Today’s selected reading is found in the epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the churches which were located in Galatia.  More specifically today’s passage is found in the first chapter of this New Testament book. “Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) and all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia: Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (Galatians 1:1-5).

 

            “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:6-10).

 

            “But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: and profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother. Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not. Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Ciliciia; and was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ: but they had heard only, that he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. And they glorified God in me” (Galatians 1:11-23).

 

            When you come to the epistle written by the apostle Paul which was written unto the churches which were in Galatia you will find an epistle that is seemingly different from the others he wrote. In total within the New Testament there are thirteen epistles which the apostle Paul with four of those epistles being written unto individuals and the other nine being written unto churches. There were two churches which each received two epistles—the church in Thessalonica and the church in Corinth—while each of the other churches received one epistle each. What makes the epistle of Galatians so incredibly unique is that it wasn’t written to a single congregation but rather unto multiple churches in one region. If you take the time to read the words which are found in the first five verses of this epistle you will find the apostle Paul wrote “unto the churches of Galatia” which is actually quite astonishing when you take the time to think about it. The apostle Paul wasn’t merely writing unto a single congregation with this epistle but was writing unto multiple churches which were found within the region of Galatia. What we must needs realize is that Galatia wasn’t a city such as Corinth, Rome, Thessalonica, Ephesus, Philippi and even Colossae were. Galatia was a region in what is considered part of the modern day country of Turkey. Scripture is not clear how many churches there were within the region of Galatia only that the apostle Paul was writing this epistle unto the churches which were in Galatia.

 

            If there is one thing I have to admit I’m curious about it’s exactly how many churches there were in the region of Galatia and how many churches the apostle Paul was writing to when he penned this epistle. The only thing we know for sure is that the apostle Paul was writing together with brethren who were present with him at the time this epistle was penned and was writing unto the churches which were in the region of Galatia. This is quite remarkable when you take the time to think about and consider it for it calls and draws our attention to the absolutely astonishing truth that this epistle wouldn’t merely be written unto a singular congregation which might have met in someone’s home or even a church that could have met in a hall, or in a synagogue or something along those lines. This epistle was written unto the churches which were in Galatia and I would not only love to know how many churches there were but what these individual churches were like. As you read this epistle you don’t get the sense the apostle Paul was writing one thing to one of the churches in Galatia and another thing to another church in Galatia. The apostle Paul was writing the same thing unto ALL the churches which were present in Galatia. It would have been one thing for the apostle Paul to write different messages to different churches in this epistle—sort of like there were epistles and letters written to different churches in the prophetic book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. It’s in the prophetic book of the Revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ we find seven epistles—each epistle written unto one of the seven churches of Asia which needed to be addressed by the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

            Perhaps one of the most interesting things about the New Testament and its makeup is how there are multiple epistles written unto different churches which were present during the days of the apostles and early church. If you take the time to read the words presented in the New Testament you will find that the apostle Paul was the single greatest author of epistles written unto churches and within the New Testament we find the apostle Paul writing unto five different churches which were in various cities. What’s more is that when you read the epistles written unto the Thessalonians, unto the Colossians, unto the Ephesians, unto the Philippians and even unto the saints which were at Rome you will find the apostle Paul wasn’t necessarily writing unto churches but rather the saints which were present within those locations. When you read the words which are found in each of these epistles you will find the apostle Paul isn’t merely writing to individual churches but rather writing unto the collective saints and corporate body that was present within the individual cities he had personally traveled to and ministered the word, the gospel and the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is something which we must needs understand and recognize when reading the words found in the epistle written unto the churches of Galatia for within this epistle the apostle Paul wasn’t writing unto saints but unto the churches which were present within that specific region. Within the epistle written unto the churches of Galatia the apostle Paul was doing more than addressing saints within a specific city but addressing the various churches which were present in the midst of an entire region.

 

            I find it incredibly unique and intriguing when reading the words presented in the epistle of Galatians and what it would be like if something similar took place within our generation.  We know that in the prophetic book of the Revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ He addressed the seven churches in Asia by instructing the apostle John to write a letter unto each of those churches. We know the apostle Paul wrote epistles unto the saints which were at Ephesus, unto the saints which were at Rome, the saints which were at Philippi and the saints which were at Colossae while he would write two epistles unto the saints which were in Corinth. When, however, we come to the epistle of the Galatians we find the apostle Paul writing unto the churches which were present within that region. This is something we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of for it calls our attention to what would happen if the churches—not within a singular city but an entire region were addressed by an apostle of Christ.  What would happen if the Lord Jesus Christ sought to address the churches of an entire region because those churches had departed from the faith and had quickly turned aside to a false gospel, false doctrine and false teaching?

