THE APOSTLE OF THE RECONCILIATION

`And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross

ceased' (Gal. 5:11).

There lies unveiled the secret of all the hostility and hatred of religious flesh against the apostle Paul, and the

cross of Christ: no glorying there in the flesh is possible.

Before leaving this subject, we would point out the way in which this blessed teaching of the believer's

identification with his Lord is introduced in connection with crucifixion. What is it that clinched the apostle's

argument with Peter? What is it that silenced all claims of the flesh and its stoicheia? The cross! `I have been

crucified with Christ' (Gal. 2:20). All subsequent activities, then, must be on resurrection ground, even that of `the

life I now live in the flesh'.

Crucifixion with Christ is a different doctrine from Christ crucified for me; the identification with the cross is

possible only for one already a believer. It does not touch the question of sins and justification - that was settled by

the Lord alone. Identification with the cross touches the two great enemies of the believer after salvation - the flesh

and the world:

`... they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts (desires)' (Gal. 5:24).

` ... the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom (whereby) the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world'

(Gal. 6:14).

Both the internal and external enemy is quietened and subdued here.

So far we have not touched, except most casually, upon the second item we put forward, viz., justification

through faith. This we propose to hold over until reviewing the teaching of the epistle to the Romans. We shall,

therefore, conclude this chapter by drawing attention to the first recorded sermon of Paul preached in Galatia,

together with the doctrines first enunciated in the epistle to the Galatians.

`Men of Israel, and ye that fear

Here the inclusion of Gentile

God' (16).

hearers, or at least proselytes, is

`Men and brethren, children of

parallel with the contention of

the stock of Abraham, and

Galatians 3 that they of faith are

blessed with faithful Abraham.

God' (26).

`... they took Him down from the

`Cursed is every one that

tree' (xulon) (29).

hangeth on a tree' (xulon)

(These

a name).

`... by Him all that believe are

The echo of these words runs

justified from all things, from

throughout the epistle to the

which ye could not be justified by

the law of Moses' (39).

The epistle needs close and prayerful study. We can only hint at its line of teaching and pass on, but we trust

sufficient has been discovered to show the status of the Gentile under the terms of the reconciliation; that without the

law or the rites of circumcision and ceremonial observances, the believing Gentile is a son of Abraham and heir

according to the promise. If only we could transfer ourselves back to the days when this astounding doctrine was

first uttered, we should then realize, as it is impossible to realize now, the spiritual courage and dauntless loyalty of

the apostle Paul, when giving place by subjection, no, not for an hour, he kept the open door, that the truth of the

gospel might continue right through (diameno) to us Gentiles.