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The Acts of the Apostles
whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among
you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the
works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having
begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Have ye
suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. He therefore that
ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth
he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?”
Thus Paul arraigned the believers in Galatia before the tribunal of
their own conscience and sought to arrest them in their course. Relying
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on the power of God to save, and refusing to recognize the doctrines
of the apostate teachers, the apostle endeavored to lead the converts to
see that they had been grossly deceived, but that by returning to their
former faith in the gospel they might yet defeat the purpose of Satan.
He took his position firmly on the side of truth and righteousness; and
his supreme faith and confidence in the message he bore, helped many
whose faith had failed, to return to their allegiance to the Saviour.
How different from Paul’s manner of writing to the Corinthian
church was the course he pursued toward the Galatians! The former he
rebuked with caution and tenderness, the latter with words of unsparing
reproof. The Corinthians had been overcome by temptation. Deceived
by the ingenious sophistry of teachers who presented errors under the
guise of truth, they had become confused and bewildered. To teach
them to distinguish the false from the true, called for caution and
patience. Harshness or injudicious haste on Paul’s part would have
destroyed his influence over many of those whom he longed to help.
In the Galatian churches, open, unmasked error was supplanting
the gospel message. Christ, the true foundation of the faith, was virtu-
ally renounced for the obsolete ceremonies of Judaism. The apostle
saw that if the believers in Galatia were saved from the dangerous
influences which threatened them, the most decisive measures must be
taken, the sharpest warnings given.
An important lesson for every minister of Christ to learn is that
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of adapting his labors to the condition of those whom he seeks to
benefit. Tenderness, patience, decision, and firmness are alike needful;
but these are to be exercised with proper discrimination. To deal
wisely with different classes of minds, under varied circumstances and
conditions, is a work requiring wisdom and judgment enlightened and
sanctified by the Spirit of God.