Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're
taking this journey together to read the Bible
in a year. Today we finish the epistle of St.
Paul to the Galatians, chapters 2 through 6.
Chapter 2 or had run in vain. Yet not even Titus,
who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled
to be circumcised. And this occurred because
of false brethren secretly brought in, who came
in by stealth to spy out our liberty, which we
have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us
into bondage, to whom we did not yield submission
even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel
might continue with you. But from those who seemed
to be something, Whatever they were, it makes
no difference to me. God shows personal favoritism
to no man. For those who seem to be something
added nothing to me. But on the contrary, when
they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised
had been committed to me, as the gospel for the
circumcised was to Peter, for he who worked effectively
in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised
also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles.
And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed
to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been
given to me they gave me and Barnabas the right
hand of fellowship that we should go to the Gentiles
and they to the circumcised they desired only
that we should remember the poor the very thing
which I also was eager to do Now when Peter had
come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face,
because he was to be blamed. For before certain
men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles.
But when they came, he withdrew and separated
himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.
And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite
with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away
with their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they
were not straightforward about the truth of the
gospel, I said to Peter before them all, If you,
being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and
not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to
live as Jews? We who are Jews by nature and not
sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is
not justified by the works of the law, but by
faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed
in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by
faith in Christ and not by the works of the law.
For by the works of the law no flesh shall be
justified. But if, while we seek to be justified
by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners,
is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly
not. For if I build again those things which
I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For
I, through the law, die to the law that I might
live to God. I have been crucified with Christ.
It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives
in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh,
I live by faith in the Son of God. who loved
me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside
the grace of God, for if righteousness comes
through the law, then Christ died in vain. Who
has bewitched you that you should not obey the
truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly
portrayed among you as crucified? This only I
want to learn from you. Did you receive the Spirit
by the works of the law or by the hearing of
faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the
Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the
flesh? Have you suffered so many things in vain,
if indeed it was in vain? Therefore he who supplies
the Spirit to you and works miracles among you,
does he do it by the works of the law or by the
hearing of faith? Just as Abraham believed God,
and it was accounted to him for righteousness,
Therefore know that only those who are of faith
are sons of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing
that God would justify the Gentiles by faith,
preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying,
In you all the nations shall be blessed. So then
those who are of faith are blessed with believing
Abraham. For as many as are of the works of the
law are under the curse. For it is written, Cursed
is everyone who does not continue in all things
which are written in the book of the law. to
do them. But that no one is justified by the
law in the sight of God is evident, for the just
shall live by faith. Yet the law is not of faith,
but the man who does them shall live by them.
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the
law, having become a curse for us. For it is
written, Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.
that the blessing of Abraham might come upon
the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive
the promise of the Spirit through faith. Brethren,
I speak in the manner of men. Though it is only
a man's covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no
one annuls or adds to it. Now to Abraham and
his seed were the promises made. He does not
say, and to seeds, as of many, but as of one.
And to your seed, who is Christ. And this I say,
that the law, which was four hundred and thirty
years later, cannot annul the covenant that was
confirmed before God in Christ that it should
make the promise of no effect. For if the inheritance
is of the law, it is no longer of promise, but
God gave it to Abraham by promise. What purpose
then does the law serve? It was added because
of transgressions. Till the seed should come
to whom the promise was made, and it was appointed
through angels by the hand of a mediator. Now
a mediator does not mediate for one only, but
God is one. Is the law then against the promises
of God? Certainly not. For if there had been
a law given, which could have given life, truly
righteousness would have been by the law. But
the scripture has confined all under sin, that
the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be
given to those who believe. But before faith
came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept
for the faith which would afterward be revealed.
Therefore, the law was our tutor to bring us
to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
But after faith has come, we are no longer under
a tutor. Chapter 4 Now I say that the heir, as
long as he is a child, does not differ at all
from a slave, though he is master of all, but
is under guardians and stewards until the time
appointed by the father. Even so we, when we
were children, were in bondage under the elements
of the world. But when the fullness of the time
had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman,
born under the law, to redeem those who were
under the law, that we might receive the adoption
as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent
forth the spirit of his son into your hearts,
crying out, Abba, Father. Therefore you are no
longer a slave but a son. And if a son, then
an heir of God through Christ. But then indeed,
when you did not know God, you served those which
by nature are not gods. But now, after you have
known God, or rather are known by God, how is
it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly
elements? to which you desire again to be in
bondage? You observe days and months and seasons
and years. I am afraid for you, lest I have labored
for you in vain. Brethren, I urge you to become
like me, for I became like you. You have not
injured me at all. You know that because of physical
infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the
first, and my trial which was in my flesh you
did not despise or reject, but you received me
as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. What
then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear
you witness that, if possible, you would have
plucked out your own eyes and given them to me.
