Several sources on the Book of Galatians refer to it as the Magna Charta or Manifesto of Christian liberty. It is God’s emancipation proclamation for sinners. However, in Paul’s day Judaizing false teachers were attempting to convince Christians in Galatia that the Jewish law was binding upon them because salvation was obtained by works of the Law of Moses.
This was extremely distressing to Paul, so much so that his letter to them was intense. He was striving to win them back to the simplicity and truth of the Gospel message. He said, “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ” (Galatians 1:6-7 NASB).
These false teachers had also planted doubt in the minds of the Galatians regarding the authenticity of Paul’s apostleship. In his defense, he wrote in Galatians 1:11-12, “But I make known to you brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.” He told them later in his letter that if they were attempting to be justified by law, they had fallen from grace (Galatians 5:1-4). He did not say they had tried to fall from grace, he said they had done it!
Paul pointed out several great truths in the first three chapters of Galatians: (1) The Gospel cannot be changed. (2) Obedience to the Law of Moses makes void the grace of God. (3) We become children of God by faith in Christ after we are baptized into Christ. In the latter part of Chapter Four, Paul reminded them of how they had eagerly responded to the Gospel message. He further reminded them that although his physical condition was such a trial to them, they did not regard it with contempt. He wanted to know what had become of their gracious feelings and acceptance of him, considering they would have plucked out their own eyes and given them to him. Then comes that most pointed question: “Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth” (Galatians 4:16)? The answer to that question was a resounding, “Yes!”
The Gospel Advocate New Testament Commentary on Galatians (page 248 by David Libscomb) makes several noteworthy statements. “He had told them the truth in reference to their determination to turn to the Jewish law, and they had become offended, and had manifested feeling against him. Truth alone can help man. It is sometimes disagreeable, contrary to his feelings and wishes… He who tells one the truth ought to do it in a kind manner, but we should regard him who tells us the truth as a friend because truth alone can benefit man.”
In over half of the Book of Isaiah, the prophet had a message of doom for Judah because of their rebellion and rejection of God. They continually refused with reckless abandon to listen to God’s instructions. God told Isaiah to tell them, “Now go, write it before them on a tablet, and note it on a scroll, that it may be for time to come, forever and ever; that this is a rebellious people, lying children, children who will not hear the law of the LORD; who say to the seers, ‘Do not prophesy to us right things; speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits. Get out of the way, turn aside from the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us’” (Isaiah 30:8-11). Don Shackleford writes, “Isaiah was likely describing the result of the people’s desire to hear pleasant words (v. 10). Those of Judah were not asking the prophets to cease preaching, but they were asking them to eliminate from their proclamations the commands that characterized true prophetic messages. They wanted to hear… illusions, not the truths of the Holy One of Israel (v. 11)” (Truth for Today Commentary, Isaiah, page 316). Had God through the prophets become their enemy because they told them the truth? “Yes!”
In Acts 6:9-12, Stephen was one of the seven men who had been chosen to see to the needs of the widows who had been overlooked in the daily food distribution. Verse 8 says, “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.” Verse 9 tells of several men from various groups who arose disputing with Stephen. Verse 10 reads, “And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.” So they secretly induced men to tell lies about Stephen, stirring up the people, the elders and the scribes against him, and then, they dragged him away and brought him before the Council. Acts 6:13-14 says, “They also set up false witnesses who said, ‘This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us.’” Stephen was not deterred from the truth that he spoke; instead of taking it back, he added more to it. Chapter 7, verses 1-51 give us Stephen’s entire defense in declaring to them the whole council of God. Had he become their enemy because he told them the truth? “Yes!”
Sometimes we become the enemy because of who we are, not necessarily by what we said. David said, “Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly troubled; let them turn back and be ashamed suddenly” (Psalm 6:10). Tom Wacaster wrote, “It is a curious thing that the children of God should have any enemies at all. And yet, we are told that Abel was slain by his brother Cain for no other reason than the fact that Cain’s ‘works were evil and his brother’s righteous’ (1 John 3:12)” (The Songs and Devotions of David – Volume 1, Psalms 1-24, page 81).
Paul Sain wrote the book, Ready Reference for Growing Christians, Facts & Scriptures on 100 Biblical Subjects. Page 53 of that book is entitled, “A Few Biblical Facts about Enemies.”
- Christians will have enemies.
- You are an enemy of the world.
- Christ will be with us, we can endure.
- Christ is our example—loved His enemies.
Jesus said we would have enemies. In Luke 6:26-28, He made it crystal clear that having enemies is a given. “Woe to you when all men speak well of you; for so did their fathers to the false prophets. But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.”
Just in case we had any doubts about having enemies, Jesus further stated in Luke 6:35, “But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.”
In the latter portion of John Chapter Eight, Jesus spoke to the Jews about the truth making them free. The conversation between Jesus and the Jews was razor-sharp as He told them exactly who they really were despite their faulty perception of self-righteousness. He told them they would know the truth and the truth would make them free (vs. 32). They did not appreciate Jesus telling them they had any familiarity with being enslaved by anyone!
In John 8:40 Jesus told them, “But now you seek to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do.” In verses 44-47, Jesus forthrightly told them:
You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of it. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.
Had the Lord become their enemy because He told them the truth? “Yes!”
The rigorous demands of biblical truth are just that. God gave us His Word of truth to be believed and obeyed, not debated and ignored. Biblical truth is rigorous because it is always exact, precise, thorough and meticulous. The demands of biblical truth are always required, stipulated, ordered and expected. Spiritual ruin is inevitable when the truth of Scripture is viewed as the enemy. “Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; for they are ever with me” (Psalm 119:97-98).
