long obscured by tradition and misinterpretation； their hearts have been
filled with gratitude to God for the unspeakable gift He bestows upon every
human being who chooses to accept Christ as a personal Saviour。
It is to this class that Isaiah referred in his prophecy； 〃A remnant shall
be saved。〃 From Paul's day to the present time； God by His Holy Spirit has
been calling after the Jew as well as the Gentile。 〃There is no respect of
persons with God；〃 declared Paul。 The apostle regarded himself as 〃debtor
both to the Greeks； and to the barbarians；〃 as well as to the Jews； but he
never lost sight of the decided advantages possessed by the Jews over
others； 〃chiefly； because that unto them were committed the oracles of God。〃
〃The gospel；〃 he declared； 〃is the power of God unto salvation to everyone
that believeth； to the Jew first； and also to the Greek。 For therein is the
righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith： as it is written； The
just shall live by faith。〃 It is of this gospel of Christ； equally
efficacious for Jew and Gentile； that Paul in his epistle to the Romans
declared he was not ashamed。
When this gospel shall be presented in its fullness to the Jews； many will
accept Christ as the Messiah。 Among Christian
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ministers there are only a few who feel called upon to labor for the Jewish
people； but to those who have been often passed by； as well as to all
others； the message of mercy and hope in Christ is to come。
In the closing proclamation of the gospel； when special work is to be done
for classes of people hitherto neglected； God expects His messengers to take
particular interest in the Jewish people whom they find in all parts of the
earth。 As the Old Testament Scriptures are blended with the New in an
explanation of Jehovah's eternal purpose； this will be to many of the Jews
as the dawn of a new creation； the resurrection of the soul。 As they see the
Christ of the gospel dispensation portrayed in the pages of the Old
Testament Scriptures； and perceive how clearly the New Testament explains
the Old； their slumbering faculties will be aroused； and they will recognize
Christ as the Saviour of the world。 Many will by faith receive Christ as
their Redeemer。 To them will be fulfilled the words； 〃As many as received
Him； to them gave He power to become the sons of God； even to them that
believe on His name。〃 John 1：12。
Among the Jews are some who； like Saul of Tarsus； are mighty in the
Scriptures； and these will proclaim with wonderful power the immutability of
the law of God。 The God of Israel will bring this to pass in our day。 His
arm is not shortened that it cannot save。 As His servants labor in faith for
those who have long been neglected and despised； His salvation will be
revealed。
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〃Thus saith the Lord； who redeemed Abraham； concerning the house of Jacob；
Jacob shall not now be ashamed； neither shall his face now wax pale。 But
when he seeth his children； the work of Mine hands； in the midst of him；
they shall sanctify My name； and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob； and shall
fear the God of Israel。 They also that erred in spirit shall come to
understanding； and they that murmured shall learn doctrine。〃 Isaiah
29：22…24。
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Chapter 36
Apostasy in Galatia
While tarrying at Corinth； Paul had cause for serious apprehension
concerning some of the churches already established。 Through the influence
of false teachers who had arisen among the believers in Jerusalem； division；
heresy； and sensualism were rapidly gaining ground among the believers in
Galatia。 These false teachers were mingling Jewish traditions with the
truths of the gospel。 Ignoring the decision of the general council at
Jerusalem； they urged upon the Gentile converts the observance of the
ceremonial law。
The situation was critical。 The evils that had been introduced threatened
speedily to destroy the Galatian churches。
Paul was cut to the heart； and his soul was stirred by this open apostasy on
the part of those to whom he had faithfully taught the principles of the
gospel。 He immediately wrote to the deluded believers； exposing the false
theories that they had accepted and with great severity rebuking
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those who were departing from the faith。 After saluting the Galatians in the
words； 〃Grace be to you and peace from God the Father； and from our Lord
Jesus Christ；〃 he addressed to them these words of sharp reproof：
〃I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you into the
grace of Christ unto another gospel： which is not another； but there be some
that trouble you； and would pervert the gospel of Christ。 But though we； or
an angel from heaven； preach any other gospel unto you than that which we
have preached unto you； let him be accursed。〃 Paul's teachings had been in
harmony with the Scriptures； and the Holy Spirit had witnessed to his
