Spirit and Flesh

October 22, 2023 Background Scripture: Galatians 3:1 -18 Lesson Passage: Galatians 3:1 - 14 Today's lesson challenges us to consider again the triune nature of mankind. We are spirit, soul, and body. Our spirit allows us to commune with God and exhibit intuition. We can think of our soul as the faculties that control us: will, intellect, and conscience. Our soul gives us a sense of self. When we speak of having a made-up mind, we speak of having a resolve to act, respond, or behave in a particular manner that we have chosen. It is through our body, or flesh, that we relate to the physical world: see, hear, smell, taste, and touch. Our soul controls the body. We consider flesh to be the collaboration between soul and body without guidance from the Spirit of Christ. The soul will control the body through its own accord, or it will submit to the guidance of the spirit. When a person is saved, there is the option of submitting to the Spirit of Christ in us—and not just to our own spirit! Submitting to the Spirit is what is meant by being led by the Spirit. The Spirit always aligns with truth. When the gospel message is proclaimed, faith can be engendered in the person who receives the truth in sincerity. It is through that faith that the believer receives the indwelling Spirit of Christ. Everything God has for His children is made available through the Spirit. Therefore, God gives His Spirit to all who receive Jesus by faith that God's promises may all be fulfilled through Christ. The Spirit does not come because of any works or acts of righteousness on the part of the believer. It is only through faith that we receive the Spirit. Abraham believed God and God counted that as faith in Abraham. Persons who believe God's word without attempting to prop it up through religious rituals are considered children of Abraham. Our salvation is based solely on receiving the Spirit of Christ through faith without the need for rituals prescribed by the Law of Moses. Those who depend on their own actions based on the Law are depending on their flesh. Their minds control their bodies as they attempt to become holy and well-pleasing to God. This becomes a vicious cycle of failures, restarts, and disappointments. It is through this process that the Law causes sin to appear exceedingly sinful. An honest assessment of this process reveals the weakness of the flesh as manifested by the Law. Attempting to keep the Law becomes a fruitless endeavor and is properly described by Paul as bringing a curse upon the person who pursues this route. For all who put their faith in Jesus, He has redeemed us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us. Knowing this, we should live as people of faith without attempting to fulfill the Law through our flesh, i.e., our mind and body. Jesus has already fulfilled the Law for all who accept Him by faith. When we are saved through faith in Jesus, we receive the Spirit of Christ within us. To walk by faith is to follow the guidance of the Spirit and not our minds. We please God through obedience to the Spirit rather than through our own acts of righteousness. Christians have a choice. We can follow the guidance of the Spirit of Christ in us, or we can follow our own flesh and decide to do what we think is right. Abraham received the promise through faith in God's word, We receive the promise of God in the same manner. Again, this is what makes us children of Abraham and heirs to the promise of God through faith. Since the flesh is the collaboration of the soul and body of the person without seeking the guidance of the Spirit, there is no eternal benefit that comes from following our flesh. Every promise of God concerning eternity is according to the Spirit. Robert C. Hudson October 5, 2023

Works and Faith

October 15, 2023 Background Scripture: Galatians 2:11 - 21 Lesson Passage: Galatians 2:11 - 21 Oftentimes when "works" and "faith" are referenced together in the bible there is tension between the two ideologies. "Works" refers to any physical act a person is required to do to have the right relationship with God—especially if that physical action is prescribed by the Law of Moses. There are numerous actions outlined which are absolutely required for Jews to be in right standing with God according to the Law. Contrariwise, "faith" refers to the unconditional belief and trust in the word of God followed by a confession of such. Such faith, as described by the New Testament teaching of the Apostle Paul, is sufficient to establish right standing with God. There is no other "requirement" necessary. Based on the teachings of the Law in the Old Testament and Christian doctrine in the New Testament, both works and faith are presented in a way to suggest that each is sufficient to please God. This was a major challenge for Jews who became Christians. Their upbringing presented a singular view of their culture and their religious faith. Their religious convictions were intertwined with their day-to-day living. From the circumcision of male babies to the foods they learned to consume and avoid. The holy scriptures prescribed their diet and the proper preparation of allowable meats for consumption. The animal was required to be slaughtered in a specific manner to ensure it was ritually fit for use, or kosher. Sanctification for Jews was both physical and moral separation from others. Christianity brought tension once it was extended to Gentiles. The Gentiles did not adopt or practice Jewish culture. This left Jewish Christians who were around Gentile Christians uncomfortable. To remedy their discomfort, they sought to have the Gentiles become Jewish proselytes. In other words, if the Gentiles would agree to adhere to the tenets of the Jewish faith, then they would be one big happy Christian family. The other solution was to maintain separate congregations of Jews and Gentiles. Then they only had to be concerned when they visited each other. The apostles who laid the foundation for the New Testament church were all Jews. However, God dealt with them as individuals. This caused tension between Peter and Paul in the congregation at Antioch. Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, was comfortable in fellowship with the Gentile converts. When Peter visited them, he followed Paul's lead in this regard. Things took a turn when a group of Christians from Jerusalem visited later. Peter separated himself from the Gentiles and Barnabas followed suit. Peter's reactions were driven by a culture of works, which included physical separation from non-Jews. He didn't want the Jerusalem delegation of Jews to judge him for intermingling with the Gentiles. Paul rebuked Peter openly for his actions. How could fellowshipping with Gentiles be okay when no other Jews were present and not okay when they were present? Peter's actions were hypocritical. Peter knew that God saves Gentiles who are not circumcised according to the Law. God demonstrated this to him at the home of Cornelius. But Peter was still willing to live as though he was not aware of this to appease the Jewish Christians. Peter's actions based on culture were not aligned with his belief based on knowledge from God. Paul's rebuke was a reminder that God's revelation to them is the final declaration of salvation by faith alone. Their Jewish culture, based heavily on works, could never remove sin and ensure eternal salvation. Is works versus faith just an issue of Jews versus Gentiles? No. How often are worshipers criticized today for not dressing in a certain way? What about hair styles and jewelry? Are we okay on Sunday morning with the guy in the t-shirt and shorts who came to the sanctuary seeking answers from God? What about the young woman in the pants and heavy make-up? Do we have a written or understood church decorum that overrules our faith? The question of works versus faith is much larger than circumcision of males. And it is just as relevant today as ever. Robert C. Hudson October 4, 2023