Walking Away to God
Comments on Galatians with an ear to Luther’s commentary
Scripture Text: Galatians 1:13-14 and Revelation 2:25–29
Series: Comments on Galatians
How do you know if someone is rabidly religious? When someone kills other people for his beliefs, it is a fairly good indicator that he has put his whole heart into his religion. Paul was just such a person. His passion was for what he thought was the faith of his fathers but was in reality just religion. Then God revealed himself to Paul and his mind came into play instead of just his heart. God engaged Paul’s heart and mind and that made the difference that enabled him to walk away from pharisaic religion (what man does for God) to faith in Christ (what God has done for man).
The greatest commandment says that more than passion must come into play in life. The mind must engage also so that there might be strength of soul. Only then is neighbor loved instead of killed.
Paul was changed from a follower of culture to a follower of God because he began to love the Lord with all of his heart, soul, strength, and mind — because he walked away from his passion for religious traditions when Jesus said, “Follow me.”
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Author
Rev. Dr. Mark E. Ryman has served as Pastor for St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Salisbury, NC, since 2021. Previously, Pastor Ryman served congregations in North Carolina and Ohio, as well as a call to specialized ministry with Sola Publishing.
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