Kingdom Disciples

The gift of the Spirit is vital to the redemption of humanity and God’s covenant with His people, the Church of Jesus Christ . The New Testament links the gift of the Holy Spirit to the “ blessings of Abraham ,” the prom ise that God will bless the nations through the Patriarch. The outpouring of the Spirit on the Church is one of God’s promises to Israel, and the Scriptures confirm this.

Le don de l'Esprit est vital pour la rédemption de l'humanité et l'alliance de Dieu avec Son peuple, l'Église de Jésus-Christ . Le Nouveau Testament relie le don du Saint-Esprit aux “ bénédictions d'Abraham ”, la promesse que Dieu bénira les nations à travers le Patriarche. L'effusion de l'Esprit sur l'Église est l'une des promesses de Dieu à Israël, et les Écritures le confirment.

The gift of the Spirit demonstrates beyond question who belongs to the covenant community of Christ, and who does not . “ False brethren ” were preaching “ another gospel ” in the churches of Galatia, a “gospel” that requires Gentile believers to adopt circumcision and otherwise conform to the regulations of the Mosaic Law. Paul repudiated this false teaching in his letter to the Galatians and explained why circumcision is unnecessary for Gentiles.

Le don de l'Esprit démontre indiscutablement qui appartient à la communauté d'alliance du Christ et qui n'en fait pas partie . “ Les faux frères ” prêchaient “ un autre évangile ” dans les églises de Galatie, un “évangile” qui exige que les croyants gentils adoptent la circoncision et se conforment autrement aux règlements de la Loi mosaïque. Paul a répudié ce faux enseignement dans sa lettre aux Galates et a expliqué pourquoi la circoncision n'est pas nécessaire pour les Gentils.

Paul présente les points d'accord et de désaccord avec ses adversaires judaïsants en Galatie - Galates 2:15-21. Ce qui identifie le peuple de Dieu et détermine l'appartenance à Sa communauté d'alliance, c'est Christ, en particulier le Messie qui a été révélé sur la Croix. Les Juifs et les Gentils sont justifiés par Jésus et sa mort,  et rien d'autre !

The Gift of the Spirit is essential to the New Covenant promised by God in the Hebrew Bible for His people . The New Testament connects the “ Promise of the Spirit ” to the “ Blessings of Abraham .” God would bless the nations through the Patriarch. The Gift of the Spirit is an integral part of the covenant promises given to Abraham, and this promise is fulfilled in the “ New Covenant ” inaugurated by the Death and Resurrection of Jesus. His sacrifice made the ancient promises of renewal and circumcised hearts a present reality.

The issue in Galatia was whether Gentiles must be circumcised and keep some, at least, of the deeds required by the Torah . The Letter to the Galatians is Paul’s response to a controversy that had developed among the congregations of Galatia. At issue was the status of Gentile believers. Must they conform to Jewish practices and submit to the regulations of the Mosaic Law to become members of the covenant community, especially the rite of circumcision ?

The Judaizing faction in Galatia proclaimed a message that deviated from the Apostolic Tradition and twisted the true Gospel – Galatians 1:6-12. The Letter to the Galatians  opens with a stern warning. What some believers contemplated doing would replace the Gospel of Jesus with something alien. To turn from the “ faith of Jesus Christ ” to the “ works of the law ” for justification meant abandoning the grace of God and rejecting the message preached by Paul. This is why he summoned God to “ curse ” any man, “ even an angel from Heaven ,” who preached “ another gospel .”

Jésus est la Semence d'Abraham, l'héritier des promesses de l'alliance, et la réception de l'héritage est basée sur la foi en Lui . Comme le déclare l'Évangile de Matthieu , Jésus est le “ fils d'Abraham .” L'humble homme de Nazareth est le Messie et le Roi d'Israël, la “ Semence ” promise du Patriarche. Il accomplit les promesses de l'alliance. Il est l'héritier de l'alliance, et notre réception de l'héritage est basée sur sa fidèle “ obéissance jusqu'à la mort ” et notre foi en lui. Ni l'ethnicité ni la nationalité n'ont rien à voir avec cela .

The jurisdiction of the Mosaic regulations over the covenant community reached its limit with the arrival of Jesus, the Seed of Abraham . In responding to claims that Gentiles must be circumcised, Paul appealed to the common experience of the Spirit received by the Galatians.  Did they receive the Gift through a “ hearing of faith ” or “ from the works of the Law ?”  Having begun in the Spirit, why did they seek the “ completion ” of their faith based on “ flesh ” by submitting to circumcision?

La juridiction des règlements Mosaïques sur la communauté de l'alliance a atteint sa limite avec l'arrivée de Jésus, la Postérité d'Abraham . En répondant aux affirmations selon lesquelles les Gentils doivent être circoncis, Paul a fait appel à l'expérience commune de l'Esprit reçue par les Galates.  Ont-ils reçu le Don par une “ audition de la foi ” ou “ par les œuvres de la Loi? ” Ayant commencé dans l'Esprit, pourquoi cherchaient - ils “ l'achèvement ” de leur foi basée sur la “ chair ” en se soumettant à la circoncision?

With the new era inaugurated by Jesus, circumcision is no longer the required sign of membership in the covenant community . Circumcision is an obstacle to any claim that believers must keep the regulations of the Mosaic Law to be saved. Circumcision was the entrance rite of the covenant with Abraham. Moreover, it was mandatory under the Law given through Moses at Mount Sinai; it was never optional . Therefore, if circumcision is no longer required for membership in the People of God, the jurisdiction or content of the Mosaic Law has changed, if not ended.

Paul presents the points of agreement and disagreement with his Judaizing opponents in Galatia  – Galatians 2:15-21. What identifies the people of God and determines membership in His covenant community is Christ, especially the Messiah who has been revealed on the Cross. Jews and Gentiles are justified through Jesus and his death,   and nothing else !

Paul’s Letter to the Galatians is his response to a controversy in the churches of that region. The issue was the status of Gentile believers. Must they conform to Jewish practices and submit to the regulation of the Mosaic Law, especially circumcision? At the heart of his response was his contention that “ in Christ ” the old distinctions between “ Jew ” and “ Gentile ” no longer apply, the covenant promises have found their fulfillment in Jesus, the “ seed of Abraham .”

In Galatians , Paul addresses a growing danger. Certain “ men from Jerusalem ” claimed that Gentiles must keep the deeds of the Mosaic Law to “ complete ” their faith, or at least, some of its statutes and rites. They were “ compelling Gentiles to Judaize ” by adopting circumcision, calendrical observances, and perhaps the Levitical dietary restrictions.