Abrahamic Blessings to the Gentiles, Spiritual or Material?

When we are debating over the terms and words, we miss the big thing - the validity of interpretation of the Word - which is crucial.  This is our concern and burden... today's believers, who are very intelligent and super smart in their schools, business, offices, skills and in home-making,  are kept sadly in elementary school level in "handling the Word with confidence."  The money-minded tele-evangelists, preachers and pastors usurp their ignorance.

Our BIG question here is:  Is it justifiable to interpret "the blessings of Abraham," in materialistic sense? Does Paul intend the material prosperity in Galatians 3:14 "He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit"? (NIV). Or something else?

I draw my attention to the entire letter as a student of the Word.
Paul's intent of writing this letter is to establish the churches in Galatia by founding them in the essence of the gospel in the light of false teachings of the Judaizers (circumcision party).
He does it first by authenticating his call and his gospel,
by encountering with Peter and Barnabas for the truth of the gospel,
by exhorting not to be foolish and fleshly.
by proving his case - "salvation by faith alone and not by works" - illustrating from Abraham and the Seed, by exhorting them to live in freedom in the Spirit rather than under the bondage of flesh,  

Here, in the text, I observe one thing.  Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Paul does not mention the  threefold blessings of Abraham (Prosperity, Posterity and Property) in Genesis 12:1-3, as many prosperity preachers and Judaizers readily do!

Rather Paul pin-pointedly selects the core of the Abrahamic blessings, without which everything jeopardizes.   Paul quotes only Genesis 12:3b in Galatians 3:8, "Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”

The context is "Justification by faith on Jesus Christ."  So also, the blessing of Abraham is not the material things as the Judaizers and prosperity preachers falsely interpret.  According to Paul, the original author, it is "the justification by faith on Jesus Christ alone."

Paul eventually applies it to us, the gentiles, who are the children of Abraham by faith, the descendants of the Seed (singular), to enjoy the blessing of Abraham - the justification by faith on the death of Jesus Christ on the tree. Period.  Nothing less, nothing else and nothing more.    

Let us discern any teaching in the light of the Holy-Spirit-inspired-Word, before we buy it.

Expounding the Word of God for the Edification of our Souls:

The Text:

"They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32)

"அப்பொழுது அவர்கள் ஒருவரையொருவர் நோக்கி: வழியிலே அவர் நம்முடனே பேசி, வேதவாக்கியங்களை நமக்கு விளங்கக்காட்டினபொழுது, நம்முடைய இருதயம் நமக்குள்ளே கொழுந்துவிட்டு எரியவில்லையா என்று சொல்லிக்கொண்டு,..." (லூக்கா 24:32 தமிழ்)

उन्होंने आपस में कहा; जब वह मार्ग में हम से बातें करता था, और पवित्र शास्त्र का अर्थ हमें समझाता था, तो क्या हमारे मन में उत्तेजना न उत्पन्न हुई? (लूका 24:32)

The Thought:
"Were our hearts burning within us while he talked with us... and opened the Scriptures to us?"

Three Elements: 

The Spirit of God works supernaturally through the Word of God, as it is expounded truthfully by Men of God.  You see three elements involve here - the Spirit of God, the Word of God, and the Men of God.  It is just like a three-legged-stool.  If you miss one, there is less stability.

The Word:

To burn our hearts (souls) within, the Spiritual gift of handling the Word with confidence is counted always higher than the outward emotional outbursts by the art of leading the worship eloquently, the program of invocation chants repeatedly, and the skill of musicians tempo highly.  

The Result:

The former produces the lasting fruit of inner spiritual maturity and the latter causes a short lived outward emotion.  

The Reality:

Sadly, as I personally witnessed in many occasions, that after the people are led to exhaustion in dancing, jumping, shouting, etc for an hour plus, the preacher is asked to give short exhortation in 15-20 minutes.  

An Appeal:  

Let us allow the Spirit of God work within our souls through the Word of God as it is expounded rightly by Men of God.

THE ATTITUDE OF GIVING IN THE EARLY CHURCH:

There is striking contrast between today's attitude, motivation and appeal for giving and that of the early church. 