 

            It is at this juncture where I find it absolutely necessary to call and draw your attention to the individual greetings which are found in each of the epistles written by the apostle Paul unto the saints within the various cities he would send epistles to. These epistles include the epistle written unto the saints which were at Rome, the epistles written unto the saints which were at Corinth, the epistle written unto the saints which were at Ephesus, the epistle written unto the saints of Philippi, the epistle written unto the saints which were in Colossae and the epistles written unto the saints which were at Thessalonica. Consider if you will the opening greeting and introduction in each of these epistles written unto the saints which were in each of these individual cities and consider how they help shine a tremendous light on to that which is found in the opening verses of the epistle written unto the churches which were in Galatia:

 

            “Paul, a bond servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for the obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; to all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 1:1-7).

 

            THE CALLED OF JESUS CHRIST! ALL WHO ARE IN ROME! BELOVED OF GOD! CALLED TO BE SAINTS!

 

            “Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, to the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:1-3).

 

            TO THE CHURCH OF GOD WHICH IS AT CORINTH! TO THOSE WHO ARE SANCTIFIED IN CHRIST JESUS! CALLED TO BE SAINTS! WITH ALL WHO IN EVERY PLACE CALL ON THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD!

 

            “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:1-2).

 

            TO THE CHURCH OF GOD WHICH IS AT CORINTH! WITH ALL THE SAINTS WHO ARE IN ALL ACHAIA!

 

            “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God. To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our. Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 1:1-2).

 

            TO THE SAINTS WHO ARE IN EPHESUS! FAITHFUL IN CHRIST JESUS!

 

            “Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:1-2).

 

            TO ALL THE SAINTS IN CHRIST JESUS WHO ARE IN PHILIPPI! WITH THE BISHOPS AND DEACONS!

 

            “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Collosse: Grace to you and peace from God our. Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Colossians 1:1-2).

 

            TO THE SAINTS AND FAITHFUL BRETHREN IN CHRIST JESUS WHO ARE IN COLOSSE!

 

            “Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 1:1).

 

            TO THE CHURCH OF THE THESSALONIANS IN GOD THE FATHER AND THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!

 

            “Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:1-2).

 

            TO THE CHURCH OF THE THESSALONIANS IN GOD OUR FATHER AND THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!

 

            It is absolutely necessary we consider the opening greeting in each of the epistles the apostle Paul wrote unto the saints and churches which were in each of these individual cities for these epistles were written—either unto the church which was present in an individual city or unto the saints which were present within that city. The second epistle written unto the Corinthian saints is perhaps a notable exception when reading the opening greetings in these epistles for the apostle Paul also seems to address and be speaking unto those who were in the region of Achaia where Corinth itself was located. What’s more is that when you read the epistle written unto the saints which were at Collossae you will find the apostle instructing and exhorting them to read the words of the epistle in Laodicea as well, thus indicating that this epistle might have been written unto the saints which were in Colossae but also needed to be read in the hearing of those who were in Laodicea. What we find in the epistle of Galatians is the apostle Paul writing unto the churches which were in an entire region. This is something quite intriguing when you take the time to think about it for there is something about a letter that is written—not unto a singular church within a city but unto all the churches which were in an entire region. Perhaps the equivalent in our modern day could be understood as all the churches in a particular state county, or perhaps all the churches in a particular district, or all the churches in a particular region such as the Northeast, or the Northwest, or the Southeast, or the Midwest, or even the Southeast. Pause for a moment and think about what it would be like if all the churches in a specific region needed to be addressed because they had departed from the faith and had gone aside unto false doctrines, false teaching and false gospels.

