Unpacking Galatians: Chapter 3

 

Note: in the body on this article the verses from Galatians Chapter 3 are in italics, the explanation of the verse/s follows in straight text with additional scriptures shown in bold italics.

In Chapter 3 Paul’s anger at the Galatian Church for receiving a false gospel is still very much in evidence right from his opening exclamation of, “O foolish Galatians.” He then picks up where he left off in Chapter 2 in further expounding the truth of justification by faith in Christ Jesus alone and tells us in no uncertain terms that going back to the Law is not only sinful but will open us up to bringing a curse upon ourselves! This is serious business and we, as born again Christians, are not to take it lightly or ignore the warning to not be led astray by the teachings of false teachers and prophets!

Justification by Faith and the Guidance of the Holy Spirit
1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? 2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?—

In verses 1 – 5 above, Paul let’s his anger and irritation with the Galatian churches be known without any attempt to muffle it. He is very ticked off with them! He continues to remind the Galatians and us that our justification comes by faith in Christ Jesus alone and not from anything or anyone else!

In his opening statement in verse 1 he exclaims emphatically, “O foolish Galatians!” Paul is not pleased with them and the English translation of just ‘foolish’ doesn’t quite show us just how angry he is!

So, let’s examine the translation of ‘foolish’ a little more in death from the original Greek word, shall we?

The Greek word for foolish in this verse is ‘anoétos’ (pronounced an-o'-ay-tos – Strong’s 453) and its expanded meaning besides ‘foolish’ is ‘without understanding’, ‘without reasoning things through properly’ and ‘being thoughtless.’ It is made up of the prefix ‘a’ which means ‘without’ and ‘noiéō’ which means ‘to think’.

So, you can see just by this opening statemen that Paul is letting them know that he means they are much more than just being foolish as we understand the word! In modern terms I guess you could say that Paul was saying something like this, “Church, you are acting in a mindless, dense and a plain stupid way! You are not using the common sense and good logic that the Lord has blessed you with!”

When I look around today’s Church, I can see that we are in the same predicament today! Many are being led astray by false teachings and legalism and Christians themselves are not thinking things through, they are acting mindlessly when they don’t think through what they are being told from the pulpit and social media platforms. They are not examining things against the Word of God – does what I am being told line up with what the Bible says?

Brothers and sisters, we must know for ourselves what the Bible says! We must read and study the Bible for ourselves! We have no excuse for embracing false doctrines from false teachers and prophets. We must not be mindless followers but mindful followers of Christ Jesus and Him alone!

We must be like the Bereans and search the scripture to make sure of what we are being told and sold! Let’s receive the truth of the Bible with a “noble Character!”

Acts 17:11-12 (NIV)

11 Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. 12 As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.

Moving on to the next sentence in verse one we see that Paul continues his admonition of the Galatian churches but in even stronger terms when he asks them, “who has bewitched you?”

When we read the word “bewitched” here our Christian ears should prick up and start to tingle because Paul is now moving us into the realm of spiritual warfare! Our battle is not against flesh and blood! We need to take serious notice of what Paul is telling us through just using this one word – “bewitched!”

Ephesians 6:12 (AMP)

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places.

So now, let’s examine the word ‘bewitched’ from its Greek form!

The original Greek word for ‘bewitched’ is baskainó (Pronounced bas-kah'-ee-no – Strong’s 940). It is a verb and thus a doing word. In this case it is something that someone does to another. Its definition is to slander or bewitch and it is used in ancient texts to describe someone doing evil to someone else by witchcraft, for example ‘to give someone the evil eye’, to fascinate in a bad way such as bewitching or overpowering the mind.

Baskainó is a derivative of the Greek word baskanos which has a more evil connotation to its meaning which is: to cast an evil spell, wishing injury upon someone; to bewitch; to exercise evil power over someone, like putting them under a spell – to capture someone’s mind and exercise evil influence over it by appealing to their vanity and own selfishness.

In classical Greek, Aristotle the Greek philospher used baskaínō for "bewitching through the use of an evil power." That is, putting someone under a spell so they can no longer think or act according to reason. Baskaínō is also associated with envy or jealousy as used by some of the classical Greek historians and philosophers like Josephus, Demosthenes and Theocritus.

So, from this we can see that the word “bewitched” in this verse illustrates a whole melting pot of evil that false prophets and teachers are poring out on the Church.

BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS AND TEACHERS THEY ARE SAVAGE WOLVES!

So, from the very first verse in this chapter we can see just how serious the teachings of false teachers and prophets are viewed by God and this view has not changed! Today, Church, we are still to have no dealings with such people! God considers their teachings as witchcraft, and they are from people that are in rebellion to God!

1 Samuel 15:23 (NKJV)

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,

And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.

Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,

He also has rejected you from being king.”

The teachings of false prophets and teachers is pure evil, we can see how God considers them to be ravenous wolves as they devour and corrupt people’s minds – these are the words of Jesus Himself!

Matthew 7:15 (NKJV)

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

In verses 2 – 5 of our chapter Paul asks the Galatians (and us today) a rhetorical question so that they can better understand what he is telling them: “did you receive the Spirit by works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?” The question is rhetorical, and the answer is obvious. Of course, it wasn’t by works of the Law (obeying the law of Moses) but by faith in Christ that they had received the Holy Spirit. That of itself proves that the power is in the Spirit received by faith, not by the following the works of the Law.

Paul points out to the Galatians that they began as believers by the Spirit and because of this he asks them why would they now start to think that the Law could perfect them?

The word translated “perfect” here is from the Greek word epiteléō and it is better translated as “complete” or “mature.”

