November 24, 2021 – Galatians 1:1-24

“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are confusing you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that one be accursed! As we have said before, so now I repeat, if anyone proclaims to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let that one be accursed! Am I now seeking human approval, or God’s approval? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant of Christ. For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin; for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism. I was violently persecuting the church of God and was trying to destroy it. I advanced in Judaism beyond many among my people of the same age, for I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. But when God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles…” Galatians 1:6-16

John Piper, American Reformed Baptist minister and author told his congregation in 1983 the reason he had “chosen to preach from Galatians over the next several months is that more than any other New Testament letter, this one is alive. I mean that in Galatians Paul is at his most vigorous. The sheer emotional force of the book has captured me again and again over the years. You can’t read the first ten verses without feeling that something utterly important is at stake. You can’t read Galatians and think, “Well this is an interesting piece of religious reflection”—any more than you can examine a live coal with your bare hands. “

Galatians lifts up two things of which we should take notice: the need for the cross of Christ to get right with G-d, and the need of the Spirit of Christ to obey G-d. Anything that diminishes Jesus Christ is anathema to Paul. Anything that puts our own efforts in place of the presence of the Holy Spirit is also anathema. And the reason Paul begins with such an immediate punitive tone is that someone had convinced the Galatians to ignore the role of the Holy Spirit in their faith and instead to put the works of law where faith in the cross belonged. And my friends, Paul is just getting started with the church in Galatia.

Let us pray:

Lord Jesus, help us to remember that it is not by works that we are saved, or by works that you will come to love us. Help me instead to remember that it all depends upon faith – faith in the Gospel we hear, we read, and we receive through the sacraments. Amen.

Pastor Dave

November 23, 2021 – 2 Corinthians 13:1-10

“This is the third time I am coming to you. “Any charge must be sustained by the evidence of two or three witnesses.” I warned those who sinned previously and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come again, I will not be lenient— since you desire proof that Christ is speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful in you. For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God. Examine yourselves to see whether you are living in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless, indeed, you fail to meet the test! I hope you will find out that we have not failed. But we pray to God that you may not do anything wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. For we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. This is what we pray for, that you may become perfect. So I write these things while I am away from you, so that when I come, I may not have to be severe in using the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.” 2 Cor. 13:1-10

Listen to the anger in Paul’s voice:

“I will not be lenient— since you desire proof that Christ is speaking in me. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless, indeed, you fail to meet the test!”

Paul says that the church in Corinth was seeking “proof” — proof that Paul was truly speaking for Christ as an apostle. He replied that his audience should apply the same test to themselves — before they judge him, they should judge themselves. Before they criticize him for not following Christ properly or not speaking for Christ accurately, they should examine themselves to see if they know and live the truth properly. Ouch!

Paul issued this challenge having already defended himself against numerous accusations. Paul had patiently explained his teaching and motives against false accusations, so now he turns the tables on the church and asks them to examine their own behaviors and motives. Are they living in such a manner that they are keeping with Christ’s will?

Wouldn’t it be refreshing if people on social media would do such self-reflection before they simply lash out at others? Perhaps I should say the same about people in the church – people who call themselves good Christians. I am not so sure it is within the power of some people to do such self-reflection. Why? Because it is too painful to levy judgment upon ourselves — because that requires such self-examination that would force the person to stop, listen, and discern. And that is scary.

Paul’s test refers to the question of whether a Christian is operating in the faith, in Christ’s will and according to His word. All of us need to do such discernment.

Let us pray:

Lord Jesus, it is hard to stop talking sometimes and listen to what we are saying – or to hear what others are saying. Give us the patience and the understanding to do both – to listen more and talk less — especially when we need to hear your will. Amen.

Pastor Dave