BiblicalInsights.net

“For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love” (Gal. 5:6).  The apostle Paul wrote this passage to churches in Galatia (Antioch of Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe-south Galatia). The churches in this region were being challenged by Judaizing teachers who claimed that Christians, including Gentile Christians, must keep the law of Moses and be circumcised.  These teachers had succeeded in infiltrating these churches and perverting them with their doctrine (Gal. 1:6 and 3:1).  Paul writes the book of Galatians to refute their doctrines and vindicate the Gospel.  He emphasizes that “circumcision or uncircumcision” avails nothing in Christ.  Circumcision was a sign of the covenant between God and Israel.  It helped define the people of God from those who were not considered to be among the people of God.  The distinction between Jew and Gentile was established by this sign.  Paul affirms that the “circumcised” were to keep the whole law (Gal. 5:3).  But, the Jews could not keep the law perfectly (Rom. 2:25, 3:9).  Consequently, circumcision could not justify them.  In Christ, neither circumcision nor uncircumcison availeth anything.  This distinction was no longer valid.  A significant change occurred when Jesus died on the cross.  At that time, the new testament (covenant) went into force (Col. 2:14, II Cor. 3:7-17; Heb. 9:15-17).  The law of Moses was fulfilled and taken out of the way.  Jeremiah the prophet, some 600 years before Christ, had predicted this change in covenants (Jer. 31:31-34, Heb. 8:6-13).  Christians are not under the law of Moses, but they are under (accountable to, bound by the terms and conditions of the covenant) the law of Christ.  To be “in Christ” is to be in the spiritual sphere where redemption and salvation are found (Gal. 5:1).  How does one get “into Christ?”  Paul gives the answer:  “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:26-27).  The consequence of this spiritual transformation is that “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28).
Paul affirms that the grace of God is appropriated through faith and love.  Faith and love are born in the hearts of men when they hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Knowledge of the truth begets faith.  “So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God” Rom. 10:17.  Knowledge of God’s love for us begets love in our hearts for Him.  “We love him, because he first loved us.”  Our love for God which involves adoration, devotion, submission and respect or reverence, is a reciprocal love.  It is a love that responds to God’s unspeakable gift of His Son–Jesus Christ–who died for us upon the cross.
Faith is operational by love.  Faith is absolute trust in God.  Faith is active (Heb. 11:8, Abraham’s faith was an obedient faith).  Love is active.  Jesus said, “if ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).  The test of faith is obedience to God’s commands.  The test of love is obedience to God’s commands.  Faith performs its work in the sphere of love.  Love envelops and permeates faith.  Faith without love is imperfect (I Cor. 13:1-3) and love without faith is imperfect (Heb. 11:6).  You cannot be saved by faith alone.  You cannot be saved by love alone.  As Paul affirms, we are saved by faith which worketh by love!
Love is the greatest virtue! (I Cor. 13:13).  It outranks faith.  No person can be saved without love for God.  Love for God is the greatest commandment (Matt. 22:36-40).
Faith and love are both virtues of the human heart that are necessary for salvation.  We must believe in Jesus Christ and love Him above all else.  When we believe and love the Lord Jesus Christ, we will obey Him (Luke 6:46).  Faith and love define the children of God today.

