12/29/2023: Galatians 2:4-5 – The slavery of religion is not the true gospel.

Galatians 2:4-5 (NASB)

⁴ Yet it was a concern because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy on our freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us. ⁵ But we did not yield in subjection to them, even for an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.

Thought for today – The slavery of religion is not the truth of gospel.

Paul devoted the next two chapters of this epistle to countering these false teachers who taught that to be truly saved, the Gentile believers needed to keep the Old Testament Law beginning by being circumcised.  That teaching seems to have permeated throughout the new churches, and since the Jewish believers had held to the Law from birth, that was not a problem, but for the Gentiles, this was a big step.  In today’s culture, the same hold of tradition is still present among those in the church who believe and teach that a certain lifestyle is necessary for acceptance in Christ.  This teaching is the essence of legalism, the slavery of religion, and is not the gospel of Jesus Christ.

That’s what the Book says!