The next part!
If you are jumping into this right now- maybe consider starting at the beginning of this conversation HERE As with anything else in life, context actually matters 😃
For the rest of you continuing on this journey with me- let's dive in to the next segment-
As a refresher, take a look at Bible Project's overview of Galatians once again with me HERE
Reminder- this blog on Galatians is my own study. That means, you are doing this real-time with me as I process my own thoughts and bents towards what I'm reading and leaning into with Jesus....
Here we go!
I'm going to include my opening prayer as I enter into this point of scripture. I do this every time
I read my Bible- why? Because we are told that it is by Holy Spirit that we are able to understand and receive revelation (John 14:26, John 16:13, Ephesians 1:17, Ephesians 3:16-19), that as believers of Jesus we actually have his mind (1 Corinthians 2:16). Is this crazy to comprehend and employ? For me, it makes complete sense that I would appeal to the source that would reveal, teach and guide- even if I don't completely get it. I mean how many of us drive vehicles that we have zero clue how everything works under the hood, but we know we need those elements working to get from point A to point B....a crude metaphor, yes, but Holy Spirit doesn't need to be understood to know that we need Him to learn.
So.
Holy Spirit. God of Revelation and Understanding who gives exceedingly more to those who ask or imagine. I invite you in to this time as we seek you and what you have to reveal to us today. Thank-you for our access to your word, thank-you for our access to you, Father, through Jesus Christ. Lord, we want to know you and your ways. We want to grow in relationship with you. Thank-you for giving us eyes to see and ears to hear as we surrender our own hearts and minds to you today. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
This is the question on my heart today-
What makes you a part of God's family?
So funny how the Lord works. I'm sitting here at our local coffee shop having my own time with Jesus, thinking about this next segment of Galatians and as I am pondering what it is to belong to God's family a friend of mine comes up to talk about some life circumstances that involve switching denominations for schooling and community and the tension and questions that ensue....
What makes us a part of God's family?
Is it an affiliation with a specific denomination?
Are there traditions or ceremonies or rites that are required?
What does He expect when He brings us in to Him?
Once I'm saved and in a congregation- what's next? What happens next?
Have you ever even thought about these questions.....?
I think if each one of us is honest, at some level, we find ourselves qualifying our place with God- again- by the religious traditions, gatherings, church memberships and small groups we are apart of. Our belonging becomes measured by the religious people we hang out with instead of the God that created us to hang out with Him.
Ps it is GOOD to have relationship with God and people both, but identity is first established in Jesus- not anything or anyone else.
Friends, we CRAVE to belong. People FIGHT to belong. Belonging is totally on display all the time in our society and belonging- the problem is that as our world demonstrates it-to belong actually DIFFERENTIATIES and SEPARATES based on commmonalities and shared beliefs and traits. Belonging feels right when everyone in the group agrees and those that don't- well, they don't belong. I am suggesting that this is an issue with the CHURCH Jesus is coming back for one day- we do not on a macro scale accept allllll believers as Jesus-followers. The current state of the body looks like a diced up form- a hand there, a foot here- disjunct and disconnected because of religion.
If the church example doesn't work for you- pick something else (IE politics, platforms, social issues, etc). The point is- we've all been persuaded back into something we're not supposed to be a part of.
The good news-
God had a different plan from the beginning.
Belonging from His plan and inception was to INCLUDE and UNITE all peoples of all tribes and nations. See that? The uniqueness is maintained (tribes and nations), but we all BELONG to God IN Jesus.
Now, this is mind, to belong is a GOOD thing, but belonging is first found in Him. After all, it is impossible to be a part of His family without faith in Jesus Christ. It is that relationship that we become a part of God's family {or belong} to God (Romans 8:30). This relationship and identity is NOT founded in tradition or practice or deeds or morality- it's found in Jesus Christ, period...yet, it seems that what begins from Faith can become ensnared by religion. I believe that Paul eludes to this later in the scripture when he speaks of becoming entangled with the elemental forces that we are freed from in Jesus. Religion- I am suggesting is an elemental force or power (Eph 6:12)
This is exactly what the church in Galatia was battling- and- I would suggest what A LOT of our churches are battling with today.
