Some Bible teachers have a powerful way of distilling wisdom. These uniquely gifted ones can summarize an entire book of the Bible, with its many passages and arguments, most helpfully. John Stott is one such teacher. Here is a section from his commentary on Galatians that does several things all at once. It is quite remarkable really.
- He summarizes the arguement of the entire epistle.
- He applies it to our contemporary setting.
- He exposes the heart motivation of each individual.
Let his writing instruct and challenge you today:
But the religion of the New Testament is vastly different from this mental outlook. Christianity will not allow us to sit on the fence or live in a haze; it urges us to be definite and decisive, and in particular to choose between Christ and circumcision. ‘Circumcision’ stands for a religion of human achievement, of what man can do by his own good works; ‘Christ’ stand for a religion of divine achievement, of what God has done through the finished work of Christ. ‘Circumcision’ means law, works and bondage, ‘Christ’ means grace, faith and freedom. Every man must choose. The one impossibility is what the Galatinans were attempting, namely to add circumcision to Christ and have both. No. ‘Circumcision’ and ‘Christ’ are mutually exclusive.
Further, this choice has to be made by both the people and the ministers of the church, by those who practice and those who propagate religion. It is either Christ or circumcision that the people ‘receive’, and either Christ or circumcision that minsters ‘preach’. In principle, there is not a third alternative.
And behind our choice lurks our motive. It is when we are bent on flattering ourselves and others that we choose circumcision. Before the cross we have to humble ourselves.”