Timothy
November 1st, 2005, 02:09 PM
NOTE: This is a sub-set of something larger that I am working on, and thought that sharing this section would make for an interesting discussion...
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The Subtle Danger of Spiritual Adultery
Much is said regularly from the pulpits of Christendom about the sin of adultery. This type of adultery is physical adultery, and is of the flesh, and usually begins with some type of persuasion and seduction. But there is another type of adultery that is almost completely overlooked and rarely discussed, and that is the sin of spiritual adultery. This type of adultery similarly begins with some type of persuasion and seduction.
The Power of Persuasion and Seduction
Persuasion is a powerful thing. By inspiration, the Apostle Paul explains emphatically how he is persuaded that nothing is able to separate us from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:38-39 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Persuasion can also have a negative side or a false side. For example, the Apostle Paul corrects and informs the saints at Galatia that they had come under a false persuasion.
Galatians 5:8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.
Scripture indicates how false doctrine can come through the power of persuasion via enticing words. To entice someone means to attract them by arousing hope or desire, or to set them “on fire.”
Colossians 2:4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
I Corinthians 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power
Romans 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
False persuasion that comes via enticing words will be seductive. To seduce someone means to attract them, to lure them, and to lead them astray.
I Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils
The result of seduction is a departure (i.e. going astray). As will be demonstrated later, this seduction to a “departure from the faith” described in the verse above is not in the context of salvation, as the believer is eternally secure, but of the Christian’s walk.
One definition of the word “persuade” is to win someone over, as by reasoning or personal forcefulness. This definition helps demonstrate that the lure of false doctrine can come both from the words themselves, as well as the speaker’s personality or eloquent speech. Both can be enticing and seductive at the same time. In other words, false persuasion can come from not only what is said, but how it is said. In regards to the latter, it is interesting to examine the Apostle Paul’s self-reflection on his method of speech or speaking. To the Saints at Corinth, he explained that the delivery method of his verbal message was somewhat lacking.
I Corinthians 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
II Corinthians 11:6 But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.
When a speaker is captivating with “excellency of speech,” the dedicated Berean needs to be extra diligent in taking the words that are spoken, and measuring them against the word of God “rightly divided” (Acts 17:11, II Timothy 2:15).
II Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
The term “itching ears” is interesting to consider in the context of false persuasion. What do you do with an itch? You scratch it! Through this analogy, the Apostle Paul is indicating that false persuasion will be attractive to your flesh and your fleshly mind. The lust of the flesh always “itches,” and false persuasion will “scratch” that itch.
Forgeries and Counterfeits
Sir Robert Anderson rightly observed that “the devil of Christendom is a myth,” and how many Christians carry a false understanding of how Satan operates, particularly in the Dispensation of Grace. The realm of the flesh and temptation of the flesh is falsely held as being Satan’s primary realm of operation. It is in the spirit realm where Satan really operates. In the following verse, the Apostle Paul confirms that the battlefield today is not in the realm of flesh and blood, but the realm of spiritual wickedness.
Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Satan’s strategy of spiritual wickedness concerns propagating forgeries and counterfeits of what God is doing, but subtly corrupted. The Apostle Paul describes how Satan will go so far as transforming himself and making his efforts appear as “an angel of light.” His deceived and deceiving workers will appear as being of Christ and ministers of Christ.
II Corinthians 11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
The nation Israel was similarly warned that false teachers will cloak themselves as being part of the flock.
Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Satan’s efforts at forgery will be extremely subtle. His ultimate goal is to corrupt your mind, not your flesh. He wants to corrupt what you believe, rob you of the simplicity that we have in Christ through grace, and disrupt and inhibit your walk and growth in Christ.
II Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
It is important to recognize the lengths that Satan’s subtlety will go as an “angel of light.” Satan’s corrupted message will acknowledge Jesus, use scripture, and appear as sincere and genuine.
II Corinthians 11:4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
The above verse similarly parallels the Apostle Paul’s correction of the Galatians.
Galatians 1:6-7 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Satan’s greatest victory as an “angel of light” is getting someone to believe a corrupted and perverted gospel of grace, and then getting this person to become his tool by propagating this corrupted and perverted gospel on their own.
Being Beguiled
One result of being falsely persuaded is that the person will be left in a state of being beguiled, which means to be in a state of deception as in a trap, to be distracted, or to be charmed as in a trance. According to Strong’s, the Greek word literally means to be seduced wholly.
