THE SIN OF FOLLOWING TRADITIONS

Gal 1:11-14 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel, which was preached of me, is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: and profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

Paul begins this epistle to the churches of Galatia by introducing himself, not as an apostle of men, neither by man, but as an apostle ...(of) Jesus Christ, and God the Father. In the lesson text, he further emphasizes that claim to be true. He states, in the verse preceding the lesson text, that his mission, since his conversion, was to please God and not mankind. He assures them that if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. To please men, one does not have to serve the will of God and to seek his approval by preaching the gospel message of His Son, Jesus Christ. If Paul had wanted to please men, why, then, would he have undertaken the role of a servant of Christ, and be subjected to the perils and persecution described in 2 Corinthians 11:23-33. Such injurious afflictions and distress come only to those that serve the Lord, and not to those that have, as their mission in life, to serve the will of mankind.

Paul now gives his readers further proof of his apostleship of Christ in the lesson text. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel, which was preached of me, is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. The reason for the "good news," which Paul preached, was not for the selfish, covetous reason of pleasing mankind, neither was his message inspired or taught to him by mankind. The gospel message he taught came to him by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

This fact Paul testified before King Agrippa when he told of the day he miraculously encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus. Recognizing Him as a man of God, Paul asked, Who art thou, Lord, to which He answered I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. Jesus followed by telling Paul this: But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them, which are sanctified by faith that is in Me (See Acts 26:13-18). No doubt these visions and revelations from Jesus Christ continued to inspire and guide Paul throughout the ministry for which he was called (2 Cor. 12:1).

The background reputation of Paul was well known throughout the province of Galatia, just as it was when he entered Damascus and began preaching the gospel of Christ in their synagogues (Acts 9:21). They had foreknowledge of his strict and thorough Jewish education as a Pharisee, as well as the authority given him by the Sanhedrin to persecute the church of God. These well-known facts Paul could not deny. Due to his education as a Pharisee, Paul reached a position within the Jewish hierarchy above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

Traditions of men have corrupted God's will for mankind from the beginning of time. Such traditions of the elders compromised God's Old Testament law (See Matt. 15:2; Mark 7:3-5). Jesus, Himself, condemned the scribes and Pharisees with this rhetorical question, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition (See Matt. 15:1-3). The indicated answer was because they allowed their traditions to corrupt God's commandments, to which Jesus replied, This people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honoreth Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me (Matt. 15:8).

The traditions of men - their personal philosophies, also corrupt the New Testament covenant between God and mankind. Paul warned the church at Colosse, Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ (Col. 2:8). The traditions of men, when allowed to do so, compromise God's will, make void His promises through His Son, Jesus Christ, and surrender the hope of eternal life to Satan. Such is the sin of following traditions!