Galatianitis
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Are you or one you love at risk of Galatianitis? This condition afflicts millions of believers yearly. It was first diagnosed early in the life of the church and has never been eradicated fully. Throughout history there have been periodic outbreaks of epidemic proportions. In fact, one outbreak became so serious that it had to be treated with massive doses of Reformation.
Look for these early-warning signs of this serious condition: Have you ever fallen in sin and not asked immediately for forgiveness because you wanted to prove to God that you were serious about living right? Have you ever had something bad happen to you and figured you deserved it? Have you wondered if you were saved because you were not doing enough? Do you feel you need to work hard to stay saved? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you may be at risk for Galatianitis. But take heart, there is an antidote.
The Apostle Paul dealt with an early outbreak of this condition, and his diagnosis and treatment became standard. Thus the condition was named for that outbreak in the region of Galatia. Paul found that believers suffering from this condition felt a need for works, had a tendency to turn back to old ways, and desired to conform to legalistic standards. His brilliant diagnosis found the root cause to be fears about one's salvation.
The treatment:
We had been freed from legalistic requirements; we cannot, and need not, try to earn our salvation. Yet we are easily swayed into legalistic lifestyles. We are freed from sin; we are no longer in bondage to the habits and lifestyles which we pursued in darkness. Yet we are even more easily swayed back into the sins we should be free of. We don't need to read Romans 7 to know that the flesh, our carnal nature, is still active within us.
I'll state some scriptures here please meditate on this dosage of scriptures:
Titus 3: 5,
"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost."
Galatians 3:3,
"Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit are ye made complete by the flesh?"
Galatians 2:19,
"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the Law: for by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified."
2 Timothy 1:9,
"Who has saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His on purpose and grace, which was given in Christ Jesus before the world began."
However, the Bible strongly instructs us: "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may bound? God forbid!..." Romans 6:1,2
"This I say then, walk in the Spirit an dye shall not fulfil the desires of the flesh." Galatians 5:16
This life in the Spirit is a loving relationship which brings freedom rather than bondage. This relationship also bears fruit. The growth of the fruit of the Spirit is a process. We need to let that fact be encouraging, not discouraging. The work of the Spirit is a work of love, and it should produce lov in us. As paul says, "All the law is fulfilled in one word, even this: 'You shall love your neighbour as yourself'" (Gal. 5:14) As we abide in Christ by the work of the Spirit, we experience the freedom from the works of the flesh, and we bear the fruit which no law forbids.
Our salvation is assured. We know it is based on Christ's work. It is a new and living way; we must not turn back to the old ways of licentiousness (sin) and legalism (works of the Law). Our new relationship calls us to a new conformity-conformity to the image of Christ. But beyond all these things, our standing is based on a relationship with God as our Father. We are adopted sons and daughters.
Are you or one you love at risk of Galatianitis? This condition afflicts millions of believers yearly. It was first diagnosed early in the life of the church and has never been eradicated fully. Throughout history there have been periodic outbreaks of epidemic proportions. In fact, one outbreak became so serious that it had to be treated with massive doses of Reformation.
Look for these early-warning signs of this serious condition: Have you ever fallen in sin and not asked immediately for forgiveness because you wanted to prove to God that you were serious about living right? Have you ever had something bad happen to you and figured you deserved it? Have you wondered if you were saved because you were not doing enough? Do you feel you need to work hard to stay saved? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you may be at risk for Galatianitis. But take heart, there is an antidote.
The Apostle Paul dealt with an early outbreak of this condition, and his diagnosis and treatment became standard. Thus the condition was named for that outbreak in the region of Galatia. Paul found that believers suffering from this condition felt a need for works, had a tendency to turn back to old ways, and desired to conform to legalistic standards. His brilliant diagnosis found the root cause to be fears about one's salvation.
The treatment:
We had been freed from legalistic requirements; we cannot, and need not, try to earn our salvation. Yet we are easily swayed into legalistic lifestyles. We are freed from sin; we are no longer in bondage to the habits and lifestyles which we pursued in darkness. Yet we are even more easily swayed back into the sins we should be free of. We don't need to read Romans 7 to know that the flesh, our carnal nature, is still active within us.
I'll state some scriptures here please meditate on this dosage of scriptures:
Titus 3: 5,
"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost."
Galatians 3:3,
"Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit are ye made complete by the flesh?"
Galatians 2:19,
"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the Law: for by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified."
2 Timothy 1:9,
"Who has saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His on purpose and grace, which was given in Christ Jesus before the world began."
However, the Bible strongly instructs us: "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may bound? God forbid!..." Romans 6:1,2
"This I say then, walk in the Spirit an dye shall not fulfil the desires of the flesh." Galatians 5:16
This life in the Spirit is a loving relationship which brings freedom rather than bondage. This relationship also bears fruit. The growth of the fruit of the Spirit is a process. We need to let that fact be encouraging, not discouraging. The work of the Spirit is a work of love, and it should produce lov in us. As paul says, "All the law is fulfilled in one word, even this: 'You shall love your neighbour as yourself'" (Gal. 5:14) As we abide in Christ by the work of the Spirit, we experience the freedom from the works of the flesh, and we bear the fruit which no law forbids.
Our salvation is assured. We know it is based on Christ's work. It is a new and living way; we must not turn back to the old ways of licentiousness (sin) and legalism (works of the Law). Our new relationship calls us to a new conformity-conformity to the image of Christ. But beyond all these things, our standing is based on a relationship with God as our Father. We are adopted sons and daughters.
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