The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Galatians 5:1-8, “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
2 Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you.
3 And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law.
4 You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
5 For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness.
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.
7 You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?
8 This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you.”

Freedom is being judged just about everywhere. It might well be assumed to be found in the field of politics; but it has ventured into the Church of Jesus Christ. Freedom in Scripture does not allow anyone to live and believe as he would. Rather, freedom exists only in Christ.

The Galatians were a wild and wooly group that leaped freely from one belief to another. They were introduced to Jesus by the Apostle Paul. Subsequently, however, there were those who came to believe that they needed to turn to circumcision and keep the Law of Moses. Paul said that if they did that, they were then required to keep all of the Mosaic Law, not just part of it.

Some Christians today hold that Galatian theory. They attend church, and feign a worship of the LORD, but they never really turn from their sin and fully trust Him as LORD and Savior of their lives. Paul clearly stated that they were to live by faith. They were to trust Christ alone, not circumcision, not the Law, not the Church, not baptism, just Christ alone. Yet, they were truly not following Christ’s teaching.

Paul said, “You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?” In other words, You were doing very well; you were growing in Christ and the faith. Who bumpted you and broke your stride? You’re not obeying God’s Truth. Whatever it was that persuaded you to leave off from following Him, did not come from God.

Runners have to follow strict training, if they are to have hope of winning the race. Even so, Christians have to follow strict instruction, if they are to be pleasing to Almighty God and accomplish His willful purpose for their lives. Take inventory of your training. Have you read closely the directions the LORD gives in His Word? Or, has your instruction come from another source? Consider those questions carefully. Your very life depends on it.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom