It's a Relationship, not just Rituals - Song of Solomon 6-8 and Galatians 4
There is one statement in the Song of Solomon that sums up the whole book. Solomon's wife says, "I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine." That is a simple statement of unity and relationship. The oneness leads to having the closest possible human relationship. We must belong to each other for a marriage to truly be according to God's design. It is evident that Solomon's wife was confident in her relationship with her husband, and they were very close. It was not a marriage of convenience, and they were not just going through the motions. They were not carrying out the functions of marriage, but they were enjoying a satisfying relationship. That is God's design for marriage.
In the spiritual sense Jesus is the Beloved. When we come to know Him, we belong to Him. We can say, "I am my Beloved's, and my Beloved is mine." That is what Paul is referring to in Galatians 4. We are adopted into the family of God, so that we have an intimate relationship with Him. We can call Him, "Abba", which is a term of affection like "Daddy." Paul tells the Galatian believers that it is not about keeping rituals on certain days or observing laws. It is a relationship with Jesus. He has set us free from the bondage of the law, by entering a relationship with us. Now, we follow Him, instead of following a list of rules. That requires us to hear Him and to listen to Him and His Word. When we do that, we will live according to His rules, but it will be out of love and not obligation. We will want to please Him, because we have a love relationship with Him. If a person does not have that relationship, that person is not a disciple of Jesus. That person is not a believer. Jesus has not adopted them into the family. No matter how many rituals they are performing they have missed the relationship. There has been no change. They can't change themselves. The change comes from trusting Christ as Lord. Then, He changes us and adopts us. Paul said he had his doubts about the Galatians, if they could go back to rituals. He was afraid they had not been changed by Jesus. We all need to hear this admonition and make sure we are living in a relationship with Jesus and not just doing rituals.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 1-2 and Galatians 5.
In the spiritual sense Jesus is the Beloved. When we come to know Him, we belong to Him. We can say, "I am my Beloved's, and my Beloved is mine." That is what Paul is referring to in Galatians 4. We are adopted into the family of God, so that we have an intimate relationship with Him. We can call Him, "Abba", which is a term of affection like "Daddy." Paul tells the Galatian believers that it is not about keeping rituals on certain days or observing laws. It is a relationship with Jesus. He has set us free from the bondage of the law, by entering a relationship with us. Now, we follow Him, instead of following a list of rules. That requires us to hear Him and to listen to Him and His Word. When we do that, we will live according to His rules, but it will be out of love and not obligation. We will want to please Him, because we have a love relationship with Him. If a person does not have that relationship, that person is not a disciple of Jesus. That person is not a believer. Jesus has not adopted them into the family. No matter how many rituals they are performing they have missed the relationship. There has been no change. They can't change themselves. The change comes from trusting Christ as Lord. Then, He changes us and adopts us. Paul said he had his doubts about the Galatians, if they could go back to rituals. He was afraid they had not been changed by Jesus. We all need to hear this admonition and make sure we are living in a relationship with Jesus and not just doing rituals.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 1-2 and Galatians 5.