The Texts:

"They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. (Acts 2:45 NIV)

"...that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need." (Acts 4:34, 35 NIV)

"காணியாட்சிகளையும் ஆஸ்திகளையும் விற்று, ஒவ்வொருவனுக்கும் தேவையானதற்குத்தக்கதாக அவைகளில் எல்லாருக்கும் பகிர்ந்துகொடுத்தார்கள். (அப்போஸ்தலர் 2:45)

"நிலங்களையும் வீடுகளையும் உடையவர்கள் அவைகளை விற்று, விற்கப்பட்டவைகளின் கிரயத்தைக் கொண்டுவந்து, அப்போஸ்தலருடைய பாதத்திலே வைத்தார்கள். அவனவனுக்குத் தேவையானதற்குத்தக்கதாய்ப் பகிர்ந்துகொடுக்கப்பட்டது; அவர்களில் ஒருவனுக்கும் ஒன்றும் குறைவாயிருந்ததில்லை."  (அப்போஸ்தலர் 4:34, 35)

"और वे अपनी अपनी सम्पत्ति और सामान बेच बेचकर जैसी जिस की आवश्यकता होती थी बांट दिया करते थे। (प्रेरितों के काम 2:45)

"और उन में कोई भी दरिद्र न था, क्योंकि जिन के पास भूमि या घर थे, वे उन को बेच बेचकर, बिकी हुई वस्तुओं का दाम लाते, और उसे प्रेरितों के पांवों पर रखते थे। और जैसी जिसे आवश्यकता होती थी, उसके अनुसार हर एक को बांट दिया करते थे।" (प्रेरितों के काम 4:34, 35).

Motivation for giving in the early church:

The early church gave to meet the needs of the fellow disciples, since they all lived as one big family.  They knew the purpose and also the way the fund was utilized. 

There was no "100-Fold-Assured-Return," tag attached with their giving.  They gave with no expectation of manyfold return of material blessings.

The disciples of the early church generously and continually gave ("time to time," - good translation in  Hindi "बेच बेचकर"), in spite of the fact that they were severely suffering unlawful  (often state-patronized) confiscation of their business and properties, burning down of their homes, and even the martyrdom for the very simple reason of being the followers of the Way.  AND STILL THEY CONTINUE TO GIVE.  There was no deal with God while giving to the church family. 

The Contrast Today:

Oh boy (and girl)! What a contrast we see today!  We do business - invest small and gain big material dividend.   "We trust in God" as long as we get in dollors.  :)

Promotional Testimonies:

This materialistic mindset is evident in all through the pages of the Testimony Columns in magazines, the TV shows (mostly in the footages for appeal), and in meetings. It is sort of a tutored repetition (and in magazines, cut-n-paste): "I gave to this ministry and am blessed with lot of properties, fat salary, big bank balance, flourishing business, promotions, my son is highly posted in USA, my daughter got a rich boy...blah blah blah blah."      

Use, Misuse and Abuse:

And sadly this materialistic mindset of the people is craftily manipulated and encashed by some (or many) preachers, pastors, missionary organization and christian institutions.  The appeal and motivation for giving is to get back manifold, and that too, in materialistic means.  Where is the spiritual and biblical aspect? 

Prayers for Back to Root:

Sighing and praying for returning to our root - to the organic lifestyle and the conceptual maturity of the early church.

Household Order in Biblical Context

Before entering into the Household Texts (Ephesians 5:22-6:9; Colossians 3:18-4:1; 1 Peter 1:7), one should have dealt with the context.  Or, the teaching may sound as a good, moral, ethical and decent social aspect.

In the Context of Local Church:
The household Order (Oikonomia/Oiknonomos) is meant for our higher calling, as Christ's body, the local church, which God has planned ages ago and has intended to fulfill Christ's mission in this world today (Ephesians 2:18-3:11), as the pillar and support for the truth (1 Timothy 3:14-16).

Ephesians Example:
A good example is from the letter to the Ephesians.

Paul's Two Prepositions and Two Prayers:
Paul first talks about the plan and purpose of God in Jesus Christ for this age (1:1-14; 2:1-3:11) and after each theological disposition, he prays two prayers:
Firstly, that their eyes of the hearts should be opened to understand the greatness of God in the church (1:15-23);
And secondly, that they may see the bigger picture with all the dimension of God's love in order to give God His glory in His church (3:14-21).

Paul's Exhortation for Unity:
Having exhorted to be united together, walking worthy of their calling, and being connected as one body, the church, he concludes to forgive one another as God in Christ did (4:1-32).

Paul's Exhortation for Walking:
Paul, now, challenges to discipline themselves, to love one another, to walk in the light, not as stupids, but to make best use of their time, being filled with the Holy Spirit in order to minister to one another with songs, and in submission to one another (5:1-21).

