26.d. “For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own”

 

 

Galatians 1:6  I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

 Mark 6:6     And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching.

 Psalms 106:13    But they soon forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel.

 Isaiah 29:13     And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,

 Jeremiah 2:12-13     Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the LORD,  for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.

 Romans 10:3   For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.

 1 Peter 1:15     but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,

 2 Peter 1:3    His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,

Someone brought this false gospel to the Galatians. False gospels don’t just happen. People bring them, and the people who bring them may be sincere and have a lot of charisma.  It is not as though these deceivers make are proclaiming a new or different Savior.  They twist the Gospel and its pure message into something different and that seems true. 

The gospel offends our sinful nature of self-pride. It tells us we need a savior, and that we cannot save ourselves. It gives no credit to us at all for our salvation. The gospel offends our sinful nature of self-wisdom. It saves us by something many consider foolish. Third, the gospel offends our sinful self-knowledge. It tells us to believe something which goes against scientific knowledge and personal experience.

There is so much more to being a Christian than knowing about God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Knowing about something does not mean you believe in it, you just know about it.  There is a big difference.  When the gospel of Jesus Christ is watered down and diluted to the point where you can think that by doing something other than believing in, trusting on, clinging to, and relying on Jesus Christ alone, you are ignorant of the righteousness of God, and will seek to establish their own, not submitting to God’s righteousness.

25.t. “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting Him”

 

2 Corinthians 11:4  For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.

 1 John 2:26   I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you.

 Jude 1:4     For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Galatians 3:2   Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?

 Galations 1:6   I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel — not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

 Titus 1:10-11    For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers,

When a person encounters Jesus, it should be life-changing. They should be changed, born again, made new, a new creation.  They were once in darkness but now they are in the light.  They once stumbled around in darkness but now all that they stumbled around in has been exposed for what it is.  The light of Jesus Christ has opened their eyes.  In Christ, the Word of God will give light onto our path, a purpose for living, power to overcome works of darkness, courage to live in light, and strength to overcome influences of darkness. Darkness is the absence of light.  When we choose to close our eyes to the light of Jesus Christ and the Word of God, we will stumble in darkness.  We will not be able to discern works of darkness.  We can not discern the works of darkness we are easily influenced into believing they are proper, right, and ok to do.  We need to stop living in the darkness. “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.” John 12:46. Study God’s Word, and apply it to your life. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105. How can you follow the light if you don’t turn it on? The Holy Spirit lives in each and every Christian. He is our guide in following God’s instructions, but we can hinder him. “Quench not the Spirit.” 1 Thessalonians 5:19. Don’t let the Light of God be dim in your life. Stand firm on His Word every day.  Do not become complacent or neglectful in His Word.  I fear many are walking in darkness because of this.  The light of God’s Word should be bright in your life, exposing all of it to His holiness and righteousness.  It is in this light we are able to find purpose and meaning – living to humbly serve, follow, obey, trust, honor, and glorify Jesus Christ every “Light-Filled” moment of our lives this side of eternity.