The ways of those who
promoted false teaching in the days of Paul the apostle are not
unlike many that promote them today. They will go to whatever lengths
to have others believe what they are saying is true. Paul knows the
ones who teach these ideas are like leaven among the Galatians, and
now they are stretching their lies to the point of including Paul as
one of their promoters. He wrote in chapter five and verse eleven:
And I, brethren, if I
yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the
offense of the cross ceased.
Paul
begins this question with a revealing phrase, “And I, brethren,
if I yet preach circumcision,...” What? Paul preaching
“circumcision”? Where did that come from? The idea is that there
were those among the false teachers who were saying that even Paul
was preaching that the Galatians should be circumcised. Paul was of
course a Jew and a Pharisee as well. He wrote to the Philippian
church in chapter three and verses four through six:
Though I might also
have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinks that he has
whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth
day, of the stock of Israel, [of] the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of
the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal,
persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the
law, blameless.
However, he also wrote this
in verse seven:
But what things were
gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Paul did
not promote circumcision as a way of salvation, but he was being used
by the false teaching Judaizers as one who did.
Paul
asked, “why do I yet suffer persecution?” In other words,
if he is a promoter of this teaching, then why is he still being
persecuted for not teaching it? It makes no sense. If Paul was really
preaching the same doctrine that these Judaizers were, then he would
not be suffering for it. However, Paul was suffering, and those who
knew him were aware that he suffered.
He goes
on to say, “then is the offense of the cross ceased.” If
the teaching of circumcision is correct, and Paul is a promoter of
it, then there would be no need for the “offense of the cross.”
The gospel of Jesus Christ would be of no effect if these teachings
are true. However, they are not true, and Paul attempts to show the
Galatians and any who read his words the futility of these arguments.
The Judaizers would have had no problem with the cross of Christ as
long as their customs and laws were kept as well. However, to say
that belief in Jesus dying on the cross and being raised from the
dead was enough for salvation caused them great problems. This is
where Paul's problem lie. He did not promote their ideas, and he was
persecuted for it. The cross was an offense to the Judaizers because
what happened there was complete, and those who place their trust in
Jesus' substitutionary sacrifice will be saved. For the Judaizers,
the offense of the cross is not ceased, and nor will it be for anyone
who promotes ideas that are to the contrary.
Next time we will see the desire that Paul has for these false
teachers, so read ahead, and let us join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look for
the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation
to Generation” in all major
bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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