Introduction
Good morning. Today, we will examine the fifth chapter of Galatians. It is a remarkable chapter in the New Testament, for it allows us to obtain an efficacious gospel. It is imperative that you understand what is efficacious and what is not. I have observed that people are often drawn to activities that are not efficacious, and I am puzzled as to why this is the case. Today, while instructing a class, I noticed a prevalent tendency among students to feign comprehension. When I inquire if there are any questions, they assure me there are none. However, when I pose a question, they are at a loss. Is it a complete lack of understanding? Perhaps not, but they prefer to put on a façade.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is Effective
Christ has liberated us for freedom. Therefore, stand firm and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1)
What is the meaning of this Scripture? When a person accepts the Lord, it is initially efficacious. Why is it efficacious? Because the individual comes in faith, and the Holy Spirit acts upon them, leading to an experience of God. After this experience, complications arise as they overthink the act of believing, presuming that they ought to do something. This leads them to attempt to earn God's grace through their own actions. Over time, I have noticed that Christians who have been believers for a long period of time can become foolish, indulging in inefficacious deeds. Why is it that in the Old Testament, these Israelites, despite their diligent reading of the Scriptures, transformed themselves into Pharisees? Eventually, they even crucified the Lord of the Sabbath, our Jesus Christ, believing that they were serving God. How could one become so misguided through reading the Scriptures? How did they become foolish?
Later, I realized that the issue was not with the New Testament but had existed since the Old Testament. When Paul wrote Galatians, the book of Galatians was not yet included in the Bible. The Scriptures to which they referred were from Genesis to Malachi, all part of the Old Testament. The most significant portion was the Pentateuch, comprising Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Why do people derive different interpretations from the same book? Furthermore, by Paul's time, the Israelites had already demonstrated that no one could attain God's favor by adhering to the law. The Old Testament had already stated, The righteous shall live by faith!
Upon completing this chapter, our goal is to transform the Gospel of Jesus Christ into an efficacious Gospel. What is the point of something inefficacious? It is merely a pretense, and people are fond of pretense. Many persist in doing inefficacious deeds, spending their lives as extras on the stage of life, performing meaningless actions and yet choosing to live in this manner. The theme of Galatians chapter five is: Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us examine it section by section.
Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope.(Galatians 5:2-5)
Those who advocate circumcision often do not comprehend the purpose of it. Circumcision is merely a minor surgical procedure performed on the male genitalia, involving the removal of the foreskin. What does this signify? In actuality, it signifies nothing. What is the origin of circumcision in the Old Testament? It was a requirement imposed by God upon Abraham when He established a covenant with him. The issue is that while the sign of circumcision is present, Abraham's faith is absent.
Therefore, it was demonstrated throughout the eras of Abraham, Moses, and Jesus that circumcision is utterly inefficacious. Why did God instruct Abraham to be circumcised? This may be puzzling. Because everything that does not come from faith is sin. Abraham and Moses were circumcised, and Moses' sons were also circumcised on the journey from Egypt to the wilderness. What is the purpose of circumcision? It is merely a formality.
If one overemphasizes the formality of circumcision rather than the faith of Abraham in undergoing it, what is the benefit? Similarly, as I have shared, one can be spiritual whether wealthy or poor. From the time of Abraham, Moses, and Jesus until the present day, the issue of circumcision and uncircumcision persists. However, the matter is not whether one is circumcised or not, but that the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
For example, attending work from nine to five, merely drinking tea and reading the newspaper, is of no benefit to the employer and is utterly inefficacious. There are many such examples. Another example is a child who learns that 2+3=8 at school. Has the child become foolish? We have forgotten what is efficacious and what is not, and this reversal of priorities is a significant problem. Our Bible study is similar. Come if you wish, and do not come if you do not wish, but the purpose of coming is to benefit everyone. We must pursue the efficacy of things.
Circumcision has been inefficacious throughout history, and continuing to engage in something that has proven to be ineffective is foolish. For example, during Christmas, dancing on stage with a large floral fan and wearing floral pants, which is less appealing than street dance, is done every Christmas. In churches, those who are ill, hunchbacked, lame, or have skin problems become worse after prayer. From pastors to members, this is the norm. What is the purpose of doing something inefficacious? It is done year after year!