Colossians 2:4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
II Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
The Apostle Paul states that Eve was beguiled by Satan subtly. How was Satan subtle in his deception of her? The account in the garden is instrumental in understanding Satan's principles of operation as an "angel of light" (II Corinthians 11:14). It demonstrates how Satan uses and misuses the word of God as the basis for his subtle attack of deception.
One method that Satan uses is questioning the word of God, and he does this from a positive approach. He wants to raise doubt about it, thereby questioning it. Note his approach to Eve with “Yea, hath God said…”
Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
After questioning the word of God, Satan’s subtle attack may also include adding to the word of God. Note that Satan added the words “neither shall ye touch it,” which was not part of God’s command in Genesis 2:17.
Genesis 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Genesis 3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
After questioning the word of God and adding to the word of God, Satan’s next method of subtle attack may include watering down the word of God. Note the following comparison.
Genesis 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Genesis 3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
Satan watered down the phrase “surely die” by changing it to “lest ye die.” The word lest is much less certain than the word surely. The definition of lest is the intention of preventing, or to avoid the risk of, or because of the possibility of. The definition of surely is certainly, unhesitatingly, and without fail. Lest is a possibility, while surely is a certainty.
Besides questioning, adding to, and watering down the word of God, Satan will also deny the word of God. Note the following comparison.
Genesis 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Genesis 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
The following passage from the Apostle Paul shows that the end result of being beguiled is being controlled human viewpoint, instead of divine viewpoint.
Colossians 2:18-19 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
While “humility of mind” (Acts 20:19) is an attribute of a spiritual saint, there can also be false humility in someone who is beguiled. This false humility is the humility of religion, and is not of God. The beguiled saint is not holding on to the Head, which is Christ. The person is left in a “charmed” state and puffed by their flesh, instead of their spirit. The person will have cut themselves off from being nourished by Christ, and will instead be fed by the religion of the flesh.
Being Bewitched
The Apostle Paul described the Galatians as being bewitched. To be bewitched means to have a spell cast over you, to be completely captivated or entranced, and placed under a power as if by magic.
Galatians 3:1 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?
Obviously, every Bible believer knows that scripture condemns the practice of witchcraft (i.e. Deuteronomy 18:10-12). One of the most fascinating accounts about witchcraft in the Bible is in I Samuel with Saul and the witch of Endor.
I Samuel 28:7-11 Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor. And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee. And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die? And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing. Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.
What do witches do, and what was the witch of Endor doing in this account? One of the things that witches do is attempting to cast a spell and use magic to conjure up the dead, and in essence bring back to life (here on earth) someone that died. Saul and the witch of Endor sought to bring Samuel back. So how does this witch and witchcraft relate to Galatians and Paul telling the Galatians that they were bewitched?
Galatians 2:18-21 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law am [d]dead[/b] to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
What were the Galatians doing? The Galatians were putting themselves back under the law. The Galatians believed that keeping the law somehow kept them righteous and kept them justified (i.e. kept them saved). Through Paul, what do we know our position is with the law?
Romans 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
Christ made us dead to the law, free from the law, and redeemed us from the curse of the law. Through Christ, we are justified by grace, positionally made righteous, and eternally secure. Instead of being under the law, we are now under grace. By calling the Galatians “bewitched,” Paul was telling the Galatians that they were trying to bring back to life something that God already said was dead. They were rebuilding what Christ already destroyed. Instead of living by grace, they were living by the law, which “frustrates” grace. The Galatians were not living as who they were in Christ. By putting themselves back under the law, the Galatians became “bewitched.” Like the Galatians, someone today is “bewitched” when they believe that keeping the law is what keeps them justified or keeps them righteous. This type of person is under a “spell.”
The following passage draws a comparison equating the sin of witchcraft with rebellion against God.
I Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
When Paul tells the Galatians that they were bewitched and not obeying the truth, in essence he is telling them that they are living in a state of rebellion against God, by putting themselves back under the law.
This account of the Galatians also demonstrates a practical example on the correct Berean (Acts 17:11) approach to studying the Bible, and the absolute need to “rightly divide the word of truth” (II Timothy 2:15). What was the broad error of the Galatians? The broad error of the Galatians was not that they were being unscriptural. They were definitely being scriptural, because the law is obviously of scripture. Their error was that they were scriptural, but they were not being dispensational. The Galatians were putting themselves back under God’s program from a prior dispensation, and attempting to give life to something that God already said was dead. By being scriptural, but not dispensational, the Galatians became “bewitched.”
contd...
