Ephesians 4:17, So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.
Galatians 2:14, When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?”
So far in Teen Bible Quizzing this year, we have been studying Galatians and Ephesians. A comparison of these two consecutive books is quite interesting. In Ephesians, the apostle Paul tells the readers to stop living like the Gentiles who have lost all sensitivity and have given themselves over to sensuality. And in Galatians, Paul essentially tells the reader to stop living like a Jew, following Jewish customs and trying to earn their salvation by the works of the law.
These two extremes are often seen in our Christian culture as legalism and liberalism. On one side, those that pride themselves in following every Christian expectation as if their perfect behavior makes them holy. Verses those on the other side where anything goes, it doesn’t matter if they sin because God, who is rich in mercy and grace, will forgive them.
Many Christians struggle with one of these two extremes. And most of us eventually land somewhere in the middle, trying to do what is right, but not beating ourselves over the head when we sin (but still asking for forgiveness). However, the ideal is not just living in the middle of two extremes. Our Christianity is not really defined by what we do or don’t do. Rules (and our lack of being willing to follow them) have always just been a tool to show us our need of God and of forgiveness.
Ultimately, we want to live as Christians in a love relationship with Jesus Christ. We want to acknowledge His presence with us each day and walk in step with His Holy Spirit that dwells within us. It is not about the rules, but all about the relationship. Not to sound too casual, but may I describe it as our friendship with God.
So I invite you to ask yourself the same question I ask myself. Do I spent enough time talking and listening to my friend? Do I spent enough time reading his letter to me? Let me say that differently. Do I look forward to spending time together with my friend in prayer and Bible reading? Is our friendship healthy or are we drifting apart?
At this Christmas time, we celebrate Christ coming to earth to die on the cross to make a way for us to be united with our loving heavenly father. Christmas is God becoming one of us, reaching out in love and offering relationship and friendship with us. What an amazing and incredible gift.
Let’s close with these verses. The first is the antidote to liberalism.
Galatians 5:16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
These are the antidote to legalism.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 5:1-2 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us…
Finally I close with Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians and may this be our prayer for ourselves and each other. Let’s pray:
Ephesians 3:16,17,19 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts…that you …may have power…to grasp…the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God… Amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Vern