Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Christ came to set men free.
John 8:34-36 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
Romans 8:1-2 (-4) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.
Those that teach the Law tell us that in following the Law that we do no harm to grace but rather establish Grace and that Grace cannot be enjoyed without obeying the statutes of the Law. Yet those that teach Grace find no place for the Law because the Law brings bondage and leads to condemnation and death. The Law teaches sin with the hope of blessing while Grace gives righteousness and the promise of blessing! (See Romans 4:14-16) [Even the Law and the Prophets testify that righteousness comes by faith and that One would come that would be our righteousness! (See Genesis 15:6 and Jeremiah 23:5-6)]
Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.
Ephesians 2:(4-) 8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
If we are saved, or delivered from sin, why would we need the Law? If the promise is received by faith, what purpose could the Law serve? (See Colossians 1:13-14) In fact, when one truly hears of and believes in Christ He becomes their righteousness and they see that the Law only holds them back from what they already have!
Romans 10:4 Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
2 Corinthians 3:15-17 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
In Christ we are free. We are free from sin and if free from sin we have no need of the Law in any way, shape or form. As we are free in Christ then our focus should only be Christ. We are free and we should remain free. Christ did not die to have us return to the Law. Christ did not rise again to give us new life for us to drag the old into the new. Christ does not intercede for us now so that we can turn to another. We were set free to live free and we must stand the ground of grace at all costs for only in the grace of God, through faith in Christ Jesus are we saved, free, and blessed.
By Faith – Faith in What?
Galatians 5:2-4 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.
The sign and condition of the Covenant to the Jew was circumcision. (See Genesis 17:10) Because circumcision was a requirement, without it, nothing else mattered. The controversy was that to many of the Jews that also believed on Christ circumcision, as well as other aspects of the Law, was still a requirement to enter into Covenant with God. These did not mind faith in Christ, but they did not see faith in Christ as being enough to bring the believer into right and full covenant with God. In short, without circumcision, faith was of no value or benefit.
Of course the Gospel of Jesus makes an opposing claim;
Acts 4:12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
1 John 5:13-15 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked of him.
The problem is that there are two covenants being presented to the Galatian church, (just as there are being presented to the church today.) Their message is never presented as two distinct covenants, but that is what is shown by scripture for the two are never combined by Christ or the Apostles. There is the New Covenant and there is the Old. (An interesting look into the Law against combining that which seemed to work together to accomplish the same purpose can be found in Deuteronomy 22:9-11) We are now under the New Covenant which takes the place of the Old! (See Hebrews 8:13) The New is not based on or brought to pass through the Old but solely and completely on Christ!
Luke 22:20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”
Hebrews 10:8-10 First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them” (although the law required them to be made). 9 Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Those that seek to incorporate various aspects of the Law into the New Covenant are not bringing about a better explanation of the Covenant or helping us to enter into blessing, rather they are turning us from one covenant to the other – namely from faith in Christ to faith in the Law. This is not how the mixing of the two is presented but there can be no other way for why would you turn from all of one to part of another if you had true faith in the one?
Our question then becomes one of faith. We agree that we must live in faith, but faith in what? If our faith is in Christ, then we cannot turn to another. If our faith is in keeping the Law, then we cannot even grasp the completeness of the work of Christ! (2 Corinthians 3:13-16) Those that turn to the Law show their lack of faith in Christ, (again, if they believed how could they turn?), and therefore they show that Christ is of no real value to them, even though they may acknowledge Him. To believe is more than acknowledging, it is to completely and fully trust which is to completely and fully follow, depend, and rely on! If we believe then we have no place in our hearts to turn to any other way.
Ephesians 4:4-6 There is one body and one Spirit- just as you were called to one hope when you were called- 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
We Receive By Faith
Galatians 5:5-6 (Amplified Version) For we, [not relying on the Law but] through the [Holy] Spirit's [help], by faith anticipate and wait for the blessing and good for which our righteousness and right standing with God [our conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action, causes us] to hope. 6 For [if we are] in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working through love.
