(All scripture from the World English Bible, ebible.org, all rights reserved)
“Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy out of their own heart, ‘Hear Yahweh’s word: The Lord Yahweh says, “Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing! Israel, your prophets have been like foxes in the waste places. You have not gone up into the gaps or built up the wall for the house of Israel, to stand in the battle in Yahweh’s day. They have seen falsehood and lying divination, who say, ‘Yahweh says;’ but Yahweh has not sent them. They have made men to hope that the word would be confirmed. Haven’t you seen a false vision, and haven’t you spoken a lying divination, in that you say, ‘Yahweh says;’ but I have not spoken?” “‘Therefore the Lord Yahweh says: “Because you have spoken falsehood and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you,” says the Lord Yahweh.”
(Ezekiel 13:1-8)
“You were running well! Who interfered with you that you should not obey the truth? This persuasion is not from him who calls you. A little yeast grows through the whole lump. I have confidence toward you in the Lord that you will think no other way. But he who troubles you will bear his judgment, whoever he is. But I, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been removed. I wish that those who disturb you would cut themselves off. For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don’t use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love be servants to one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you don’t consume one another.”
(Galatians 5:7-15)
It was bad enough that the majority of the people in Jerusalem were refusing to repent and turn to God. It was worse that people claiming to be prophets and standing in roles of spiritual authority were presenting their own thoughts, ideas, and hopes as the Lord’s. He was telling them nothing and they were claiming He was showing them visions. They were not being accurate to how God felt or how God was moving. They were not calling for repentance, they were calling for people to put their trust in the idea they were already rescued because Jerusalem was where the Temple was, where God dwelt among them. They ignored and even persecuted true prophets. They were a stumbling stone and they were contributing to the delusion of the people.
Paul was just as upset at those who were claiming circumcision saved you. Paul wasn’t knocking those Gentiles who wanted to align with the Jews. He wasn’t knocking the Jews. He was angry that Gentile Christians were claiming that getting circumcised is what gained you entry into God’s kingdom and granted them a higher level of spiritual being. Nothing was further than the truth. In fact, if the Gentiles were going to convert to a legalistic Judaism they would need to fully live as the Jews and follow the Law to the letter. Only the saving Grace of Jesus, given freely by Him, could get you saved and into the Kingdom. It was by trusting Jesus that true freedom was granted. Fleeing freedom in order to be slaved to legalism as the way to salvation – which is impossible as well as un-biblical – was ridiculous. This circumcision party was causing the Christians to stumble and contributing to the delusion that works can save you. Only trust in Jesus saves. Any good works that come are the fruit of being connected to the vine, not the way in which you get saved.
Summary
Humans are doers. They love doing. It makes them feel useful and accomplished. If we can do, we will. But doing is not how you get saved. It isn’t performance based. Mercy is us not getting what we deserve. That’s how we go about un-smited because we have ALL fallen short of the perfection demanded by righteousness. Grace is us getting what Jesus earned for us, without us doing anything to get it. That’s how we can rest in Jesus and become in Him His righteousness. That’s salvation. The walk is staying in Him and not turning back to trust in our own works, our own efforts, our own score. It is trust. Belief and trust. That’s it. Anything else is folly.
Leave a Reply