Household Text:
After laying such a solid and spiritual foundation in Christ, and on God's intent, "the church," Paul talks how each relationship should be ordered in the Household order, with 3 logic couplets, wife-husbands, children-parents(fathers), workers-masters (5:22-6:9).  So, it is in connection with the previous context.

The Preparation and Participation in Global Mission:
To emphasis the importance of the orderly life as the household,  Paul continues his exhortation in a battle field language (6:11-17) which will help them equip to participate in Paul's global mission through their prayers (6:18-24).    Again, Paul leads to the bigger picture of Global mission of a local church in which the families are part of.

What is at stake?
Why are we particular about the context? People now have different and special ministries, mostly sound individualistic.  For example, people involve in Family Counseling, Family Retreats, Children Evangelism, Discipleship Bible Studies, Students Ministries, Jail Ministry, Hospital Ministry etc.  But most of them, if not all, miserably fail to understand the big picture of God's salvation history, and the importance of the church in it for today.  Such teachings are mostly with individualistic mind set, personal holiness, private devotion, selective fellowship groups of individuals, personal witnessing, etc.  To some it is merely a good talk, a moral teaching,  an ethical idea, though all are important in the big picture, but surely not as a mean by an end itself.

The Why Questions:
Let us ask some logical questions.  Why should a wife obey her husband even if he is not a believer?  If she does not, or justifies of her disobedience, what is at stake?
Why should a husband love, take care of, respect his wife? If not, what are the consequences in God's economy?  So also, what about the children's obedience to the parents and father's instruction to children, workers' sincerity to the masters and masters' generosity to the workers.  Are they important in the temporal sense of living good in this world, or anything to do with Christ's eternal plan we have to fulfill in this world?

Cheap/Hyper Grace: No Need of Repentance?

The hyper/cheap grace advocates say that the salvation and forgiveness of sin is like a gift of a father to his child.  In gifting, nothing is attached - neither the price tag of the giver nor the emotional response of the receiver.  If so, it would be a business.  Just take it in face value that Jesus pronounced you as righteous and that's it.   Your repentance has no value and not needed.

Our problem is entering into the Biblical teachings with our petty and convenient, and man-centered doctrinal orientation and prejudiced understanding.

Gifting versus Grace:
We should understand that the salvation in Jesus Christ is not a "gift" in human understanding, between a father and a child.  It is purely God's "grace" that I get what I do not deserve as a sinner.  It is God's "mercy" that I do not get what actually I should be deserving as a transgressor.  When we were sinners, unloved, undeserved, Christ died for us.  So, it is no way a gifting talk in the family.

Give-and-Take versus Ransom:
Also it is not a business talk between equals that one gives and another pays it back.  For we, the sinners, are not at all worthy to cut a deal with the righteous God.  We were sold out in our sins, but Christ has paid the ransom, His very life, for us, the pitiable bankrupts.

Parables of Jesus:
Bigger Bankrupt and Smaller Debtor: I just want to draw our attention to the parable of Jesus in Matthew 18:21-35, "the bigger bankrupt and his smaller debtor."  The king expected the bank-craft that he should have updated his ledger by reckoning the huge amnesty, and tallied his balance sheet with the very gracious write off of his debt that he was not worthy to pay back then.  If he had done this homework, he would have not behaved so with his small customer.

Prayers of a Pharisee and a Publican: I see in the parable about the prayers by a publican and a righteous Pharisees in Luke 18:9-14.  The publican who really acknowledged his sin and expressed his very need of the salvation, was declared as righteous, and surely not the Pharisee who took it for granted and claimed it as his privilege, as the children of Abraham.

Prodigal Son:  In Luke 15, though the father accepted the prodigal son even before his confession of his sins, he had already repented of his sins against the Heavenly Father first, and then to his father.  He did not stop with the repentance in his heart, but he openly confessed it.

The Sinful Lady versus the Self-Righteous Pharisee:
Also, I remember here what Jesus said to one Simon, in Luke 7:36-50 about the lady who cried, wiped Jesus' feet with her hair and kept on kissing them and also what Jesus exhorted to the self-righteous Pharisee.

No Acquitting in spite of Justice:
God is not unrighteous to pronounce anyone "righteous" and acquit the guilty as free, without the justice is satisfactorily met.  If we understand what we as sinners and guilty deserve, than we will surely understand what Jesus did on the cross.  