 

           

The more I read the words which are found in the epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the churches which were in Galatia the more I am brought face to face with the fact that this wasn’t simply a singular church that had departed from the faith and turned aside unto another gospel, unto another Jesus and even unto another Spirit. As you read the words which are found within this epistle you will come to understand that there were multiple churches within Galatia that had departed from the faith and had turned aside unto a false gospel, unto a false Jesus and even unto a false Spirit. Aside from the apostle Paul speaking of those who entered in among them as those who troubled them we really don’t know what took place within the churches which were in Galatia. We can speculate concerning that which took place within the churches which were in Galatia and how and why they departed from the faith, however, we really don’t know that which truly took place. What I can’t help but think about is what happened when the false teaching and false doctrine first infiltrated these churches. Not only this but there is a part of me that can’t help but wonder if there were any present within these churches that were even aware of the false teaching which had crept in among them. Were there any saints in any of these churches who started hearing things that didn’t line up with that which they had heard from the apostle Paul and from his companions? Were there any who began hearing something different from what they had heard the apostle Paul preached and perhaps even different from that which they themselves had studied in the Scriptures? There is a part of me that can’t help but wonder if there were any who saw red flags and began noticing something was out of character and something was out of place during those days.

 

I sit here today thinking about and considering the words which are found within this epistle and I am brought face to face with the tremendous reality surrounding these churches and how the apostle Paul did in fact describe how there were false brethren who had crept in among them. In all reality I would dare say that there weren’t merely false brethren who crept in among them but there were false teachers who also crept in among them as well. With this being said it is important to recognize that the inherent danger that faced this church wasn’t necessarily bondage to sin but rather a different type of spiritual bondage. We would like to think that the only bondage a saints of God can be subject to is bondage unto sin and yet the truth of the matter is that this simply is not the case. There is another bondage that can creep in among the churches which can oftentimes be more subtle than bondage to sin. The bondage I am speaking about is a bondage unto religion, a bondage unto the law and a bondage that leads to legalism. If you take the time to read the words which are found within this epistle you will find that these churches which were in Galatia had not only departed from the faith and turned to a false gospel, a false Jesus and a false Spirit but they had also given themselves unto a religious bondage centered upon the Law and legalism. They had traded the freedom that was found in the person of the Holy Spirit and had replaced it with bondage that was centered in the Law. In all reality that which they had subjected themselves to was the same thing the scribes and the Pharisees had subjected themselves to during the days of Jesus. What’s more is that which they had allowed themselves to be subjected to was the same thing the brethren which came from Judea unto Antioch tried subjecting them too—namely a religion and legalism according to the Law and that which promotes circumcision as a prerequisite to be saved. With this in mind I invite you to consider that which is found in the fourteenth and fifteenth chapters of the New Testament book of Acts as well as that which is found in the fifteenth and twenty-third chapters of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle Matthew:

 

“Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread. He answered and said to them, Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honor your father and your mother; and, He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death. But you say, Whosoever says to his father or mother, Whatever profit you might have received from is a gift to God—then he need not honor his father or mother. Thus you had made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. Hypocrites! Will did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: These people draw near to me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. And in vain they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. When He had called the multitude to himself, he said to them, hear and understand: Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man. Then his disciples came and said to Him, Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying? But he answered and said, Every plant which my Heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone. They are the blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch. Then Peter answered and said to him, Explain this parable to us. So Jesus said, Are you also still without understanding? Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man” (Matthew 15:1-20).

 

Here within this particular encounter between the scribes and the Pharisees and Jesus we find Jesus indicting them for their transgressing the commandment of God because of their tradition. What’s more is within this encounter we also find the Lord Jesus indicting the scribes and the Pharisees for teaching as doctrines the commandments of men while at the same time drawing close to God with their mouth while their hearts were far from Him. This is something we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of for when we come to the twenty-third chapter of the same gospel we find the Lord Jesus once more indicting the scribes and the Pharisees for their hypocrisy. If there is one thing we must needs recognize about the scribes and the Pharisees it’s that they were in bondage—a bondage not unto sin against the living God such as murder, theft, adultery, lying, stealing and the like but a bondage unto the Law. The scribes and the Pharisees were in bondage unto the Law and were in the bondage of religion and legalism. This is something we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of for if you wish to understand the words and language found and contained within the epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the churches of Galatia you must understand this bondage and how incredibly subtle and dangerous it truly is. There are men and women among us within our churches who will do anything and everything they can to keep themselves from being in bondage unto sin, however, they are doing absolutely nothing to guard themselves from the bondage to the Law—the bondage of legalism and the bondage of religion. What’s more is I would dare say that it’s possible for certain members of the body of Christ to be in bondage to sin such as what we find in the first epistle written unto the Corinthian saints while there are other members of the body of Christ who are in bondage to the Law which leads to religion and legalism.