Paul is pointing out that when we are justified by faith through the Spirit, that is our new birth. Like any baby, we now need to grow up into maturity in Christ Jesus, this is being completed as a new creation.

It makes no at all sense that God would make us a new creation by the power of the Holy Spirit, then grow us up by the law? The reality of a Christian’s walk is that we grow up the same way we are born again, by faith in Christ Jesus alone. If the Spirit is given to us because of our faith in Christ, why would we think we would now be made complete or perfected by another means?

Abraham believed God in Faith
6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 7 Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.

In verses 6 – 9 above, Paul quotes Genesis 15:6, “Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.”

It was Abraham’s faith that gave him right standing with God, specifically his faith in God’s promise. God promised Abraham that the number of his offspring would be larger than the number of stars in the sky, and Abraham believed Him. Here, Paul argues that it is not simply the Jewish people who are the offspring of Abraham, but those who are of faith, that is those of us that are born again through faith in Christ Jesus. And God promised Abraham that “all nations will be blessed in you”, not just the Jewish people – all nations. And “those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham”, all believers. Jesus the son of David, Abraham’s offspring, has provided a means for Gentiles to join Abraham’s family through faith. Just as Abraham is a believer, the Gentiles are believers, and are justified in the sight of God through Christ.

The message of Galatians is clear: Paul is showing us that it is through faith in God that Abraham and everyone else gains right standing with God, not by following religious rules such as the works of the law or by any other legalistic approach to Christianity – but by faith in Jesus alone.

The Law Brings a Curse
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”

13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

In verses 10 – 14 above, Paul tells us that if we try and live according to the law and not through faith in Christ Jesus alone, then we bring a curse upon ourselves because if we live according to the law then we have to faultlessly live by all of them.

Deuteronomy 27:26 (NKJV)

‘Cursed is the one who does not confirm all the words of this law by observing them.’

No man was able to do this except Jesus and if we live by faith in Christ Jesus then we are not under the curse of the law. Jesus has set us free! As born again believers we live under grace through faith in Christ Jesus! No man is justified by faith in the law but only by faith in Christ Jesus! In verse 11 Paul quotes from Habakkuk 2:4, when he says. “the just shall live by faith.”

Romans 6:14 (NKJV)

For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

Habakkuk 2:4b

But the just shall live by his faith.

Everyone who tries to live by the law will fail, because the law requires 100 percent perfection – only Jesus could do this. Jesus took all our sin upon himself on the cross, His death, burial and resurrection has set us free from the curse of the law. Because of His sacrifice and through faith in Him alone, we can receive the promise of salvation and the Holy Spirit. Christ became a curse for us!

Deuteronomy 21:23 (NKJV)

his body shall not remain overnight on the tree, but you shall surely bury him that day, so that you do not defile the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance; for he who is hanged is accursed of God.

And in verse 14 Paul ties Jesus back to Abraham. Jesus was not only Abraham’s physical offspring (seed), but also the fulfilment of God’s promise to Abraham: that all nations would be blessed through him. In Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham come to the Gentiles, because through faith in Christ Jesus we all gain right standing with God.

Genesis 22:18 (NKJV)

In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”

The Changeless Promise
15 Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. 16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. 17 And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

In verses 15 – 18 above, Paul continues to remind us that the fulfilment of God’s promise to Abraham was in the person of Jesus His Son and our Lord and Saviour and not through the law. The law had nothing to do with it!

Paul points out the Bible says ‘seed’ (verse 16 of our chapter) and not seeds. The fact that “seed” has no “s” to make it plural tells us without any doubt Jesus is the fulfilment of the promise and that He is the ‘seed’ and that through faith in Him, all nations will be blessed.

Genesis 22:18 (AMP)

Through your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have heard and obeyed My voice.”

It is through this promise that the Gentile believers throughout the ages are blessed with salvation in Christ Jesus and not through the law! The primary point is that they are benefitting from Christ and the promise of God, not the law. The law had nothing to do with Abraham or God’s promise to Abraham. The Law came four hundred and thirty years after God’s promise to Abraham.

Paul also points out that the Law was not an amendment or a change to the promise. More importantly, the law did not nullify the promise. Something God himself promised through Abraham could not be changed by a Law established 430 years later. All God’s promises are, “Yes and Amen!” The inheritance is based on a promise, not a set of rules. God granted it to Abraham through a promise, and Gentles (such as the Galatians and the Church today) inherit the promise the same way as Abraham, by believing God through faith in Christ Jesus alone! God’s promises are forever!

2 Corinthians 1:20 (AMP)

For as many as are the promises of God, in Christ they are [all answered] “Yes.” So through Him we say our “Amen” to the glory of God.

The Purpose of the Law
19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.

In verse 19 above Paul asks the question, “What purpose does the law serve?”, and then answers it himself. It was given to Israel because of their sin and would stay in effect until the “Seed” comes, the Messiah, Jesus! Paul expands on this in Romans 7 where he explains that if it wasn’t for the law, he wouldn’t have known what sin was! Do yourself a big favour and read the whole of Romans 7 for yourself!

So, the law was given to help men identify sin in themselves, but the law did not bring salvation for man because no man is able to keep the law in its entirety - only Jesus could do that! The law served to highlight the fact that man needed a saviour! Jesus is the ‘promise’, Abraham’s seed!

Romans 7:7 (NIV)

What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”

In the last part of verse 19 and in verse 20, Paul tells us that the law was given through a mediator which implies a covenant between two parties both of whom have responsibilities. This means that the law was given through Moses to Israel (the one party) and God (the other party). This is the Mosaic Covenant which required both parties to meet their obligations in full.

