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Sketches from the Life of Paul
It was not until three years had elapsed that he went up to Jerusalem;
and he then made a stay of but fifteen days, thence going out to preach
the gospel to the Gentiles. He declares that he was “unknown by face
unto the churches of Judea which were in Christ. But they had heard
only, that he which persecuted us in times past, now preacheth the
faith which once he destroyed. And they glorified God in me.”
In thus reviewing his history, the apostle seeks to make apparent
to all that by special manifestation of divine power he had been led
to perceive and to grasp the great truths of the gospel, as presented
in the Old Testament scriptures and embodied in the life of Christ on
earth. It was the knowledge received from God himself which led
Paul to warn and admonish the Galatians in that solemn and positive
manner. He did not present the gospel in hesitancy and doubt, but with
the assurance of settled conviction and absolute knowledge. In his
epistle he clearly marks the contrast between being taught by man and
receiving instruction direct from Christ.
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The apostle urged upon the Galatians, as their only safe course, to
leave the false guides by whom they had been misled, and to return to
the faith which they had received from the Source of truth and wisdom.
Those false teachers were hypocritical, unregenerate men; unholy
in heart, and corrupt in life. Their religion consisted in a round of
ceremonies, by the performance of which they expected to receive the
favor of God. They had no relish for a doctrine which taught, “Except
a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Such a
religion required too great a sacrifice. Hence they clung to their errors,
deceiving themselves, and deceiving others.
To substitute the external forms of religion for holiness of heart
and life, is still as pleasing to the unrenewed nature as in the days of
the apostles. For this reason, false teachers abound, and the people
listen eagerly to their delusive doctrines. It is Satan’s studied effort
to divert the minds of men from the one way of salvation,—faith in
Christ, and obedience to the law of God. In every age the arch-enemy
adapts his temptations to the prejudices or inclinations of the people.
In apostolic times he led the Jews to exalt the ceremonial law, and
reject Christ; at the present day he induces many professed Christians,
under the pretense of honoring Christ, to cast contempt upon the moral
law, and teach that its precepts may be transgressed with impunity. It
is the duty of every faithful servant of God, to firmly and decidedly