All human religion will be unable to leave this earth where it was created. It has nothing to do with God as it is based on human works. The Judaisers try to make out to the Galatians that they were missing works to get to Heaven. Paul makes it clear that it is grace alone that determines our eternal salvation. Good works are a result of genuine faith in Jesus Christ. Paul challenges the Galatians and has some suggestions.

1 – The call to stand firm in our liberty (vs. 1)

• The positive demand – For freedom Christ has set us free. It is freedom from legalistic tyranny. You cannot fully keep the law and be accepted by God. See John 8:36. Jesus Christ brings freedom from the law. We are to stand fast against those things which threaten our liberty. Some people don’t like or want freedom. They like rules and regulations. They want to go back to prison! All their decisions are made for them like a prisoner.
• The negative decree – The yoke of bondage will come back upon them if they give in to the demands of the law. See Acts 15:10. The yoke was what you put on an animal to keep in line when ploughing a field. You have no freedom whatsoever.

2 – The consequences of submitting to the Law (vs. 2-4)

• We are deprived of the power of Christ (vs. 2) – Circumcision was a badge of keeping the whole law. If you do it after becoming a Christian then you are opposing grace. You cannot attach the law to grace. Grace is a complete salvation. If you add to it then grace is no longer adequate for salvation. Grace plus works equals zero!
• We are debtors to keep the whole law (vs. 3) – If you put the law in the equation then you have to take the whole law. You cannot pick and choose. The law stands or falls as a whole. If you break one point of the law then you are guilty of breaking it all. If you break one part of a large pane of glass then the rest then the rest is broken as well. See James 2:10-11. You have to be perfect in keeping the law to be saved by it. It is impossible. If you break it only once in your life then you have sinned and missed Heaven, You need the freedom from the law that comes from the freedom of Jesus Christ who carries you transgressions.
• We are divorced from the grace of God (vs. 4) – If we follow the law then we are leaving the sphere of grace. God’s grace can only be received and not earned. Grace cannot be anything else without changing the word.

3 – The contract of the spirit-filled life (vs. 5-6)

• You wait on hope (vs. 5) – You might get a thrill from your almost perfect life based on good works and keeping the law. You are accepted by God and it does not change based on works. We should be doing good works out of faith and love.
• We work in love (vs. 6) – We are saved by grace alone no matter whether we are circumcised or not. We are saved by faith for the purpose of good works. Some people get saved and never do any good works. The soak and they sour! They need to serve! We are saved for good works. See Ephesians 2:8-10 and Galatians 5:15. If you want to live by the law then love your neighbour as yourself. A neighbour is anyone who needs help.

4 – The character of the teachers of the Law (vs. 7-11)

There hasn’t been much change over the years. What they did back then, they do today.

• They contradict the truth (vs. 7) – Why have the Galatians allowed this to happen? They contradicted the truth. This is what they do to get followers after themselves; they wanted to elevate themselves in the eyes of the people.
• They are contrary (vs. 8) – They did not get this idea of works plus grace equals salvation from God. If not from God then where did it come from? There is only one option – Satan. Satan loves to deceive and he uses false teachers to spread his false message.
• They contaminate the church (vs. 9) – Leaven is a symbol of corruption in the Bible. It starts small but then permeates everything. It is a picture of evil. In the Passover no leaven is allowed in the house. Any church or mission that has lost its way started with some false teaching/leaven that grew and people were not diligent. It happens a little at a time.
• Their condemnation is certain (vs. 10) – The false teachers will get what is coming to them. They won’t fool God.
• They criticise teachers of the truth (vs. 11) – If you preach the word of God in purity you will be criticised. Persecution and opposition is a mark of the truth of the Gospel. The Gospel tells men and women that they are lost sinners. People don’t like it. If you don’t know you are sick then you don’t look for a cure.

Liberty and love is above the law. You cannot please God apart from Jesus Christ. Do not try to add something to something that is already complete. You are a slave to your sin and immorality. The false teachers will keep you a slave.

Categories: Galatians