Galatians 6:13
13 For [gar] neither [oude] they themselves [autos] who
are circumcised [peritemno] keep [phulasso] the law [nomos]; but [alla] desire [thelo] to have [peritemno] you [humas] circumcised [peritemno], that [hina] they may glory
[kauchaomai] in [en] your [humeteros] flesh [sarx]. KJV-Interlinear
13 For those who are circumcised
do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised,
that they may boast in your flesh. NASB
Anyone who promotes false ideas, and then tries to
get others to follow those false ideas, does so only to boost their own ego of
accomplishment. It has nothing to do
with the benefit or merit, or lack of it, for others, it is all in the selfish
persuasion of the promoter.
They do not even comply with their own beliefs.
Our example here is circumcision, which is promoted
falsely, as a means to obtain salvation.
But circumcision is a part of the Law of Moses, sometimes called the Law
of God. And if you are arguing that one
aspect of the Law is required then you should be consistent and comply with the
entire Law. But those who promote the Law do not even abide by the Law in its
entirety. And they don’t because no one
can. So their argument is not even
possible.
It is the same with works. When people try to invent their own way of
salvation or their own way of spirituality, then they are relying on works, or
the energy of their own effort. And this
is of course a rejection of Gods spiritual design.
More subtle than the circumcision argument, but
false just the same.
When you pursue spiritual principles and concepts
by means of your own invention, then you are in fact rejecting Gods method of spirituality. This means that you are not impressed with Gods
plan, because you have rejected Gods plan, but are impressed with your own plan
under the presumption that your methods are better than Gods methods.
Therefore, your boasting is in yourself, which is a
lie, by the way. Because God is truth
and rejection of Gods plan is in effect a rejection of truth, which leaves you
with lies.
So, knowing that the flesh is a temporary thing and
that when it ends, it rots. Therefore,
investing in the energy of the flesh, which means investing in your own effort,
is in effect investing in a temporary and eventually in a rotting belief. Leaving you with what?
