As Paul continues his defense/argument against adding to the gospel elements of Jewish tradition…there is so much good in these chapters to be mined out. Choosing only a couple is difficult.
- 4:4-7. At the perfect time, God sent His Son into the world. God’s timing is perfect. Still today it is perfect. We might think He is late…or derelict…but that is because we do not understand things from God’s perspective. His timing is perfect. FURTHERMORE, God sent His Son into the world. This is a strong statement on the incarnation of Christ. Jesus did not come to be in a stable in Bethlehem. He (the second person of the Trinity) is eternal. He took on flesh 2,000 years ago but in the beginning of everything…He already was! ALSO, God sent His Son into the world to set captives free, to save sinners, to remove the guardian (the Law) and affirm the inheritance of the saints.
- 5:9. Be careful about allowing bad influence to have contact with God’s people. One gossip…one false teacher…one angry or unforgiving man…and the influence will spread throughout the whole Body. Our first approach is restoration through confrontation and repentance (6:1-2). If this is refused, then the bad influence must be removed. A little leaven (yeast) influences the whole lump of dough (the Body).
- 5:11. Paul did not try to remove the stumbling block of the cross (Salvation by God’s grace, not by our adherence to any Code). He recognized it and defended it. Liberalism waters down things like the cross. The doctrine is too difficult (they say) so let’s see if we can interpret the Scriptures in a way that is less offensive and more easily embraced. WHO SAID Salvation was to be easily embraced? Not Jesus (See Luke 9:23). Salvation is free…but it also costs us everything.
- 6:1-2. Two of my favorite verses. They remind us how to deal with one another and help one another. God gave us US to help us. (Read it again 3 xs). We are on the same team trying to help each other NOT miss God because of our own sin.
- 6:7. What you do has consequences. Sow to the flesh, reap the flesh. Sow to the Spirit, reap the Spirit.
- 6:9. The Law of the harvest tells us that we always reap later than we sow. Don’t quit watering and caring for the things we’ve sown. We will reap a harvest eventually.
Proverbs 28:9 is the takeaway today. “He who turns his ear away from listening to the law, even his prayer is an abomination.”
