Putting on clothes that we know are too small may seem daft but it’s
surprising how often, as Christians, we behave as if we have never grown up!
We come to church on the Sunday, we say our daily prayers but we fail to
extend a hand of friendship to a person on the streets or ignore the single mum
with children who has just been caught shop-lifting but this time spared jail.
We thank Jesus for sacrificing himself for us but fail to pick up our
responsibilities and act as a son or daughter of God. We pick out the bits we
want to do – the familiar bits not the bits that take us out of our comfort
zones.
Paul had the similar problem. His letter is not to any single church in
Galatia but to a number of churches in that region. He is concerned that quite
a few Christians are still trying to please God by sticking to a set of rules
or laws which provide direction and restraint, but did not encourage FAITH. The
only mark of ‘faith’ Paul could see was the law being carefully acted out as
the law prescribed and in doing so the law kept the people Israel under
restraint. The response of the people was by and large adolescent rebellion.
Israel did not humble themselves’; the law exposed their sin and held them
under restraint until God took away their blindness and gave them a heart to
trust him (Jeremiah 24:7). For the law is a teacher, not a saviour; a mirror,
not a cleanser.
So Paul attempts to put the record straight. He tells the Galatians that
God knows only too well that following a law would prove difficult to do all
the time and although God made a covenant, a contract with Abraham it was only
intended to be the start of the journey which reached its destination with the
arrival of Jesus Christ.
In the time of the Romans a certain slave (known as paidagogos) would
have the responsibility for supervising and correcting the children of the
family. A paidagogos did not have the power to make the child’s heart good, nor
can he give the child his inheritance. When the children grew older, they had
learned how to behave and now dealt directly with their father and were
responsible to him for their actions.
This is the idea that Paul was trying to get across to the Churches in
Galatia. The law could act as a guide but it was only a start, a sort of
teacher, which could go just so far in preparing anyone for a relationship with
God the Father. The Law is a teacher, not a saviour; a mirror, not a cleanser.
Paul emphasised that it was only faith in Jesus Christ which made a person
acceptable to God. To say ‘I have faith
in Jesus Christ’ and then continue to live according to the law was the same as
a Roman person, having grown up and being told they were now free to develop a
relationship with their father, ignoring that freedom and going back to the
slave for guidance. The Law is a teacher, not a saviour; a mirror, not a
cleanser.
We have a similar choice to make. In the same way that we wouldn’t buy
clothes that were intended for someone a lot younger than ourselves, neither
should we say we want a relationship with God the Father and then ignore the
freedom that we have through Jesus Christ to chat with God. If we try to live
our lives by superstition, performing elaborate rituals or attempting to earn
God’s favour, aren’t we ignoring what Jesus Christ has done for us?
Just as we no longer make animal sacrifices, as was required under the
law, nor are we expected to perform a complex ritual to gain God’s attention.
Christ’s sacrifice meant that we can have a relationship with God, anywhere,
anytime. Perhaps it is time to experience some of that freedom which faith in
Jesus Christ brings?
With this
freedom though comes responsibility. It is not a freedom where we can do what
we like and ignore the laws and rules which keep us safe from harm etc, it is a
freedom that comes from God and is dependent on what we are towards the
law-giver – God. If we have a heart to trust God and rely on his mercy, then
the law will feel like a much needed dose of medicine from a wise and beloved
doctor. ‘This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his
commandments are not burdensome.’ (1 John 5: 3) For Israel abiding by the laws
was a large burdensome job description for earning their favour with God
because it did not meet with faith. For us Christians we abide by the law
because we love Him.
Those of us
that drive will have at some point before taking our test read and memorised as
much as possible the Highway Code. We have become familiar with many of the
signs although hardly anybody can say they know what every sign means. If we tried to live by the Highway Code, we
would be stopping the car every few miles to refer to the book to find out what
the sign meant. Most people who drive, hardly ever refer to the Highway Code (although
driving to the Meadows yesterday, perhaps some people need to!); they use their
experience to get around safely. Although they know what most of the signs
mean, they recognise that they are only a guide. To drive safely takes more
than simply knowing what the signs mean.
Having faith
in Jesus needs more than a reliance on the Bible. The Bible is an important
document which helps us to understand what God did and how other people related
to God, but it is a guide. A relationship with God is a living experience, one
to be shared daily. A relationship that needs to be worked at and nurtured even
on the days when we don’t feel like it.
Having faith in Jesus unites us to himself and all the benefits he can
give become ours. God appears to us through Jesus and we are saved. We are
saying yes to being his eternal child, to wearing his robes of righteousness, to
accepting his love, mercy and forgiveness. As we honour and trust Him, God can
not turn himself away or deny us. We are
his and we are no longer under the law. We
have freedom to be His children. There is no distinction between being a male
or female, slave or free, Jew or Gentile. God sees all of us as His children.
It does not mean that ‘anything goes’ in terms of how we live. It means we do
not have to strive to become good enough, we never could and we will certainly
never be. But it does mean that we are the Sons and Daughters in God’s mission
to respect, love, forgive and serve all people, whoever they are. It does mean
allowing him to take us out of our comfort zones to get His work done.
Paul was warning people back then and even today that a false gospel
robs you of salvation and of membership in the family of God where all
believers are one in Christ. It robs you of your spiritual riches as an heir of
the promise. Above all it robs you of an inner peace. It is a peace we cannot create but we can
accept it.
Peace is a gift from God to us. We can accept it by living in a peaceful
way. The mind can often be in turmoil like a raging sea and yet God is there
and offering us his peace. Peace is not an absence of activity but rather a
working in harmony with the world around us. Peace comes through a right
relationship between others and us, but, above all, between God and us. Peace
is God’s gift and will help us to get back in tune with everything, but if we
persist in staying out of tune with others or the world it is hard for God’s
peace to get to work in us. For as I have said before; the Law is a tutor, not
a saviour; a mirror, not a cleanser. So I am guessing that the question is; are
we really rejoicing in the freedom we have in Christ?
Questions:
1.
In those days it was common to send a child to school in the company of
a household servant who was big and strong enough to keep the child safe while
walking through town. The servant was
called a custodian (paidagogos in Greek – literally “one who walks with”) The
custodian would take the child to school and meet the child after, assuring the
child’s safety. This would happen until the child was big enough and strong
enough to fend for himself. Paul says this is what the law was like.
a. How does the law keep us safe?
b. How will we know when we are big and
strong enough to make it on our own?
c. Using the example of the law as a
custodian, if we live by grace and not the law, who watches out for us? Who is our custodian?
2. In vs 28 Paul makes an astounding
statement in his time – that in Christ, there is no longer a difference between
Jews and Gentiles, slaves or free, or men or women, but we are all equal in
Christ! Rather, he says, we are all one,
united in Christ.
a. In a community that was split over the
Gentile/Jew issue, how do you imagine this was received? How do you imagine
this would be received today not just in Israel but the world over?
b. Paul wrote these words close to 2000
years ago. We did not start ordaining
women as priest until 1993. Why do you
think it took so long to put these words into practice?
3. What are the implications of us all
being equal in Christ?
4. What does being one in Christ imply
for your faith and your life?
