Galatians 5 1 6 ESV For freedom Christ

Galatians 5: 1 -6 (ESV) For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you.

I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law.

You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.

For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5: 1, ESV

Transition • There is some debate where this verse should be placed • Does it go with the previous verses or with the following • Ultimately, it is likely a transitional verse which looks back on what was previously said while also looking forward in the argument • Paul begins the chapter/verse with freedom • He does this in order for emphasis • Likewise we are informed that it is for our freedom Christ came

Freedom • First: Paul here tells us Christ came to set us free, and later will warn not to return to slavery • Previously, Paul has discussed being the offspring of the slave woman or free woman • Paul identified the slave woman with the Law • So it is possible freedom here is freedom from the Law • Second: Previously in Galatians we are told Christ sets us free from death/curse (3: 13), sin (3: 23), and the world (4: 3) • So it is possible Paul has all of this in mind when discussing freedom • Though especially being freed from attaining righteousness through works instead of grace

Commands • Paul gives two commands • The positive command is that they should stand firm • To stand firm on the promise and freedom found in Christ • The negative command is to not submit again to the yoke of slavery • Why does Paul say “again? ” • It likely reflects what we found in chapter 4 • There Paul focused on how Judaism is not so different from Paganism, as both require human effort to be justified • Because of this, Paul is saying, “Do not return again to a worldview which would require human effort to be justified before God

Yoke • The “yoke of slavery” also has a Jewish nuance • The “yoke” was considered to be the Law, though no Jew would consider it a yoke of slavery • Ultimately, Paul is reminding them to seek justification through the Law is to return to the slavery they were once in, in this way he re-equates Judaism with Paganism

Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. Galatians 5: 2, ESV

Look • To “look” is meant for them to focus on what Paul is going to say • He then goes to the personal “I Paul” • To return to the personal may be to argue from apostolic authority • However it may also be a way for them to reflect on their relationship with Paul • Paul now gets to the heart of the issue • We now know the agitators are attempting to get the Galatians to practice circumcision • He then argues Christ will be of no advantage to those who accept circumcision • Paul uses a future tense here, which means he is likely speaking eschatologically • At the final judgment, God will not be concerned if one is circumcised or uncircumcised

I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. Galatians 5: 3, ESV

The Whole Law • Paul continues the argument from the previous verse • One who accepts circumcision must keep the whole law • The Galatians are likely aware of this, but Paul brings it to focus for a reason • The question we want to ask is, does this make sense? • Some argue Paul is saying the problem is ethnicity purposes • Yet, why would this be an issue? • The truth is, it wouldn’t really be an issue to embrace the Jewish ethnicity • Instead, the issue is much deeper than ethnicity

You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. Galatians 5: 4, ESV

Justification • Paul emphasizes the point made in verse 2 • If the Gentiles seek to be justified by the Law, especially via circumcision, then they will be severed from Christ • The issue from the previous verse is not about ethnicity or following a Jewish way of life • Instead the problem lies in justification

Two Negatives • To separate themselves from Christ is to separate themselves from the Offspring of Abraham and the promise • Those who do so will fall away from grace • These two negatives are important • To fall away from grace is to rely on human effort for justification, and to be severed from Christ is to be severed from the promise

For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. Galatians 5: 5, ESV

Three Part Emphasis • Paul now brings three important points together • They are the Spirit (3: 1 -9), Faith (3), and Righteousness (3: 10 -14) • It is through the Spirit, by faith, we are declared righteous • What does, “hope of righteousness” mean? • In this section we have seen an eschatological element • So this likely reflects on this, the final judgment before God • Because of the Spirit providing faith in us we have hope in being declared right before God at the final judgment

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. Galatians 5: 6, ESV

Circumcision/Uncircumcision • Paul has made it known that in Christ circumcision doesn’t matter • Though we wonder why Paul adds uncircumcision • This may be to remind us of the radical new creation which has come through Christ • Jewish and Gentile believers can have true peace with each other • What does Paul mean when he says, “faith working through love? ” • Does this mean we are justified by faith and works of love? • True faith will act through a lifestyle of love

Circumcision/Uncircumcision (2) “It is not our doctrine that faith which justifies is alone; we maintain that it is invariably accompanied by good works; only we contend that faith alone is sufficient for justification. ” – John Calvin • We are not justified by faith plus works • Instead, we are justified by faith alone, but that faith will produce works of love in us

Main Point • Paul informs the Galatians it is not necessary to follow the Law in order to be justified • Instead, true justification comes by the Spirit through faith • This is the only way to attain righteousness • This righteousness is not our own, but belongs to Christ in whom we have placed our faith

Application Points • Justification • Paul has been answering the question, “How are we justified before Almighty God? ” • How we answer this question defines us not only intellectually, but also how we live • There are two ways to answer this question on justification, and both answers provide different lifestyles • The first is the answer every worldview, religion, has apart from Christianity • 1. We are justified by human effort • In order to be made right with God, ourselves, whatever our worldview is, we must do something

