15 And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all.
16 And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read.
17 And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written,
18 “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME,
BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR.
HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES,
AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND,
TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED,
19 TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD.” Luke 4:14-19. (Emphasis added.)
When we read this Scripture, we should seek to also minister in the power of the Spirit. We should notice and acknowledge the Spirit of the LORD upon us. One of the reasons that we may not do so is our aversion to the heresies and abuses of certain flamboyant charismatics, particularly those that we see on television. However, we should not “throw out the baby with the bath water”, but rather we should seek the truth and the righteous application of truth.
“Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22.
One Scripture that helps us treasure the Spirit and the work of the Spirit is Galatians 3:5: “So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?” It is noteworthy that it does so through the contrast between “the works of the Law” and “the hearing with faith”.
We can be so proud of our own flesh as to what we did accomplish in the past and what we think we can accomplish in the future. We need to hear Paul’s words in Galatians 3:3: “Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?”
But, it is not only pride and foolishness that gets in our way. We simply do not have a good understanding of the inability of the Law to make us righteous.
If it just were a matter of pride and foolishness, then a simple and short and sharp admonition by Paul would be sufficient. But, we see Paul go to great lengths in the Book of Galatians to explain why the Law can not make us righteous.
Paul starts out by pointing to Abraham in Galatians 3:6-9. “Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. Galatians 3:6.
Paul then proceeds to pointing out that those who are of the works of the Law are under a curse in Galatians 3:10-14. “For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM.” Galatians 3:10.
Paul goes on to a covenant analogy in Galatians 3:15-18. “What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.” Galatians 3:17-18.
Paul describes the limited purpose of the Law in Galatians 3:19-29. “Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:24-26.
In Galatians 4:1-20, Paul uses the analogy of slaves to describe those who are in bondage under the Law. “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.” Galatians 4:4-7.
Paul seems to be pounding the table in Galatians 4:21-31. “Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law?” Galatians 4:21. Paul continues the slave analogy but adds a comparison between the two sons of Abraham: “… one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman. But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise.” Galatians 4:22-23. The bondwoman represents the Law. The free woman represents the promise of the Spirit. “… Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother.” Galatians 4:25-26.
In Galatians 5, Paul uses his strongest language to conclude: “You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness.” Galatians 5:5-6.
But, Paul does not end with his lengthy arguments why the Law is unable to make us righteous and how it enslaves us. Paul encourages us to seek the Spirit by explaining the fruit of the Spirit.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23.
“… the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” Galatians 6:8.
In conclusion, I pray this devotion will make us appreciate the importance of living our life and working “in the power of the Spirit”. May we all testify: “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME”.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 