 

THE CARNAL CHURCH! THE RELIGIOUS CHURCH! I would dare say that what we find in the first epistle written unto the Corinthian saints and the epistle written unto the churches of Galatia bring us face to face with two different types of bondage that can and will seek to infiltrate our churches today. There are members of the body of Christ who might be gifted and might be enriched in all knowledge and utterance and yet they are carnal such as those to whom the apostle Paul wrote the first epistle written unto the Corinthian saints. There is not a doubt in my mind that one of the most powerful bondages that is present within many churches in this generation—particularly those churches in the West is the bondage unto sin. There are entire churches who are carnal because of the division, the strife, the tension, the chaos, the infighting, the wars, the quarrels and the debates which are present among them. These churches cannot be address or even referred to as spiritual because they have allowed themselves to be divided among themselves within the church. What makes this all the more intriguing when you take the time to think about it is when you read the epistle written unto the churches in Galatia. Within this epistle you will find a church that wasn’t in bondage to sin but a church that was in bondage to legalism and a church that was in bondage to religion. This church was indeed and was in fact in bondage to the Law of Moses and as a result they were trying to finish and accomplish in the flesh that which they had begun in the Spirit.

 

Before I delve further into the contrast between the bondage unto sin and the bondage unto religion I find it absolutely necessary to call and draw your attention to the following words which are found in the twenty-third chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle Matthew. It is the words contained within this passage of Scripture that helps us understand that which we find in the chapter immediately proceeding and following it—the twenty-fourth chapter of the gospel narrative written by the apostle Matthew. It is in the twenty-fourth chapter of the gospel narrative written by the apostle Matthew we find Jesus’ warnings concerning the Last Days and the dangers which the saints of God and even the whole world can and will face. With this in mind I invite you to consider the following words which are found in the twenty-third chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle Matthew beginning to read with and from the first verse:

 

“Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on. Men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But you, do not be called Rabbi; for one is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, that is Christ. But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever Elat’s himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:1-12).

 

“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!@ For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. Woe to you, blind guides, who say, Whosoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it. Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold? And, Whosoever swears by the altar it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it. Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? Therefore he who swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it. He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by Him who dwells in it. And he show swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it. Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have neglected the weightier. Matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisees, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whatwashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, and say, If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ guilt. Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute them from city to city, that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah,  son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation” (Matthew 23:13-36).

 

It is quite clear from the words which are found in this passage of Scripture that Jesus indicted the scribes and the Pharisees for their hypocrisy. If there is one thing we must needs recognize and understand it’s that hypocrisy is always the byproduct and perhaps even the foundation of legalism and religion. In fact I would dare say that we cannot have a conversation about religion without also having a conversation about hypocrisy. Moreover I would dare say that we cannot have a conversation about legalism without having a conversation about hypocrisy. I firmly believe that both legalism and religion are intrinsically linked and connected to each other. There is a great need for us to recognize and understand that which Jesus spoke of in this particular passage of Scripture for Jesus most certainly indicted the scribes and the Pharisees for their bondage to the law and then warned, cautioned and instructed His disciples to do as they said but not as they did. The scribes and the Pharisees were indeed indicted by Jesus for their bondage to the Law which leads to religion and legalism. What’s more is that bondage to the Law of Moses—even bondage unto the traditions, commandments, doctrines and “rules” of men—can indeed lead men and women to be in bondage to legalism and religion. This is something we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of for it calls and draws our attention to the tremendous danger that surrounds this bondage to the Law. There would be those who would like to think that bondage to sin is the only type of bondage that we must needs guard ourselves against and yet the truth of the matter is that the enemy and adversary can send his army and his forces to pursue in the wilderness to enslave and capture us again after we have been delivered, redeemed and set free from the bondage we found ourselves in within our lives.