Application Points • Justification (2) • For Kinsey and the sexual revolution one needed to take off the sexually oppressive yoke of society • If you were a homosexual, practice homosexuality • If you wanted a polygamous relationship, go right ahead • Whatever your sexual preference go ahead and do it, because to inhibit it would make you less than human • Another example can be the 60’s • Most do not understand the use of drugs in the 60’s were an attempt at enlightenment • This self-enlightenment was the main goal for drugs during the time • Though it eventually succumbed to recreation and escapism

Application Points • Justification (3) • These may be foreign to our understanding of justification • But we need to remember that for many to “be made right” may not be with God, but with self or the universe • All worldviews answer four question • Where are we from? • What went wrong? • How do we fix it? • What happens in the future?

Application Points • Justification (4) • The two worldviews described above answer all these questions, though we will focus on “what went wrong” and “how do we fix it” • What went wrong for the sexual revolution? We were inhibited from our sexuality • How do we fix it? Live whatever sexual lifestyle you desire • What went wrong for the 60’s generation? Lots! • Though mostly they did not approve of the affluence of the generation before them, and they disliked modern rationalism and it’s rejection of the spiritual • One of the answers? The use of drugs

Application Points • Justification (5) • Those were two secular ways to answer the questions, and both required human effort to be made right • If we look at Judaism in the first century, we would find them answering that we fell into sin and we needed to do works of the law to be justified • This is similar to Islam • For Buddhism the problem is worldly distractions, to be made right, then, you escape from the world • In other words, you go to the mountain until nothing but the mountain remains • In all of these, justification occurs through human effort

Application Points • Justification (6) • Paul has argued against this throughout Galatians • Instead, we are justified by God’s grace, and by the work of the Spirit through faith • Not human effort, but by God • As we can see this is radically different than any other worldview or religion • Every other one would have us justified by human effort, not by faith in something other than ourselves • This is where Christianity is different, for we are justified by faith in Jesus Christ

Application Points • Justification (7) • This is important for us to remember • It can be easy to fall sway into the belief that we are justified by faith plus works • Roman Catholicism is a good example of this • They do believe that we are justified by faith plus works • Unfortunately Paul argues against this throughout Galatians, and so this must be rejected

Application Points • Justification (8) • The truth is many hold this kind of faith plus works view of justification • It is our responsibility to combat this view and provide the truth of justification by grace, through the Spirit and faith • Be encouraged to cling to this justification • Remembering that none of us can be declared righteous by our own merits • Though we are sinking, and we drown, God is able to reach down and save us • Bringing us from death to life

Application Points • Christ Alone • It is faith in something/someone which saves • It is not faith itself which saves us, but the object of faith which saves • We could have faith that if we climb to the top of a mountain, hop on one foot, and sing yankee doodle dandy will justify us • There is only one place, one person, we can place our faith in, and that is the person of Jesus Christ • Who died on the cross according to His Father’s will, that His Father would be glorified, and many be redeemed

Application Points • Christ Alone (2) • Paul has argued this in the above section • There are only two choices, justification by faith, or by human effort (or human effort plus works) • There is no other option for us, and to choose human effort is to lose Christ and fall from grace • Paul is saying something which is just as significant for us today • There is no justification outside of Christ • It is not a system with multiple paths leading to justification • There is only one way, by grace through faith in Jesus Christ

Application Points • Christ Alone (3) • Christ alone is our justifier • We are justified now through Him, and at the final judgment • Apart from Christ there is no justification • For we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3: 21) • And none are righteous no not one (Romans 3: 9 -18) • In our present society such a statement is scandalous • To say that there is only one way to God • There is no justification outside of Jesus

Application Points • Christ Alone (4) • Jesus is not an accessory • He is not just another way • All other ways lead to destruction and death • Christ alone leads to life • Are you saying this or that person is going to go to hell if they don’t place their faith in Christ? Yes • This is no different than 2000 years of Church history, and no different than either the Apostles teaching (see here, Romans, I John, James, Hebrews, etc. ) or Jesus’ own (John 14: 1 -7) • It is by grace we are saved, and it is because of this we can all breathe a great sigh of relief • If you’re like me you know yourself, your heart, your thoughts, and you know you could not attain righteousness on your own

Application Points • Christ Alone (5) • This is the great Gospel • We can’t do it! God can! • Thankfully, God shows no partiality • It is not only for Caucasians, African Americans, Rich, Poor, the intellectual, Jews, nor Greeks • Any can be called by this grace • If you’re like me, who has felt so helpless • Yet even here, in this darkness, God comes and His love is poured out on all those who are in Christ • Whatever your debt it is taken away and you are declared righteous by grace through faith in Jesus Christ • It is in Christ alone we can receive this righteousness, and thank God this is the case, for none could attain righteousness on their own