Additionally, the exchange of gifts during Christmas requires much thought, but what is the effect? It is useless! I have not even managed to successfully implement the happiness groups I had originally planned! Happiness, regardless of how it is pursued, is futile. In the past, I prepared large quantities of roast chicken and roast duck, but what was the effect? There was no effect! Church members are at odds with their landlords, employees are at odds with their employers, job seekers cannot find work, and visa applications are denied. There are many vexing matters. Is it effective? No!
Can braised beef summon Jesus? Do you believe Jesus is a glutton? It is utterly inefficacious. Later, I realized that this approach would not succeed! I attract gluttons with food and attract those who are useless. As an engineer, I became aware of the inefficacy of this approach after a year or two of church ministry, and I came to my senses. Today, we need to discern whether our actions are efficacious or inefficacious. Later, I transformed the church into a praying church, and the vexing matters vanished. We witnessed the blessings bestowed upon our brothers and sisters, and we recognized the goodness of God. Today, I cannot imagine living without God.
Circumcision involves merely putting on a show. Today, we should boast only in our trust in God. The Israelites were circumcised until their nation was destroyed, and it continued until James, the author of the Book of James, brought the gospel to the Jews and led them back into the law, which was utterly inefficacious. Circumcision has only one effect: a minor surgical procedure on the male genitalia, leading to national destruction. What is the purpose? It is utterly useless!
Why, then, should we continue to be circumcised? Why continue to promote the law? In fact, James did not properly understand the law, because the summation of the law is Jesus Christ. Circumcision is the removal of the lust of the flesh. The Spirit and the flesh are in conflict with each other. Why not circumcise the toes or nose instead of the genitalia? What is there to boast about? Although it is inefficacious, they continue to do it and are still being circumcised! Today, we need to reflect on how many inefficacious things we have done. How many things are unlike Jesus? Our Lord Jesus has opened an efficacious path, not an inefficacious one. We must return to the path of faith that Abraham took, which is the path of receiving promises by faith. Later, the Israelites transformed it into the path of circumcision. If one is circumcised, then one must uphold the entire law, and if one cannot, one should not boast about it.
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. (James 2:10)
Why, then, should we uphold the law? If one could successfully keep the law, then Jesus Christ would not have needed to come the first time, nor would He need to come a second time. The law confines everyone beneath the burden of sin, explicitly stating that this path is impassable. Abraham also practiced circumcision, and there are many rituals that we observe today. Water baptism cannot grant one access to heaven. The path of faith that Abraham pioneered is an efficacious path. In the time of Jesus, Jesus was also baptized, and He was also a circumcised man. However, Jesus did not follow the path of the law; He followed an efficacious path, a path that relies on the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit filled Jesus without measure. Is my explanation clear? I have spent so much time elucidating one issue: whether something is efficacious or inefficacious.
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.(Galatians 5:6)
Relying on the Holy Spirit and acting in faith is efficacious, whereas relying on the minor surgical procedure of circumcision is inefficacious. People are intriguing. I was saved in 2012, and I will ascend to heaven upon my death—this is not accurate doctrine! Even today, Christianity lacks an understanding of the Holy Spirit. What is the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit filled Jesus without measure. However, today, the Holy Spirit dwells within me. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is a theological term that lacks practical application; in essence, it refers to the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
A person who acknowledges Jesus Christ through repentance, baptism in His name, and receiving the Holy Spirit often neglects the reception of the Holy Spirit. There are still ongoing debates regarding speaking in tongues and receiving the Holy Spirit, even though the Scriptures have clearly addressed these matters. However, people have transformed the efficacious gospel into an inefficacious one. Today, we all have a profound need for God. We have engaged in numerous activities, and many Christians are merely putting on a pretense. However, faith can bring forth the Holy Spirit. Today, we must return to the efficacious gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is efficacious, and our lives, finances, businesses, and other matters will be without problems.
You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough. I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view of things. But the one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be. Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!(Galatians 5:7,9-12)
This Chinese text is somewhat veiled. What does it mean to emasculate oneself? Simply castrate the entire genitalia! You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? This is, in fact, a form of rebuke. Today, we must understand that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was a stumbling block in the era of Abraham. Abraham was a man of faith, but Abraham's faith was supplanted by circumcision. Consequently, the same situation persisted in the era of Jesus, where those who practiced circumcision crucified Jesus. Even in the time of Paul, this minor dispute persisted indefinitely.