 

I am absolutely convinced that even if you as a saint of God and one who is called a disciple of Jesus Christ have indeed been delivered and redeemed from the bondage of sin and death that does not mean the enemy and adversary cannot and will not pursue you in the wilderness. The enemy and adversary can and will send his armies and his forces after you to seek to overtake you in the wilderness that he might bring you back into bondage. What we must needs recognize is that the bondage the enemy and adversary can and will bring you into isn’t merely a bondage unto sin but it is also a bondage unto religion, a bondage unto the Law and a bondage unto the Law which leads to hypocrisy. There is a great need for us as the saints of God to recognize and pay close attention to this for it calls and draws our attention to the incredible need that we must needs guard ourselves carefully against all forms of bondage for the enemy can and will seek to enslave us and bring us into bondage even though he might have had to release his grip and his control over and upon our lives. We as the saints of God and disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ must needs recognize and understand that we have indeed and have in fact been called to be those who recognize the subtle attack and assault of the enemy and adversary to bring us into bondage and must diligently guard our hearts, our minds, our souls and our spirits from being enslaved again to this bondage. This is precisely what is found at the very heart of the epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the churches which were in Galatia for while it was indeed true they were delivered and set free by the Spirit through the word, the gospel and the name of the Lord Jesus Christ they had allowed themselves to be enslaved and brought into bondage once more.

 

I am sitting here right now writing these words and I am brought face to face with the tremendous truth surrounding this bondage to sin as well as the bondage unto the Law—a bondage to religion and legalism which leads to hypocrisy—which we must needs guard ourselves against in this life. We would be incredibly naïve and foolish to think and even believe for a moment that we cannot somehow and some way be subject once more to some type of bondage in this life. Although it might very well have been true that we have been set free, delivered and redeemed from the bondage of sin and death that doesn’t mean the enemy cannot and will not seek to bring us into bondage once more. Notice that after the children of Israel were delivered and redeemed from their slavery and bondage in the land of Egypt Pharaoh and his armies sought to pursue and overtake them in the wilderness that he might bring them back into the slavery and bondage in the land of Egypt. What’s more is you will notice that at the mountain of God in the wilderness the living and eternal God sought to deliver the children of Israel from the false gods and idols which they worshipped in the land of Egypt and which their fathers worshipped in the land of Canaan and even before the flood. This is precisely what Joshua the son of Nun spoke unto the children of Israel after they had come into the land of Canaan before he died and how he called them to abandon the false gods and idols which their fathers worshipped. With this being said we must needs recognize that after the children of Israel entered into the land of Canaan the enemy and adversaries round about them sought to enslave and bring them into bondage—a reality that is found time and time again within the Old Testament book of Judges.

 

If there is one thing we must needs recognize concerning the Old Testament book of Judges it’s that the enemies and adversaries round about the newly formed land of Israel sought to enslave and bring them into bondage. Although they wouldn’t seek to remove them from the land the enemies and adversaries would seek to enslave them within the land that was given unto them by oath and according to the promise given unto Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This is something we must needs recognize for it is possible for us to be in the inheritance given unto us by the eternal and living God and yet the enemy and adversary can and will still seek to enslave us and bring us into bondage in the midst of that inheritance. Time and time again the children of Israel would do evil in the sight of the Lord their God and as a direct result of this He would deliver them into the hands of their enemies and adversaries. It would be their sin, their transgression, their disobedience and their rebellion that would open the door for their bondage and servitude to their enemies and adversaries such as the Amalekites, the Moabites, the Philistines, the Ammonites and other nations and peoples round about them. It’s important to recognize that when the children of Israel were brought into the land they were surrounded by enemies round about on the north, the south and on the east with the Great Sea serving as their border on the west. The children of Israel would essentially be caught between the Great Sea on the west and enemies to their north,  enemies to their south and enemies to their east. During the days of the judges the children of Israel would do that which was evil in the sight of the living God and as a direct result they would find themselves in bondage unto their enemies within their own land.

