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The Test

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Galatians 2:4-5 [My precaution was] because of false brethren who had been secretly smuggled in [to the Christian brotherhood]; they had slipped in to spy on our liberty and the freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might again bring us into bondage [under the Law of Moses].5 To them we did not yield submission even for a moment, that the truth of the Gospel might continue to be [preserved] for you [in its purity].

How would you know if you were one of the “false brethren?” Jesus offered many parables to demonstrate that there truly is a distinction between those who are born of the Spirit and those who are not. He referred to them as goats, tares, or foolish virgins. But what test could you use to detect those who were spying on your “liberty and freedom in Christ”? Paul in his letter to the Galatian believers, or followers of Jesus, provides us with a few clues.

Galatians 2:20-21 provides us with a litmus test for accurately ascertaining whether there are false brothers and sisters among us and whether or not we may also have been poisoned by their unbelief. It reveals whether or not we have yielded “submission” to those who seek to bring us back in to “bondage.” Galatains 2:20-21 states:  I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 21 [Therefore, I do not treat God’s gracious gift as something of minor importance and defeat its very purpose]; I do not set aside and invalidate and frustrate and nullify the grace (unmerited favor) of God. For if justification (righteousness, acquittal from guilt) comes through [observing the ritual of] the Law, then Christ (the Messiah) died groundlessly and to no purpose and in vain. [His death was then wholly superfluous.]

This passage provides us with foundational truths for all who seek to not be in bondage ever again; those who desire to not be among the false brethren; those who don’t want to be a goat, or tares, or a foolish virgin. Paul states in verse 21 that the false brethren “set aside, invalidate, and nullify the Grace of God.” What is the Grace of God? It’s a noun and a verb. Grace is God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. It’s the favor granted to us, by the Father to become one with Him; to be reconciled to Him; to no longer be His enemy; an enemy of HIs righteousness and truth. Yet, Grace is also a verb. It is Glorious Realities As Christ Empowers. In other words, Grace is the empowerment to do God’s will; it’s that thought you have that you should pray, get up early to spend time alone with the Lord, to read the Word, fast, memorize Scripture, go to church, witness to your neighbor, or serve others. Grace is the desire to be righteous, good, seek after God to know Him, or to seek to understand His Word or Truth. Grace is the desire to follow Jesus’ example; to submit and surrender to His teaching, and Truth.

How do false brothers and sisters set aside, invalidate, and nullify God’s Grace? The answer to that question is found in part from the paragraph above, but it is also spelled out for us in verse 20. False brothers and sisters will not seek to be crucified with Jesus but will allow the soul man to manifest and be in charge of their lives. False brothers and sisters seek to smother out the life of Christ in them, not trusting Jesus, leaning wholly on Him. They don’t because they haven’t.

Conversely, if I am living by the Law of Grace – the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus – I will be seeking to live for Grace’s prompting. Who is Grace? Well He is not a she. He is a Person Who makes Jesus and the Word of God known to us. (And He is Amazing!) He is the One Who led you to surrender your life to Jesus. He is the One Who talks to you more than you often know, recognize or acknowledge. He is the One Who reminds you of Scripture, prays through you, calls you to know Jesus. Hebrews 10:29 refers to Him as the Spirit of Grace. Grace is synonymous with the Spirit. Thus, to set aside, invalidate, and nullify God’s Grace is to set aside, invalidate, and nullify the Holy Spirit. As I seek to live according to Grace’s Prompting – the Holy Spirit – I will seek to be sensitive to every inclination, thought, desire, and interest – that is connected to anything of the Word, of His Righteousness, Holiness, or Goodness. I will seek to live for Jesus, and Galatians 2:20. My focus will not be on being crucified with Jesus as much as on living for Him (for crucifixion with Jesus comes through obedience and submission). You see, He died for you, and for me, and the least thing we can do is to live a life of obedience, and submission as a way of saying thank you for all that He has done and is still doing. Oh, and by the way, gratitude, the giving of overflowing thanks, is a characteristic of those who are not one of the false brothers and sisters. Obedience, and submission to the Word of God, and the Spirit of God, is thanksgiving. It is true worship (more than a song).

