Galatians 2:20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.21 I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.
Earlier in this chapter Paul shares about some of the followers of The Way getting off the original track of where they were going and the reason for it was the influence of noted Jewish leaders trying to influence them to bring back the Law of Moses as the standard for salvation. Paul goes on in verse19 to say the law condemned him, but the gospel gave him freedom and new life. It was surprising that some of the ones who were intimidated by those Jewish leaders were Peter, James, John, and even Barnabas! There was no one closer to Paul than Barnabas and it seemed to really surprise him that his travelling companion would fall back into this false teaching.
Paul always kept his perspective tied to teaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ and made no compromises with this great message of life and freedom. He ALWAYS kept his focus on the main thing; the grace of God. In the above scripture in verse 21 Paul says 21 I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. In this frame of mind there are no allowances for what the Jewish leaders were teaching and Paul kept on track with what Jesus had commissioned him to do per the meeting on the Damascus Road. Paul wanted to make sure the Galatians kept the main message the main message, even though some of his closest brothers were at times falling away from the teaching of the Gospel. Then Paul makes a strong "mic drop" statement where he says in the last part of verse 21 For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.
Paul knew that he was "crucified with Christ" and the old way of thinking had to go and go for good. So Paul says in verse 20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. That is the life we must all live so that we don't get off track in our walk with God. No compromising the truth of the gospel "no matter what!" Jesus himself said this in Luke 9: 62 But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.” The difference with Paul was just as committed as he was to killing Christians before his conversion, he was even more committed to teaching the truth of the Savior who changed His life forever no matter what happened. Paul was not an "itching ears" preacher. He spoke the truth of God's word without compromise and the gospel reached many more because of his unwavering commitment to that message. Paul kept his life on track and we must do the same. Only Jesus. Only Jesus. Only Jesus. Nuff said!!
The Pilgrimage continues...
David Warren
Comentarios