Galatians Part VI
My notes from chapter 5.
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Where will you Stand?
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Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
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We can stand in the liberty that Christ set us free for—–AND JUST WHAT IS THAT?
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By the context of what Paul had just said, it is freedom from the thought that I must live up to the standard of the law in order to be right with God.
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2 Cor 3:1-9
Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. 3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 4 Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. 5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant- — not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7 Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9 If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! |
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2 Cor 3:10-18
10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts! 12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. 14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 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. 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. |
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Does Our Belief’s Matter?
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Galatians 5:2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye 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. |
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When ever Paul is talking about our actions, our beliefs, or how we choose to live he is talking about the here and now, and of course what we believe does matter!!!!!!!!!
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In verses 2 & 3 he is making it abundantly clear that following the law makes Christ of no use to us in the flesh. And we should clarify—(following the law to be right with God).
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What is Falling From Grace?
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Galatians 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
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We have always been taught that falling from grace was going back to a life of sin a debauchery, but Paul is saying here that falling from grace is going back to legalism. The thinking that you can be justified by following law.
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When you do that you leave the peacfulness of grace and enter back into the realm of condemnation.
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Through The Spirit – Not The Flesh.
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Galatians 5:5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. |
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It is in our spirit that the truth of this gospel will resonate—In the flesh nothing will get us this hope, but the FAITH of JESUS working by his perfect love is our HOPE, and it is that FAITH that speaks to our inward man.
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To Run Well I Must Lose the Weight!
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Galatians 5:7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. 9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he 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 they were even cut off which trouble you. |
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I know full well what allows me to run well up and down the basketball court—less weight. Paul aludes to the same thing here. The Galations had picked up some dead weight that was hindering them from running well—it was the LAW—verse 11
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Verse 10–bear his judgement. When you go back under law-you will bear its judgement on you. Do you really want to do that?
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Verse 9 says even a little leaven will leaventh the whole lump—does that mean a little Law?
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Jesus said beware of the leven of the Pharisees.
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Serve by Love Not by Law!
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Galatians 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto 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 neighbour as thyself. |
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What is the difference in serving my neighbor by love or by law? One is done freely, the other is done because you think you have to. Giving an occastion to the flesh is trying to get right with God through your flesh.–not sex, drugs & rock & roll.
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Now if you are serving your neighbor by law why would you think you have to? Fear of punishment? What if by love? Because you want to without fear?
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Are you led of the Spirit or of the law?
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Galatians 5:15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. |
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Lust of the flesh is connected directly to choosing to be under law to be right with God, And what happens to those who choose law—they bite and devour one another. (Sound Familiar?)
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But to be led of the Spirit is to be led to the righteousness that Jesus Christ secured for every human being at the cross, and if you are led by the spirit you are not under law.
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The Works of the Flesh—under law
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Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 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. |
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All of the above are violations of the law—ARE YOU GUILTY? What about "Such Like"?
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Gal 3:10
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. |
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And under the law no one can enter into the KINGDOM OF GOD.
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Gal 1:13
13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: |
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Gal 1:23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.
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IN TIME PAST was referring to when he was in the Jews’ religion.
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Is the Fruit of the Spirit really MINE?
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Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. |
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In these verses he takes us to life without law. He takes us to a place where we see what God really is—-He is love, he is joy, he is peace, he is longsuffering, he is gentle, he is goodness, he is the faith, he is the meekness (in control), he is temperant—-and against such there is NO LAW.
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IT’S WHAT GOD HAS TOWARD US NOT WHAT WE HAVE TOWARD EACH OTHER.
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This is how God relates to us now for the rest of our lives, and also every human being that will ever live.
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2 Cor 3:18
18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. |
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Verse 26—what should we not be desirous of? VAIN GLORY, provoking one another, envying one another.
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When you choose to be led by the law there WILL be vain glory! You will be completely overwelmed with the desire to be self righteous—–which is another description of VAIN GLORY. IT STILL AMAZES ME HOW MANY WELL MEANING CHRISTIANS CHOOSE A LIFE OF LAW RATHER THEN FREEDOM. WHEN YOU CHOOSE LAW YOU GIVE UP YOUR PEACE BUT NOT YOUR GRACE. GRACE IS ALWAYS OURS WHETHER WE KNOW IT OR NOT.
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Cliff- Could you explain exactly what you mean by this quote:
“When ever Paul is talking about our actions, our beliefs, or how we choose to live he is talking about the here and now, and of course what we believe does matter!!!!!!!!!”
Not sure I’m understanding about “what we believe does matter”. What we believe does matter for……….? My concern here is the Muslim, Buddhist, Shinto faith. I think I know what it is you’re saying, but would you mind expanding on the quote. Thanks!
Don R,
Our beliefs matter in the here and now……and by that a good example is if I believe walking out in front of a train will hurt me I am less likely to do it. The bible is full of great gems to help us live healthy and happy lives but what we believe will never change how God feels about us. We can choose loving, positive beliefs and reap the rewards or we can choose beliefs (like self righteousness) that will lead to inward pain and unrest. I hope that makes sense to you. Thanks for asking a very good question.
Cliff,
Thanks for posting this. Some of my thoughts (aka ramblings) on this:
Paul says that those who do this, that, & the other thing, WILL NOT inherit the kingdom of God. While I realize the meaning of what he’s saying goes much deeper, the logical flip side of Paul’s statement is that those who DO NOT DO the things he listed, WILL inherit the kingdom of God. Let me say right here that the “and such like” would pretty much condemn us all, so I realize that no one can be righteous because of their deeds.
Nevertheless, in your opinion, what does it mean to “inherit the kingdom of God”, and for that matter what do you think it means to “not inherit the kingdom of God”? Does everybody “inherit” because of Christ, or is that something that happens spiritually as we come to realize the full extent of God’s redemptive work in Christ? Or am I way off in left field here?
I’d appreciate your thoughts on this.
Jason
Thanks so much Cliff. That’s what I thought you were describing. I appreciate your efforts here. Blessings to you.
Jason, In Romans 14 Paul says the Kingdom of God is how we can feel inside ourselves when we understand his perfect love.
Read the verse below and I think you will understand.
Rom 14:17
17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,
These verses are so easy for religious leaders to twist and manipulate to make a very logical-sounding argument that it is up to us to live a life of holiness, righteousness, etc., in order to be found worth before God. Of course, they say it’s Jesus who “helps” us to live up to the standard. So, obviously anyone who is doing any of the things Paul mentions as “no-no’s” do not know Jesus. And round and round we go…..
“for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”
Paul could have only ever written these few words and it would have been enough.