Many influencers want to persuade us away from Christ, but our confidence is in Him

Galatians 5:7-12

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.
Click for a description of the image of the beast.

“You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. Galatians 5:7-9

The Galatians were doing well in living for Jesus Christ, but then someone had obviously caused them to stumble. That someone were the Jewish leaders. That was obvious because living by the laws of Judaism did not come from the teaching of Jesus Christ. A little leaven leavens the whole lump refers to the fact that the Galatians were circumcised, which seems like a small thing, but it grows like yeast in bread to require them to live by every written law in the Old Testament.

“I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.” Galatians 5:10

Paul had confidence in the Galatians that they would be steadfast in living for God through Jesus Christ, who gives them liberty from within the heart by the Holy Spirit. Paul knew that the Jewish leaders were aggressive, persuasive, threatening, and downright coercive in demanding that the laws of the Old Testament were to be followed. Paul knew that the Galatians were being troubled, terrified, and afraid to say no to the Jewish influencers. Paul also, through the Holy Spirit, promised that those who are shaking them out of their faith in Jesus Christ will bear judgment, whoever that person might be. “God, who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath…” Romans 2:6:8

We live in an atheistic culture today, and they trouble those who believe in God through Jesus Christ who desire to live in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Today’s global culture lives for the entity that has power over physiology to give them what to say, do, think, and say. People who are not part of them are being troubled in many different ways, including in the home, at the workplace, school, within the community network etc. The entity giving people what to feel and think enlivens the image of the beast to live and speak through them. The global culture is groomed to the mark of the beast by what they are given to say and do.  “All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Revelation 1:8 The “him” in this verse is the beast of the image and mark of the beast. Revelation 13:8

“And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off!” Galatians 5:11-12

Paul, who was a Pharisee of all Pharisees [defending Judaism to the point of persecuting, jailing, and murdering Christians], quit preaching about keeping the practice of circumcision and other laws of the Old Testament. Because Paul denounced Judaism, he was constantly being persecuted by the Jewish community. Why would that be if he kept the laws of Judaism and still demanded circumcision?

If Paul was still preaching about keeping the laws of the Old Testament, then the offense of the Cross of Christ would have ceased. The Cross of Christ is offensive to the Jewish community because our Lord Jesus brings a born-again experience through the Spirit, not by keeping 613 laws. Paul’s persecution would have ceased if he was still preaching the need for circumcision. As our Lord Jesus said, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40

As long as we speak the Gospel of Christ and keep Jesus first and foremost in our mind and heart, we will not be made to feel comfortable in today’s atheistic society. Christ Jesus speaks these words to us, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11