The Strand Study Bible

GALATIANS GALATIANS 2:13 This word ( dissimulation ) is the Greek word ‘ XSοNULσHL ( hupokrisei ) and means , “ to reply in a play-acting manor ; to answer hypocritically .” Christians who have been taught to place men and movements above the Master often get disillusioned and thus carried away with other men’s “contrary procedures; hypocrisies” ( dissimulations ) (Job 32:21-22) . 2:14a The nature of Paul’s rebuke ( why compellest thou ) shows the inconsistency of law-keeping. If it was right for Peter to live as the Gentiles, why should he desire the Gentiles to live as the Jews? Law-keeping never saved anyone (vs 16). It never could. That’s why Jesus came –because only the SAVIOR can save (Isa 45:21-23). NOTE –According to Hebrews 1:3, CHRIST did what the law could not do. After Jesus paid for our sins on the cross, He sat down at the right hand of the Father. He sat down because there was nothing else to be done. If there had been anything else, He would have done it before He sat down. 2:14b This word (Jews) is the Greek word Ιουδαιζειν ( Ioudaizein ) and means “ to Judaize. ” Like Jesus ( Mt 9:16,17 ), the Apostle Paul opposed Judaism , and even referred to the people of Judaism as “ false brethren ” (Gal 2:4). 3:1-3 Paul rebuked the Christians in Galatia ( O foolish Galatians - vs 1) for ignoring their salvation and freedom in Christ ( This only would I learn of you - vs 2), while trying to keep the Jewish law in order to keep their salvation ( are ye now made perfect by the flesh - vs 3). Paul notes: If you couldn’t do good (keep the law) to earn your salvation (vs 2), what makes you think you can do good to keep it (vs 3)? According to Ephesians 2:10, Christians aren’t supposed to work for God in order to keep their salvation; God is supposed to work through Christians in order to illustrate His salvation. John Hagee in Jerusalem Countdown notes: 1953 I was raised in the home of a devout Pentecostal pastor who served in the kingdom of God for forty years with distinction and accomplishment. However, we had more rules than the IRS. Those silly, man-made, religious rules were preached under the banner of “holiness.” Some of those rules were: • Thou shalt not go to movies. • Thou shalt not play cards, dominoes, or Monopoly. Why Monopoly? Because Monopoly had dice, and we were forbidden even to have ‘the appearance of evil.’ • Thou shalt not go to any dance–as a matter of fact, don’t shuffle your feet while singing the hymns, or you will be accused of dancing. • Thou shalt not go to ball games. Why? Because at ball games they sell beer, and the cheerleaders have short dresses, and you might be corrupted. • Thou shalt not date anyone who is not Pentecostal. • Thou shalt not associate with the world for any reason. Forget that Jesus Christ ate with tax collectors and prostitutes–you must separate yourself from the world. If I took the time and space to list all of those silly rules, you wouldn’t believe it. If you kept all these stupid rules in this particular brand of Pentecostalism, you were considered “holy.” Forget that you might have had a tongue sharp enough to trim a hedge. Forget your loveless nature and your unforgiving spirit from which Hitler could learn. You were considered “holy” if you kept these rules. It was wrong in the Old Testament. It was wrong in Pentecostalism. It will always be wrong. You are not made holy by keeping man-made rules to obtain righteousness with God. That is legalism– and God hates legalism with a passion. Why? Because if you could keep a set of rules and thereby become “holy,” your works are the source of your salvation. You are made righteous by the atonement of the cross. In Scripture, salvation is very simple: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.” Forget the encyclopedia of man-made religious rules! Burn it! You are made holy by the work of the cross. 2 ( Heb 12:14 b ) NOTE – When it comes to going to Heaven, every religion in the world falls under one of four categories: 1. Grace (Eph 2:8-9 and Titus 3:5) The following three MESSIANIC movements believe in “ grace ” alone as a means to salvation: *Pre-Jewish MESSIANIC movement (c. 4000 - 1487 BC) (Gen, Job and Exo 1-13), which includes: Adam and Eve (c. 4000 BC) - Gen 3:15 ( her Seed - Gal 3:16 and Lk 2:7,11) Gen 3:21 ( coats of skins - Rom 5:19 & 10:1-4, II Cor 5:21, Mt 22:11-12, Isa 61:10 and Zech 3:3-5) Abel (c. 4000 BC) - Gen 4:1-4 ( his offering - Heb 10:5-14, Acts 7:52, Lk 11:49-51, Mt 23:34-35, Heb 11:4 & 12:24 and I Jn 3:12) Enoch (c. 3300 BC) - Gen 5:22-24 (Jude 14 and Heb 11:5-6) Noah (2343 BC) - Gen 8:20-21 ( and offered burnt offerings - Heb 10:5-14 and II Pet 2:5) Abraham (c. 1908 BC) - Gen 15:6 ( And he believed in the Lord - Jn 8:53-65, Rom 4:1-5,18-22, Gal 3:6-8 and Heb 11:17-19) Hagar (1907 BC) - Gen 16:7-13 ( And she called the name of the Lord that spake unto her,