1: Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free
and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage 2: Behold I Paul say
to you that if you be circumcised Christ shall profit you nothing 3: For
I testify again to every man that is circumcised that he is a debtor to do the
whole law[1] 4:
Christ is become of no effect to you whosoever of you are justified by the law You
are fallen from grace[2] 5:
For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith 6:
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision avails anything nor uncircumcision but
faith which works by love[3] 7:
You did run well who did hinder you that you should not obey the truth 8:
This persuasion comes not of him who called you 9: A little leaven
leavens the whole lump 10: I have confidence in you through the Lord
that you will be none otherwise minded but they who trouble you shall bear
their judgment whosoever they be 11: And I brethren if I yet preach
circumcision why do I yet suffer persecution then is the offence of the cross
ceased 12: I would cut off even mutilate [by castration or cutting off completely,
their private parts] Deuteronomy 23:1 (LXX) [and] drive out [or trouble
them][4] 13:
For brethren you have been called to liberty Only use not liberty for an occasion
to the flesh but by love serve one another 14: For all the law is
fulfilled in one word even in this Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself 15:
But if you bite and devour one another take heed that you be not consumed one
of another 16: This I say then Walk [by the guidance of the Holy] Spirit
and finish [teleō John 19:30] not fulfilling [teleō] the cravings of
the flesh 17: For the flesh lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit
against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other so that you
cannot do the things that you desire 18: But if you be led by the Spirit
you are not under the law 19: Now the works of the flesh are manifest
which are these adultery porneia impurity unbridled filthy cravings 20: idolatry
witchcraft hatred contention malice wrath strife seditions heresies[5] 21:
Envyings murders drunkenness revellings and such like of the which I tell you
before as I have also told you in time past that they which do such things
shall not inherit the kingdom of God 22: But the fruit of the Spirit is love
joy peace longsuffering gentleness goodness faith[6] 23:
Meekness temperance Against such there is no law 24: And they who are
Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and cravings 25:
If we live by the Spirit let us also walk by the Spirit 26: Let us not
be desirous of vain glory provoking one another envying one another
[1] Gentile believers in Galatia were under
pressure to become physically circumcised, even though it had long been
determined that no such burden would be placed on non-Jewish converts.
[2] What can the phrase “fallen from grace”
mean, other than willful rejection of the atonement (which was completed while
Jesus still hung on the cross) with first-hand enlightenment and full knowledge
of that grace? Paul was writing to professing believers (and to those he was
confident were “in Christ”) when he made this statement, one that is so at odds
with the doctrine of eternal security Hebrews 6:4-9, Hebrews 10:26-32,
James 1:15, John 19:28-29.
[3] Without faith it is impossible to
please God. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Faith
without works is dead. We are saved by grace through faith.
[4] Paul dealt with circumcision (and with following
the letter of the Law) in the strongest terms possible. In dealing with those
who came preaching that male Christians needed to be physically circumcised, he
wrote that this was an eternal life or eternal death issue. He was not
concerned in the slightest, with political correctness or with offending
delicate sensibilities. He asked why it was that he suffered terrible
persecution for preaching the grace and liberty of the cross, if, indeed,
salvation came through physical circumcision and obedience to the Law?
[5] Paul lumped craving for heretical
teachings with all the rest of the works of the flesh (sin) listed in this
passage—including murder. And what sin was he specifically dealing with, when
he listed the works of the flesh? The sin of legalistic religion. It is the
flesh that craves religion, law, ceremony, liturgy, clearly defined, “systematic,”
theology; but all of these things are at odds with the freedom found in Christ,
which is summed up entirely in relationship—not
in religion. As it is written, Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is
liberty.
[6] Bible versions based on Minority Texts,
read, “faithfulness.” But faith and faithfulness are not synonymous. Even
unbelievers demonstrate faithfulness to things they believe in. Faith, however,
comes only from God. Faith is not only a fruit
of the Spirit—something Christians grow in as they grow in relationship with
Christ, but faith is also a supernatural gift
of the Holy Spirit. Translations based on the Received Text correctly read that
the fruit of the Spirit is faith.
Do you have the assurance of knowing that if
you died today, you have Eternal Life?
Additional
commentary pending for this chapter
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