Today, there are numerous distractions that seek to lead us astray, and those who do so will bear the consequences. They entice us away from the true path, leading us into the realm of works, causing us to deviate from the path of faith by supposing that we can please God by performing certain deeds. Even today, this struggle continues, fueled by spiritual forces of darkness that employ these individuals to entice the disciples of Jesus Christ and the people of God to stray from the truth.
Why are people so easily led astray from the truth? Because they perceive this doctrine as appealing, believing that they must do something. Coming to Bible study with faith is efficacious, but coming merely to put on a show is inefficacious. People should engage in efficacious business endeavors, whereas engaging in inefficacious ones is futile. Businesses may appear successful on the surface, but they are often funded by bank loans. Upon reconciliation, one may discover that they have incurred significant losses. How can such debts be repaid? I am unsure. Launching a failed venture and accumulating substantial debt leaves me at a loss.
Playing with superficialities is futile. The Fortune 500 companies are truly powerful. Christians must strive to be efficacious, for engaging in inefficacious practices only leads to the agitators who wish they would emasculate themselves. They cannot even accomplish what they profess. A person who believes with a religious flavor will not fare well, merely adhering to a set of rules. Ultimately, baptism, hospital visits, and other actions are inefficacious; they are merely performed to put on a show, to appear as benevolent individuals with good deeds!
Dealing with the Lust of the Flesh, Love Your Neighbor as Yourself
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.(Galatians 5:13-15)
Once, a sister came to me who had many flaws and bad habits. She had experienced many things, and several years ago, she developed depression. She found my email address somewhere and sent a lengthy email, which I replied to. She did not expect me to reply, as I am detail-oriented. After my reply, this sister was liberated by God and later found employment. Some time ago, I discovered that she had been working there for many years, with stagnant wages and an increasing age, which was frustrating because she earned so little after deducting rent and living expenses. So, I suggested that she come to me for training, after which she could seek a new job. As a result, I arranged for her to train with others, but the training nearly triggered her depression.
She asked: Why do I not have problems elsewhere, but I encounter them here? The person training her was also a former depression patient who had been liberated in our midst. After liberating both depression patients, I had them minister to other depression patients, but they ended up causing those they ministered to also to become depressed. There are no problems in Mingding Destiny because God is present and because I am building up the brothers and sisters without ulterior motives.
In reality, you are not all like me, because the consequence is that the lust within oneself corrupts the lust within the other party, including other pastors. Why is this the case? Because there is no mindset of loving your neighbor as yourself. Why do I not encounter problems when following me? Because I am a person who loves their neighbor as myself. I will boast of myself slightly. Receiving training from me while also receiving a stipend and then undermining the endeavor is ungrateful for the training opportunity! Lust is exceedingly corrupting in people, and they unknowingly engage in these actions. I liberated a depression patient and had her minister to others, but she caused them to become depressed, merely performing the act of ministry.
Originally, a person who has been liberated in Jesus Christ uses this liberation as an opportunity to indulge their lust. She is quite free, but others become unfree because of her freedom, because she lacks the mindset of loving her neighbor as herself. If you want to uphold the law, it is better to uphold one command: love your neighbor as yourself. What is the significance of being circumcised on the genitalia! Either nail Jesus to the cross, nail others to the cross, cause others to become depressed, or cause yourself to become depressed. People can love their neighbor as themselves because they have eradicated lust. People who are driven by lust are like beasts, still carnal, with their animalistic nature still within them. If someone infringes upon their core interests, they will fight to the death.
The solution to human problems cannot be achieved by adhering to the law; one must deal with their lust! This is how people read the Scriptures. For example, regarding loving your neighbor as yourself, then why do you not love me as yourself? The Bible says that husbands should love their wives, but why do you not love me? The Bible says that wives should submit to their husbands, but why do you not submit to me? Reading the Scriptures is entirely directed at others, placing demands on others, and never reading about loving your neighbor as yourself, requiring oneself to do so. Lust is well-packaged, but it cannot escape my scrutiny.
