under law….which Paul called bondage. (Gal. 2:4)

When considering these passages, I took a few minutes to look through scripture in the New Testament and consider the Pharisees. I found that they were always confronting Jesus about the law. They were concerned about such things as: keeping the Sabbath, fasting, tithes and offerings, divorce, traditions of the elders, tribute to Caesar, long impressive prayers, making converts, etc. (Jn 9:16, Lu 6:2, Mk 2:18, Mt 23:23, Mt 19:3, Mk 7:3-5, Mt22:5-21, Mt 6:5, Mt 23:15)

Yet, Jesus said to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, that is their doctrines. He said they looked good on the outside, but they were dead on the inside. (Mt 16:11-2, Mt 23:27)

The Pharisees were so law minded, they missed grace. They failed to learn what the law was given to teach them, that is, their need for a Savior. ( Ro 7:7, Ro 3:20-21, Ro 8:3, Ga 2:16, Ga 3:24, Jn 1:17)

Sadly, there are many today who still seek to be justified by the works of the law. They will say, “Yes Jesus saves, but, you must be keeping the law or you will not be saved.” They may word it a little differently, but the doctrine is still the same. They would bring us back into the bondage of the law. They do not truly understand our Lord’s words when He said… “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (Jn 8:36)

When confronted by modern day Pharisees consider Paul’s admonition to the Galatians…

“I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. O, Foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Ga 2:21; 3:1-3)

And remember what he said about those Judaizers…

“For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.” (Ga 6:13)

So go and “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (Ga 5:1)

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