Announcements

“In the foregoing message (#25) we saw that Paul spoke to the Galatian believers about not being brought to nothing from Christ (Gal. 5:4). That was Paul’s first charge related to the daily walk of the heirs of promise. In this message (#26) we shall consider the second and third charges respectively: the charge to get rid of the leaven and not to turn freedom into an occasion, an opportunity, for the flesh.

Paul says, “You were running well; who hindered you that you should not obey the truth? This persuasion is not of Him Who calls you.” (vv. 7-8)…We may apply this principle to our situation today…Be careful when listening to the persuasive speech of dissenting ones …Discern whether or not their persuasive talk is of God…Deceivers are often sweet talkers. They use soothing, comforting, enticing words…but concealed within these words there is poison. Speaking with sugar-coated words, the dissenting ones may try to entice the weak ones away from the enjoyment of Christ and from the proper church life. Such talk…issues from another source, from Satan, God’s enemy.

In verse 9 Paul goes on to say, “A little leaven leavens the whole lump.” Leaven here refers to the false teachings of the Judaizers (see Matt. 16:12), and the lump, to all the believers collectively. The whole lump is the church… Whether the amount is large or small, leaven is leaven. Leaven is like germs in that it multiplies; it causes the whole lump to be leavened. We need to learn from the experience of the Galatians not to open ourselves to even a little leaven, for a little leaven is capable of leavening the whole church.

[In verse 10,] Paul touches the most important source of problems in the church life—that of having a different mind, of being otherwise minded. As long as there is no idolatry, immorality, or divisiveness in the church, we should not be otherwise minded concerning anything. Instead, we should be one with the church and go along with the church, no matter what direction the church may pursue. Regarding doctrines and practices, do not be otherwise minded. For example, do not say that you agree with arranging the chairs in a particular way, but not with arranging them in some other way. Also, we should not say that we prefer to meet in homes instead of in the meeting hall…The source of this is the enemy, Satan. None of us should give ground for a different kind of mind to enter into the church life. We need to close ourselves to such an invasion of the enemy.

…While Paul encouraged the believers to enjoy their freedom in Christ, he was also concerned that they might misuse or abuse this freedom (v. 13)…Freedom without limitation always results in the indulgence of the flesh. Therefore, we need to be balanced, to be free, yet restricted. If we are limited in the use of our freedom, we shall love others and through love serve them as slaves (v. 14)… When some saints, especially young believers, hear a message on freedom, they have the tendency to cast off restraint. They may have the attitude that, since they are free, no longer do they need to regard the word of the elders. This is to turn freedom into an occasion for the flesh.” (Life-Study of Galatians, Message 26)