Many people do not feel remorse for wronging others; they only feel remorse when they believe that others have wronged them. One day, a sister broke down, became angry, and collapsed on the table. Superficially, she was dissatisfied with herself, inwardly proclaiming: I am inadequate, I am unworthy, I am terrible, I am speaking well. However, she cannot deceive me. She is not dissatisfied with herself, but she is dissatisfied with others. When some people ministered to her, she even bit them. Healing and deliverance involve a degree of risk. If she truly felt that she had wronged others, she would not bite them. Only when she feels that others have wronged her and harbors resentment in her heart will she bite others. This is how it is: the lack of love for one's neighbor as oneself.
Generally, I do not trust people. If I trust you, it is because I choose to trust you, because I have faith in God. If their core interests are touched, they will bite me. Therefore, I do not touch their core interests. I choose to love my neighbour as myself. Only then will the service be effective. You will find that everyone can get along with me because I have eliminated the lust within me. But eliminating this is difficult! For example, when someone is acting out, I feel extremely annoyed, annoyed to death. Looking at them, I think, This is not someone I gave birth to, nor someone I raised. How did God put this person in my hands? Why do I have to serve such a rotten person? Thinking like this is distressing! Oh God, I don't want to be distressed! I don't want to be distressed! I ask for your forgiveness! Alright! Since you have entrusted this to me, I will do it well. I do not want to oppose you. I must rely on the Holy Spirit to eliminate the carnal desires within me.
Do you ask if I have that feeling? Seeing someone and immediately feeling distressed, seeing someone and immediately feeling distressed. Someone with my temperament has to control themselves. Sometimes I feel, Why again? God, please take me back soon! But God does not listen to me. Why? Because I have not dealt well with my carnal desires, isn't it? Oh, even more distressing. When distressed, I must rely on the Holy Spirit to mortify the deeds of the body. Then what? Tidy up my faith and continue on this path of loving my neighbour as myself.
It is very difficult! Who is actually hindering us from walking this path? It is ourselves who are hindering us! Whenever we follow our feelings, whenever we follow our emotions, whenever we follow our lusts, we reap corruption. Whenever we follow the Holy Spirit, whenever we mortify the deeds of the body, we reap God's grace. The feeling is so real! I am even giving them subsidies, isn't it? And I am having them trained. They cannot live without food, isn't it? Yet they are still causing trouble for me. How angry can you get? It would be strange not to be angry! It is infuriating, infuriating enough to kill!
Later, I thought it over and decided not to oppose God. Whenever we follow the Holy Spirit, we see God's wonderful works. Can you understand? Without it, the law cannot mortify the deeds of the body. Only by relying on the Holy Spirit! I am not a saint. I am a sinner. I am the same as you. I am a sinner. If we follow the Apostle Paul's teaching, I am the chief of sinners. That feeling is very real in everyone. Do not think that I do not have that feeling. Actually, lust is so bad!
Mortifying the Lust of the Flesh by the Holy Spirit
I say then, walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, [a]fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:16-21)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. (Galatians 5:22-26)
The answer has come! The answer is that you and I have finally found the Holy Spirit who can mortify that thing within us. Fortunately, Jesus Christ died, was buried, rose from the dead, ascended to heaven after the resurrection, and bestowed the promised Holy Spirit. Then this Holy Spirit acts according to people's faith! So today, brothers and sisters, you must know that the Spirit of God does not come easily! Why does the Spirit of God come among us? It is by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. This is the new covenant.
Because we believe in Jesus Christ, the blood of Jesus washes away our past transgressions, and then the Holy Spirit works in us to mortify the carnal passions and desires of our flesh, which are the carnal passions and desires of human nature. We naturally feel we are very right; this thing corrupts us. Whenever people follow the Holy Spirit, they can overcome the lust of the flesh. Whenever they rely on the flesh, rely on the works of the law, they fall into the pit of lust. Otherwise, try it and see!
Everyone slowly ponder this. There is no way to rely on the flesh, but people like to rely on the flesh. Even a very rotten person still likes to rely on the flesh because they feel that is what I did! If you were capable, you would have done it well long ago, isn't it? So today I am dousing everyone with cold water, to wake up. You cannot do anything by relying on yourself. Abraham pioneered the path of trusting in God. You are nothing like that! You can only rely on God!
