Closer than a Brother
False brethren who slipped in ..., that they might bring us into bondage. (Galatians 2:4)
Read: Gal. 2:-14; Acts 15:1-4; Prov. 18:24; Jn. 15:15
What Is God Saying?
The cornerstone text of Galatians is ‘Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free’ (5:1). Reference is made to false brothers. These Jewish teachers had come to Galatia, a rural district without many scholars. They were doing their best to convince relatively unschooled people that if Christianity had any validity at all, it should not do away with the rite of circumcision and the works of the law. In other words, if the Jewish converts had found some hope in the message of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, it was wrong to circumvent the ancient traditions and laws, the very things that made them Jews. They were becoming Jewish Christians, but in doing so they should and must remain Jewish Christians. The seedbed of Christianity is undeniably Jewish, but to insist on continuing bondage to the Law, observing a religion of works, would be like spraying a deadly herbicide on the tender shoots of freedom. Those who taught that it has to be first Jewish and then Christian were, indeed, false brothers.
How Does This Apply To Us?
Our intent in listening to Paul's advice concerning false brothers is to contrast false brothers who would bring men into bondage, with Jesus Christ, the true brother, the loving Savior, the living Lord, who leads men to freedom away from the bondage of sin, away from the observance of laws and ceremonies as the means of salvation, to the acceptance of what God made possible in His unspeakable Gift. Salvation is made possible by what God has done, not by what we must do. There are all kinds of false brothers who would lead us away from the goodness given, the joy bestowed, and the victory won in Jesus Christ. This makes us cleave all the more closely to the Brother, the Friend, the Lord who is true. We have all kinds of True-False answers to make in the course of our lifetime. Still, none is more important than knowing who is our True Friend who sticks closer than a brother and who are our false friends and brothers who would lead us away from the freedom so dearly bought in Christ's atoning death.
Pray With Me
Dear Lord, when there are so many false brothers, I am thankful for Jesus Christ, the true Brother. He is far more than a Brother, but He is truly a Brother. By grace that I cannot comprehend, I have been made joint heir with Him of Heaven's treasures.
Jesus Christ, how true You have been and are! You have loved my soul. You have conquered my passions. You have subdued my will. You have pardoned my sin. Through the holy presence of the Comforter, You have cleansed my heart from deep-festering injuries and strong-rooted disloyalties. You have won for me independence from the agony of self-accusation. You have opened to me a door into the fold of Your love where I have both freedom and safety. From the sad, dark bondage of the past into the glad, bright freedom of the present, You are leading, always leading.
I claim the love of One who sticks closer than a brother. I believe in that love. I lean upon it. I live by its power. I walk in its joyous hope. Because the love of my true Brother is so real, I can recognize and resist false brethren who would lead me back into bondage. My true Brother brought me to freedom. False brethren are powerless to trap my conscience in little laws I have broken or in traditions I have failed to keep. My true Brother holds me to Himself in holy and life-transforming love. Therefore I will not yield to the tempting voice of false brethren who would lead me to the snares of impurity and into the bondage of lust.
Lord of life, true Brother, kindest Friend-draw me to Your side by the beauty of your holiness. In the joy of Your freedom so dearly bought on Calvary, keep me from the bondage into which false brethren would lead me.
For the sake of Your glory, O Christ, hear this prayer and assure me of Your saving presence. Amen.
Moving On In The Life of Prayer
The false in life slips in. It seldom knocks at the front door. It finds an unsecured door or a slightly open window, then quietly, surreptitiously, it slips in. Our main thrust in the continual and growing life of prayer is to let Jesus in at the front door and to see that all other doors and windows have their alarm system in the on position. Let us stand fast in freedom and pray fervently in the joy that is ours in Christ.
