Expert: Mrs. Priscilla Lyons - 8/12/2006

Question
A couple ?'s:
1.) Why is the epistle to the Galatians of such permanent value?
2.) Can you give from scripture an example of a preacher who was punished for perverting the Word og God?
These two ?'s in a Bible study that I am doing have me a bit baffled...appreciate your time in responding back...thank you.

Answer
Dear Doug,
   Thanks for writing.  I believe the whole Bible to be of great permanent value, but different parts have different purposes at different times.  
   Galatians emphasizes the inability of mankind to earn salvation or to keep it.  Salvation is a total surrender (faith) to allow God to live in and through us (crucified with Christ).
   In Gal. 2:13...Paul corrects Peter for changing his behavior to match those who hadn't yet understood or accepted that God's plan of salvation was completed in Jesus Christ, the fulfillment of the law.  God's salvation is spurned by returning to adherence to the letter of the law, rather than seeking to fulfill the spirit of the law through Jesus Christ.  
   Not that Peter actually perverted the Word of God.  Perhaps Balaam (a prophet of God) would be considered a "preacher who was punished for perverting the Word of God."  God didn't actually allow him to prophecy against Israel, but he counseled the enemy how to defeat Israel through enticement of heathen women.  He was killed with the enemy. Numbers 31:8-16
   I apologize that I can't think of anything else that might fit at the moment.
   Keep studying.  There are always so many things from God's Word  to learn and apply in our lives.  For those with "ears to hear," life based on His Word is never boring.
   Sincerely,
   Priscilla Lyons