Biblical Precedences: 
The OT prophets confessed their uncleanness and unworthiness while they understood the holiness of God (Moses in Exodus 3; Isaiah 6, Jeremiah 1);  The OT prophets called "the Holy Nation," Israelites to "consider your ways and repent."  John the Baptist and Jesus Christ called the people to "repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand."  Peter reckoned of his uncleanness when he encountered with the power of Jesus (Luke 5:8).  In the Great Commission, Jesus commanded His disciples to preach the repentance and forgiveness in His name (Luke 24:47).  The Apostles preached the gospel and called the hearers to repent (Acts 2:28;  3:20; 11:18).

Pauline Example:
Soon after his encounter with Jesus on the Damascus Road, Paul spends 3 days in fasting and praying.  He might have been reorienting his life and theology by repenting his past ignorance (Acts 9:9).  He reminds of his ministry for 3 years in Ephesus that proclaimed the repentance to God and believe in Christ (Acts 20:21).   As Paul talked about the sin problem, the Roman Governor, Felix and his Jewish wife, Drusilla who would have otherwise loved to hear the convenient gospel, were actually scared of (Acts24:24-25).

Paul does not hesitate to call himself as the chief of the sinners who deserves the Savior as he is repenting of his violent persecution of the church (1 Timothy 1:13-15).  While claiming of his apostolic authority, he does not take it for granted, rather, he humbles himself that he is not worthy to be called as an apostles, but he is, because of God's grace alone (1 Corinthians 15:9-10).  

Cheap/Hyper Grace - A False Teaching:
The more you understand and acknowledge who we are, what we do not deserve, the more we appreciate and celebrate what Christ Jesus has done for us.

The cheap/hyper grace (so also "the Positive Thinking") one of the by-products of the fallacy of the Western, Individualistic, Modern, Scientific, Scholastic, and the Superman, Spider-Man, He-Man, Prosperity culture.  They are very afraid and unease to open their eyes to reckon reality of the sin-problem in the fallen mankind.

Gleanings from Galatians 3

The Other Gospel in GalatiaThe Galatians began to turn away toward “other gospel”, which is no gospel, and is contradictory to what Paul had preached to them.  It is so serious that preaching the “other gospel” results in anathema.  

The Heresy

The heresy is best summarized in Acts 15:1, 5: 

“Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: “Unless you are circumcised according to the customs taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.”

“Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.”  

The teaching was that salvation cannot be realized unless by observing the law of Moses, particularly, being circumcised, along with believing in the gospel of Jesus Christ.   It is by “believing in the gospel plus fulfilling the commands and customs of Judaism.”  

The Implication of the Heresy:   

The implication of the heresy is explicitly venomous as it is viewed deep down in the skin.   Initiated by God alone, the salvation is culminated in the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, whose death and resurrection is final, complete and satisfactory to our salvation.  As Christ Jesus has completed the salvation once for all as the single event in the human history, it stands as completed to the infinite.  God’s action is prompted by His grace alone and no human work merits toward His favor.  To appropriate the salvation, the only human response is “faith” in the gospel.  The indwelling Holy Spirit, the gift of God, makes our salvation viable.  Christ’s grace alone (sola gratia) and justified by faith alone (sola fidei) are the bench marks of the Reformers. 

If a man is saved also by observing the law of Moses, particularly by circumcision, then Christ’s death and resurrection would be counted as incomplete, not final and unsatisfactory for our salvation.  In this sense, Christ’s vicarious suffering, substitutionary death on the cross, victorious resurrection, and free gift of the Holy Spirit would be mere waste.  In a nutshell, the salvific plan of God would stand invalid.             

That is why Paul says that Galatians have turned away from not merely the concept of salvation, but the author and source of salvation, God Himself.

The elements of the Heresy:

In the Early Churches, the other gospel was expressed in different forms.  They were from mainly two major sources, Judaism and Gnosticism, with verieties. 

Judaism:  Salvation requires also observing the law of Moses, particularly, circumcision, observing special days, ceremonial rites of cleaning, food regulations, particular place of worship, worshipping angels,ceremonial fasting,

Gnosticism:  There were two branches

Stoicism:  Salvation is attained by celibacy, strict physical controlling, fasting,    

Epicureanism: Salvation leads to licentious, moral laxity, glutton,

Roman Catholicism:  Indulgence, (selling of forgiveness), penance, purgatory, celibacy, 

The elements of Heresy Today:

Preaching of denominationalism, church doctrines and constitutions, For salvation needs of baptism, speaking in tongues, tithing, fasting, dress and ornament codes, celibacy, observance of Sabbath (Saturday) and Feasts, pilgrimage to holy land,  Following ceremonial and cultural laws of Moses, circumcision, ethical and moral teachings for salvation, medieval and western traditions of building, worship, music and songs, equating prayer books with the Scriptures, 

The list is not final. I request the readers to add more and make it contextual.