Therefore, those who have faith, those who rely on God, are precious in God's eyes. God regards those who trust in themselves as garbage. Can you understand? You must trust in God! Otherwise, try trusting in yourself! Trust in God, then rely on the Holy Spirit, obey the Holy Spirit, and then you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Isn't it? This lust of the flesh makes you do what you do not want to do. Our words are useless; it is whether we believe in our hearts!
Let me give you an example. When we serve a very rotten person, the feeling we have in our hearts is very disgusting. Everyone must know that this feeling is very normal. Very disgusting, and that annoyance, that revulsion, that thing lingers inside. Then what we do is nitpick, and what we do is annoy. What we say sounds like good words, but between the lines, it reveals the nitpicking within you. Words are useless! So this is the lust of the flesh. Do not people all do this? Yes! People all do this. But those who trust in God, who mortify this lust by the Holy Spirit, who mortify this thing inside, can love their neighbour as themselves. Can you understand? This is called effective!
Faith Can Attract the Power of God Into Us
Those who obey the Holy Spirit can do what we want to do, and rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to do what we want to do. But who relies on the Holy Spirit? It is those who have faith. Because only faith can attract the power of God into us. Can everyone catch that meaning? For example, the person with the issue of blood had faith in her heart. As soon as she touched Jesus, the power of God entered her. Jesus has not even permitted it, has he? That is to say, faith can attract the Spirit of God, the power of God into us. What kind of faith is in our hearts? It is like the person asking for bread, knocking on the door non-stop, asking for bread, asking for bread, pleading urgently, looking like they must get the bread. This is the key!
If the Holy Spirit helps a person, the fruit she bears is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. What do you have to boast about? You have nothing to boast about! That is the fruit of the Holy Spirit! Today, when someone speaks of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, they say that this person has a lot of life. We often attribute these things to ourselves, and we think that we have borne this fruit ourselves. For example, you see that this person has a lot of the fruit of life, but the question is: is that your fruit? That is the fruit of the Holy Spirit! That is also the grace of God. What do you have to boast about? You have nothing to boast about, isn't it?
What we do is one thing: believe, believe what God says, and we believe. From a little bit of faith, we see God treat us with grace, and then a little more faith, God gives more, and then a little more faith, and then even more. Then we deal with the bad habits on our bodies bit by bit. How effective it is, isn't it? As we walk, we play pretend. Why? Because people who like to play pretend love to seek vain glory. As we walk, it seems like we are doing it ourselves. Is that what you are doing? What do you have to be proud of? That has nothing to do with you! That is what the Holy Spirit is doing!
Therefore, those who always thought they were running well, as soon as someone tempts them, they immediately follow along, and then they enter into ineffectiveness. This is interesting. That is, two people do the same thing. One person makes an offering, and another person also makes an offering. One seeks vain glory, and the other acts in faith. Do you understand? Two people both come to attend the meeting. One acts in faith, and the other seeks vain glory. You see that he also comes to the meeting. In fact, one is effective and the other is ineffective. Two people are both serving there. One seeks vain glory, and the other acts in faith. One is effective, and the other is ineffective. Those who seek vain glory say: I have served. I have served! I say: What did you serve? You were just playing a bit part!
So, brothers and sisters, today how easily people fall into this ineffectiveness, seeking vain glory, just putting on a show, a whole facade, isn't it? The most fundamental thing is faith! If we do not believe in God, we rely on ourselves. What can we do? We can do nothing! Therefore, Paul said in Galatians Chapter 5: If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. If we relied on the Holy Spirit from the beginning, how could we not walk in the Spirit as we walk along? Do we think we are capable, or do we think we are good? In God's eyes, we are nothing like that. Do we not have to rely on God?
Today, what counts? Nothing counts. When we are born and when we die do not count, isn't it? We go out in the morning feeling well. We cross the road and get hit by a car. Where can you reason with that? We are still swiping our phones. In the next second, we do not know. Everyone has seen that video, right? If you have seen that video, you know that you do not even count in the next second. What do we have to boast about?
Actually, trusting in God is our wisest choice! Isn't it? What is there to boast about? We trust in God because we are all rotten. Why do we choose to love our neighbour as ourselves? Because God loved me first, and I always feel indebted to God. When I am very rotten, God loves me and treats me with grace. I just trust in Him, and He treats me with grace. What qualifications do I have to nitpick others? What qualifications do I have to be disgusted by those who are controlled by demons and whose lusts flare up? Therefore, in my heart, especially with those who are deeply controlled, as long as they are willing, I will pull them out bit by bit until one day they can become a free person. That is all because of trusting in God! If it were not for trusting in God, we could not go on! There is no way to go on. Is that good?
