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NASB | James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole Law but stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of [breaking] all of it. |
Bible Question:
Joe, To see what the yoke of slavery is, you need to look back to chapter 4. Paul says in 5:1 'therefore', this means that he is drawing a conclusion from what he has already stated, not from what he is about to state. So what is this yoke of slavery from chapter 4? Gal 4:21 - under law, the law Gal 4:24 - (One covenant) proceeding from Mount Sinai - the Law "It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery." Circumcision is not a yoke of slavery. (Talk about poor exegesis :)) Circumcision is merely a sign that you are under the Old Covenant - the Law. Also, what is it about the death of your body, merely dust, a temple, which will not EVER stand before God, that makes you righteous before God? I agree that we will have a new resurrected, redeemed body when the rapture happens. But what is it about your 'shell', your house, that determines your right-standing before God? Can you cite any scriptures that speak of your body being your source of righteousness? I thought you said the Christ was your source of righteousness? Isn't He in you now? You said in another post that one day you will stand before Him with your own righteousness. How did you attain this? How does the death of your body cause you to be spiritually righteous? If, as you say, your spirit is not righteous now, how does the death of your body make it so? Always curious, Bill Mc |
Bible Answer: Circumcision and the Law as a means to justification is precisely "the yoke of slavery" being discussed, as we see in the first four verses of Galatians 5. If you take my whole commentary into account, you see idea that clearly developed. The problem Paul was dealing with in Galatia was not merely fondness for the Law. The Judaizers were telling them that in addition to Christ's atonement, justification must still be sought in keeping the Law, which begins with circumscision. We see Paul soundly refuting justification of any sort via the works of the Law (Galatians 2:16, 3:3, 3:11, 3:24,and 5:4 in this book alone) and I stand with you and Paul in condemning this idea. No one was EVER justified by Law-keeping: "Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law." --Galatians 3:21 We see Abraham is justified by faith 430 years before the Law is given. However, James also points out the argument I have been making: that Abraham's faith was demonstrated by OBEDIENCE to God. The faith in God's covenant of grace is what saved Abraham, but it was a faith that resulted in works. The moral commandments found in the Law correspond to the obedience that God seeks for us, and Leviticus 19:18 and Deuteronomy 6:5 sum up the Law, which are still commandments for believers. Why do you ignore Paul's clear profession that our own righteousness is something we HOPE for, and therefore do not currently possess? I will stand righteous on my own before God when He completes my sanctification, which will not occur until the end of this existence. Until that point, it is Christ who is my advocate before the Father, the great High Priest who always lives to make intercession for me (Hebrews 7:25). But back to Galatians 5...other than your misunderstanding of my point about circumcision (which indeed is the seal of our entrance into the Mosaic Covenant), where else was I "wrong" in my exegesis? I would especially like your take on Paul's exhortation for us to use our freedom for servanthood, how the truth is something not simply to be believed but also obeyed, and how practicing Leviticus 19:18 is fulfillment of the Law. This is a Bible study forum, so let's study Galatians 5 in-depth. --Joe! |