#Culture. Refuting False Teachers.

In our present era of the post-modern church, where everything is pointless, most minister to others because they are paid or minimally want something in return.

What Christ Jesus is hunting for is an urgency in the worker to minister because of what He said: “Out of His innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.” This is the most desired description of a teacher of Truth.

RUFUTING FALSE TEACHERS

Paul said he was amazed at how quickly the Galatia church deserted Jesus even though they were called by the Grace of Christ - for, as Paul said, a different gospel. A gospel being taught by local false teachers. He went on to communicate that these false teachers were disturbing and distorting the Gospel of Christ and concluding with the question, Who has bewitched you?

Paul was so confident in the indwelling Truth in Christ that he told the Galatians that if anyone preached a gospel contrary to what he initially preached, they should be accursed. Paul was so assured in his faith & teachings in Christ that he was willing to be an enemy of the Galatians if they did not adhere to his teachings. Paul was no people-pleaser.

What happened to the Galatians?

Galatia was a female-driven society. Paul was addressing men who were cowardly submitting to the local females. Galatia was under Pergamon's dominance (Satan's throne seat). However, Pergamon was ruled by the goddess Demeter. Goddess Demeter and the goddess Cybele had conflicting powers. By the time the Roman Empire took control over Galatia, an agreement was made to accept all gods on both sides. Thus, Rome became the centralized home of “all gods as one god.” Therefore, the converts of Paul, the Galatians, returned to defaulting to a belief of universalism of sorts. The false teachers Paul was referencing were tempting Paul’s converts to integrate Christianity in with the pluralistic views of local gods.

The apostle Paul described a true teacher in Christ as being “filled with knowledge.” The type of knowledge that he is referencing here is not what he learned by the wisdom of men in the institutions of men but rather from the mind of Christ (Phil. 2:2).  Paul’s Galatians were beginning to listen to local teachers who were taught by the Roman religious system. While Paul was a highly educated man, Jesus had to “dumb him down.” Why?  So that He could fill him with the purity of the knowledge of the mind of Christ through the indwelling Holy Spirit.  The following words spoken of Paul emphasize his point.

And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. (1 Corinthians 2:1-5)

The Galatians lost sight of this profound doctrinal position. Paul’s converts defaulted to doctrines of demons. Paul’s preaching buddy, James, said it best.  

Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. (James 3:13-16)

This clearly described the condition of the Galatians. Paul knew it. Furthermore, the Galatians were deceived into thinking that Paul was not preaching the full Gospel. As a result of this, Paul said some perceived harsh words: You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? (Galatians 3:1) Paul asked his converts a heart-piercing question. This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? (Galatians 3:2) He wanted the people to think about two primary things. One, to understand they have faded into foolishness. Two, their demonic belief of thinking they could be perfected by their flesh while hosting the life of Christ from within. He wanted them to know that authentic indwelling Life does not mix with foolishness and attempt to perfect their faith by fleshly self-help rules.

But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.  (1 Corinthians 2:1-14)

Paul’s statement to the Corinth church is relevant to the Galatians as well. Paul was driving the point that the natural man, an unsaved man, does not accept the things of the Spirit of God – the Holy Spirit. This is exactly what the Galatians were demonstrating. Thus, Paul was questioning the authenticity of their salvation, i.e., did you receive the Spirit? He knew that there is no indwelling of the Holy Spirit by law unless it is by the Law of the Spirit, which is Christ.

The Galatians became the first “church” to set the stage for the warning John wrote about in the book of Revelation – the church of Laodicea. Because the Galatians slipped into being lukewarm by adopting pluralistic doctrines, church history reveals that the Galatians never recovered.  

'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 'So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. (Revelation 3:15-16)

The Galatia church developed a reputation for not being hot or cold – at least with many of its members. Most became no different than the natural unsaved citizens, carnal professors of Christ as if He was one of the options. They became alive in opinions but not lively in Christ. Each became the lover of self before demonstrating spiritual affection and love to God, Christ, and his people. In contrast, laying low on Jesus is the only way, truth, and Life. They followed their culture while attempting to integrate Christ’s teachings into their culture. They became known for their fervent opinions ABOUT individualized views over the Biblical views Paul taught them. Today, one theologian called the Galatians dead men walking.  While the words of Jesus came forth from their lips, they propagated a lifestyle of NOT having the ability to release the indwelling power of the Spirit. In fact, history notes that the Galatians became the forefather of our present lukewarm church, which in Christ’s eyes is not His church at all. It's no wonder Christ spits these “believers” out of His mouth and takes their candlesticks from the altar of God.  

Jesus has more compassion on “churches” that are cold as ice – churches that openly confess Christianity isn’t about a relationship with Christ.

The “church” that Jesus enjoys the most is the flaming hot outspoken group. The group that passionately demonstrates the love of God and Christ, disciples its Saints, ardent and flaming in evangelism; like coals of fire, that give most vehement flame, which many waters cannot quench amid persecution, fervent in Spirit, particularly in the service of the Lord. While the world and liberal “Christians” despise zealots for the truths of the Gospel and its immovable doctrines, these red-hot believers press on to the higher goal of eternity – give your life for His sake. If we who are identified as “hot” warmly oppose sin, we are liars. However, if we oppose sin with the same intensity as the flaming Holy Spirit, we will be willing to give a pound of rejection for a pound of actions. We will be a church, the Body of Christ, that will go to our graves, martyred Saints for our Husband and Savior.

If you have eyes to read or a heart that listens, you should be compelled to NOT be as the Galatians.

Set out to be like the church of Philadelphia, in which Jesus had NOT ONE complaint. Jesus called her Holy, True, and who has the key of David to open the blessings of eternity. Jesus said He put before them an open door that no one will shut. Jesus admits they have power, kept His Word, and refused to deny His name. More impactful, He said those of the church of Satan will come and bow down at their feet and make it known to those of Satan that He loved the people at Philadelphia. This group has been known throughout history as the one and only fellowship that kept God’s Word and demonstrated perseverance. Because of this, He said He would keep them from the hour of testing (the Tribulation) that would come upon the whole world. Folks that means the only group that will be Raptured out is the authentic believers who functioned as the fellowship in Philadelphia. (Read more in Revelation chapter seven)   

Thank you for joining us in our Galatians Series. It has been an honor to serve you in this compacity. I encourage you to view and listen to the full series.  Until our next series. -Dr. Stephen Phinney

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