Dr Paul Allen

1. Welcome those who disagree with you ( Rom. 14:1–2). Concerning any area of disagreement on third-level matters [i.e., disputable issues that shouldn’t cause disunity in the church family], a church will have two groups: (1) those who are “weak in faith ” (14:1) on that issue and (2) those “who are strong” (15:1). The weak in faith have a weak conscience on that matter, and the strong in faith, a strong conscience. Don’t forget that “faith” here refers not to saving faith in Christ (14:22a makes that clear) but to the confidence a person has in their heart or conscience to do a particular activity, such as eat meat (14:2). The weak person’s conscience lacks sufficient confidence (i.e., faith) to do a particular act without self-judgment, even if that act is actually not a sin . To him it would be a sin. What this means is that you are responsible to obey both Paul’s exhortations to the weak and his exhortations to the strong, since (1) there are usually people on either side o...

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus , who walk not after the flesh , but after the Spirit.” ( Romans 8:1 ) This promise in our text is followed in a later Pauline epistle by two nuanced commands in the letter to the church at Galatia . “This I say then,” Paul says, “Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh” ( Galatians 5:16 ). Then again, “if we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” ( Galatians 5:25 ). Although they appear to be the same command in English, there is a significant distinction in the original Greek language in which Paul penned the letters. Both the Romans 8:1 and the Galatians 5:16 passages use the wordperepeto, which carries the connotation to “walk around” and to “be at liberty.” The second iteration in Galatians 5:25 uses stoicheo, which means to “step precisely,” to “march,” or to “go in procession.” Same command but different emphasis. The context of Galatians 5 stresses the differ...

Image via Wikipedia "O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?" ( Galatians 3:1 ) The Greek word for "bewitched" is used only this once in the New Testament and does not necessarily refer to witchcraft as such.  The connotation is "fascinated" or "deceived." Unlike most of his other epistles, the book of Galatians includes no commendations from Paul, nor even any prayer requests. Paul evidently was very disappointed in this church and its ministry. He had clearly preached the gospel to them, setting forth "Jesus Christ, and him crucified" ( 1 Corinthians 2:2 ) among them, and they had apparently believed and started out well. They seemed to understand the great doctrines of salvation by grace and of liberty in Christ, and it was hard for Paul to understand how they had been so quickly led astray. If a...

Rembrandt - Apostle Paul - WGA19120 (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) In Paul’s writings, the contrast between the Holy Spirit and flesh (often as the sinful urge) looms larger than the distinction between the human spirit and the physical flesh it animates (in some Pauline passages, however, it is unclear whether God ’s Spirit or the human spirit is intended). Paul associates the Spirit favorably with faith and the flesh unfavorably with the works of the law (Gal. 3:2–3). In Galatians , Isaac, freeborn according to the Spirit, represents God’s gracious promise; Ishmael, slaveborn according to the flesh, represents the law, which brings a curse (4:21–31).  The spiritual person lives in a way determined by God’s Spirit; the fleshly person behaves like unbelievers, who do not have the Spirit of God (1 Cor. 2:12–3:4). Vices (nonphysical as well as physical) are the works of the flesh; virtues are the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:16–25). Fleshly behavior leads to death; behavior a...

Jesus helped by Simon of Cyrene, part of a series depicting the stations of the Cross. Chapel Nosso Senhor dos Passos, Santa Casa de Misericórdia of Porto Alegre, Brazil. Oil on canvas, XIXth century, unknown author. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) “And they that are Christ ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” ( Galatians 5:24 ) Death by crucifixion was surely one of the cruelest and most painful forms of execution ever devised. Yet the Lord Jesus “for the joy that was set before him endured the cross” ( Hebrews 12:2 ); He “hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God , being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit” ( 1 Peter3:18 ). But just as He sacrificed Himself for us, we are now privileged to offer our “bodies a living sacrifice” to Him ( Romans 12:1 ). This spiritual sacrifice is actually compared to crucifixion. “Our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that hencef...

Holy Spirit College (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Paul was always careful lest by overemphasizing a truth he would have caused people to go in the wrong direction. The Gentiles were indeed free from the Law. But this must be balanced by the fact that they were free, not for self-indulgence, but for life in the Spirit. They were not to “use [their] freedom to indulge the sinful nature [to allow the desires and impulses of the sinful nature to take over].” Rather, they were to “serve one another in love” ( Galatians 5:13). This means having the same self-discipline that Jesus showed when He, the Lord of glory, humbled himself and was among us “as one who serves” (Luke 22:27—see vv. 25–27; Philippians 2:5 –8). In some passages Paul used the Greek word sarx to mean the physical body ( 2 Corinthians 4:10, 11), but in Galatians 5 he meant the evil tendencies within us that lead to selfish indulgence and strife: the sinful nature. Thus, the desires that come from the sinful nature in th...

St Ananias Church in the Christian section of Bab Touma in Old Damascus (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) To enclaves of young converts tucked away in the mountains of Asia Minor , Paul wrote what is perhaps the oldest document in the New Testament --the letter to the Galatians .  What problems were they facing? Among a variety of religious authorities espousing different teachings, how were they to know who was right?  How were men and women to be put right with God ? How could Christians in the midst of a pagan culture live lives truly pleasing to God? 'Only one way—' answered Paul, 'through Jesus Christ .' His answer holds true for us as well. The details of our struggle have changed since Paul's day, but the principles he sets forth are as timeless as the Lord he exalts. Related articles Summary of Galatians DIG for Tuesday the 15th of April......look to the Lord not to men.....Galatians 1 v 1 Galatians 6 New Jerusalem in a Divine Metaphor (3) Ne...

Dispute of Jesus and the Pharisees over tribute money (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Tim Keller on the Law and grace of God from Galatians Law-obeying, law -relying. These people are under the law, and are usually very smug, self- righteous and superior. Externally, they are very sure they are right with God, but deep down, they have a lot of insecurity, since no one can truly be assured that they are living up to the standard. This makes them touchy, sensitive to criticism and devastated when their prayers aren’t answered. This includes members of other religions, but here I am thinking mainly of people who go to church. These people have much in common with the Pharisees of Jesus ’ day. Law-disobeying, law-relying . These people have a religious conscience of strong works-righteousness, but they are not living consistently with it. As a result of this, they are more humble and more tolerant of others than the “Pharisees” above, but they are also much more guilt-ridden, subj...

Our Lord Jesus Christ (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." ( Galatians 5:25 ) When a person accepts the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, believing on Him as the Son of God and personal Redeemer, the One who saves him from his sins, a wonderful event takes place. The Spirit of God enters his very body, there to reside and to guide his new life in Christ . Henceforth he is, whether he senses it or not, "in the Spirit." "Ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ , he is none of his" ( Romans 8:9 ). The believer's body even becomes a temple in which the Spirit can reign over his life. "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which ...

English: Peresopnytsia Gospels. 1556-1561. Miniature of Saint Matthew. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) "Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit." ( John 15:2 ) As Christ emphasized in His parable of the vine and the branches, it is vitally important for a Christian to bear fruit. There are, in fact, many types of spiritual fruit mentioned in Scripture. Perhaps the most important fruit, produced in one's life by the Holy Spirit , is that of a Christlike character. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance" ( Galatians 5:22-23 ). "For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth" ( Ephesians 5:9 ). Holiness--the seal of a life dedicated to God --is a particular spiritual fruit. "Being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fru...