There are those that believe and consequently receive, (See Mark 11:24), and those that do not believe, so they try to make blessing happen. The key to receiving from God is our worthiness to receive. If one is worthy then they will receive. If one is not, they will not. If we know that we are worthy then we will hope or expect accordingly. The question then is what will make us worthy. If we do not believe the Gospel or Good News of Jesus Christ then we will try to make ourselves worthy through making sacrifices, following various codes, parts of the Law or all of the Law. If we believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ then we will place all of our faith in Him and know that we are worthy through Christ to receive from God. (2 Corinthians 1:20)
What works to try our faith in our worthiness through Christ is the length of time that we must sometimes wait for our answers. When answers do not come quickly some turn from living by faith in Christ to make themselves more attractive to God through their works, thinking that they show some deep devotion that God will not be able to resist. However, to do so does not show God anything but doubt, fear, and greed! (Luke 18:1-6, 1 John 4:18) Those that believe on Christ as their worth cannot doubt their worthiness to receive because they know that in Christ they are free to expect the promises of God!
Romans (4:18-) 5:1-5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
The Gospel sets forth that our worth is in Christ and that our attractiveness to God is our faith in Him through His Son Jesus!
Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
1 Peter 2:9-10 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
If you believe in God and desire to please Him then there is only one acceptable way to Him and that is through faith in His Son Jesus, not through doing some act of supposed devotion to get His attention!
John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 6:28-29 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” 29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
1 John 5:1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.
Those that believe on Christ are the children of God. The children will always receive. Those that turn to other means of worthiness are pretenders and they try to deceive God with their own righteousness, but God is never deceived. (Ref. Isaiah 64:6, Romans 4:1-8, and Galatians 6:7-8)
Faith pleases God and faith will always receive. To turn to the Law in any way is to no longer please God and thereby to no longer receive from God. If we believe in Christ we will never tire of our hope in His Name!
Love Not Works
Galatians 5:6, 13-15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. 13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”15 If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
It takes faith to please God. (Hebrews 11:6) So many start here but then fall into trying to please God through the works that they do - which so many times leads us into pleasing man over God. The Jews came from Jerusalem and saw the move of God in the Galatian church but were not pleased with the people because the men were not circumcised. They saw the faith, joy, love, miracles, and devotion but the people did not measure up to their idea of religious worthiness. That the Jews valued religious conformity over the leading of the Spirit showed only that they valued works over faith and therefore works over love. (Therefore they were breaking the very Law that they sought to bring the church under!) As what matters to God is faith that shows itself through love then they were also showing that they valued the opinion of man over the desire of God Himself! We must learn this or we will never live in the fullness of grace and its power; love is greater than works. We can even expand this to show that living by works shuts love out (Matthew 7:21-23) and creates competition, strife and tension where living by love creates a free flow of the fullness of God while bringing all into the work of the ministry and opening blessing to every believer!
1 Peter 4:7-11 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
So we see that love not only covers sin, (that is not excuse but bring people to repentance thereby covering their sin as to remove it through the blood of Jesus, ref. James 5:20), but brings us to use the power that we have by the Holy Spirit and the blessings that we have in Christ for the good of all rather than for self promotion and the judging of others!
James 3:13-17 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
Faith pleases God and those that love God love others or they do not love God! (1 John 4:19-21) The Law commands love but does not bring it in our lives and therefore turns us from rather than into the will of God. The same is true about our focus and worth being on works, gifts, and talents rather than on loving and preferring one another!
1 Corinthians 12:31, 14:1 But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way. 14:1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
Law does not bring love but rather it only heightens the selfish desires of the flesh because the Law brings self awareness. Grace brings love and acceptance because it flows out of love. All we must do in grace is to believe it which is to act upon it and so we live in love for that is all that we know as such we are pleasing to God and faith is free to operate with all of the blessing and power of God!
The Penalty of Faith
Galatians 5:7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?
John 14:6-7 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."
The penalty of faith in Christ is death.
Romans 6:1-11 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin- 7 because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 2:19-21 For I through the Law [under the operation of the curse of the Law] have [in Christ's death for me] myself died to the Law and all the Law's demands upon me, so that I may [Henceforth] live to and for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 21[Therefore, I do not treat God's gracious gift as something of minor importance and defeat its very purpose]; I do not set aside and invalidate and frustrate and nullify the grace (unmerited favor) of God. For if justification (righteousness, acquittal from guilt) comes through [observing the ritual of] the Law, then Christ (the Messiah) died groundlessly and to no purpose and in vain. [His death was then wholly superfluous.] (Amplified)
If we have died to the Law, which is to die to the flesh and all that makes requirements upon the flesh, then why would we seek standing or righteousness with God through any means of the flesh? We would only seek standing with God through the flesh if we no longer believed that Christ was enough or if we were trying to please and protect our flesh through finding approval from man. (This whether religiously or legally.)