Gleanings from Galatians 2

What was the issue in the churches at Galatia?

Word study sheds light on the issue that Paul is dealing with.  (This is my body of work and consulting the scholars is pending). 

• Gospel (euangelion) (1:6,7,11;2:2, 5,7,14) 7times,  to preach the gospel (euanggelizomai) (1:8a, 8b, 9,11,16,23; 4:13) 7 times, to fore-gospel (proeuangelisato)  (3:8)  totally 15 times 
• Faith (pistis) to believe (pisteuw)  (1:23; 2:16a, 16b, 16c; 3:2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9a, 9b, 11, 12, 14, 22, 23a, 23b, 24, 25, 26; 5:5, 22; 6:10) 22 times.
• Circumcision (peritomE), to circumcise (peritmethenai) (2:3,7,8; 5:2, 3, 6, 11; 6:12, 13a, 13b, 15) 11 times; Uncircumcion (akrobustia) (2:7; 5:6; 6:15  ) 3 times
• Gentiles (ethnE) – 10 times (2:2, 8, 9,12,14,15, 3:8, 14,) 8 times.
• to justify (dikaiow) (2:16a, 16b,16c,17; 3:8, 11,24; 5:4) 8 times; justification (dikaiosune)– (2:21, 3:6,21) 3 times; Righteousness (dikaiosunE), righteous (dikaios) – (2:21; 3:6,11,21; 5:5) 5 times;  totally 16 times)
• Law, law (nomos) – (2:16a, 16b, 16c, 19a, 19b, 21; 3:2, 5, 10a, 10b, 11, 12, 13, 17,18, 19a, 19b, 21,21b, 21c, 23, 24, 25;  4:4,5, 21a, 21b; 5:3, 4, 14, 23, 6:2,) 32 times
• Cross (stauros) crucified (staurow), crucifixion, tree  (2:20, 3:1, 13, 5:11, 24, 6:12, 14a, 14b)
• Free (eleutheros), freedom (eleutheria), to set free (eleutherow)  – (2:4, 4:22, 23, 26, 30, 31; 5:1a, 1b, 13a, 13b) 10 times
• Slavery(douleia), to enslave (katadoulow), slave (doulos), (2:4; 3:28;  4:1, 3, 7, 8, 9, 22, 23, 24, 25, 30, 31; 5:1) 14 times
• Grace (charis) – (1:3, 15; 2:9, 21; 5:4; 6:18)) 6 times

Truth of the Gospel in Galatians: 

Further we see that revealing the truth of the gospel is the intent of Paul as he mentiones it throughout the letter.  (This is my body of work and I have to check with other scholars for further light) 

“raised from the dead” (1:1);

“Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age” (1:4); “I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ” (1:12); 

“But God…set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me…” (1:15,16);

“a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ, we too have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because, by observing the law no one will be justified” (2:16);

“For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live for God.  I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live but Christ lives in me.  The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (2:19-21);

“if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing” (2:21);

“Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified” (3:1)

“Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard?” (3:2)

“Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?” (3:5)

“those who believe are children of Abraham” (3:7)

“The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith… “All the Nations will be blessed through you” (3:8)

“Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because “The righteous will live by faith”  (3:11)

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written, “Curse is everyone who is hung on a tree.  He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.” (3:13-14)

“The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ,” (3:16)

“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourself with Christ” (3:26-27)

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (3:28-29).

“So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world.  But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons (4:3-5)

“Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father” (4:6-7)

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (5:1)

“If you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all” (5:2)

“…who lets himself be circumcised..are trying to be justified by law, have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace” (5:3-4)

“For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value.  The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love” (5:6)

“If I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted?  In that case, the offense of the cross has been abolished” (5:11)

“You, my brothers, were called to be free.  But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather serve one another in love.  The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (5:13-14)

“If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law” (5:18)

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires” (5:24)

Do not be deceived; God cannot be mocked.  A man reaps what he sows” (6:7)

“Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised.  The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.” (6:12-13)

“May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world” (6:14)

Neither circumcision, nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation” (6:15)

…I bear on my body the marks of Jesus” (6:17)