 

I am absolutely gripped and captivated with the words found in the Old Testament book of Judges for within this book we find the people of God living in the land sworn on oath unto their fathers and actually taking possession of their inheritance and yet still finding themselves in bondage unto their enemies and adversaries. The truth and underlying reality surrounding this bondage to their enemies and adversaries is directly linked to their rebellion, their transgression, their disobedience and their sin in the sight of the living God. What we must needs recognize is that from the time the children of Israel were delivered from their slavery, bondage and oppression in the land of Egypt the enemy and adversary sought to bring them into bondage. The enemy and adversary would first seek to bring them back into the same bondage, slavery and oppression of Egypt by pursuing them into the wilderness and trying to overtake them at the Red Sea. When that didn’t work and the LORD drowned Pharaoh’s armies in the waters of the Red Sea the enemy and adversary would seek to bring them into bondage and slavery within and unto the wilderness. You will notice in the fourteenth chapter of the Old Testament book of Numbers that the children of Israel would be in bondage to the wilderness for forty years—not only because of their rebellion and disobedience in the sight of the living God but also that an entire generation would die and be killed off in that same wilderness. Ultimately the children of Israel would enter into the land of promise and would claim their inheritance and the enemy and adversary would seek to enslave and keep them in bondage in their own land since there was no way of removing them. During the time of the judges the children of Israel would do that which was evil in the sight of the living God and would in fact worship and serve the false gods and idols of their fathers as well as those within the land of Canaan among the nations and peoples round about them.

 

The more you read the words which are found in the Old Testament the more you can and will be brought face to face with the fact that the enemy and adversary would seek to bring them into bondage within their own land and within their inheritance. Although they had claimed the inheritance of the land and although they had taken possession of it the enemy and adversary would still seek to bring them into bondage unto the nations and peoples around about them. This is what made the times of Joshua and David so incredibly powerful for it would be during the days of Joshua the children of Israel would take possession of the land and would put to the sword thirty-one kings present within the land. During the days of Joshua the children of Israel would take possession of the land of Canaan while it would be during the days of David the children of Israel would subdue the nations and peoples round about the nation of Israel and would essentially subjugate them. It would be during the days of David when the nation and kingdom of Israel would expand in the midst of the earth for the nations round about Israel would find themselves subject to the nation, the kingdom and the people of Israel. This is something we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of for it calls and draws our attention o the absolutely wonderful truth surrounding the enemy and adversary seeking to bring us into bondage—even within our own inheritance given to us by the living God. Of course we know and understand that the nation and kingdom of Israel would be divided into two with the northern ten tribes forming the kingdom of Israel and the tribes of Judah and Benjamin forming the southern kingdom of Judah. Eventually and ultimately the northern kingdom of Israel would be carried away into captivity by the Assyrians while the southern kingdom of Judah would be carried away into captivity by the Babylonians.

 

The reason why all of this is so incredible unique and important for us—particularly when reading the epistle written unto the churches in Galatia—is because we must not be ignorant of the enemy’s schemes, tactics and strategies. We must needs recognize and understand how the enemy can and will seek to bring us into bondage, slavery and oppression after we have been delivered and redeemed—not only bondage to sin but even bondage unto the Law which leads to religion, legalism and hypocrisy. If we are being honest with ourselves we must admit that the two greatest forms of bondage among the saints of God is either the bondage to rebellion or the bondage to hypocrisy. Two of the greatest dangers facing the church of God and the body of Christ are these two forms and means of slavery, bondage and oppression and we as the saints of God must needs guard ourselves from both of them. The enemy might have needed to release his control over us as we have been redeemed, rescued, delivered and set free by the blood of Jesus from the power of sin and death within our lives, however, that does not mean the enemy cannot and will not seek to bring us into bondage after the fact. The enemy can and will seek to bring us into bondage even after we have been delivered and redeemed by the blood of Jesus as we surrendered and committed our live unto Him. This is something we must needs recognize and understand for there is a great need to guard our hearts and our minds from all manners of deception which would seek to bring us into such bondage. If we aren’t careful we can find ourselves opening our hearts and our minds to that which the enemy and adversary seeks to enslave and bring us into bondage to—especially in these last days in which we are living.

 

Having said this I invite you now to consider the following words which are found in the New Testament book of Acts as well as the words which are found in the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle Matthew which presents us with the words which our Lord spoke concerning the Last Days. We as the saints of God must needs recognize and understand that the enemy and adversary can and will seek to bring us into bondage in these Last Days and two of the greatest means and methods whereby he will do so is through persecution and deception. This is what the Lord Jesus described so perfectly when speaking unto His disciples concerning the Last Days. If you read the words which are found in the twenty-fourth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle Matthew you will find a powerful declaration concerning the Last Days and that which the enemy and adversary can and will seek to use to bring the saints of God into bondage. We must needs recognize and understand the tremendous reality of the enemy and adversary and how we have a very real enemy who can and will seek to bring us into bondage, slavery and oppression in this life. With this in mind I invite you now consider the following words which are found in the fourteenth and fifteenth chapters of the New Testament book of Acts as well as the words which are found in the twenty-fourth chapter of the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle Matthew:

 

“And certain men came down from Judaea and taught the brethren, Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved. Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined. That Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question. So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren. And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses” (Acts 15:1-5).

