The Narrow Way

Today, we pick up our study in Galatians 5:7-9 where it says, “Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.” In other words, they were doing so well, but now something has went amiss. Of course, that something is that they had allowed these legalizers to saturate them with “their version” of the gospel (Gal. 1:6-10).

Perversion is described in the Bible as leaven. It cannot be allowed to permeate the church. It only takes a pinch. Jesus refers to this in the parable of the leaven in Matthew 13:33 where it says, “Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.”

Notice v.10, “I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.” Paul here expresses his optimism that they will overcome this testing. There is nothing like a few words of affirmation! It’s been said that a pat on the back will take anyone another mile.

Notice also, “…he who troubles you shall bear his judgment…”. Mark 9:42 says, “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.”

Notice v.11, “And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.” The cross is the offense. When Jesus gave Himself as the sacrifice for sinful man he became the only way to God! John 14:6 says, “Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Unfortunately, that’s not the story that you’ll get today. Actually, Christianity is offensive in our culture today. People are bothered by the narrowness of one way to heaven. They prefer to think that there are many ways to the same place. The writer of Proverbs says in Proverbs 16:25, “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.”