The issue is that the FOUNDATION of belonging and identity should be first found in Jesus NOT the other things--He is the source of life. Belonging to Him first reminds us of our need for mercy and grace and love SO THAT we can give mercy and grace and love. We come together to serve one another and our communities as an EXTENSION of what we have and know in Him. And you know who we need to be able to give this to the most? Not the people that we FEEL belonging with- you know all those folks you agree with and vote the same as, but with the rest of whole family.....like those people that go to the OTHER church down the street, or how about the ones that don't go to church at all?...
The Church is not a fraternity
The Church is the body of Christ
So, if it isn't shared traditions or attendance or Bible studies--- then HOW do we belong to God?
Let's dive in to the scripture for today:
O Foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain--if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith--just as Abraham "believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"?
Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham saying, "In you shall all the nations be blessed." So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
Ready for it?
How do we belong?
FAITH.
It was the truth then and it remains the truth today.
FAITH.
The belief in something unseen. The belief that Jesus really, really died on your behalf. The belief that HE really, really was raised on your behalf and REALLY, REALLY ascended to His throne as the reigning King of EVERYTHING.
FAITH. Nothing more, nothing less.
Faith finds belonging.
There is SO much in this portion of scripture that I'm not touching today. I'm aware. It feels so important to highlight (it is what is being highlighted to me!) that the beginning of our salvation begins with FAITH and continues BY FAITH. Salvation doesn't begin with a baptismal ceremony and continue with classes and church services. All these things are good, but they do NOT have anything to do with our relational access to God....only Jesus does. This brings me to tears and (even after editing this over and over) leaves me without complete language to share the importance of this point. The enemy has used our created desire to belong to persuade us into counterfeit belonging that has separated and weakened the body of Christ. It is not God's desire that we would all be assimilated (again, we are as different and diverse as the physical body) it is His desire that we would be united in Jesus and that we would function as a divine orchestra for the kingdom in all of our diversity as a full representation of Him.
WE were meant to be diverse and unique, but that diversity and uniqueness was never to separate it was only to reveal in part and know in part (1 Corinthians 13:9). TOGETHER we display the complete wisdom of God (Eph 3:10).
Now, don't misunderstand me- the CHURCH doesn't include anyone or any body that hasn't accepted Jesus as their savior....but allllll of the different denominations that accept Christ are ONE body. We ALL belong by FAITH through grace.
Honestly, this blog feels totally clunky and I'm sure some theologian out there will totally discredit where I'm feeling pulled towards because it isn't at all historical and isn't even really addressing the specific subject matter that Paul is in these passages...But, I can't get over the glaring familiarity of expectation and tradition completely disarming the Gospel and trading grace and faith for religion.
It's on display daily for me-
What religion are you? What denomination are you? Ever heard that? Let me restate the question based on this conversation, What religion or denomination do you belong to?
As Jesus-followers, we do not belong to a religion, denomination, etc (1 Corinthians 1:12)- we belong to Christ.
who or what do you belong to?
It is a very simple and yet profound question. I think it is an important one to consider and a perfect place to invite the Lord in to reveal, redeem and restore.
God, I pray for you to meet each of us in the beliefs and thoughts that we have concerning belonging. I pray for you to make clear where any of us has identified with anything other than you, Jesus. I pray for the spirit of sonship to rest on each person that reads this- that they have instant knowledge of whose they are and who you are. God, thank-you for the individuality and uniqueness that you created us with- bless us with the favor and grace to unite rather than assimilate. May your Holy Spirit bring us closer to the mature man of Jesus that you intended us to become like. Our lives are not our own and we choose to belong to you and be known by you. In Jesus' precious name we pray. Amen.
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly more than you can ask or imagine... Eph 3:20
Lyns
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