If we are trusting in Christ, or running a good race, how then could anyone teaching other than Christ influence and turn us from Christ?
Galatians 5:8-9 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9 “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.”
We are never so safe that we can entertain messages of the Law or its messengers. If just a portion, just one requirement of the Law works its way in it will turn us from Grace to the Law, which is to say from Christ to the flesh! (If we do not stand completely and solely on Christ then we do not stand in Christ at all!) If we resist the flesh in every way then we will suffer persecution from those that seek the approval of man, persecution even unto death! (Galatians 4:28-29)
Galatians 5:11 Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.
It is not that in identifying our beliefs with the crucifixion of Christ will always bring persecution. It is in believing, witnessing, preaching, and standing on the truth that in that one act we were freed from sin and made righteous before God forever that will bring persecution because the message of the cross is offensive to all that are still alive to their flesh! (1 Corinthians 1:14-22)
Stay away from the teachings of the Law and to the flesh! You belong to Christ – not to man!
Colossians 2:20-22 (See all of Colossians 2) Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 21 "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? 22 These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings.
Those that teach the Law as a way, the way, or part of the way to stand before God as wholly approved will receive their end and it will not be one of Grace. We will not suffer persecution here for clinging only to Christ to see them rewarded in heaven.
Galatians 5:10 I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be. (See Galatians 1:8-9)
With Paul we say let those that trouble the Body with requirements of the Law go all out in their faith!
Galatians 5:12 As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!
The Spirit Vs. The Flesh
Galatians 5:16-18 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.18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. (NKJV)
1 Corinthians 2:12-16 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: 16 “For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
The spiritual truth to not following after the flesh in any way is to simply only follow after the Holy Spirit. The Law has no answers for overcoming the flesh, only commands to not follow the leadings of the flesh. In Christ we have died to the flesh and consequently to the Law.
Romans 6:6-7 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin- 7 because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.
Romans 7:4-6 So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. 5 For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. 6 But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.
Because so many teach to the flesh from the mind of the flesh, the power of the Spirit is not understood. (See Romans 8:7) To so many belief in Christ is a starting point on a clean slate where we now must somehow live up to the standards of God’s holiness through our own efforts and works. However the true glory of salvation is that we stand in the righteousness of Christ and are entirely free from transforming the flesh in any way! In Christ we are a new and holy creation that is ever being brought to higher glory! (See 2 Corinthians 3:18 and 5:17)
2 Corinthians 5:21 For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become [endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness]. (Amplified Version)
We can do as those that lean on the Law and spend all of our time learning about and combating the flesh, or we can simply follow after the Spirit of God to live in the power of God, which will accomplish the works of God, which is the will of God!
Romans 8:5-10 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. (NKJV)
John 15:26 “When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. (Christ)”
Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. (NKJV)
Keeping Up with the Spirit
Galatians 3:3 (NKJV) Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?
Galatians 5:25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Romans 8:3-4 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature (the flesh) but according to the Spirit.
The righteousness of God can only be produced by the Spirit of God. The flesh is incapable of producing righteousness. (Galatians 5:19-21) As only the Spirit can produce righteousness in man, then we must live a spiritual life which is a life that is led by the Spirit. If we seek to follow the Spirit He will lead us in the finished work and will of Christ.
John 15:26 “When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.”
When we walk in the Spirit, He will make plain to us that life and subsequently righteousness, (for one cannot be had without the other), is found in Christ and that the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and death! (Romans 8:2) In Christ, the Holy Spirit leads us to live our lives before God based on the work of Christ on our behalf.
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
It is the righteousness of Christ that works within us and produces in us that which works in Christ! (Galatians 5:22-23) The flesh can only learn behavior but the Spirit of God produces a new life free from the desires or rule of flesh which frees us form the need to work on the flesh! (Galatians 5:16, 24, 2 Peter 1:3-4) (If we could not be freed from sin through working on the flesh how can we live the life of Christ through working on that same flesh?)
If we are in step with the Holy Spirit, or walking in the Spirit, then our life is not about perfecting the flesh to enter the Kingdom but actually living the Kingdom life!
Colossians 1:9-14 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.
