Who’s in Control – Galatians 1-2 (NIV)

Who’s in Control – Galatians 1-2 (NIV)

Jesus rescued (v4) us from the enemy. It was the Father’s will we be rescued and no longer enslaved by the enemy. The Evil One. But the only way to rescue us was for Him to sacrifice His Son. The Son went willingly but knowing the cost and pain to come.

Humans are easy to trick. And the same trick works over and over. We always want the credit. We always want to be in charge and be God. Why not me? God was great back when things were like they were back then. But now things are different.

It sounds a lot like what teenagers say. "That probably made a lot of sense back when you were young but that’s not how it works now." Sadly sometimes I think that’s true. And just a little truth in there leavens the whole lump. Just think it’s right one time and you must be on to something.

Paul makes the argument that he’s not making these things up himself. He didn’t whip up this idea of the dying Messiah. He pleads to the authority of the source: God. If he can claim to just be the messenger, then you’re arguing with the source: God.

Again, humans. We do tend to take things personally. I love God and hate to see Him insulted or disrespected. But He’s a big boy and can handle His own. He’s been doing it for a while. I really don’t need to present any truth as if it’s my own. I really don’t even have to be worried if someone rejects it. I want them to see the truth but if they don’t, that’s kind of none of my business.

Yes, it’s tough b/c I have my desires in there. I want them to be saved. I want them to have peace. I also want them to see that I’m right. Even in that, again, it’s not my message. But selfishly I want to be given credit like I chose this or had anything to do with it. Nope.

Paul didn’t come up with it either. And he didn’t get it from the other apostles. And Peter isn’t the ultimate source of truth either. Paul rebuked him too (v 2:14). It might be a healthy idea to not eat this or that. We definitely should wash our hands before eating. But you can’t tie a ceremonial meaning to it. Cleanliness is next to godliness. Maybe but it still doesn’t make you godly. If anything, it might be a side-effect.

The Law was our condemner. It stands in constant witness to our fallenness. It doesn’t lie or have opinions. It just draws a line in the ground to show where we stand: on the other side. If we want to live, we have to get to the other side. Too late. Even if we could (we can’t), we already didn’t. We are captives. We need rescue.

The only way out is down. We are captives for life. The only release is death. The only end is death. We can’t live through death so we are hopeless. But, in Him, we can go through death to the other side. He can pass through death. If we can go through covered in Him, we can live too. Not us but He lives in us.

Our lives are forfeit and left behind. We gain a new life. We gain everything and give up what we can’t keep.

Then we keep thinking we can take control back.