Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them.
Summary: The situation in the Galatian churches was new at the time. Paul was horrified at what had happened. His letter to the Galatians is a testimony to his zeal for winning them back to the truth.
When Adam and Eve were still in the Garden of Eden, they represented the entire human race. More than that, they represented the church, God’s family on earth. They did not need a formal building or church services to learn about God because, at that time, they walked in God’s loving presence without sin. Little did they know God’s enemy, Satan, had them in his sights.
Satan wanted to alienate humanity from its Creator. Ultimately, he hoped to win humanity over to himself so completely, that people would have zeal for him. We know these two facts to be true because he has succeeded, to some extent, in both.* Without Christ, sin separates us from God, and the result is that some people throughout history have put their faith in Satan.
Satan is subtle. He does not come at us directly but instead uses incremental steps. In the Garden of Eden, Satan did not try to win Eve over to himself right away. Instead, he was content to win her away from God with the promise of being like God (Genesis 3:5).
The people whom Paul describes did not come with threats and demands for obedience. Instead, they came with smiles, “zealous to win [them] over.” In time, they won the trust and loyalty of the Galatians, and that is when they began to entice them with reliance on the law.
The lesson for the modern church is the same as the lesson learned by the Galatians. Satan uses this same technique today just as he did then. People become enthralled with personalities, programs, theologies, and even buildings. Each of these elements serves to divide God’s people instead of uniting them.
The Body of Christ is not defined by any particular human expression of faith. The Body of Christ is defined by our relationship with Jesus. Period.
Do you think Jesus would be pleased with the divisions in the church these days? Even the word “denomination” suggests division. When we talk about currency, we use the word “denomination” to describe the different types of bills.
Like Adam and Eve in the Garden, the church is constantly under attack by God’s enemy. His technique is always the same. He wants to alienate us from our God. He wants us to have zeal for him instead of God. Do not be fooled!
Application: Keep your eyes on Jesus. Always!
Food for Thought: What are some signs that a person is up to “no good?”
*Early morning edit: I added “to some extent” because Satan has not completely won over humanity. My apologies for the misstatement.
I can think of three good examples:
Those that exchange evil for good.
Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
Those that are unapologetically self-centered:
2 Timothy 3:1-5 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
Those that try to control information and what those around them think.
3 John 1:9-10 I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.
Chris,
Thank you! Excellent analysis!
Thanks CH. good points.
One of my personal tests is what they say about Christ and whether they desire to have people follow them instead of Christ. If they are trying to amass followers for themselves rather than making disciples of Christ – don’t trust them.
Acts 20: 28 – 30: Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, a which he bought with his own blood. 29I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.
Thank you, Rich.
Thank you for all you do and for your wisdom here.
Great Points by CH and R!
What are some signs that a person is up to “no good?”
God has given us His Word “ our owners manual “. We find the answer as we grow in His Word, live knowing anything contrary to His Word is not good.
1 Thessalonians 5:21, Acts 17:11, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Romans 12:2, Proverbs 2:3-5, Psalm 119:105, Colossians 2:8, 2 Corinthians 10:5,
1 John 4:1
I believe, what we do with this knowledge depends upon our level of maturity and the degree of “ no Good “, or evil in the person. God’s Word tells us to live in His word, His power of discernment and listen to His Spirit who will instruct each of us when to speak and when to remain silent.
Always remembering we do not exist on this world to argue, but to teach, instruct in the love of Christ.
Thank you, Ron.
Great point! We can’t discern the truth if we do not have the Spirit of Truth in us.