The promise to Abraham was given directly to him by God, there was no mediator. This promise was unilateral and was given to all mankind (including Gentiles) and requires only responsibility from God to action and to bring to fulfilment. The Abrahamic covenant (the promise) was dependent only on the commitment of God, who is one. Therefore, the law was inferior to the promise given to Abraham as its fulfilment didn’t require any action from sinful man.

21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

In verse 21 above, Paul raises another rhetorical question when he asks, “Is the law then against the promises of God?”

Paul answers the question immediately with an emphatic, “Certainly not.” And from the last sentence in verse 21 through verse 25 he tells us why.

Verse 21c: The law was unable to give life as no man except Jesus could fulfil it in its entirety. Therefore, man could not obtain righteousness (right standing) with God through the law and thus faced eternity in hell – spiritual death which is eternal separation from God.

 The law bound man to sin like a prisoner, we became slaves to sin as we all sin and fall short of God’s glory!

Romans 3:23 (NKJV)

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:20-23 (NKJV)

20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

But the promise of faith in Christ Jesus sets us free from the law of sin and death and gives us eternal life!

Romans 8:2 (NKJV)

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

Verse 23: Before the coming of Jesus as Saviour, the law kept man as a prisoner to sin until His coming and until we put our faith in Him alone!

Verse 24: In this verse, as an explanation, Paul likens the law as being our ‘teacher’, revealing to us what sin is, with the purpose of leading us to Christ Jesus so that we can be justified by faith in Him alone.

Verse 25: Here Paul tells us that once we have put our faith in Christ Jesus, we no longer need the law as our tutor.

The Greek word for tutor in these verses is paidagōgos and describes what we translate as ‘tutor’ as “one who has responsibility for someone who needs guidance, guardianship and leadership. Our tutor as born again believers in Christ Jesus is of course the Holy Spirit who guides us in all truth.

John 16:13 (NIV)

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

Sons and Heirs
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

In his closing paragraph to this chapter, Paul reminds the Galatians and us that because of our faith in Christ Jesus:

• We are all sons of God.

2 Corinthians 6:18 (NKJV)

“I will be a Father to you,

And you shall be My sons and daughters,

Says the Lord Almighty.”

• We belong to Jesus and are coheirs with him.

Romans 8:17 (NIV)

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

• We are all one in Christ and are made perfect in Him.

John 17:20-23 (NKJV)

20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

• If we are in Christ, then we are all Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the ‘promise’. See Romans 8:17 above.

Here, Paul reminds the Galatians and us that it is through faith that we become sons of God, not by the law or a Jewish bloodline. When we believe the gospel message, we are baptized into Christ and have clothed ourselves with Christ, we are covered by Jesus. Because of this, there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles, because it is through faith in Christ that we become sons and daughters of God, not by works of the law or our bloodline. Paul closes out this chapter with a very powerful statement that we all need to embrace and absorb into our very being: “if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to the promise.”

Prayer

Dear Father in Heaven
In the name of Jesus, I pray that you would continually fill me with your Holy Spirit and give me wisdom and discernment so that I will not be led astray by the errant teachings of false prophets and teachers. Reveal to me, I pray, the wolves in sheep’s’ clothing that I may not stray from your path – Jesus Christ and Him crucified! Lord, I pray that you would keep my ears and my heart ever attentive to the voice of your Holy Spirt! Amen!

To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise!

Jesus the Name above all names!

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself. My word is flawed the Bible is not!

Unpacking Galatians: Chapter 2

 

Note: in the body on this article the verses from Galatians Chapter 2 are in italics, the explanation of the verse/s follows in straight text with additional scriptures shown in bold italics.

In Chapter 2 Paul again reminds the Galatians that the gospel he preached to them from the start is the only true gospel of faith in Christ Jesus alone and not salvation by the works of the law from which Christ has set us free!

The false teachers that had crept into the Galatian Church were trying to put the Church back into the bondage of the law, the laws that no man could keep. In other words, the false teachers were trying to mix in legalism with the gospel!

The major point of concern to Paul here was that these false teachers were insisting that the gentiles were to first be circumcised before they could receive their salvation in Christ Jesus, being born again! This is a perverted gospel which is no gospel at all! It is a perverted gospel and all it does is put man back into bondage and return them to the slavery of sin instead of freedom in Christ Jesus!

Man is saved by faith in Christ Jesus alone and by no other name and by not other means!

Acts 4:11-12 (NIV)

11 Jesus is

“‘the stone you builders rejected,

which has become the cornerstone.’[Psalm 118:22]

12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Paul Defends the Gospel
1Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus with me. 2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain.

In verse one above Paul tells the Galatian churches that after preaching the gospel for 14 years outside of Jerusalem and outside the sphere of the Council in Jerusalem, he returned to Jerusalem and took Barnabas, a Jewish believer, and Titus, a gentile believer, with him.

In verse two he tells us that the reason for his return to Jerusalem was by divine revelation and while he was there, he told some of the apostles privately (not in public) about the gospel that he preaches to the Gentiles. He does this to assure the Galatians that the Jerusalem church leaders and he were of one mind, particularly as far as the true gospel of faith in Christ Jesus alone goes!

The revelation that Paul refers to when he says in verse two, “by revelation” is more than likely the prophecy by Agabus spoken of in Acts 11.

