Lesson 3840

 (Lesson 3840)(07-24-22) Galatians 6:11-18

    Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand. As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. From henceforth let no man 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. Amen.”

    In today’s lesson, Paul, again related that being a Jew (circumcized) has NOTHING to do with the spiritual rebirth of one’s eternal soul. And, neither does being a Jew upgrade one’s position within the church.

    I would like to make the point again that many of the Jews withing the early church were trying hard to incorporate tho old Jewish traditions and rituals into Christianity.

    As we can easily see, many of the rituals of Catholicism, such as the wearing of long robes and headdresses while performing all manner of unnecessary and ridiculous motions were done so as to distinguish the heirarchy in the church from the commoners. Those actions were taken straight from the playbook of the Pharisees. 

    Jesus made a point of separating His gospel from those asinine rituals. “But you, when you pray, enter into your closet, and when you have closed the door, pray to your Father which is in secret; and your Father which sees in secret shall reward you openly.” (Matthew 6-6)~