 

“Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which. Neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they. Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, listen to me: Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it written, After this I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up; so that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD, even all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the LORD who. Does all these things. Known to God from eternity are all His works. Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read. In the synagogues every Sabbath” (Acts 15:6-21).

 

“Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas leading men among the brethren. They wrote this letter by them: The apostles, the elders, and the brethren, To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greets. Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, You must be circumcised and keep the. Law—to whom we gave no such commandment—it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell” (Acts 15:22-29).

 

“Now as He sat on the mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of your coming, and the end of the age? And Jesus answered and said to them: Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, saying, I am the Christ, and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these a re the beginning of sorrows. Then they will deliver you up to tribulations and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:1-14).

 

“Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place, (whosoever reads, let him understand), then let those who are in Judaea flee to the mountains.  Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. And let him w ho is in the field not go back to get his clothes. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will b e great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning for eh world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. Then if anyone says to you, Look, here is the Christ! Or, There! Do not believe. It. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See I have told you beforehand. Therefore if they say to you, Look, He is in the desert! Do not go out;  or, Look, He is in the inner rooms! Do not believe it” (Matthew 24:15-26).

 

As I bring this writing to a close I find it absolutely necessary to call and draw your attention to the absolutely astonishing reality that is found within the New Testament epistle written unto the churches which were in Galatia. The apostle Paul wrote unto these churches how he marveled that they were turning away so soon from Him who called them in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel which is not another. The apostle Paul goes on to write unto them concerning those who entered in among them and troubled them and sought to pervert the gospel of Christ. This is something we must needs recognize and understand for this is similar language to that which is found in the fifteenth chapter of the New Testament book of Acts. It is within the fifteenth chapter of the book of Acts we find the letter which the apostles, the elders and the brethren which were in Jerusalem wrote and sent unto those who were in Antioch concerning the need to be circumcised and to keep the Law. Those who were in Jerusalem and attended the council spoke of those who went out from them who troubled them with words and unsettled their souls declaring they must be circumcised and keep the law. This is something which warrants strong consideration on our parts for it brings us face to face with that which the Galatian churches faced and experienced within their midst. There were indeed those who entered in among them and not only troubled them and unsettled them but also sought to pervert the gospel.

 

If you read the words which are found in the first chapter of the New Testament epistle written by the apostle Paul unto the churches which were in Galatia you will find him speaking of their turning away from the One who called them in the grace of Christ to a different gospel. Moreover the apostle Paul would go on to write and speak unto them of those who troubled them and sought to pervert the gospel of Christ by preaching a different Christ and even a different gospel than that which the apostle Paul and others had preached among them. The apostle Paul would go on to declare that if they themselves or an angel from heaven preached any other gospel to them than that which was preached unto them they were to be accursed. Paul goes on to declare that if anyone preaches any other gospel to them than what they received they were to be accursed. If there is one thing we must needs recognize when reading the words found in this passage of Scripture it’s that we have indeed been called to exercise wisdom and discernment that we might recognize when false teaching, false doctrine and even a false gospel is being preached unto and among us. What’s more is if we find ourselves in the company and presence of those who are preaching such a false gospel which is not a gospel at all we are to rise up and flee from the midst of that place—even if the church, the people, the worship and the preacher seem to be so “holy” and “righteous.” There is a great need for us to be men and women who not only preach the true gospel but who also recognize the voice of the shepherd and the sound of His gospel. I am convinced the same sheep who know and hear the voice of the Shepherd are the same sheep who can and will recognize the sound of the true gospel of Christ and even the presence of the Holy Spirit which is the promise sent from the Father. What we must needs recognize and understand is that we have indeed been called to be those who not only hear and know the voice of the Shepherd but also those who know and recognize the sound of the true gospel and the presence of the actual person of the Holy Spirit and flee from anything that is contrary to that which we have heard, received and believed.