'' Galatians 2:16 know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we too have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified. ''
Dear people, there are some misconceptions among most of our fellow believers about this scripture - they believe that this scripture applies (also) to giving tithes, as tithing was a part of the Law in old covenant. And they presume that giving tithes makes them bound back by the Law, after being saved by grace. Therefore they no longer need to abide by the Law, so they don't have to give any amounts limiting them as tithes. And that if anyone loves God, he will not limit the amount as tithe, but it will be more than that.
And some others believe that God doesn't need our money and just our faith, therefore tithes are not necessary - they back up their strong belief with this scripture and presume that Apostle Paul has conveyed this message in the above scriptures of Galatians 2:15.
This deceptive notion is only preventing God's people from abiding by His command of bringing their tithes to HIS House.
This deceptive notion is only preventing God's people from abiding by His command of bringing their tithes to HIS House.
This kind of distortion in people on Paul's writings has been foretold by Peter in 2 Peter 3:14 -17.
Dear people, what God wants of us is our obedience to HIS commands and a blameless walk before Him. But not any ignorant explanations on love and faith, keeping aside His very commands.
''1 John 2:4 The man who says ''I know him,'' but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone who obeys his word God's love is truly made complete in him.''
Dear people, what God wants of us is our obedience to HIS commands and a blameless walk before Him. But not any ignorant explanations on love and faith, keeping aside His very commands.
''1 John 2:4 The man who says ''I know him,'' but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone who obeys his word God's love is truly made complete in him.''
We must not fail to realize that in the New Covenant we serve God in the new way of the Spirit, upholding the law, unlike the old way of the written code:
'' Romans 7 :6 Now by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. ''
Let us now read what Peter has foretold about such distortions in people:
'' 2 Peter 3 :15 - 18
....Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters.
....Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters.
His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other scriptures, to their own destruction. Therefore dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. ''
Apostle Peter has clearly stated in the above scripture that there are some things in Paul's letters that are hard to understand.
And that there will be people, who, out of their ignorance and instability, are distorted.
Apostle Peter has clearly stated in the above scripture that there are some things in Paul's letters that are hard to understand.
And that there will be people, who, out of their ignorance and instability, are distorted.
And such men are only caught up in the ''Error of lawlessness.''
This clearly enlightens us that any derivations from Paul's writings, resulting in any kind of lawlessness errors, reflect only on the ignorance of that person in understanding the actual meaning in Paul's words, and such a person falls from his secure position due to such distortion.
Therefore dear people, if anyone presumes that, ''through Galatians 2:16 Apostle Paul has conveyed not to Tithe and tells us not to be bound by law, '' then dear ones, realize that he is only being erroneous and is falling from his secure position, and apostle Peter has foretold such distortion.
He has alarmed us not to be carried away by the ''error'' of such lawless men, but make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with God.
Now that we have learnt in 2 Peter 3:15-18, about the nature of some of Paul's writings, this makes it really very important that we thoroughly thoroughly understand what apostle Paul actually is conveying in that passage in Galatians.
This clearly enlightens us that any derivations from Paul's writings, resulting in any kind of lawlessness errors, reflect only on the ignorance of that person in understanding the actual meaning in Paul's words, and such a person falls from his secure position due to such distortion.
Therefore dear people, if anyone presumes that, ''through Galatians 2:16 Apostle Paul has conveyed not to Tithe and tells us not to be bound by law, '' then dear ones, realize that he is only being erroneous and is falling from his secure position, and apostle Peter has foretold such distortion.
He has alarmed us not to be carried away by the ''error'' of such lawless men, but make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with God.
Now that we have learnt in 2 Peter 3:15-18, about the nature of some of Paul's writings, this makes it really very important that we thoroughly thoroughly understand what apostle Paul actually is conveying in that passage in Galatians.
Let us move on to the 3rd part.
Continued in Part 3:
God Bless You.