Acts 11:27-30 (NKJV)

27 And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. 29 Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. 30 This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

This prophecy resulted in Paul’s second return to Jerusalem to take famine relief to the Church in Judea, and Paul used this opportunity to make sure that he and the Jerusalem Council were on the same gospel page – Jesus Christ and Him crucified!

1 Corinthians 2:1-2 (AMP)

And when I came to you, brothers and sisters, proclaiming to you the testimony of God [concerning salvation through Christ], I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom [no lofty words of eloquence or of philosophy as a Greek orator might do]; 2 for I made the decision to know nothing [that is, to forego philosophical or theological discussions regarding inconsequential things and opinions while] among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified [and the meaning of His redemptive, substitutionary death and His resurrection].

3 Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. 4 And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage), 5 to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

To emphasise his point that under the new covenant of faith in Christ Jesus no one has to follow the law of Moses, he tells the Galatians and ultimately all believers that when they (Paul, Barnabas and Titus) were with the church leaders in Jerusalem no one was even compelled to be circumcised, not even Titus who was a Gentile!

This effectively meant that the false teachers and prophets who had infiltrated the Galatian churches were not operating on instructions from the church leaders in Jerusalem but on their own perverted beliefs! The beliefs of man!

This false teaching was being brought in to rob the Church of their freedom in Christ Jesus so that the believers would be brought back into bondage once more. At no point is the Church to be in submission to any kind of false teaching – the truth of the gospel of faith in Christ Jesus must continue – it is the only route to salvation!

6 But from those who seemed to be something—whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God shows personal favoritism to no man—for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me. 7 But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter 8 (for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles), 9 and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do.

In verse 6 – 10 above, Paul informs us that the Church leaders in Jerusalem, James, Peter (Cephas) and John could add nothing to the message that Paul was preaching to the Gentiles and confirmed and recognised that the gospel to the Gentiles had been committed to Paul by Jesus himself, just as the gospel to the Jews had been committed to them!

James, Peter and John recognised that the grace of God had been given to Paul, and so they gave Paul the right hand of fellowship signifying that they were in full agreement with him and that he had their full support to preach the gospel to the Gentiles! The only thing they asked Paul to do was to remember the poor, the very thing that he had been doing anyway – he had brought famine relief to Judea!

Giving the right hand of fellowship to Paul was a solemn act of partnership signifying acceptance, agreement and trust. In those days it was a way of honouring in each other and affirming a partnership or a promise from one party to another.

By giving the right hands of fellowship, these believers were agreeing to serve God together. James, Cephas, and John would focus on reaching the Jewish people (the circumcision), while Paul and Barnabas would focus on reaching the Gentiles (the uncircumcision).

This was an agreement before God that these men would serve God and spread the gospel together! An agreement which every believer of the day would recognise. This shows without any doubt that Paul and the other apostles were in complete agreement with each other in the true gospel of faith in Christ Jesus and Him alone!

No Return to the Law
11 Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; 12 for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. 13 And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.

In order to strengthen his point of their being no difference between Jewish and Gentile believers, Paul relates to the Galatians an incident that took place in Antioch between him and the Apostle Peter. Paul had confronted Peter publicly about his hypocrisy before the Church in Antioch.

This was what was happening. When Peter had first arrived in Antioch he would eat and enjoy fellowship with the Gentiles, but a time came when “certain men came from James” in Jerusalem who were obviously Jewish believers as they are described in verse 12 as being “those who were of the circumcision.”

Now Peter, who knew better because of the vision he had received from the Holy Spirit (Acts 10 - Peter at the house of Cornelius the centurion in the Roman army), withdrew from fellowshipping with the Gentiles and it can be safely assumed that he didn’t want to offend the Jewish visitors – like many of today’s pastors he wanted to be PC which is a cowardly fear of man instead of a reverent fear of God! This act by Peter also led the other Jews in Antioch into the same hypocrisy, even Paul’s fellow Jewish evangelist Barnabas was led astray!

Romans 10:12-13 (NIV)

12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews? 15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 knowing that a man is not]justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

In verses 14 – 16 above, Paul explains to us exactly how he dealt with this incident. He addresses Peter in front of all the Jews because Peter was to blame for the hypocrisy (see verse 11 above) in that they (Peter and the other Jews) were undermining the truth of the gospel in their actions by not eating and fellowshipping with the Gentiles, they were in fact returning to the law from which Christ had set them free!

Paul goes on to say that no man, neither Jew nor Gentile, is saved by the works of the law but only by faith in Christ Jesus. Faith in Jesus renders the law null and void because He fulfilled the law (all of it) by His death on the cross and His subsequent resurrection.

Matthew 5:17 (NIV)

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

Our salvation does not come through the works of the law it comes through faith in Christ Jesus and is by the grace of God and is a gift to us from God – a gift we do not deserve! Because Christ fulfilled the law, we as believers, born again Christians, do not have to live by the law, no part of it. A return to the law is an act of sin and needs to be repented from!

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

17 “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.19 For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God.

In verses 17-19 above Paul makes it clear to the Galatians and to us today that he is not encouraging the Gentiles’ pre-salvation lifestyle of sin! Eating and fellowshipping with the believing Gentiles is not promoting their pre-salvation lifestyle. For once any man (Jew or Gentile) is saved through faith in Christ Jesus, we are all equal in the eyes of God. We all become brothers and sisters in Christ. See Romans 10:12-13 above.

Let’s look at an example of the love, grace and mercy of God towards us in the scripture when Jesus let the adulteress go in John 8, he was not promoting her sinful lifestyle. His compassion for her was not an endorsement of sin and neither should ours be today! We need to tackle a brother or sister who sins full on!