Ultimately the false brothers, and sisters reject the Holy Spirit. They can’t recognize, nor respond to His activity in and around their lives because they are blind and insensitive to His Person. False brothers and sisters live their lives according to the gospel of death, the soul, darkness, and all that dehumanizes mankind. They are enemies of God and of Jesus and are actually unconscious of this reality. What’s the Good News? The Good News is that if any of this convicts you that is the Holy Spirit. He convicts of sin, righteousness, and the judgment to come. The Good News is He is revealing these to you to repent of them – change your mind – change your life style and actions – and ask Jesus for forgiveness. He will forgive you in a moment because He has already taken your punishment. So, be washed in the “Water” of His Word and Spirit and be new – because He makes all things new. Are you ready for His new beginnings? He is ready for you to have them. Behold, He makes all things new. Get back up, be washed in His Blood, and overcome the accuser of the brothers through what His Blood and Spirit has accomplished for you. You are His new beginning!

Vines, Branches and Trees – Grow Up Into Jesus

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James 1:5 If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him.

Years ago, while driving a semi in the winter, from central Colorado to Western Wyoming , I discovered I had a lot of time on my hands. While driving I got this crazy thought: You’ve got parts of the book of James memorized – Why don’t you memorize the whole book? When I began the undertaking one thing that annoyed me was that it seemed to be a mixture of disjointed thoughts. But as I was provoked with questions I slowly began to see their interconnectedness. For example in verses 2-12 you see that if you are going through trials – you should consider it joy. Why? Ask for wisdom. To ask for wisdom during the trial requires belief, and humility. As you submit to the process above – you grow and mature, become integrated (no longer double-minded or two souled), and you receive the Crown of Life. Now that should be counted ALL joy!

This wisdom provides an understanding of the process. Understanding the process empowers you to cooperate and grow rather than kicking, screaming, and resisting the Hand of the Lord. For example yesterday I was reviewing some Scripture memory. Before I began I asked two questions: Is this empowering me to be connected to Jesus? Am I making room for Jesus in this process? After checking myself spiritually, and focusing my minds attention on connecting with the Lord – not just reviewing Scripture, John 15:1-2 stood out to me: I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser. 2 Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit.

What struck me was that Jesus was identifying with the Vine. The Vine He is – is being pruned by His Father the Vine Dresser. Even more startling is that Jesus had some branches that weren’t bearing fruit, and branches that were. The branches that were – got exposed to the process of pruning in order for them to bear more fruit.

When I was around 14 years old I began searching for God. One of the things I was drawn to was a simple little devotional called My Daily Bread. One of those devotionals pointed out the promise found in James 1:5 and so I began praying this promise almost everyday of my young life into adulthood. As I began to see the promise manifested I added other promises to my daily routine. I added insight, knowledge, foresight, discernment, and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit – and those grew. But what I failed to see was that I was growing even though I was heavily demonized, self-centered, arrogant, angry and proud. In our maturing process the enemy will often remind us of our failures, regrets, and shame. But the tares always grow with the wheat. The question is, Are we sowing more wheat than tares – every harvest? Eventually the wheat of God’s Word will choke out the tares and you don’t even realize it. (You didn’t even have to help God by tearing out your tares).

Back in May 2023 we were doing a prophetic exercise with our church in which everyone received a number. These numbers were folded in half, thrown into a basket, and jumbled up. Our facilitator then took the basket and had everyone blindly choose one of the folded pieces of paper. The only person who knew their number was you. Matt Wagenmaker drew my number and wrote the following on a 3×5 index card: Extremely large tree, with a thick trunk and a large canopy of leaves which is flowing next to a river. I still have that index card. Why? Because it sums up everything James is talking about. What Matt “saw” was Psalm 1:2-3 But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night.3 And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity]. That word blesses me to this day. I keep it in my Bible as a treasure, a reminder and an encouragement.

As followers of Jesus our process is daunting, but simply stated: Grow up into Jesus. You might ask, How? Start with Wisdom (that’s Jesus in the Old Testament. He’s Truth in the New Testament). Get understanding regarding the Words meaning. (Wisdom commands that) Obey and apply all that you know and understand.

You see Jesus is not only the True Vine, He is the Tree of Life planted by the Rivers of the Holy Spirit and His leaves never wither. While focusing on this simple process you eventually become assimilated into Who He is. Small things pay off into eternally, big dividends and rewards – AND – Wisdom crowns us with Life.

That screwed up, nobody teenager took God at His Word, and started becoming His tree. And all of it begins with simple faith.