Galatians 5 - June 15^th

Freedom In Christ

It may seem from the beginning of this chapter that Paul is against circumcision, but that is not precisely the case; you see, circumcision is not the issue, but trusting in circumcision is the issue. Paul wants these Galatian believers to understand that they have freedom in Christ and that it would be absolutely foolish to trade up the freedom of Christ that comes from the free gift of grace purchased for us by His blood and once again try and earn our own salvation through our own merit in the Law. Christ has given you freedom from the Law, not that the Law is evil, but the Law is a death sentence to anyone who tries to gain a right standing before God by it. Again, the issue is not circumcision, but the danger for these Galatians is trusting in circumcision rather than the blood of Christ alone to save them. To prove this, just look to Acts 16, Paul there circumcises Timothy to appease and not offend the Jews in the area they were in so that they could more effectively spread the gospel. Paul had no issue circumcising Timothy there because Timothy was in no way trusting in that act to justify him but instead realized it was out of love to reach the Jews better. This is not the case in Galatia; the false teachers have distorted the gospel message and have bewitched them with a lie. This is why he forbids them here to be circumcised because they would be doing it for the wrong reasons. For them to credit anything to their salvation, in this case, circumcision, other than the blood of Christ, is to consider Christ's sacrifice insufficient. If you are a Christian, then you have freedom in Christ and no longer need to work and labor to gain a right standing before God; you no longer need to put on a yoke of slavery to the Law and your inability to keep it. Praise God for His mercy and grace!

Live by the Spirit

Do not misunderstand brothers and sisters, freedom in Christ does not equate to antinomianism; that is to say that just because we need not work to be saved does not mean we are not to produce any good fruit and good works. Paul makes this clear in verse 6, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.” And again in verse 13, “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” Paul then goes on in verses 16-26 to speak about what living the Christian life ought to look like. It is not that we are free from good works, but instead, we are free to do good works! This is exactly what we find stated in Ephesians 2:10, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” What a salvation we have inherited, brothers and sisters, and what a freedom we have gained!