Galatians 6:1 (NIV)

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.

In fact, when Jesus dismissed the adulteress, he emphasised the fact that she was a sinner and told her to go her way and sin no more. That is the same salvation message that Paul was preaching. Anybody can come to Christ, no matter what their background. When they do, they must go their way and sin no more, which means they must repent, turn away from their sin!

John 8:10-11 (NKJV)

10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”

11 She said, “No one, Lord.”

And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

There is no condemnation for anyone who is in Christ Jesus!

Romans 8:34 (NIV)

34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

Paul goes on to tell us in verse 18 of our chapter that if we try to institute legalism in any form into the true gospel of faith in Christ Jesus alone, then we are the transgressors, and it is us who are sinning.

The false teachers in the Galatian times were trying to bring back circumcision (legalism) and force it upon the Gentiles as part of the gospel and Peter and the other Jews by separating themselves from the Gentiles were condoning legalism by their actions. This is why Paul took Peter to task and rebuked him publicly, they had slipped back into the bondage of legalistic sin!

This is the type of thing that false prophets and teachers are doing today, preaching a false gospel that denies faith in Christ Jesus alone! Today’s Church needs to confront these false teachers and expose their sinful and dark deeds!

Ephesians 5:11 (NKJV)

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.

20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”

In verses 20 and 21 above, Paul tells the Galatians and the Church today, that because we know Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, the one who took our sins to the cross and died for us, we have effectively been crucified with Christ and it is no longer we that live but it is Christ who lives in us. The life we now live after our salvation, we live by faith in Christ Jesus alone because He loves us and died for our sins!

Our righteousness does not come through ourselves or through the law or through our works. Our righteousness comes through our faith in Christ alone – we belong to Him and He did not die in vain!

A born again Christian should no longer habitually and willfully sin!

Romans 6:1-4 (AMP)

What shall we say [to all this]? Should we continue in sin and practice sin as a habit so that [God’s gift of] grace may increase and overflow? 2 Certainly not! How can we, the very ones who died to sin, continue to live in it any longer? 3 Or are you ignorant of the fact that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 We have therefore been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory and power of the Father, we too might walk habitually in newness of life [abandoning our old ways].

Some points from this chapter that today’s Church need to embrace and live out.

• Just as Paul was obedient to a revelation from the Holy Spirit, we too should be obedient to the Spirit’s promptings and do what He is leading us to do.

• Remember the freedom we receive in Christ Jesus and stop returning to the bondage of our former sin and live in the freedom of Christ our Saviour!

• Have nothing to do with false teachers, preachers and prophets and their deeds of darkness. They are ravenous wolves and their fate’ and the fate of their followers is destruction.

2 Peter 2:1-3 (NKJV)

But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.

The destruction of false prophets and teachers is imminent is they do not repent - it is a sure thing!

Prayer
Dear Father
In the name of Jesus, I pray that you would continually fill me with your Holy Spirit and give me wisdom and discernment so that I will not be led astray by the errant teachings of false prophets and teachers. Reveal to me, I pray, the wolves in sheep’s’ clothing that I may not stray from your path – Jesus Christ and Him crucified! Lord, I pray that you would keep my ears and my heart ever attentive to the voice of your Holy Spirt! Amen!

To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise!

Jesus the Name above all names!

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself. My word is flawed the Bible is not!

Unpacking Galatians: Chapter 1

 Background to the Churches in Galatia

Galatia is situated almost across the centre of modern day Turkey. When the apostle Paul went on his first missionary journey with Barnabas in about AD46-48, they established churches in various cities in Galatia, namely Perga – Acts 13:13, Antioch in Pisidia – Acts 13:14, Iconium – Acts 13:51, Lystra – Acts 14:6 and Derbe – Acts 14:6. When they had finished preaching in Derbe they then returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch is Pisidia and strengthened the believers there - Acts 14:21-28. These churches are the recipients of Paul's letter to the Galatians.

The Churches is Galatia were made up of both Jews and Gentiles. The main reason Paul writes his letter to the Galatian churches is that those churches were listening to and succumbing to the Judaizing false teachers that had crept into the Church who were undermining the central New Testament doctrine of justification by faith in Christ Jesus.

Romans 3:28-31 (NKJV)

28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.

These false teachers were specifically teaching that Gentiles must first become Jewish proselytes and submit to all the Mosaic law before they could become Christians – thus nullifying Christ’s death on the cross for the salvation of mankind! Paul wrote his letter to counter these false teachings, to defend justification by faith in Christ Jesus alone, and to warn those churches of the dire consequences of abandoning this essential doctrine.

Note: in the body on this article the verses from Galatians are in italics, the explanation of the verse/s follows in straight text with additional scriptures shown in bold italics.

1 Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), 2 and all the brethren who are with me,

To the churches of Galatia:

In the first verse above, Paul confirms to the Galatians that he is an apostle not appointed from or through men but appointed directly through Jesus and God the Father under the leading of the Holy Spirit. He is an apostle to the Church in Galatia whose members are both Jews and Gentiles who are now Christians! In Christ Jesus there is no difference between Jew and Gentile.

Acts 13:2 (NIV)

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Romans 11:13-14 (NIV)

13 I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry 14 in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them.

Romans 15:15-16 (NIV)

15 Yet I have written you quite boldly on some points to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 3:26-29 (NIV)

26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

In verse two above we see that Paul has addressed his letter to all the churches is Galatia and not just to one particular church. The same problem was facing all the churches that he and Barnabas had established in Galatia. They were all being led astray by false teachers who were preaching a different gospel than what he and Barnabas had first preached to them, that is faith in Christ Jesus alone!

