Do not misunderstand, I am not trying to keep God out of public places. I hope this explains my previous article “Choosing Our Battles Wisely.”

First of all, I could just say read Galatians and all your questions will be answered. But some will only read bits and pieces some none at all, and some unfortunately for whatever reason have no access to the Bible. While I am not going to retype or re-write the book that Paul has already written and explained so well, I am going to bring out points of interest on the subject of the ten commandments. Then you can take those scriptures and go back over and read the entire chapters. You won’t be disappointed I assure you, unless you just want to live under the law, then I guess you will be because Paul clearly shows in Galatians how trying to live under the law is to defy the fact that Christ Jesus has satisfied that law.

Ok here we go….

First of all Paul is addressing the Galatians who are Christians that are trying to mix the law and grace. They are trying to teach the law and mixing in grace with it.

Paul tells them there is only one Gospel. And if anyone tries to teach you or exhort you to follow another teaching other than the teachings of Christ, may he be accursed. For who are they trying to please, men or God?

Gal 1 v 8…But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed…

Paul has already shared with them the gospel of Christ, remember these are Christians he is talking to.

In Gal 2, Paul calls Peter out for his hypocrisy to the Gospel. When he was with the Jews he acted like them who believed in the circumcision the old laws and acted as though he didnt know his fellow believers in Christ because they were Gentiles. In other words, he acted as though the Gentiles were under bondage instead of free in Christ Jesus as the Gospel of Jesus teaches.

Gal. 2 v 19-21…For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain…..

Let me address an important issue right here. The argument is that the world is trying to keep God out of our schools and out of our workplaces. Let me say this and refer you back to this scripture above — if we have been born again and are in Christ He LIVES in us.  If God is in you how can they keep Him out of places you are? That doesn’t even make sense. Are you checking your heart at the door before you go in to a place?  You will see that is sort of what Paul is trying to say to the Galatians: don’t be a hypocrite. Are you changing how you behave just because it is not politically correct, or cool with those you are interacting with?

Paul tells them in chapter 3 that they have been bewitched, they have been hoodwinked into believing that they have to remain in bondage to the laws of old.

Gal 3 v 2-3…This only I want to learn from you; Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?….

v 10-12….For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written in the book of the law, to do them, But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident for the just shall live by faith…..Yet the law is not of faith, but the man who does them shall live by them….

13….Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us, (for it is written “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’)

Gal 3 v 19…What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the SEED (JESUS) should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator….

v 23-25…before Faith came we were kept under guard by the law, kept for faith which would afterward be revealed…Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor…..

We are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Now as sons and heirs we are no longer a slave under bondage.

Paul uses the scriptures about Hagar and Sarah and their children, and how Hagar was a picture of the law and Sarah was a free woman. And Hagar’s child was a picture of the law and of bondage. But Sarah’s child was a picture of freedom and of the promise of God.

Gal. 4 v 21-31.

Now in Gal 5 Paul tells us to stand fast therefore in the liberty (freedom) by which Christ has made us free and not to be entangled again with a yoke of bondage (law).

Have you heard the saying fallen from Grace…well here is what that means in chapter 5 v 4….you have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace….

Christ satisfied the law and gave us a ministry of love. Does this mean we go out and act like heathens breaking man’s laws? Certainly not. When we walk in Jesus commandment we will not want to break laws, or behave wrong.

Gal 5 v 13-14…for you brethren having been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through LOVE, serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this:”You shall love your neighbor as yourself”….

v16…I say then, “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”…

17…For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. v18..but if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law….

Gal 5 v 22-23….But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control. Against such there is no law…..

If you want to teach your children something, if you want something hanging in their classrooms for them to learn let it be this..the fruits of the Spirit. There are no fruits in keeping the law only works.

Gal 6 v 2…bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.

His commandment He left us with … to love one another.

And this is my answer to all those who have a problem with me saying to choose our battles wisely, about what we want in our schools and in our workplaces. How many of you fighting for the ten commandments take the word of God with you to work and read during your break times? How many of you send your children off to school only after you have prayed over them and send them with Jesus in their hearts?  And I dare say, how many children understand exactly what God is saying in the ten commandments? Not many adults even do.

For to say you keep all His commandments makes you a liar, or if you have hatred in your heart toward anyone you are a murderer in God’s eyes. God says to break one of these laws is to break them all. He knew we could not keep His commandments so He sent us His Son to die on a cross and satisfy His laws, so that we could become joint heirs and His children.

I say to you anywhere a Christian is working or where a Christian is hanging out, GOD IS THERE ALSO. He says He will never leave you nor forsake you. He said we have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. So I ask you now: is God present in your life, in your workplace, in your child’s school?

We don’t need something hanging on the wall to tell us how to behave or to let others know there is a God. We only need to let His light shine through us. We are the ones responsible for keeping God in our schools and our workplaces; we don’t have to build a golden cow and stand it up in front of folks; we only have to open our hearts and let His love be shown to everyone.

Don’t take my word — take His word, open and read for yourselves.

Stay in His Word!

Neta