Protagoras (ca. 490 BC-420 BC) was a pre-Socratic Greek philosopher and is numbered as one of the sophists by Plato.  His most famous quote is, “Man is the measure of all things: of things which are, that they are, and of things which are not, that they are not.”  In philosophical terms, this is called epistemological relativism.  Epistemology is the study of the nature and scope of knowledge and relativism is the belief that reality is determined by subjective thoughts and feelings.  Epistemological relativism is an aspect of postmodernism.  Postmodernism is in conflict with the Christian worldview in America.  Protagoras’ quote, “man is the measure of all things” takes the focus off of God and puts it on man.  This leads to a real difference in how one sees the world.  One area in which this is true is spiritual discernment.  What is spiritual discernment and why is it important?
What is Spiritual Discernment?
Discernment means “to separate one thing from another, to distinguish, to divide.”  It is a function of the mind of man.  There are two derivative meanings:  (1)  to evaluate according to a standard; and (2) to condemn or acquit (disapprove or approve).
Spiritual discernment involves the ability to distinguish between what God approves and disapproves based upon the righteous standard of His holy Word.  Objective truth exists and it is found in God’s Word (John 17:17).  Christians are set apart from the world by conformity to God’s Word.  By faith, we accept and follow what God desires and shun what He condemns.  We must be able to distinguish between truth and error, good from evil and right from wrong.  Spiritual discernment is applied in the areas of: words, actions, and character.  The purpose of spiritual discernment is to stop the advancement of worldliness in the church, prevent the infiltration of erroneous doctrines and keep the church pure.
Why Do Many Lack Spiritual Discernment?
First, God’s Word is no longer recognized as the standard by which to judge words, actions and character.  The rejection of God’s Word leads to establishing approval for all types of behavior that God defines as sinful.  The rejection of God’s Word has paved the way for many of the social changes that are taking place in America today.  Many individuals and groups of individuals work to marginalize and eliminate any influence of God’s Word on the hearts of men.  This leads to tremendous advancement in evil.  American culture is changing, but the change is not in God’s direction.  Evil is advancing in the form of abortions, gambling, homosexuality,drug use including alcohol, sexual immorality which includes fornication and adultery.  When God’s Word is correctly understood, these sins are eliminated as disapproved by God.  True wisdom and knowledge come from God (I Cor. 2:13-15).  Both knowledge and wisdom are essential to spiritual discernment.
Second, many lack spiritual discernment because they have rejected sound reason and logic.  Today’s prevailing philosophy is:  “if it feels right, then, do it.”  Feelings, especially pleasurable feelings, are often tied to the lusts of the flesh.  We seek emotional highs instead of conformity to God’s Will.  The result:  it is no longer a matter of what God wants, but what I like.  God has created us in His image.  Consequently, man is a rational being with the ability to think, discern, understand and decide.  We can understand God’s Will (Eph. 5:16).  We can know the truth (John 8:32).  Equipped with both knowledge of the truth and understanding of God’s Will we can spiritually discern those things that God approves and disapproves.
Third, many lack spiritual discernment because they have accepted the “no judging” rule of our culture.  In postmodernism, all judgment is suspended because there is no objective truth.  Every person determines what is right for them based upon their own subjective feelings and perceptions.  Every person creates their own reality.  This means that one person cannot stand in judgment upon another because there is no basis upon which to make value judgments.  Some even use Matthew 7:1 to forbid all judging.  However, Jesus was not forbidding all types of judging.  He was forbidding self-righteous judgments based upon self-righteous standards.  In John 7:24, Jesus said, “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”  In Luke 12:57, Jesus said, “Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?”  So, the Lord commands certain types of judgment.  Indeed, spiritual discernment is essential to making the correct decisions regarding our words, actions, and character that will please God and make us acceptable to Him.
Jesus will judge us in the last day!  (John 12:48, II Cor. 5:10).  What criteria or standard will He use?  The answer is in John 12:48, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him:  the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”

Peace on earth is a lofty goal.  Will it ever happen?  God has made peace possible through the Prince of Peace.  However, not everyone believes in Jesus Christ (John 8:24).  Consequently, sin reigns in many of the hearts of men.  From whence comes war?  James 4:1, “From whence come wars and fightings among you?  come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?”  James reveals the key to war.  It is the lusts of the flesh.  Until the lusts of the flesh are conquered, there will be war and fightings among us.
The real question is this:  Do you have peace?  God has brought to light the covenant of peace through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Peace is possible.  Peace with God, others and self is obtainable.
The prophet Isaiah foretells a time when there would be peace (Isa. 26:1-4).  It is the age of the Messiah.  Do you know that we are living in the Messianic Age?  Christ has come!  Salvation, joy, hope and yes, peace is in Him.
Isaiah wrote, “In that day…” When we read these words in the Old Testament, they refer to the Messianic Age.  Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah.  When Jesus was born, angels announced, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”  Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6).  A child would be born who would be able to conquer Satan, destroy His works, and bring peace between God and man.  Jesus said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.  In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).  The world without Christ cannnot secure peace.  In the world there will be:  tribulation, anxiety, fear, violence, war, hatred, and strife.  The hearts of men must change in order for peace to prevail.  Peace results when we put to death the works of the flesh and live life in the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). Peace is a fruit of the Spirit.
Isaiah mentions “the kingdom of Zion.”  The kingdom of Zion is a spiritual city.  Salvation constitutes its walls and ramparts.  Salvation characterizes the city and is its strength (Isa. 25:4).  Yahweh is its strength (Isa. 25:4).  The city is impregnable.  The inhabitants of the city are the righteous people of God.  Into the holy city of God, nothing enters that will defile–all defillement has been removed by the power of the blood of Christ (the Messiah).  These people are the custodians of faithfulness.  Their faith connects them to the King of the city.
The mind of the righteous is fixed on Yahweh.  When the mind is fixed in God and the heart fully trusts in Him–there is peace.  Trust is confidence and reliance upon God.  God isn’t going anywhere!  He is everlasting!  Psa. 90:2.
Trust in God leads to perfect peace (peace, peace is the actual Hebrew construction).  This is the superlative of peace.  What is perfect peace?
-Wholeness and fullness of well-being of the soul before God.
-True repose in the sunshine of God’s grace.
-Complete sense of safety.
-Tranquility of the soul that rests in God’s strength.
-Absence of fear.
-Absence of conflict with God because of union with Him.
Perfect peace rests upon a perfect God.  He is our Rock.  He is our Refuge.  He is eternal, unchanging, impregnable, and undefeatable.  We are trusting in Him!  The peace we have can only fail if He fails.  But, God cannnot fail!  Hence, this peace is everlasting.  It is perfect peace.
“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace.  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby” (Eph. 2:13-16).  Peace is in Christ (Gal. 3:26-27).