Have I therefore become your enemy because I
tell you the truth? They zealously court you,
but for no good. Yes, they want to exclude you,
that you may be zealous for them. But it is good
to be zealous in a good thing always, and not
only when I am present with you. My little children,
for whom I labor in birth again until Christ
is formed in you, I would like to be present
with you now and to change my tone, for I have
doubts about you. Tell me, you who desire to
be under the law, do you not hear the law? For
it is written that Abraham had two sons, the
one by a bondwoman, the other by a free woman.
But he who was of the bondwoman was born according
to the flesh, and he of the free woman through
promise. Which things are symbolic? For these
are the two covenants, the one from Mount Sinai,
which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar.
For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and
corresponds to Jerusalem, which now is and is
in bondage with her children. but the jerusalem
above is free which is the mother of us all for
it is written rejoice o barren you who do not
bear break forth and shout you who are not in
labor for the desolate has many more children
than she who has a husband now we brethren as
isaac was are children of promise but as he who
was born according to the flesh then persecuted
him who was born according to the spirit even
so it is now Nevertheless, what does the scripture
say? Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for
the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with
the son of the free woman. So then, brethren,
we are not children of the bondwoman, but of
the free. Say to you that if you become circumcised,
Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify
again to every man who becomes circumcised that
he is a debtor to keep the whole law. You have
become estranged from Christ, you who attempt
to be justified by law. You have fallen from
grace. For we through the Spirit eagerly wait
for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in
Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision
avails anything, but faith working through love
you ran well who hindered you from obeying the
truth this persuasion does not come from him
who calls you a little leaven leavens the whole
lump i have confidence in you in the lord that
you will have no other mind but he who troubles
you shall bear his judgment whoever he is and
i brethren if i still preach circumcision why
do i still suffer persecution Then the offense
of the cross has ceased. I could wish that those
who trouble you would even cut themselves off.
For you, brethren, have been called to liberty.
Only do not use liberty as an opportunity for
the flesh, but through love serve one another.
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even
in this, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.
But if you bite and devour one another, beware
lest you be consumed by one another. I say then,
walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill
the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against
the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.
And these are contrary to one another, so that
you do not do the things that you wish. But if
you are led by the Spirit, you are not under
the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident,
which are adultery, fornication, uncleanness,
lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions,
jealousies, outbursts of wrath selfish ambitions
dissensions heresies envy murders drunkenness
revelries and the like of which i tell you beforehand
just as i also told you in time past that those
who practice such things will not inherit the
kingdom of god but the fruit of the spirit is
love joy peace long suffering kindness goodness
faithfulness gentleness self -control against
such There is no law. And those who are Christ's
have crucified the flesh with its passions and
desires. If we live in the spirit, let us also
walk in the spirit. Let us not become conceited,
provoking one another, envying one another. Be
tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill
the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself
to be something when he is nothing, he deceives
himself. But let each one examine his own work,
and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone
and not in another. For each one shall bear his
own load. Let him who is taught the word share
in all good things with him who teaches. Do not
be deceived. God is not mocked. For whatever
a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who
sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption,
but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit
reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary
while doing good, for in due season we shall
reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we
have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially
to those who are of the household of faith. see
with what large letters i have written to you
with my own hand as many as desire to make a
good showing in the flesh these would compel
you to be circumcised only that they may not
suffer persecution for the cross of christ for
not even those who are circumcised keep the law
but they desire to have you circumcised that
they may boast in your flesh But God forbid that
I should boast except in the cross of our Lord
Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified
to me and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus
neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails
anything but a new creation. And as many as walk
according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon
them and upon the Israel of God. from now on
let no one trouble me for I bear in my body the
marks of the Lord Jesus brethren the grace of
our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit Ameen
I hope you enjoyed today's reading as much as
I did and I look forward to seeing you again
tomorrow to continue on our journey God bless
you and have a great day