We Would See Jesus
O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the
truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth,
crucified among you? Galatians 3:1.
Jesus
was set forth before the Galatians, when Paul preached to them, as openly
crucified before their eyes. So vivid was the presentation that they could
actually see Christ crucified. It was not only skillful word painting on the
part of Paul and imagination on the part of the Galatians. Through Paul the
Holy Spirit enabled them to see Him crucified.
The
experience of the Galatians in this matter cannot be peculiar to them. The
cross of Christ is a present thing. The expression, "Come to the
cross," is not an empty form of words, but an invitation that can be
literally complied with.
Not
until one has seen Christ crucified before his eyes, and can see the cross
of Christ at every turn, does one know the reality of the gospel. Many there
are who can testify that it is something more than a figure of speech when
the apostle says that Christ was crucified before the eyes of the Galatians.
They too have had the experience.
The
question, "Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by
hearing with faith?" (Galatians 3:2) admits of but one answer. It was
by hearing with faith. The Spirit is given to those who believe. John 7:38,
29; Ephesians 1:13. The question also shows that the Galatians had received
the Holy Spirit. There is no other way of beginning the Christian life.
"No one can say 'Jesus is Lord' except by the Holy Spirit." 1
Corinthians 12:3.
The
Spirit of God alone can carry out the perfect will of God; and no works that
a man can do can bring Him into the soul, any more than a dead man can
manufacture the breath by which he can be made to live and move. Those to
whom Paul addressed this letter had seen Christ crucified before their eyes
and had accepted Him through the Spirit. Have you also seen and accepted
Him?
The Glad Tidings, p. 51 |
