The default mode of every fallen heart is to turn one’s obedience (works/performance) into the ground for one’s acceptance (justification) before God. It is as natural for a man to trust in his obedience (self-idolatry) as it is for a fish to breathe in water. And, it is about as unnatural for a man to seek peace with God by trusting in the gospel as it is for a man to breathe in water.
Yet, we must seek to always recall the simple yet elusive truth of the gospel, which is: You and I are accepted by God, not on the basis of our personal performance, but rather on the basis of the righteousness of Christ alone.
In Galatians, Paul rightly saw that this was the issue in regards to circumcision. He understood that the very integrity of the Christian faith and the eternal salvation of sinners were at stake.
To accept the demand of the “false brothers” for Titus to be circumcised (2:3-5) would have been to renounce the truth of the gospel (i.e., that justification comes by grace through faith in Christ alone apart from the works of the law; 2:5). Keep Reading>>>
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