Having these days collided with some from our very own Norwegian family who adheres to a socially accepted “Jesus concept”, the issue of the epistle to the Galatians once again became crucial to me.

 I could leap and shout for the freedom of the gospel, however still filled with the grief and indignation of the apostle towards those who perverted the gospel. The name of Jesus was okay, but they perverted the message about Jesus.  That was really the issue in Galatia.

In a voice trembling with rage they opposed my personal, joyful testimony.  Who did I think I am?  One relative said, “I didn´t sleep last night after listening to you yesterday!”  I didn´t ague with him, but just sat there in a that venerable party silent and appalled (Ezra 9:3).

Oh, it´s not enough to say “Jesus” in an innocent air.  What matters is your testimony concerning that precious Person out of personal experience, and how He came into your life.  I´m not talking about a certain date and hour, but it´s important that you, too, can say, “One thing I do know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see!”  (John 9:25).

Religious people don´t like that emphasis.  They may refer to their infant baptism, their bible knowledge, their church membership, their Christian tradition, etc.  but they shun the message which I remember Billy Graham also cried out to his nation and to the world, “You must be born again!”

Against this serious background my own relationship to the Galatians was revived.  I´ll again dwell on its message about the freedom of the gospel of Christ (Gal. 5:1).  Scold at me you well-mannered people, it doesn´t change my calling to do the work of an evangelist (2 Tim. 4:5) on the ground of Calvary and the redemption in Christ.  -  Sept. 28, 2002 - jn