May you blessed in your endeavors during this upcoming season of life. This day brought a rather insightful and enjoyable Sunday School lesson. It was based in Galatians 5:1-17. The text is below:
[Gal 5:1-17 KJV] 1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. 7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? 8 This persuasion [cometh] not of him that calleth you. 9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. 11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. 12 I would they were even cut off which trouble you. 13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only [use] not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, [even] in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. 16 [This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
And, as usual, that tender issue of God's Grace versus following the letter of God's Law arose. As with debated the scriptures with love and drew from the covenant made in Genesis 17 with Abraham concerning circumcision, we ultimately settled upon one key notion. It was that of "sincerity in faith". This is likely why we are told that we should test the spirit of those who enter our lives. Are they of God? Are their intentions pure and noble? Or, is it the just the opposite.
As we discussed the importance of sincerity in faith which resolves the issue of faith versus deeds, lip-service versus real, potent works or true heart-felt love versus empty, showy action, the teacher of the lesson shared a commonly accepted history of the word sincere. It is believed by many that the word sincere is drawn from the terms sin cera or "without wax". During centuries past, craftsmen would hide the blemishes in their works of clay or stone with wax. When presenting a piece in the marketplace, certifying that it was "sin cera" or "sincere" meant that it was of much great value than an apparently identical piece with "wax-patches". So, we should love and approach the Lord with a pure heart. This I cannot say that I have always had, have, or do as I should. So take heart, we who fall down can get up again. Keep striving!
Sincerity denotes "purity" and some argue that its real origin is from the term "sincerus" which means pure, clean, and untainted. As the pslamist said so should we, "create in me a 'clean' heart."
A quick search of an on-line Bible provides the following versus for "sincere heart' and "pure heart":
Sincere Heart
[Heb 10:22 NIV] 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
[1Ti 1:5 NIV] 5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
[1Pe 1:22 NIV] 22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.
Pure Heart
[Psa 24:4 KJV] 4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
[1Ti 1:5 KJV] 5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and [of] a good conscience, and [of] faith unfeigned:
[2Ti 2:22 KJV] 22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
[1Pe 1:22 KJV] 22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, [see that ye] love one another with a pure heart fervently:
Notice the overlap?
As one reads scripture, it seems that the Law was not necessary "bad" within itself, it was the mishandling and unjust administering of the Law. So, God's Grace abounded with His Son's sacrifice of the cross. But, this liberty which we received was not so we might live lives of unchecked sin but was granted so we might pick ourselves up when fall from right behavior.
Grace is a beautiful gift, in that those who meet It late in life and might have accumulated a burdensome set of sinful personal behaviors can have the assurance that through faith they can eventually free themselves from the lifestyle that is killing them.
Grace much like the Law works with its greatest potency when it is applied properly in our lives.
Grace provides our salvation. Following the Law does not do so, for if we fall down once in one area we have violated the entire code. However, as a result of accepting His Grace and being saved we strive for a the maturity and perfection which comes from being Law-abiding. That is a sign of our sincerity.
If I cannot seek the well-being of others ahead of my own as Paul stated as a direct corollary of the Greatest Command spoken by Christ that we should love God with our whole heart, soul, and mind, and our neighbor as ourselves, do we truly have a "wax-free and pure" heart.
If we gloss over Matthew 5:17-20:
[Mat 5:17-19 KJV] 17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
do we truly have a "wax-free and pure" heart.
But, let no man be your teacher as scripture says...Read it for yourself. It will change your walk, your talk, and your attitudes....
Have a Wonderfully Blessed Week. May You Find the Peace and Joy That You Desire.
Galatians 5:22.