If we look around us at the Church today you will say that the Church across the world is facing the very same problem. False teachers and prophets are coming in nineteen to the dozen! They are all around us and are wolves in sheep's clothing and they are leading good people astray in their thousands! The Church needs to wake up and expose these demonically led teachers!

Matthew 7:15 (NKJV)

 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 

Ephesians 5:11 (NKJV)

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 

3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

In verses 3-5 above Paul is pronounces a prayer of blessing over the Galatian churches. His pronouncement is one of grace (unmerited favour) and peace (the peace of Jesus that surpasses all understanding) is to them from both God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. 

Paul stresses to the Church that because of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for our sins, the Lord delivers us from this age of evil and that this sacrifice and our redemption is according to the will of the Father to whom eternal glory belongs. What a blessing to all of His children! Let me assure that this blessing is for us today as well as Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever!

Hebrews 13:8 (NKJV)

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 

Only One Gospel
6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

In verses 6-10 above Paul cuts to the chaste and gets right to the point of why he is writing this letter to the Galatians.

In verses 6 and 7 he says that he marvels or is astonished or in modern day English vernacular, he is gob-smacked that they have so quickly turned away from the true gospel of faith in Christ Jesus to a perverted gospel that he calls no gospel at all! And I must say that I feels the same way about those who are led astray by todays wolves in sheep's clothing and there are so many of them!

And in verses 8 and 9 Paul shows how strongly he feels about their desertion from the true gospel and says that even if we (being he and Barnabas) or an angel from heaven preach another gospel other than the one that they (he and Barnabas) first preached to them. Then let that person be accursed. And in verse 9 Paul says the same thing again to give the message more impact, "let that person be accursed!”

The word accursed in verses 8 and 9 is translated from the Greek word ‘anathema’ which is pronounced an-ath'-em-ah and it refers to someone or something that is cursed by God and without hope of being redeemed. In other words, anyone who perverts the gospel and preaches a different gospel and leads people away from the true gospel, teaches a gospel according to man’s thoughts, is cursed of God! Beware you all you false preachers out there!

This perverted gospel is one that is still being preached in many churches to this day. A gospel that is politically correct but so far from being Biblically correct. The preachers and teachers of this perverted gospel come under God’s curse! These false teachers, preachers and prophets are responsible for leading thousands of people astray and as such will be judged harshly and bring destruction upon themselves. These men and women will go to hell if they do not repent!

2 Peter 2:1-3 (AMP)

But [in those days] false prophets arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will subtly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their shameful ways, and because of them the way of truth will be maligned. 3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false arguments and twisted doctrine. Their sentence [of condemnation which God has decreed] from a time long ago is not idle [but is still in force], and their destruction and deepening misery is not asleep [but is on its way].

And in verse 10 to finish off this section, Paul let’s the Galatians know that he is telling them these things because he is not a pleaser of men but because he is devoted to pleasing God in Christ Jesus and desires them to be the same as he is, just like he says in his letter to the Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 11:1 (NKJV)

Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

And the NIV Bible interprets this verse as Paul saying, “follow my example as I follow Christ’s.”

1 Corinthians 11:1 (NIV)

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

Paul's Call to Apostleship
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.

Now, in verse 11 and 12 above, Paul tells the Galatian churches in no uncertain terms, of the authority he has to preach the gospel to them, and which authority did not come from man but was given to him directly by the revelation of Jesus! A powerful and compelling statement indeed!

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.

In verses 13 and 14 above Paul reminds the Galatians of who he was in Judaism before his conversion to Christianity. In his letter to the Philippians Paul tells us all about who he used to be before his conversion.

Philippians 3:4-11 (NKJV)

4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Paul makes this reminder of who he used to be to the Galatians to emphasise the fact that they should not listen to the false teachers who have infiltrated the Galatian church as they are trying to turn them back to Judaism and are thus perverting the truth of the gospel by trying to convince them that the should still be bound to the law from which they had been set free by the gospel of faith in Christ Jesus alone! Jesus is all we need, He is the way, the truth and the life!

John 14:6 (NKJV)

 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, 16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

In verses 15 to 17 Paul tells us that it pleased God to ‘call’ him to preach Jesus to the gentiles. He goes on to emphasise the fact that even though he was a Pharisee of Pharisees and a persecutor of the Church, he was actually called by God’s grace right from his mother’s womb and was predestined by God to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles and that he came to ‘know’ Jesus at the time when it pleased God! God is a changer of hearts!

Ezekiel 36:26-27 (NKJV)

26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. 

It is only once we have received Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, once we are born again, that our Godly calling can be fulfilled in the power of the Holy Spirit and lead a life that will bring glory to Jesus! Our past, present and future sins are forgiven through the blood of Jesus!

In verses 16 and 17 Paul confirms to the Galatians that his calling is not of men but by God as he did not immediately confer with the other apostles in Jerusalem but went into Arabia to preach to the Gentiles in the power of the Holy Spirit and only after a period of about three years (see verse 18 below) did he go to Jerusalem to confer with a few of the other apostles.

Acts 9:15-16 (NKJV)

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

In the above two verses from Acts 9, the Lord is talking to Ananias a disciple of the Lord’s who lived in Damascus. The Lord instructs Ananias to go and pray for Paul as Paul has been chosen by Him to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. Ananias goes to Paul in obedience to the instruction from the Lord, lays hands on him and prays for him. During this prayer Paul is then filled with the Holy Spirit and is water baptised!

Acts 9:17-18 (NKJV)

17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.

