The Acts of the Apostles (1911) — PDF Scan 393

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APOSTASY m GALATIA 387 obedience to the word, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.''" The}^ felt that a religion based on such a doctrine, required too great a sacrifice, and they clung to their errors, deceiving themselves and others. To substitute external forms of religion for holiness of he^rt and life, is still as pleasing to the unrenewed nature as it was in the days of these Jewish teachers. To-day, as then, there are false spiritual guides, to whose doctrines many listen eagerly. It is Satan's studied effort to divert minds from the hope of salvation through faith in Christ and obedience to the law of God. In every age the archenemy adapts his temptations to the prejudices or inclinations of those whom he is seeking to deceive. In apostolic times he led the Jews to exalt the ceremonial law, and reject Christ; at the present time he induces many professing Christians, under pretense of honoring Christ, to cast contempt on the moral law, and to teach that its precepts may be transgressed with impunity. It is the duty of every servant of God to withstand firmly and decidedly these perverters of the faith, and by the word of truth fearlessly to expose their errors. In his effort to regain the confidence of his brethren in Galatia, Paul ably vindicated his position as an apostle of Christ. He declared himself to be an apostle, ^'not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead. ' ' Not from men, but from the highest Authority in heaven, had he received his commission. And his position had been acknowledged by a general council at Jerusalem, with the ^ John 3 : 3.