Our Liberty In Christ by Philip Mauro

This, of course, is not in anywise a reflection upon 2 Judaism as originally established by God, and as it was before it became corrupted through the traditions of men. As originally established it was a marvellous witness to the coming work and glories of Christ.

It owed its en­tire value, however, to the fact that, in all its various and elaborate details, it was “a shadow of good things to come.” For that very reason the actual coming of Christ, and His fulfilment of those types and shadows, of neces­sity abolished Judaism. Therefore, to revive or to re­turn to those fulfilled types and shadows was a slight upon the work of Christ, and hence a grievous thing in the eyes of God. It follows that it is a thing even more grievous in God’s eyes for His people to engage in re­ligious observances of purely human origin. For if there be now no place for Jewish ceremonial religion—its ritual, priesthood, vestments, feasts, rites, etc.—how much less is there place for any other? I low grievous then in God’s sight must be the atrocious mixture of Jewish and pagan liturgical arrangements and services, ceremonies, vestments, sacerdotal orders, holy days and seasons (largely derived from the idolatrous worship of the heathen) to which modern Christendom is almost wholly given over? The tendency to return to these things is deeply rooted in the human heart; and there is need of constant watchfulness against it.

Paul refers also to the fact that as a young man his prospects in Judaism had been exceedingly bright, be­yond those of others who were his equals in age. (1: 14). This is a further evidence that nothing short of the mighty power of God could have changed him from the chief persecutor of the church into its most efficient apostle and minister.

Paul speaks of himself as having been “separated” to the service of God from his mother’s womb. In Rom. 1: 1 he says he was “separated unto the gospel of God.” In Gal. 1: 15, he adds: “from my mother’s womb.” In like manner God made known to Jeremiah that, before he was born, He had sanctified him (i. c., had separated or set him apart) to be “a prophet unto the nations” (Jer. 1:5). God foresees the service which His called ones are to per­form. Jeremiah was to be “a prophet unto the nations” to pronounce God’s judgments upon them; and Paul was to be an apostle unto the nations to bear to them the message of God’s pardoning 2 The word “religion” docs not occur in this Epistle. It is found only in Acts. 26:5; and James 1:26, 27. Christianity is not a religion. Human religions are like costumes, prepared for special occasions, with various trimmings for different seasons of the year. Christianity is a life to be lived every day of the year, a life which only they can live who have been born of the Spirit and are indwelt by the Spirit.