labors； therefore he warned his brethren not to listen to anything that
contradicted the truths he had taught them。
The apostle bade the Galatian believers consider carefully their first
experience in the Christian life。 〃O foolish Galatians；〃 he exclaimed； 〃who
hath bewitched you； that ye should not obey the truth； before whose eyes
Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth； crucified among you？ This only
would I learn of you； Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law； or by
the hearing of faith？ Are ye so foolish？ having begun in the Spirit； are ye
now made perfect by the flesh？ Have ye suffered so many things in vain？ if
it be yet in vain。 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit； and
worketh miracles among you； doeth he it by the works of the law； or by the
hearing of faith？〃
Thus Paul arraigned the believers in Galatia before the tribunal of their
own conscience and sought to arrest them
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in their course。 Relying on the power of God to save； and refusing to
recognize the doctrines of the apostate teachers； the apostle endeavored to
lead the converts to see that they had been grossly deceived； but that by
returning to their former faith in the gospel they might yet defeat the
purpose of Satan。 He took his position firmly on the side of truth and
righteousness； and his supreme faith and confidence in the message he bore；
helped many whose faith had failed； to return to their allegiance to the
Saviour。
How different from Paul's manner of writing to the Corinthian church was the
course he pursued toward the Galatians！ The former he rebuked with caution
and tenderness； the latter with words of unsparing reproof。 The Corinthians
had been overcome by temptation。 Deceived by the ingenious sophistry of
teachers who presented errors under the guise of truth； they had become
confused and bewildered。 To teach them to distinguish the false from the
true； called for caution and patience。 Harshness or injudicious haste on
Paul's part would have destroyed his influence over many of those whom he
longed to help。
In the Galatian churches； open； unmasked error was supplanting the gospel
message。 Christ； the true foundation of the faith； was virtually renounced
for the obsolete ceremonies of Judaism。 The apostle saw that if the
believers in Galatia were saved from the dangerous influences which
threatened them； the most decisive measures must be taken； the sharpest
warnings given。
An important lesson for every minister of Christ to learn
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is that of adapting his labors to the condition of those whom he seeks to
benefit。 Tenderness； patience； decision； and firmness are alike needful； but
these are to be exercised with proper discrimination。 To deal wisely with
different classes of minds； under varied circumstances and conditions； is a
work requiring wisdom and judgment enlightened and sanctified by the Spirit
of God。
In his letter to the Galatian believers Paul briefly reviewed the leading
incidents connected with his own conversion and early Christian experience。
By this means he sought to show that it was through a special manifestation
of divine power that he had been led to see and grasp the great truths of
the gospel。 It was through instruction received from God Himself that Paul
was led to warn and admonish the Galatians in so solemn and positive a
manner。 He wrote； not in hesitancy and doubt； but with the assurance of
settled conviction and absolute knowledge。 He clearly outlined the
difference between being taught by man and receiving instruction direct from
Christ。
The apostle urged the Galatians to leave the false guides by whom they had
been misled； and to return to the faith that had been accompanied by
unmistakable evidences of divine approval。 The men who had attempted to lead
them from their belief in the gospel were hypocrites； unholy in heart and
corrupt in life。 Their religion was made up of a round of ceremonies；
through the performance of which they expected to gain the favor of God。
They had no desire for a gospel that called for obedience to the word；
〃Except a
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man be born again； he cannot see the kingdom of God。〃 John 3：3。 They felt
that a religion based on such a doctrine； required too great a sacrifice；
and they clung to their errors； deceiving themselves and others。
To substitute external forms of religion for holiness of heart and life is
still as pleasing to the unrenewed nature as it was in the days of these
Jewish teachers。 Today； as then； there are false spiritual guides； to whose
doctrines many listen eagerly。 It is Satan's studied effort to divert minds
from the hope of salvation through faith in Christ and obedience to the law
of God。 In every age the archenemy adapts his temptations to the prejudices
or inclinations of those whom he is seeking to deceive。 In apostolic times
he led the Jews to exalt the ceremonial law and reject Christ； at the
present time he induces many professing Christians； under pretense of
h