Good day people of God. I hope you enjoyed the Easter holidays and I hope you are still keeping in memory the reality of Jesus’ death and resurrection as well as the concomitant benefits to you and I.
As we begin a new week, I’ll want us to take a look at verse 6 of Galatians 5 in our journey of exploring the amazing grace of God:
“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love” Galatians 5:6 New International Version
Paul makes this statement as a conclusion to this section of his epistle and it is a most fitting way to put a wrap on our recent thoughts in the series. The Holy Spirit through this verse penned by Paul is declaring to us that in this new economy of life which Jesus has inaugurated, it makes no difference whether a man is circumcised or not.
Just as we have seen in several of the verses before now, circumcision has no significance or practical power in the new life in Christ Jesus. Paul would again make a similar statement in verse 15 of the next chapter. Circumcision has no weight or consequence. It doesn’t confer any additional benefits with God. It doesn’t count towards any better preference and will not procure for anyone any special favour from God.
It’s not only circumcision that has no significance or practical power in our new lives in Christ Jesus. Galatians 5:6 uses that term in a representative manner for every rite and custom practiced in an to attempt to win favour with God or any system built on observance of regulations as a way of approaching God. It all really has no weight before God and they do not matter to God in any way. It is important that we understand and accept God’s revelation about this so we will stop expending our resources on non-essentials.
The Jews missed the point. They focused on the non-essentials. Not only did they study the Mosaic Law, they also became experts in interpreting the laws contained in it (over 600 laws) which eventually led to large volumes of writings (the Talmud for instance). In one of His conversations with them, Jesus said they were insistent paying tithes on the smallest seeds and plants yet they abandoned weightier matters (Matthew 23:23). Many of us believers are often like that. Sometimes focusing on non-essentials, we insist on mere external powerless customs when our focus ought to be on God’s grace made abundantly available in Christ.
Our verse in focus in this post however tells us that there is something that counts in the new life in Christ Jesus. The verse describes it as “faith expressing itself through love”. Faith working through love; this is a summation of what the new life in Christ Jesus is all about. The new life isn’t just about a mere intellectual assent of truth. It’s not just about a “cerebral acknowledgement" of facts but it is about faith as a reality of conviction in the heart of the believer that is expressed on the outside in actions and words with love as a guiding principle.
This is truly a beautiful life to live. It is the life of the new creature in Christ. And this is what really matters. Not circumcision or uncircumcision, not rites and customs, not rules or regulations but “faith, which by love is mighty in operation.” Ponder on this my good friends and make this your principle in life. This is the life that the grace of God has brought us to.
My song for the week is "This God Is Too Good" by Nathaniel Bassey featuring Micah Stampley.
Have a great day and a wonderful week. I look forward to sharing another vignette of God’s ever amazing grace next time.
When grace is preached it sounds simple, but living everyday with a grace mindset is quite the battle. I have to defy a lot to focus on the grace of Christ, because there is really no accomplishment in my life that can match the knowledge of the love of God in Christ. That knowledge alone is victory! It sounds crazy, but its true. In that knowledge is the rest that my soul desires
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