Today's Passage - Galatians 2:1-5

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Galatians 2:1-5    I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain. Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. This matter arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.    At that time there was a great controversy in the Jerusalem church. The controversy was over whether Gentile believers need to be circumcised. Some traditional Jewish believers insisted that Gentile believers must be circumcised in order for them to become Christians. However, Paul insisted that Gentiles don't need to be circumcised and only need faith to please God. If Gentiles need to be first circumcised in order for them to believe in the Lord, then that means Gentiles must first become Jews, then they can be able to become Christians. This is putting man's culture before faith. Not only in the Jewish culture, but even in Chinese or Western culture, people do this. Western missionaries going to 3rd world countries to spread the gospel would often bring their own culture along and force the local people to follow Western culture. This has brought great harm to the 3rd world churches and hindered the gospel from being preached in those places.    Secondly, circumcision is only a symbol. Genesis 17 mentions circumcision is only to show clearly that we belong to God's people. In the New Testament era, the Holy Spirit has already come. He lives in our hearts like a mark from God. When God cuts a mark in our hearts, this is to clearly show that we belong to God.      Thirdly, if we insist that a person must be circumcised in order to be saved, this is denying the truth of justification by faith that Paul spoken of. It is because circumcision itself can't save a person, only when we have faith can it let us be connected to God. This is like being baptized itself can't save someone, it is only by having faith that we can be connected to God. This is not saying you should not be baptized. Some people say believing is enough and they don't need to be baptized. However, when someone truly believed, the person will surely obey God's commands and be willing to be baptized to be in Jesus. If a person says he believes but is not willing to be baptized, then it reveals that his faith has no action. Faith without action is a dead faith.   Even though baptism can't save us, but baptism is a clear proof of our faith. May God help us not to deny the outward actions because in the outward actions there need to be true faith. A person with genuine faith will certainly follow God and act according to his will.                                                                  Pray with Pastor Tong           Dear Lord, how precious is your truth. Help me often to place your truth in the most important place in my life. Help me to always come to your presence, place faith before culture, follow you daily, and by faith submit to your leading. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!