O Foolish Galatians!

by GRIERSON, G. | Category: N/a | Jan 2006

Our guide had not led us very far before he got us lost. He had a guidebook but he didn’t study it very carefully. He had never walked the route himself first, so he was not familiar with the way he was supposed to take us. At the time there were a lot of distractions in York as the city was in the run-up to Christmas with attractions such as medieval street markets and craft fairs to see. So we lost the route we were supposed to take around the ‘snickleways’ (the narrow streets, courtyards and alleys) of the historic city of York in northern England, having departed from following the guidebook which gave details of the walk and what to look out for. But it didn’t matter anyway. We enjoyed our visit and explored the narrow streets and markets and marvelled as we stood in the majestic Minster, the beautiful jewel at the heart of the city.

But the experience did underline in my mind how important it is for us, as Christians, to stick to the Book, and to follow its instructions very closely and carefully. There is a prescribed path to follow that God has traced out for us as followers of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is the way of truth (2 Pet.2:2). It is no wonder that the early disciples of the Lord were described in Acts as being of the Way (Acts 9:2; 24:14,22). Jesus Himself said, ‘"I am the way, the truth, and the life"‘ (Jn.14:6).

What is the consequence of going ‘off-road’ in Christian experience? It can be very serious. In the case of the believers in Galatia to whom Paul wrote his letter, they had deviated from the way of truth in respect of the very means by which they had received their salvation. This was a very serious matter indeed, striking at the heart of the truth of the gospel that Paul was laying as a foundation in every place he visited and preached.

Justification is by faith alone

They had taken their eyes off the truth that justification is by faith alone (2:16), and that it is complete in its work of declaring the believer to be righteous in the same way that Abraham was declared to be righteous in the sight of God through his faith and not through his works (3:6). Nothing needs to be added to the crosswork of Christ to obtain salvation (2:21), certainly not the keeping of the Old Covenant Law. It is also true that nothing can be subtracted from His finished and completed work.

Turning away is very serious

How foolish to lose sight of this essential truth that affects the whole of a believer’s subsequent life and service! Paul described departure from this truth as turning away ‘… from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel’ (1:6) a very serious situation indeed. The Galatians needed the strong, loving words of Paul to get them back on track:

‘O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?’ (3:1).

‘Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage’ (5:1).

‘You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace’ (5:4).

‘You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?’ (5:7).

Strong words from Paul, but he was in fighting spirit to make sure the foundation stayed in place in the work that God had given him to do as an apostle of Jesus Christ. An urgent restoration job was needed in Galatia.

Diversion and distraction to be avoided

Before leaving York on that December day mentioned at the beginning of the article, we stood inside the Minster, that mighty medieval edifice built over 600 years ago. Some time ago, during restoration work, it was discovered that the building had insufficient foundations and was in danger of collapse. An urgent and expensive engineering project was completed and the foundations were reinforced to preserve the building for succeeding generations. How vital and urgent it is to examine the foundations in our lives and make sure that we are building on the truth found in the Scriptures, and go on following carefully to make sure we reach the finish without being diverted or distracted from the way of the truth found in the Book. Then we will not miss that which is for our eternal blessing in heaven where we will meet the jewel of our quest: the King in all His beauty, who will far surpass anything that is found on earth.

GRIERSON, G. | Jan 2006
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