SEPARATING THE SPIRITUAL FROM THE PHYSICAL
THE HIDDEN MEANING
INTRODUCTION
In these next scriptures, we at VAL-TE’ express our good intentions, and mean no harm in the perspective we share. Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?..” Galatians 2: 11-14 NKJV
Biblical Word
REBUKE – “Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse. Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you. Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.” Proverbs 9: 7-9 NIV
Reference
Ecclesiastes 7:5 – It is better to have wise people reprimand you than to have stupid people sing your praises. GNT
Significance
Constructive Criticism – Indeed, we at VAL-TE’ are not Jews by birth and Gentile sinners, as they were called. Yet we know that a person is put right with God only through faith in Immanuel (which means, “God is with us”), never by doing what the Law requires. We, too, have believed in Immanuel (which means, “God is with us”), in order to be put right with God through our faith that God exists, and not by doing what the Law requires. For no one is put right with God by doing what the Law requires. If, then, as we try to be put right with God by our union with Immanuel (which means, “God is with us”), Jews are found to be sinners, as much as the Gentiles are – does this mean faith that God exists is serving the cause of sin? By no means! So as far as the Law is concerned, however, we at VAL-TE’ are dead – killed by the Law itself – in order that we might live for God. We have been put to death with Immanuel on the cross, so that it is no longer we at VAL-TE’ who live, but it is Immanuel who lives in us. This life that we at VAL-TE’ live today, is by faith that God exists and rewards those who seek him. We refuse to reject the grace of God through the Law, it means Immanuel died for nothing!
