11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. 14 And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
Galatians 1:11-14
It is essential to acknowledge the primary problem that obstructs our understanding of biblical Christianity. Frequently, we tend to hold onto customary practices and disregard the life-changing potential of God’s word, which can help us evolve and break away from our past selves.
It is important to understand that holding on to old beliefs and applying them to the Bible can lead to errors in true biblical understanding. As Christians, we are called to be set apart from our old ways and to allow God to make us a new creation. This sets us apart from the creatures we once were. However, it can be a struggle to let go of our old ways and embrace the new, but doing so is essential for our walk with the Lord and Savior.
These verses from Paul offer a sobering perspective and provide a clear understanding that the primary issue is the heart. We may believe that we have some inherent goodness within us, but God is clear in stating that none of us are good, not even one. Therefore, it is crucial for us to comprehend God’s word fully. Through His word, He has communicated His will.
When Paul was still known as Saul and persecuted the Christians due to his past traditions, he believed he was doing something good until he realized his errors through his encounter with Jesus Christ. See we need to have a Paul-like encounter with the Lord ourselves if we are to make a truth statement for Him. We cannot hold on to the thing we once knew because it will hinder our walk and understanding of God’s word. The tradition we hold on to holds us back from a true encounter with our Lord and Savior. Looking at Paul as Saul killed or called for the killing and capture of Christians all because of the traditions of his fathers. Wow, this makes it very clear to me that we cannot hold on to our old way and accept to be moving righteously for the King of Kings.
These are some of God's beautiful words from the Bible.
And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
As it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”
God has explained that our hearts are desperately wicked and deceitful.
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
In the first part of this blog, I discussed how religious traditions have led to the persecution and capture of Christians. The key takeaway is that our blessings and gifts come from God and are not of human or natural origin. We need to recognize these gifts for what they truly are - expressions of God's love for his creation.
Paul was taught all he knew from Jesus and no one else, to me it is very clear that God alone could have given him all he knew.
Yes, that's right. We must be cautious of those who attempt to twist the teachings of the Bible to fit their own agendas. We should always seek to understand God's word in its true context and not be swayed by popular or traditional beliefs that may not align with the Bible's message. As Christians, it is our responsibility to guard our hearts and minds against false teachings and to stay true to the Word of God.
As always, I want to thank all who pass through my blog and hope the blessings of the Lord rest on your life.
God’s blessing to all and Sholom!
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