Nothing But New

Our world operates on the basis of materialism, the perception that everything is physical. We have a sense that there is something else -- the spiritual -- but we can't measure it and we can't explain it, so a lot just ignore it. Some these days, when it comes to emotions, also chalk that up to the material. Chemicals in the brain ... that sort of thing. So we have flesh. We have fleshly desires and fleshly resources and fleshly pursuits. The problem with that, of course, is that it isn't accurate. It isn't true. This is not all there is. So we pursue things that exist, perhaps, but not that are of as much value that we perceive them to be.

In Paul's letter to the churches of Galatia he takes the party of the circumcision to task. They are false teachers, "anathema" (Gal 1:8-9), not of God (Gal 5:8) and pending judgment (Gal 5:10). Their goal, Paul says, is to "make a good showing in the flesh" (Gal 6:12). That is, if they can get believers to succumb to their lies, that will show people they're right and Paul (and anyone who believes the gospel) is wrong. It will eliminate the persecution that the cross of Christ brings. Wait ... what? What persecution does the cross bring? According to Paul, the cross stands as a "stumbling block" (Gal 5:11) to those who teach salvation by Law because it eliminates any room for boasting. "Yes, I am saved by faith, but I helped! Lord, Lord, look at what I've done for You!" In this confused world, religious people think that our efforts to do stuff earns favor with God in direct opposition to grace -- unmerited favor. It doesn't work, and trying to get ahead by keeping the rules simply means you have to keep them all (Gal 5:3). Good luck with that.

Paul offers an alternative. In chapter 2 he said, "I am crucified with Christ" (Gal 2:20). His alternative is death with Christ. In that, he says, "the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world" (Gal 6:14). What then? "Neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation" (Gal 6:15). What's important? Being a new creation. This new creation is "faith working through love" (Gal 5:6). This new creation operates by faith, walking in the Spirit rather than operating in the flesh. The only thing that matters is the new creation. But that, of course, will put us outside the normal world perspective. Which, I would think, is a good thing.