Paul has declared those who
believe in Jesus Christ as the children of promise. We are among that
group if we believe in, trust in, rely upon and cling to Jesus
Christ. The Galatian church members have been persuaded by Judaizers
that they should follow the law of God in addition to believing in
Jesus. In Galatians chapter four and verse twenty-nine Paul continues
to show the difference between the law of God and grace. He wrote:
But as then he that was
born after the flesh persecuted him [that was born] after the Spirit,
even so [it is] now.
We
learned in earlier verses that Isaac was Abraham's child of promise
whereas Ishmael was Abraham's child of his handmaid. From that time
forward a battle has ensued. Paul said, “But as then he that was
born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the
Spirit,...” Isaac was a Divine work of God's Spirit, and his
birth was only because God restored the “time of life” to Abraham
and Sarah. Ishmael was a work of Abraham's flesh. When Sarah
suggested that he have relations with her handmaid, Hagar, it was
Abraham's attempt to fulfill the promise of God in the flesh. The
result was a warring faction between the flesh and the spirit, and
the results of this are seen even today.
Paul
continued, “...even so it is now.” There is a war going
on. The works of the flesh are constantly battling against the
spirit. The flesh nature of mankind continually desires to fulfill
itself, and when the spirit of man comes against it, there is war.
Paul's allusion to this battle shows the difference between
attempting to keep the law of God and allowing for the grace of God
to be. Man's efforts through the flesh to keep the law come up short,
however, Jesus, by walking in the Spirit, kept the law and fulfilled
all righteousness. In other words, the law cannot be kept by the
flesh so the flesh battles or persecutes the spirit of man.
Are we
not like ones who are in a battle every day, especially if we are
walking in a relationship with Jesus? Our flesh cries out for one
thing, and our spirit cries out for the opposite? The battle within
us is much like the battle of which Paul speaks, and those who are
wise will realize that we cannot keep in fellowship with God by our
own efforts, but we must rely upon His glorious grace to keep us
there. It is God's Spirit working out His promise in us that keeps us
close, and may He ever win this battle by His Spirit and by His
grace, in Jesus name, amen.
Next time Paul shows us what we are to do with the flesh, 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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