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The Subtle Danger of Spiritual Adultery
Much is said regularly from the pulpits of Christendom about the sin of adultery. This type of adultery is physical adultery, and is of the flesh, and usually begins with some type of persuasion and seduction. But there is another type of adultery that is almost completely overlooked and rarely discussed, and that is the sin of spiritual adultery. This type of adultery similarly begins with some type of persuasion and seduction.
The Power of Persuasion and Seduction
Persuasion is a powerful thing. By inspiration, the Apostle Paul explains emphatically how he is persuaded that nothing is able to separate us from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:38-39 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Persuasion can also have a negative side or a false side. For example, the Apostle Paul corrects and informs the saints at Galatia that they had come under a false persuasion.
Galatians 5:8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.
Scripture indicates how false doctrine can come through the power of persuasion via enticing words. To entice someone means to attract them by arousing hope or desire, or to set them “on fire.”
Colossians 2:4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
I Corinthians 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power
Romans 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
False persuasion that comes via enticing words will be seductive. To seduce someone means to attract them, to lure them, and to lead them astray.
I Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils
The result of seduction is a departure (i.e. going astray). As will be demonstrated later, this seduction to a “departure from the faith” described in the verse above is not in the context of salvation, as the believer is eternally secure, but of the Christian’s walk.
One definition of the word “persuade” is to win someone over, as by reasoning or personal forcefulness. This definition helps demonstrate that the lure of false doctrine can come both from the words themselves, as well as the speaker’s personality or eloquent speech. Both can be enticing and seductive at the same time. In other words, false persuasion can come from not only what is said, but how it is said. In regards to the latter, it is interesting to examine the Apostle Paul’s self-reflection on his method of speech or speaking. To the Saints at Corinth, he explained that the delivery method of his verbal message was somewhat lacking.
I Corinthians 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
II Corinthians 11:6 But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.
When a speaker is captivating with “excellency of speech,” the dedicated Berean needs to be extra diligent in taking the words that are spoken, and measuring them against the word of God “rightly divided” (Acts 17:11, II Timothy 2:15).
II Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
The term “itching ears” is interesting to consider in the context of false persuasion. What do you do with an itch? You scratch it! Through this analogy, the Apostle Paul is indicating that false persuasion will be attractive to your flesh and your fleshly mind. The lust of the flesh always “itches,” and false persuasion will “scratch” that itch.
Forgeries and Counterfeits
Sir Robert Anderson rightly observed that “the devil of Christendom is a myth,” and how many Christians carry a false understanding of how Satan operates, particularly in the Dispensation of Grace. The realm of the flesh and temptation of the flesh is falsely held as being Satan’s primary realm of operation. It is in the spirit realm where Satan really operates. In the following verse, the Apostle Paul confirms that the battlefield today is not in the realm of flesh and blood, but the realm of spiritual wickedness.
Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Satan’s strategy of spiritual wickedness concerns propagating forgeries and counterfeits of what God is doing, but subtly corrupted. The Apostle Paul describes how Satan will go so far as transforming himself and making his efforts appear as “an angel of light.” His deceived and deceiving workers will appear as being of Christ and ministers of Christ.
II Corinthians 11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
The nation Israel was similarly warned that false teachers will cloak themselves as being part of the flock.
Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Satan’s efforts at forgery will be extremely subtle. His ultimate goal is to corrupt your mind, not your flesh. He wants to corrupt what you believe, rob you of the simplicity that we have in Christ through grace, and disrupt and inhibit your walk and growth in Christ.
II Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
It is important to recognize the lengths that Satan’s subtlety will go as an “angel of light.” Satan’s corrupted message will acknowledge Jesus, use scripture, and appear as sincere and genuine.
II Corinthians 11:4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
The above verse similarly parallels the Apostle Paul’s correction of the Galatians.
Galatians 1:6-7 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Satan’s greatest victory as an “angel of light” is getting someone to believe a corrupted and perverted gospel of grace, and then getting this person to become his tool by propagating this corrupted and perverted gospel on their own.
Being Beguiled
One result of being falsely persuaded is that the person will be left in a state of being beguiled, which means to be in a state of deception as in a trap, to be distracted, or to be charmed as in a trance. According to Strong’s, the Greek word literally means to be seduced wholly.