Brothers and sisters, we will share until here today! I think effectiveness is most important! Which of the things you say are effective? Reflect well on yourself. If a person trusts in God, the Holy Spirit will work in you bit by bit. We will have more and more faith as we trust in Him. Do not think that we have come to meetings. Coming to meetings cannot prove anything. We have made offerings. What can offerings prove? We had a small surgery on our genitals. What can that prove? It proves nothing! Only trusting in God, letting the Holy Spirit work in us, and then we completely surrender ourselves, you will find that the Holy Spirit shapes us little by little until we are molded into the image of Jesus Christ.
Today, before we end, let us begin telling God in faith that we want to surrender ourselves to you! You will surely mold me into the image of Jesus Christ. Today I am not good, but through faith, I can see myself five years from now. Through faith, I can see myself ten years from now. Through faith, I will never seek vain glory but walk forward step by step, relying on the Holy Spirit in a down-to-earth manner. Ten years later, five years later, or two years later, I will become a mighty vessel in God's hands and a blessing to many people!
If one year is not enough, then two years. If two years are not enough, then five years. If five years are not enough, then we will do it for ten years! Until one day, you and I are completely restored by God to the image of God! When we see very rotten people, when we see very terrible people, our hearts will remember that we were also very terrible people, and God did not despise us! Today, serve God with a grateful heart. Serving is also grace!
In my faith, every one of our brothers and sisters can live like Jesus Christ. That is faith! Even those who are very rotten, who often make me feel uncomfortable, when I serve them, I tidy up my faith, and I say: God! What is impossible with man is possible with you! They can surely be molded into your image. Because you are God! As a result, after a few years, I thank my God, and I say, God, you are awesome! You can actually transform such a rotten person into this! All who have faith are treasures in God's eyes! May everyone be a treasure in God's eyes today! May God bless everyone!
1. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is Effective (5:2-12)
Ineffective circumcision is a small surgery on the genitals
Effective circumcision is the removal of carnal lusts
Ineffective washing is water baptism
Effective washing is baptism in the Holy Spirit
Ineffective Bible study is putting on a show on the surface
Effective Bible study is attending with faith
It is impossible to be effective to believe in the Lord with a religious flavour
2. Get Rid of the Lust of the Flesh, Love Your Neighbour as Yourself (5:13-15)
Only by getting rid of the lust of the flesh can you love your neighbour as yourself
Carnal people have animalistic nature, and when they touch their core interests, they will unleash their animalistic nature to release corruption
Following your feelings and lusts reaps corruption, and relying on the Holy Spirit to mortify the deeds of the body reaps grace and sees God's wonderful works
3. Mortify the Lust of the Flesh by the Holy Spirit (5:16-26)
The Holy Spirit acts according to people's faith
The Spirit of God is because we believed in the precious blood of Jesus Christ to wash away our transgressions, so that the Holy Spirit can work in us and mortify the carnal passions and desires.
Relying on the flesh, relying on ourselves, we can do nothing! Abraham pioneered a path of faith for us
Those who trust in God are treasures in God's eyes; those who trust in themselves are garbage in God's eyes
4. Only Faith Can Attract the Power of God
Start with a little bit of faith and do not seek vain glory
Serving with faith will be effective, and serving with vain glory will be ineffective
Trusting in God is the wisest choice because we are very rotten ourselves
Loving your neighbour as yourself is because God loved us first. God loved us when we were very rotten, so we must always serve people with a heart of indebtedness
We have no qualification to nitpick or to be disgusted by those who are deeply controlled by lust
Keywords
Effective Gospel
Ineffective Gospel
Lust of the Flesh
Love your neighbour as yourself
Relying on the Holy Spirit
Faith
Seeking Vain Glory
Trusting in God
Personal Reflection
Reflections and insights combined with your actual situation. Please answer according to the following sentence pattern:
Through studying this chapter of Bible study, the most enlightening key point for me is,
In the past, my understanding of this point was,
Now my understanding is,
What I want to specifically change and implement in my personal life is,