Apparently Judaizers(opposeres of Paul and his teaching) were trying to get the worshippers of Jehovah(converts) to side with them in their teachings(keeping the circumcision issue alive after it had been settled) and perhaps succumbing to low moral standards (Gal 5:13)
Nice Topic. Thanks TruthExplorer.
I don't think that Paul was talking specifically about circumcision in this case;but rather an entire WAY OF LIFE.
Galatians 4:
21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid °, the other by a freewoman.
23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one ° from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. - [US = MEMEBERS OF THE NEW COVENANT]
27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
So, Paul was here reminding [because it really is hard to believe] Christians of two things:
1. They were freed from the Law (Rules) ....totally. Rules are now an unnecessary restriction; rules are for babies .... (No, no).
2. Those born after the Spirit cannot sin (in the spirit, but only in the flesh)
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Romans 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
1 John 3: 9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
The Galatians were just baby Christians and were still trying to figure out what exactly had happened to them. Paul and others cleared that up. Conversely, the real problem with the JW's is that they cut themselves of from the Spirit of God by rejecting the New Covenant, the only accessible way to get it. As a result JW's are left with the task of "trying to be good", and thus are not Christian at all.
Good luck to them. It was a miserable disaster for the 8 years that I tried it. It has also been a disaster for the 6 generations of my family members who tried it as well.
On the issue of worshipping Jehovah:
Christians weren't worshipping Jehovah per se, they were worshipping the living breathing great I AM who manifested himself in the flesh:
1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
John 9:38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
Heb 1: 5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
On the issue of the NWT:
King James vs. New World Translation