Application Points • The Product of Faith • While we are not justified by our works, we are also not called to live lawlessly (Matthew 7) • We do not have faith and live how we like • Nor do we live like hermits • We are to be characterized by the commandment of Christ, which is to love (Matthew 22: 37 -40, John 13: 34, 15: 12) • Love is the product of our faith • If we have placed our faith in Christ, we can remember who we were before our faith • We can consider how God first loved us, and this gives us our foundation to love (I John 4: 19)

Application Points • The Product of Faith (2) • Because God first loved us we can love others • Even when they should fail us we can love because we remember God loved us in our sin (Romans 5: 8) • Paul is not talking about eros, the physical love between husband wife • Nor is it Phileo, the love between friends • Instead he is speaking of Agape, the love of God for us, by knowing how God loves us, we can learn to love each other in this way

Application Points • The Product of Faith (3) • How do we define this love? Thankfully Paul defines it in I Corinthians where he says… • [4] Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant [5] or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; [6] it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. [7] Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (I Corinthians 13: 4 -7 ESV)

Application Points • The Product of Faith (4) • The focus for these set of verses is to define what love is and what it is not • Love is patient and kind, rejoices with truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things • This is the love which is the product of faith in Christ, and it is a love which is more profitable, and greater than all other love • We also, however, learn what is not love • It does not envy, boast, it is not arrogant, not rude, not insist in its own way, irritable, resentful, nor does it rejoice in wrongdoing • When we see love acting in this way, we can be sure it is not a love which comes from faith

Application Points • The Product of Faith (5) • We also need to consider where this is located • In I Corinthians this chapter on love comes right in between a lengthy discussion on spiritual gifts • For some reason we have this sense that this love can be attained by us if we work hard enough • The truth is, that this love comes by the Spirit, the same Spirit who justifies by grace through faith • The application is important • Consider the ruling by the Supreme Court concerning marriage equality • It did not give me as much grief as the many Christians who rejoiced over the decision

Application Points • The Product of Faith (6) • Why does it give such sorrow? • Because many claim that it is loving to accept the homosexual lifestyle • It is sorrowful to consider that every time someone says they love this person and allows them to continue in this lifestyle it is not the love of Christ • Consider what Paul says, “It does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. ”

Application Points • The Product of Faith (7) • To rejoice in a lifestyle which God deems immoral is not to be loving • It is not truthful to inform people who are living in sin that it is ok for them to continue • We are to repent of our sins, we are never called to live in our sins • The point is, we need to be careful of what we say • True love does not accept someone's lifestyle • Instead it seeks truth, and the truth is none can attain righteousness apart from Christ • Thankfully, God gives us great grace by giving us life through His Spirit

Application Points • The Product of Faith (8) • Also, this reminds us the reason we lives of righteousness is not to be justified • The reason we live according to the Word of God is for love • We now love God, and because we love God we live according to His statutes • It reminds us how the product of faith is love • It will cause us to live according to God because of love • We do not need to live for God in hopes that we will receive something from Him (such as justification) • Instead, we can live for God because we simply love God, and desire His glory

Application Points • The Gospel • It all comes back to the Gospel on which our entire faith is founded on • Through this Gospel we find salvation from the wrath of God, and freedom from our sin • It begins with our origins, we are created in the image of God • We are able to reason, love, know, be known, have personality, seek morality, and truth • It is because God is a God of reason, love, knows, can be known, is personal, is a moral God, and is a God of truth • This definition of humanity gives us the reason for the sanctity of human life and gives us reason for our being

Application Points • The Gospel (2) • Yet, like God, we are able to choose and with our choice we chose to fall into sin and death • We did this by running from God and into temptation • Because of this all humanity is lost in sinful lifestyles which go against God • Our relationship with God is broken, as is our relationship with ourselves, each other, and the world

Application Points • The Gospel (3) • God did not leave us in this state of spiritual blindness and death • Instead, He sent His Son Jesus Christ who spoke into the darkness • Like Lazarus, He calls us by name and we awake from death into life • This is not done because of what we do, instead it is because of what Jesus has done • His obedience to His Father, to glorify His Father, led to the cross • The Father accepted the obedience of the Son as evidence through the resurrection

Application Points • The Gospel (4) • All life is now bound up in Christ • For Christ lived, died, and was resurrected in space, time, history, and flesh • It is by His life, death, and resurrection we find atonement for our sins if we repent and place our faith in Him • Relying on His righteousness, knowing in faith that we will be sustained into everlasting life by Christ • That is all that is required, to repent of our sin, and place our faith in Jesus • For those who do not repent of their sins and do not place their faith in Jesus there is only judgment • For those who do repent of their sin and place their faith in Jesus there is no condemnation but peace with our Father in heaven