You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. (Galatians 5:7–8, NIV 1984).
My Musings – “People today will rewrite anything — geography, doctrine, even Jesus Himself — to fit their ideology. But truth doesn’t bend just because someone wants it to.” (Kaden Pody). “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” (Galatians 5:6, NIV 1984).
What kind of “persuasion” have we been called to? It is twofold.
First – “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. [We must] stand firm, then, and [must] not let [ourselves] be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1, NIV 1984). Freed from the “yoke of slavery” of the law and its requirements – total and complete obedience. Christ did that for us. Some would persuade (“cut in on”) us otherwise, adding works to grace.
Second – “[We], my brothers [and sisters], were called to be free. But [we must] not use [our] freedom to indulge the sinful nature.” (Galatians 5:13, NIV 1984). Doing so would we conforming to the patterns of the world. The world is full of “that kind of persuasion” ideology. That grace permits indulgence. Rather, we are called to be transformed into the likeness of Christ – who was sinless. “Likeness” does not mean we will be sinless ourselves, but rather similar to the person we represent-in increasing measure.
My Advice – “Do not conform any longer to the [sinful] pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:1–2, NIV 1984). To the mind of “the One who [called] us.”
“For if [we] possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep [us] from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:8–9, NIV 1984).” That is to say to the “kind of persuasion” that comes from placing our faith in Christ.
We must not “rewrite” the truth to suit either a legalistic or permissive “ideology.” Those kinds of “persuasion” are not suitable for the “race” we are running.
The Brew Is A Musing 