“It doesn’t matter whether or not we have now been circumcised or not. What counts is whether or not we have now been reworked into a brand new creation” (Gal. 6:15, NLT).
Retaining Rating
I discover the commentary after an intense soccer recreation to be extremely entertaining. The sport is over. One group gained. The opposite misplaced. Now the commentators unpack all the important thing moments within the recreation—if that landing move hadn’t been known as again by a questionable penalty; if that area objective try hadn’t hit the upright and gone in; if that fourth down try had been profitable. And on and on they go, speculating how the end result might need been affected by a couple of extra seconds, an important turnover, or a foul snap. Although it’d take a short time for folks to cease speaking about what might have been, finally what counts is who gained the sport. The “what-ifs” fade away, and the “what-was” stays.
Jew or Gentile?
Paul’s letter to the Galatians offers with the query of whether or not Gentiles, after believing in Jesus, have to embrace Judaism and be circumcised. To us, that query could appear trivial, however to the first-century believers, it was fairly essential. They wanted to know what counts. Is Christianity some type of neo-Judaism? What are the principles? What actually issues? If circumcision earns “factors” and I do the whole lot else a Christian is meant to do however am not circumcised, am I disqualified?
I dwell within the Southern United States. There are numerous fantastic issues I can say concerning the South, however one not-so-great factor about Southerners is that they generally neglect what counts. They suppose God’s scorekeeping consists of factors for being raised in a Christian dwelling, common church attendance, proudly owning a number of Bibles and taking one to church, conservative political beliefs, patriotism, and a bunch of different peripherals. Definitely, not one of the above issues are inherently unsuitable (although some might disagree), however they belong to the primary a part of the verse we’re contemplating—in the case of the scoreboard of our lives, they don’t actually matter. You don’t get further factors for taking part or abstaining from such issues. What counts is transformation.
Transformation
Transformation begins with turning into a brand new creation. I notice that sounds backward. It looks as if the assertion ought to learn, “transformation ends with turning into a brand new creation.” The truth is that it’s each. We should develop into a brand new creation to start the journey of turning into a brand new creation. Consider it this fashion. In a couple of days, the US can be inaugurating a brand new President. Although it’s completely different this time, normally the individual being sworn into workplace has by no means been President earlier than. As soon as they take the oath of workplace, they develop into the President of the US. It’s a judicial actuality that’s efficient instantly. He’s no roughly the President at any level in his time period than he’s at that first second. But, hopefully, the President turns into extra “presidential” as time goes by. After placing on the yoke of being President day after day, making govt selections which can be historic, representing his nation to heads of overseas states, dealing with international crises, and many others., he demonstrates behaviors increasingly more constant along with his title.
So goes the Christian. When does he develop into a brand new creation? When the Spirit breathes life into his useless soul. From the second he’s alive in Christ, he’s a Christian—somewhat Christ. On the identical time, he’ll develop into increasingly more like Christ as he strives to stroll within the actuality of being a brand new creation. Nietzsche obtained many issues unsuitable, however his well-known quote applies completely thus far: “Develop into who you’re.” Christian, develop into a Christian. You might be royalty. Behave like royalty. Develop into royal as a result of royal is what you’re. Or, as Wesley put it, quoting 2 Corinthians 3:18, we should be “modified from glory into glory.”[1]
What Does This Need to Do with Counseling?
There are two purposes to this verse which have a lot to do with biblical counseling—one unfavorable and one optimistic. Negatively, some counselees come to see us who’re largely involved with getting the principles proper. If you happen to inform them they should be circumcised, they need to be circumcised. They could declare to consider in salvation by grace by way of religion, however what they really belief in is their capacity to maintain the principles. The box-checkers love homework assignments. They need duties to perform. They need measurable aims. Watch out, Counselor. Warning them about their want to earn morality factors. This isn’t the gospel that saves. It’s the legislation that condemns.
Positively, serving to your counselees see what counts—transformation—is exposing them to the facility of the gospel. Think about what Paul wrote a couple of chapters earlier: “I’ve been crucified with Christ. It’s now not I who dwell, however Christ who lives in me. And the life I now dwell within the flesh I dwell by religion within the Son of God, who cherished me and gave himself for me. I don’t nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness have been by way of the legislation, then Christ died for no goal” (Gal. 2:20-21, ESV). Paul is saying that being alive in Christ is what counts. If circumcision counts, then Christ’s demise doesn’t matter. And if the cross doesn’t actually matter, then the gospel is irrelevant, and we’re nonetheless misplaced in our sins (see 1 Cor. 15:17).
Put up-Sport Commentary
Our counselees actually want instruments to cope with their points. They want understanding. They want a therapeutic relationship with us to assist them overcome their struggles. They want help to alter the issues they need to change. However most of all, they want a Savior. Being alive in Him is transformation.
Questions for Reflection
- Is my assist centered on what counts? Or do I are inclined to spend most of my efforts on externals?
- How do I apply “develop into who you’re” to myself? Am I seeing fruit?
- Do I have a tendency to present check-box homework to those that love homework, or do I prescribe instruments geared towards transformation?
[1] Charles Wesley, “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling.”
