Faithfulness and The Christian
Galatians 5:19-21, summarises the worst of human behaviour and condition. These are the facts of the condition of humans, and Scripture calls it the sinful nature of mankind since Adam! Gal. 5:22-25 are the standards of God for humankind, and have never varied since the beginning of God’s dealing with His created human beings, and in all Eternity! It is true that the Galatians, (derived from the Tribes of northern Europe, Gaul’s), were being written to by Paul in approx. AD 58, and that this was prior to Acts 28:28, but the content and message is relevant to all Ages, as they reflect the Standard of Almighty God!
God’s standards are referred to in many parts of Scripture, and in the New Testament, (NT), more can be read in:
Romans 1:24, 13:13, 2:8, 8:7, 16:17, 1:29, Acts 5:17, Luke 21:34, Revelation 9:21, 18:23, 21:8 & 22:15.
Ezek. 28:1:19 describes the origin of these problems, where the Entity called the “King of Tyre” is the type, of the antitype Satan! (See: Faithfulness (Fidelity) for the bigger picture).
In the following two verses, are statements by Almighty God which are from Eternity to Eternity!
John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”.
Ephesians 1:10, “That in the Dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in Heaven, and which are on Earth; even in Him”.
These show that Almighty God in Christ Jesus had/has a Plan for the undoing of the works of Satan, after his, and Adam’s fall from God’s Grace, as described above.
As shown at the beginning of this paper, the Galatian Christians in Chp. 5:19-21, were struggling with their human natures, and with the tendencies of that nature. In vs. 22-25 is shown the possibility with the help of Christ’s Holy Spirit.
The solution is provided by God in the person of Jesus the Christ, His Only Begotten Son (1John 4:9).
Most people in the world are in mortal conflict with God, because they cannot accept His way of Salvation! They feel that they must earn the result, or do something to obtain the “reward”, and then “they feel o.k.”, and can only accept such a reward “by their own efforts”.
Some feel that they can “link to God, without the need to go through a mediator”, (particularly New Age adherents).
However, God says that “all our righteousness are as filthy rags”, Isa. 64:6.
Some people do not accept, or know, (or hide the truth from themselves) that they are fallen (Eden), and in need of a supernatural solution!
That “supernatural solution”, is Christ Jesus!
He is provided in Love by God the Father, and is Himself the solution!
“God will provide Himself a Lamb” Gen. 22:8.
“Your Lamb shall be without blemish” Ex. 12:5.
“Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world” Jhn. 1:29 & 36.
Those people that can accept Christ Jesus in simple trust and faith, are “sealed in Heavenly places” Eph. 4:30.
1) 2Cor. 1:22, sealed and given the earnest (2Cor. 5: 5) of the Spirit in our hearts!
2) Eph.1-13, sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise!
3) Eph. 4:30-32, God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you!
After that has happened, God gives the Christ Spirit to each of His people (Christians), and “the earnest (2Cor. 5:5 ) & (2Cor. 1:22)”, which is “a foretaste and pledge of God’s future benefit”, which is locked into place in Heaven!
In the meantime; Christians live with their old natures, but instead of warring against God in partnership with Satan, they war against themselves, in partnership with Christ’s Spirit!
The great Apostle Paul relates this conflict in Romans 7:15-17, and bemoans the fact.
However, the “faith” of the Christian is in Christ Jesus, and He is the totally sufficient solution, and has satisfied our totally Holy God’s requirements for Christians to be seen as totally redeemed in His sight!
God the Father in Heaven, places great value in the faith of a person in Him, as it is part of the anti-thesis of Satan’s rebellion which will be completed in Christ!
This is seen in the Scriptures; there is in all the OT the hint of God’s acceptance of simple faith, back to righteous Abel, and Enoch!
FAITH!
Hebrews 11 gives a list of the men of faith who are well known, including Rahab the harlot.
Abram trusted God, and by faith left his household in Ur, on the word of God alone!
About 1500 years later, Habakkuk, stated, “The just shall live by faith”.
So: there is warfare between the flesh and the Spirit, as Paul described in Rom. 7, but, the solution is in the victory of Christ Jesus:
1Cor. 15:57: “but thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”! This is the victory over death in context, but, is code defacto for victory also over Satan !
How so?
Almighty God in Christ achieved the victory at the Calvary Cross, in the taking of the sins of the world on Himself.
He arose, and now sits at the right hand of the Father in Heaven, awaiting His next function, (seal release, when His enemies are made His footstool).
All who will may turn to Him at present, and obtain everlasting life, as part of His Body, (by faith alone, Rom. 1:17, Gal. 3:11 & Heb. 10:38).
Our failures (as Paul described) He will forgive, as He (Jesus) is faithful and just: 1Jn.1:9-10, also the final refining, 2Cor. 5-10.
In the Capernaum Synagogue, our Lord stated that His Body and Blood was to be eaten and drunk for life to be obtained! This causing quite a stir! He explained to those that would listen, that His Words were/are His Body and Blood! He states clearly, that the flesh “profited nothing”, but that He/ the Word made flesh, is the true bread!
(His Word/s to be “eaten and drunk).
Lloyd Allen in his book THE CHURCH, WHEN DID IT BEGIN, said: “God does not expect perfection of mankind, but only the WILLINGNESS to try to obey within the limits of capability”.
The CAPABILITY is Spirit driven; we cannot work or witness without the Holy Spirit!
We can and must ask for the SPIRIT’S help in each circumstance, the asking is “FAITH”: as Dr. Bullinger said we need to “BREATH” PRAYER, WHICH IN FAITH GIVES US THE NEEDED SPIRIT; Gal. 3:14.
We will be perfect, as He is perfect, without sin or blemish, as we move from the position of “sealed in Heavenly places” to final location in His Body. We have to go through this process, by self-control with the help of the Holy Spirit here on Earth, and by the meeting with Christ at His “Judgement Seat” Rom. 14:10, 2Cor. 5:10 & 1Cor. 3 (15). This to refine us to the point of acceptable entry, and give rewards for work and service.
People will say that it is not possible for humans (Christians), to be faithful to the requirements of Galatians 5:22-26.
However, when looking at verses 19-21, most Christians do not do these things, and if they do, they are in pain; as they are convicted by the Christ Spirit within them!
They not only grieve themselves, but also the Holy Spirit, (Eph. 4 30-32), and although they do not lose their Salvation, (sealed by Christ in Heaven), their personal walk with the Lord is impaired, at least for a period of time, and they are in a state of mourning and seeking a return to closeness with the Lord!
Again, when looking at verses 22-26, we see clearly that those qualities are the fruit of the Spirit! Not can be, but are!
When looking at history, and the torments and persecutions perpetrated on Christians at various times, from Nero’s to the burning alive of Christian’s that would not denounce Acts 4:12, by the Roman Church (see: The Ecumenical Movement and the Bible:) one has to marvel at the faith of those people, who clearly at the critical moment relied on the provision promised by Almighty God in Christ and His Spirit;
1Cor.10:13: “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it”, (AV).
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