SPECIAL TOPIC: JUDAIZERS

Many assume the Judaizers of Galatians are synonymous with the converted Pharisees or priests of Acts 15:1,5,24. They emphasized the necessity of becoming a Jew before one could become a Christian. The Judaizers' emphasis on the Jewish Law can be seen in:
1. the necessity of circumcision (cf. Gal. 2:3-4; 5:1; 6:12-15)
2. their keeping of special days (cf. Gal. 4:10)
3. a possible inclusion of keeping the food laws which is implied in Paul's confrontation with Peter (cf. Gal. 2:11-14)
This was probably the same group of false teachers mentioned in 2 Cor. 11:26 and 1 Thess. 2:14-16. Their problem was not that they denied the central place of Christ in salvation, but that they also required the Mosaic Law, which confuses grace and human performance. The New Covenant does not focus on human merit (cf. Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 36:22-38).
Galatians was possibly Paul's first letter. It was a precursor to Romans and its development of the doctrine of justification by grace through faith apart from Judaism's emphasis on a works righteousness attainable by obedience to the Mosaic Law and traditions of the elders (i.e., Oral Traditions).
1. Salvation cannot be found in both human performance and grace.
2. Salvation must be found in either human performance or grace.
3. Christlikeness will follow a true conversion (cf. Rom. 8:28-30; 2 Cor. 3:18; Gal. 4:19; Eph. 1:4; 4:13; 1 Thess. 3:13; 4:3; 5:23; 2 Thess. 2:13; Titus 2:14; 1 Pet. 1:15).
4. Theologically there is a distinction between Judaism's legalism which brought salvation and Christian legalism, which attempts to judge and restrict Christian freedom. Paul denounces Judaism's performance based model as worthy of damnation, but is willing to work with Christian legalism (i.e., weak faith, cf. Rom. 14:1-15:15; 1 Corinthians 8-10). It is the free gospel of salvation by grace through faith that Paul defends, yet he still recognizes the legalistic tendencies in some believers.
This radically free salvation, by grace alone through faith alone, in Christ alone is desperately needed in our day because of the recurrent, subtle pull of our self-oriented, works-oriented religious consciousness. In every age the simple truth of God's initiating, self-giving, unconditional covenant love mediated through human repentance and humble faith is challenged! It is not that the false teachers were rejecting Christ's central place in redemption, but they were adding prerequisites to Him. It is not what we add, but that we add anything!
Here are some possible options suggested through the years.
1. ignore the OT
2. magnify the OT
3. continue the ethics, but not the cultus of Israel
4. read the NT through the eyes of the OT categories
5. read the OT through the new message of Jesus
6. see it as a promise (OT) and fulfillment (NT)
I have struggled with this issue! It seems to me the OT is surely inspired revelation (Matt. 5:17-19; 2 Tim. 3:15-16). One cannot understand the Bible without Genesis. The OT surely reveals God in marvelous ways, however, it seems to me that Judaism mishandled the Mosaic covenant by emphasizing the human aspect of covenant! I prefer to emphasize the divine universal aspect (i.e., Gen. 3:15; 12:3; Exod. 19:5-6) with a mandated covenantal human response!

The NT universalizes the national promises to Israel whereby the original intent of God to redeem fallen mankind, made in His image and likeness (cf. Gen. 1:26-27) is fully realized! One God, one world, one way to restored fellowship (i.e., Isaiah's message)!