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"My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you," ( Ga. 4:19)
Saint Paul, the consummate missionary to the masses was also a missionary to the church. The word "missions" usually suggests an organized effort for declaring the redemptive gospel of Jesus in new frontiers. However, in the foregoing scripture the apostle Paul appears to identify another mission field seldom perceived as such --- the Church! It is such a mission that ministries like Bet Emet and others are called in these last days as the Bride needs preparation before being gathered unto the Bridegroom who stands at the door. The stains upon here wedding garment not only defile, but will preclude her from choice position come the Marriage Feast. It is to the “unwise virgins” we turn.
In stating that these early Gentile believers needed Christ "formed in them", Paul, in his Galatian letter, is not suggesting that the people be saved again or born again - again. It was not a case of "Godliness" being absent from their personal religious belief systems; but rather there was the absence and demonstration of the visible manifestation of "true" Godliness in the corporate setting of the local congregation. What a picture of the Gentile Christian Church as it exists today.
Answer for yourself: Did Paul say they needed "Jesus" formed in them or "Christ"?
Notice that Paul did not say they needed Jesus formed in them, but Christ --- there is a difference. The name Jesus means "savior", while Christ means the "anointed" word. The form of Christ is a Biblical pattern. The Galatians had forsaken their Godly heritage (which were the Biblical and Jewish ways taught them by Paul and others) and began taking up the "elements [ways] of the world." In this particular book, in chapter 4, verses 8-11, Paul reproached these Gentile “believers” specifically for having RETURNED TO AND ADOPTING ONCE AGAIN THE PAGAN CELEBRATION DAYS AND FESTIVAL DAYS OF THE GENTILES FROM WHICH THEY HAD PREVIOUSLY REPENTED AND TURNED AWAY FROM.
Answer for yourself: How can we be sure your right Pastor Craig and that Paul is not rebuking these Gentile believers for celebrating Jewish Holy Days and Sabbaths instead as my Pastor taught? How can be sure that Paul is not rebuking these Gentile "believers" for being "judaizers"?
Simply my dear brother we need only look to the terms recorded in the verses: How turn ye AGAIN!
Answer for yourself: Before Paul was able to minister the truths of Judaism to these "non-Jews" had they observed and kept Jewish observances? No.
Since addressing Gentile believers who previously before they “knew God and His ways” celebrated their own Gentile pagan days, and since coming to God who teaches in His Word the observance and celebration of Biblical Holy Days and Festivals [just happens to be Jewish...the Jews are His special people who adopted the Biblical Festival pattern at Sinai], it would be impossible for the Gentiles who previously did not know or observe “Jewish Days” to turn AGAIN unto them since never having them (THINK). The only possible explanation if you think before your speak, which I wish more Gentile Pastors of Churches would do, is that Paul was rebuking these Gentile believers for returning to their pagan days which they had previously abandoned when they turned to God and left their idols when shown God's salvation of the "non-Jew" within Judaism. Thus Paul was rebuking the Gentile Church for leaving Jewish Festivals [Biblical Festivals and the Pattern of Worship taught them] and for forsaking the Biblical Sabbaths, hence losing the "form and message of this Christ".
Simply said, and this fits perfectly, they need not return to pagan fornication rituals like "Easter" when God had expressed His will that the "non-Jews" voluntarily keep and observe the Passover like Abraham had done. What an example of a "non-Jew" living out the principles of Isa. 56 "by the Spirit" where he, not having to, was able to "choose those things that pleased God".
Answer for yourself: Are you aware that the "non-Jewish" believers observed and kept the Passover for several centuries long after the time of the New Testament Jesus?
Answer for yourself: Did the "non-Jews" of the earliest centuries of the Christian era know what we don't today; namely that God had given both the "Jew" and the "non-Jew" a "Pattern of Worship" to be shared among them whereby the two sticks in Joseph's hand could become one, thus breaking down the middle wall of partition among them? You bet they knew this and Constantine will go along way to destroy this "Pattern of Worship" and "dejudaize" the Christian Church and his efforts bear sad fruit even today.
Our historic drift from the Judeo-Christian motifs of scripture into a Greko-Roman value system is evidenced by the absence of Judaic contours in the body of Christ today. However a Judeo-Christian awakening is occurring. A growing awareness that the foundations of Biblical faith are more accurately reflected in our Hebraic heritage is creating a renaissance in Christian thinking and understanding. Academics, Pastors, Church leaders, Biblical expositors, teachers and concerned Christians universally are beginning to re-evaluate the validity of many of our time-honored traditions and doctrinal concepts of traditional Christianity.
To question our Christian faith is not sinful if what we have inherited is WRONG! Failure to re-evaluate such “errors” taught as “truths” from our pulpits is SIN because it leads to disobedience and disobedience in "ignorance" is yet a sin. You only have to read Leviticus chapter 5 to see this as sacrifices had to be brought for sins committed that you were not even aware!
To follow in such unrighteous conduct and worship is when is disobey God's Laws and Commandments is both sin and sadly quite often idolatry. The tragic sad fact of the matter is that seldom have your pastors and teaches in Gentile Christianity studied the Jewish Roots of the religion they preach. Thus, unknowingly, the "blind" (congregations) follow the "blind" (uninformed teachers and pastors), as well as "unrepentant" pastors who refuse to bow their knees at correction and instruction when shown they are in error.
Answer for yourself: Am I describing your pastor and your church and possibly your experience?
These courageous individuals who have come to the knowledge of the truth, and who risk reputation and acceptance in preaching a message of repentance to the Body of Christ could be identified as restoration missionaries. They are awakening the Church to important biblical profiles and paths of obedience to God's Word so long overlooked by the Gentile Christian Church.
The effect of this awakening has shown a dramatic increase of interest in such things as the use of banners in worship, dancing in worship, the celebration of Biblical feast days and Sabbaths, drawing lessons from Biblical Jewish customs and values that are impacting personal and family life to name a few. Yet there are some who express apprehension born out of a fear of Judaism and/or legalism.
True! Many of these things are not essential to personal salvation, but they are essential to proper Biblical worship and spiritual growth as we conform to the image of Godliness by allowing the "Christ" be formed in us and not to Constantine who robbed us of our heritage and the true Message of God connected with this "Pattern of Worship". Let us return to the Jewish and Biblical heritage of our Christian faith, thereby anticipating and preparing for the day we will meet God face to face.