Colossians 2:4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
II Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
The Apostle Paul states that Eve was beguiled by Satan subtly. How was Satan subtle in his deception of her? The account in the garden is instrumental in understanding Satan's principles of operation as an "angel of light" (II Corinthians 11:14). It demonstrates how Satan uses and misuses the word of God as the basis for his subtle attack of deception.
One method that Satan uses is questioning the word of God, and he does this from a positive approach. He wants to raise doubt about it, thereby questioning it. Note his approach to Eve with “Yea, hath God said…”
Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
After questioning the word of God, Satan’s subtle attack may also include adding to the word of God. Note that Satan added the words “neither shall ye touch it,” which was not part of God’s command in Genesis 2:17.
Genesis 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Genesis 3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
After questioning the word of God and adding to the word of God, Satan’s next method of subtle attack may include watering down the word of God. Note the following comparison.
Genesis 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Genesis 3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
Satan watered down the phrase “surely die” by changing it to “lest ye die.” The word lest is much less certain than the word surely. The definition of lest is the intention of preventing, or to avoid the risk of, or because of the possibility of. The definition of surely is certainly, unhesitatingly, and without fail. Lest is a possibility, while surely is a certainty.
Besides questioning, adding to, and watering down the word of God, Satan will also deny the word of God. Note the following comparison.
Genesis 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Genesis 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
The following passage from the Apostle Paul shows that the end result of being beguiled is being controlled human viewpoint, instead of divine viewpoint.
Colossians 2:18-19 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
While “humility of mind” (Acts 20:19) is an attribute of a spiritual saint, there can also be false humility in someone who is beguiled. This false humility is the humility of religion, and is not of God. The beguiled saint is not holding on to the Head, which is Christ. The person is left in a “charmed” state and puffed by their flesh, instead of their spirit. The person will have cut themselves off from being nourished by Christ, and will instead be fed by the religion of the flesh.
Being Bewitched
The Apostle Paul described the Galatians as being bewitched. To be bewitched means to have a spell cast over you, to be completely captivated or entranced, and placed under a power as if by magic.
Galatians 3:1 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?
Obviously, every Bible believer knows that scripture condemns the practice of witchcraft (i.e. Deuteronomy 18:10-12). One of the most fascinating accounts about witchcraft in the Bible is in I Samuel with Saul and the witch of Endor.
I Samuel 28:7-11 Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor. And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee. And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die? And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing. Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.
What do witches do, and what was the witch of Endor doing in this account? One of the things that witches do is attempting to cast a spell and use magic to conjure up the dead, and in essence bring back to life (here on earth) someone that died. Saul and the witch of Endor sought to bring Samuel back. So how does this witch and witchcraft relate to Galatians and Paul telling the Galatians that they were bewitched?
Galatians 2:18-21 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law am [d]dead[/b] to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
What were the Galatians doing? The Galatians were putting themselves back under the law. The Galatians believed that keeping the law somehow kept them righteous and kept them justified (i.e. kept them saved). Through Paul, what do we know our position is with the law?
Romans 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
Christ made us dead to the law, free from the law, and redeemed us from the curse of the law. Through Christ, we are justified by grace, positionally made righteous, and eternally secure. Instead of being under the law, we are now under grace. By calling the Galatians “bewitched,” Paul was telling the Galatians that they were trying to bring back to life something that God already said was dead. They were rebuilding what Christ already destroyed. Instead of living by grace, they were living by the law, which “frustrates” grace. The Galatians were not living as who they were in Christ. By putting themselves back under the law, the Galatians became “bewitched.” Like the Galatians, someone today is “bewitched” when they believe that keeping the law is what keeps them justified or keeps them righteous. This type of person is under a “spell.”
The following passage draws a comparison equating the sin of witchcraft with rebellion against God.
I Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
When Paul tells the Galatians that they were bewitched and not obeying the truth, in essence he is telling them that they are living in a state of rebellion against God, by putting themselves back under the law.
This account of the Galatians also demonstrates a practical example on the correct Berean (Acts 17:11) approach to studying the Bible, and the absolute need to “rightly divide the word of truth” (II Timothy 2:15). What was the broad error of the Galatians? The broad error of the Galatians was not that they were being unscriptural. They were definitely being scriptural, because the law is obviously of scripture. Their error was that they were scriptural, but they were not being dispensational. The Galatians were putting themselves back under God’s program from a prior dispensation, and attempting to give life to something that God already said was dead. By being scriptural, but not dispensational, the Galatians became “bewitched.”
contd...