It was after Paul received the infilling of the Holy Spirit and his water baptism that he immediately went out and preached the gospel to the Gentiles in the power of the Holy Spirit, just as Jesus did when He was filled with the Holy Spirit after His water baptism. Paul’s sending out was not by man!

Mark 1:9-13 (NIV)

9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, 13 and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

Paul’s calling affirmed in Jerusalem
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. 20 (Now concerning the things which I write to you, indeed, before God, I do not lie.)
21 Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. 23 But they were hearing only, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God in me.

In verses 18-24 above Paul reiterates to the Galatian churches that his calling was not of man but from God, He wants this fact cemented in their hearts and deems it worthy of repetition. 

He lets them know that when he was in Jerusalem specifically to see Peter three years after his calling, that the only two Apostles he met with were Peter and James the brother of Jesus. He stayed with Peter for 15 days and afterwards he went into Syria and Cilicia to preach the gospel there. Paul goes on to say that the believers in Syria and Cilicia were amazed at his dramatic conversion and gave God all the glory!

The idea that Paul the persecutor, who had been throwing fellow believers in jail and allowing them to be stoned to death, had now become a fellow believer was incredible, almost beyond belief. But the believing Jews in Judea had to rejoice based on what they had heard from the believers in Damascus and Jerusalem, including Peter and James, because he was unknown by sight to the churches in Judea which were in Christ. 

“Judea” refers to the southern part of Israel, which includes the city of Jerusalem. So, clearly Paul’s authority could not have come from man directly or indirectly. Paul’s authority as an apostle came by revelation directly from Jesus!

Prayer
Dear Father
In the name of Jesus, I pray that you would continually fill me with your Holy Spirit and give me wisdom and discernment so that I will not be led astray by the errant teachings of false prophets and teachers. Reveal to me, I pray, the wolves in sheep’s’ clothing that I may not stray from your path – Jesus Christ and Him crucified! Amen!

To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise!

Jesus the Name above all names!

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself. My word is flawed the Bible is not!

An Introduction to the End Times

 

What is ‘The End Times.’
‘The End Times’ in Christianity has been a hot topic for many years with many differing views being proposed.

However, with all these different views, there is one absolute certainty that all born again Christians know and that is that Jesus Christ is returning, the second coming of Christ, and the evidence suggests that He is coming soon!

There are many Bible verses both in the Old and New Testaments that refer to ‘The End Times’ and this is a topic that is worthy of a series of teachings, but for the purposes of this workshop we will mention only a few scriptures that will pique our interest in the topic for our future walk to Christian maturity!

The study of ‘The End Times’ is commonly referred to as Eschatology. This word is made up of the Greek word ‘eschatos’ which means, the last things, the final things or the end of things and ‘ology’ which in the English language means ‘the study of.’ Hence for our purposes Eschatology is the study of ‘The End Times.’

When will Jesus come again?
We don’t know. The Bible clearly states that only God the Father knows the day and the hour, but it will come suddenly like a thief in the night. It will be a terrible day for the unsaved.

Matthew 24:36-39 (NKJV)

36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the daythat Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

We don’t know when this day will be, but we must recognize the signs of the end times and we must be ready, we must know Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. We must be born again. Our spiritual zeal as born-again Christians should always burn with an intense flame! If we are not born again, we will not enter heaven!

John 3:3 (NKJV)

Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

The Age of Grace
Since the resurrection of Jesus and His ascension or His return to heaven, the world has been living in a time of God’s grace. This means that God has not yet brought His judgement upon all mankind, and He has not yet poured out His wrath! This will only happen when Jesus returns. A number of happenings or events need to take place before Christ’s return. The Bible prophecies regarding the end times primarily relate to the time of Tribulation that is coming on the earth, this being the seven years immediately before Jesus returns to earth.

The Rapture of The Church
This is time when Jesus comes specifically for His Church and all believers that are alive on the earth will be caught up in the clouds with Jesus together will all those who have fallen asleep (died) in the Lord. This will occur before the beginning of the seven-year Tribulation period.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 (NKJV)

“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

Christ’s Judgement of His Church (believers).
This is where the believers will stand before God to be judged for their actions whether good or bad. This is not a judgement of punishment, as all unbelievers will face, but a judgement to determine reward, our crowns of glory, for the righteous acts we have done in Christ Jesus!

Romans 4:12 (NKJV)

So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.

2 Timothy 4:8 (NKJV)

Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

1 Corinthians 3:13–15 (NKJV)

13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

We have seen that when Jesus comes for His church at the Rapture, all true members of the church, both dead and alive, will be changed to receive new resurrection bodies fit for us to be with the Lord forever. While the world is
enduring the Tribulation, the raptured believers will be judged for their works. Unbelievers will be judged later, as we will see.

Matthew 12:36 (NKJV) – Jesus speaking

But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Romans 14:12 (NKJV)

So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.

2 Corinthians 5:10 (NKJV)

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

The Great Tribulation – a period of seven years
This 7-year period begins at or shortly after the rapture of the church. Satan is unrestrained and the Holy Spirit is removed. Satan will wreak havoc throughout this time and this period will culminate with the Second Coming of Jesus and Battle of Armageddon.

Revelation 3:10 (NIV)

Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.

When will the Age of Grace come to an end?
The church age will end with the Rapture of the church. There will still be grace for salvation during the Tribulation, but this will be a time of the worst suffering that the world has ever known, for God is judging the earth. As mentioned before, only the Father knows when the Rapture will occur, but the Bible tells us there will be signs that will tell us that the Lord’s second coming is near. These signs will happen in what we call ‘The End Times’ and during these times a number of ‘End Times’ events will take place.

