“We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles …”
Summary: Paul is striving to explain to the Galatians why it is dangerous to pretend that we can win God’s favor by something as simple as circumcision.
These next few verses may be among the most powerful and significant in the entire New Testament. Paul is explaining the foundational difference between Jew and Gentile, Law and Gospel. He is explaining in a way that may be unique in the New Testament writings.
In describing his conversation with Peter and the “circumcision group,” he begins by saying,”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?” (Galatians 2:14). That is a great question! Then he adds this clarification: “We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles …”
In this statement, is Paul saying that Gentiles are sinful and Jews are not sinful?
I ask again, is Paul suggesting that Jews are without sin? It may sound that way, but that is not true.
When Paul says “sinful Gentiles,” what he means is that Gentiles were not given the Law. Gentiles were not told by God what they should do and what they shouldn’t do. Gentiles lived life as they saw fit, not worrying about whether or not they were pleasing God.*
Jews, on the other hand, worried a lot. They knew the Law and what it said, and at some level, they understood that they were not keeping it. After all, how can someone truly say that they have never coveted something? (Exodus 20: 17, The 10th Commandment) If they truly kept the Law, why would they need to make sacrifices at the temple?
The main advantage of being a Jew was that Jews knew better. The sons of Abraham had been chosen by God to receive his Law and the means of atonement. So what is going on?
Since meeting Jesus face to face, Paul sees the world in a new way. Before he met Jesus, Paul’s focus was on the laws of the Pharisees. Pleasing God was a matter of mastering the law. After meeting Jesus, Paul understood that Jesus wasn’t impressed by someone’s knowledge of the law. What Jesus wants to see is agapé, godly love.
When Paul finally understood God’s ultimate goal for humanity, he could “see” for the first time in his life. He understood that in Christ, “… there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, … but Christ is all, and is in all.” (Colossians 3:11).
Application: Look beyond the law to what God has waiting for us in Christ.
Food for Thought: How does Jesus embody what God wants to see in all of us?
*We are using the word “Gentile” generically. We understand that some Gentiles chose to know more about God, follow God’s Law, and in some cases, join with the Jews in their belief and exercise of Temple worship.
How does Jesus embody what God wants to see in all of us?
Jesus embodied God’s love by reaching out to people in need, noticing them, listening to them, and ultimately healing them. We are invited to live Jesus’ message of compassion where we are and with people who are around us, in our families, in our faith communities, in our places of employment, and in our communities.
Micah 6:8 is a clear, crisp, and simple summary of what God expects from you and me. These three things that matter so much to God are the three things God wants to see in us: justice, kindness, and humility.
Hey “U”
Nicely said! Thank “U”
Jesus embodied selflessness. Even though He lived a sinless life, He gave His life for our sins. As God’s son, He embodied what God wants to see in all of us as faithful servants: He prayed, He followed God’s Word, He gave complete obedience and faith to our heavenly Father. As a man, He also embodied what God wants to see in all of us as faithful servants. He accepted the work God had given Him, He did all things to the glory of God. He loved unconditionally. He cared for those in need. He gave freely to those in need. He also worked, rested, ate, slept, and enjoyed the life that God had given Him in fellowship with His neighbors. He was grateful to the Father, devoted His life to the Father, and lived in communion with the Father.
Philippians 2:5-8 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Bravo CH!
Selfless, sinless, servant, man (human), worker, and grateful are all attributes we can aspire to. I know that I say this often, but sinless means we are in union with God, that we do not rebel against his will, and that by His strength we do not fall short.
I agree with the other comments. Jesus is the ultimate example and representative of the human race. CH already pointed to Philippians 2: 3 – 8. I can’t say it any better than that.
Thank you, Rich.
“Jesus is the ultimate example.”
That sums it up nicely!
02-13-2024, How does Jesus embody what God wants to see in all of us?
Jesus is God, in obedience to His Father God, He humbled Himself for our good, as He confined Himself to the womb of a virgin for nine months. Existed in a physical body of flesh for approximately 33 years serving His creation, mankind. His final act was to allow mankind to crucify His physical body as the sacrifice for all sins of mankind, for all time. He returned in the power of the Holy Spirit, dwels in the heart of every believer, ministers to the world around us to the degree we submit, live in obedience to God’s will.
All those in Christ have been given the opportunity, the honor, the pleasure of living for God as witness’, and experience Jesus ministering through us to those brought to us by God.
Matthew 6:33, But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
2 Peter 1:3-5, Jesus has the power of God. And His power has given us everything we need to live a life devoted to God. We have these things because we know Him. Jesus chose us by His glory and goodness, 4 through which He also gave us the very great and rich gifts that He promised us. With these gifts you can share in being like God. And so you will escape the ruin that comes to people in the world because of the evil things they want. 5 Because you have these blessings, do all you can to add to your life these things: to your faith add goodness; to your goodness add knowledge;
Acts 6:4, 1 John 4:15, 1 Peter 3:15, Acts 20:24, Matthew 5:16
Ron,
You point us to an interesting and important fact:
The more we become like Christ, the more Christ can minister through us.
Exactly, ad the more we enjoy the pleasure of feeling I’m minister to others through us as well as see the truth as people come to know our Lord. Can’t miss.