What are the signs of the End Times?
Now, let’s have a look at what Jesus said about ‘The End Times.’

Matthew 24:3-8 (NKJV)

3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

In the above verses Jesus is talking to His disciples about the signs that will come when ‘The End Times’ are upon us.

Let’s take a look at one more Bible passage from the New Testament and see what the signs of ‘The End Times’ will be.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 (NKJV)

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

In the above five verses it is the Apostle Paul telling us about what men will be like in the ‘last days’ or ‘end times’ and he goes on to warn us that these days will be perilous or dangerous.

From verses 2 – 5 he gives us a list of nineteen evil and ungodly characteristics of what men will be like during the ‘end times.’ Men in these verses refers to mankind, both male and female!

If we look around us at the world today it becomes quite evident that we are very much into the ‘end times’ already!

And in the second half of verse five we are warned to stay away from such people. Bad company corrupts good character! We, when we become born again, are God’s children and are thus children of the light!

1 Corinthians 15:33 (NIV)

Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

2 Corinthians 6:14 (NIV)

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

1 Thessalonians 5:5 (NIV)

You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.

The light of course is Jesus, who is the light of the world!

John 8:12 (NIV)

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

The Bible tells us that there will also be physical signs of the earth being in stress during the end times.

Matthew 24:4-8 (NKJV)

4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

So, from this we can see that besides the deterioration of man’s behaviour, the earth itself will be deteriorating with devastating effect.

As already mentioned, a number of significant events will also take place during these times. In recent years, there has been a marked increase in all of the signs that Jesus mentioned, as the scene is being set for the Tribulation period.

The Second Coming of Christ and The Battle of Armageddon
The Battle of Armageddon will take place at the end of the Great Tribulation period on the plains of Megiddo and at the second coming of Christ. It is the final showdown in this age between good (Jesus) and evil (Satan).

Satan will muster His forces through the Antichrist and his earthly forces against the Lord, but he will not prevail. The Lord, coming with His angelic hosts and the resurrected Church will destroy this vast army of the nations that will come against Him.

Revelation 16:16 (NKJV)

“And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.”

Revelation 19:19 (NKJV)

“And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.”

Matthew 24:29–31 (NKJV)

““Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

Psalm 145:5-9 (NIV)

5 Let his faithful people rejoice in this honor

and sing for joy on their beds.

6 May the praise of God be in their mouths

and a double-edged sword in their hands,

7 to inflict vengeance on the nations

and punishment on the peoples,

8 to bind their kings with fetters,

their nobles with shackles of iron,

9 to carry out the sentence written against them—

this is the glory of all his faithful people.

Praise the Lord.

The Separation of the Sheep from the Goats – Matthew 25:31-46
This is the separation of the nations and their judgment for how they treated Israel during the Tribulation period. The sheep are believers and the goats are the non-believers.

The sheep will enjoy eternal life and will inherit the kingdom that Jesus will set up, and the goats to eternal punishment in Hell with the devil and his fallen angels.

The Marriage Supper of the Lamb
This is the celebration of the Church as the Bride of Christ and will take place just after Jesus returns to the earth. The Old Testament saints will be invited to enjoy this supper.

2 Corinthians 11:2 (NKJV)

“For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”

Revelation 19:6–9 (NKJV)

“And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 9 Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’”

The Kingdom Age and Millennial Reign of Christ
Following His return to earth, Jesus will reign for 1000 years on earth, from Jerusalem. This is the glorious Kingdom age foretold in many of the Old Testament prophecies. During this time, Satan is bound and put into the abyss along with his fallen angels.

The martyred believers from the tribulation will join the raptured church and together will rule and reign with Jesus for 1000 years. The believers from the Old Testament period will also be resurrected at the time of Jesus’ return.

Revelation 20:4 (NKJV)

4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Satan is Released from the Abyss (Rev. 20:7-9)
At the end of the 1000 years, Satan will be released to deceive the nations once again. People born during the 1000 years will need to make a choice about who they will follow. Some will choose God, and sadly others will reject Him.

Revelation 20:7–9 (NKJV)

“Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.”

Great White Throne Judgement
There will be a judgment of all unbelievers before Jesus’ throne.

The books that contain the deeds of men are opened and the dead stand before God to be judged and if their names aren’t found in the Lamb’s Book of Life, they are cast away forever into Hell.

Revelation 20:11–15 (NKJV)

“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And

the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”

Destruction of Present Heavens & Earth
At the end of the judgement of men, the present earth and heavens will be destroyed by fire.

Matthew 24:35 (NKJV)

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”

2 Peter 3:3–7 (NKJV)

“knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

The New Heaven, the New Earth, the New Jerusalem and Eternity
After the destruction of the old heaven and earth, God will provide the new created heaven and earth and all God’s children will live in eternity with Him and Jesus will rule as the Lord of Lords and the King of kings from the New Jerusalem!

Who knows what great works and blessings He has in store for us for eternity? No more tears, no more sickness, no more death!

Revelation 21:1–5 (NKJV)

“Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven

saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.””

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly

I pray that you would give be wisdom and discernment to recognise the signs of the End Times and that you would help me to prepare to be rapture ready. Strengthen my faith Lord to withstand and overcome all that the devil will throw at be during these times and fill me continually with your Holy Spirit and to be always dressed in the full armour of God! Let me always keep my eyes on Jess and not on the things that are happening in the world. Amen.

To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise!

Jesus the Name above all names!

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself! I am flawed the Bible is not!