Galatians 5:5-10 (WEL) For through the Spirit, we wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision means anything nor uncircumcision, only faith working through love. 7 You were doing so well, who hindered you so that you wouldn’t be persuaded by the truth? 8 This personal belief is not from him who calls you. 9 A little yeast affects the whole batch of dough. 10 I have confidence in you through the Lord that you will think no other way, but he who troubles you will bear his judgment, whoever he is.
V5 For through the Spirit, we wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
Once a person believes the Gospel of Jesus Christ, God declares us to be justified. We are not sinless and cannot be in this life. Compare Romans 7.
We can be blameless, but asking God to forgive our sins. I do not know how often I sin, so I can only pray, “Father, please forgive my sins.”
The time is coming either upon death or the Rapture that we will be sinless. Our human body will be gone along with fleshly temptations.
This is a promise (Romans 6:7) and a hope (expectation).
The hunger for righteousness is from being born again and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 5:6).
Righteousness does not come from keeping the Mosaic law even though these false teachers taught otherwise.
V6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision means anything nor uncircumcision, only faith working through love.
Circumcision cannot free a person from sin and sinning.
Faith in Jesus Christ along with the work of the Holy Spirit is able.
Love refers to obedience to the laws of Jesus.
Comments:
Vincent: “Not that justification is through love; but the faith of the justified, which is their subjective principle of life, exhibits its living energy through love in which the whole law is fulfilled.”
Pett:
“The love that results from faith is the perfect answer to those who react to Paul’s teaching by saying that he gives men license to behave as they like. For love fulfills all God’s requirements (Galatians 5:13-14).”
V7 You were doing so well, who hindered you so that you wouldn’t be persuaded by the truth?
Not what hindered but who. Who was the liar stealthily coming in (Acts 20:29-31)?
The actions and words of these false teachers are dedicated to changing doctrine and life.
Some things to be alert to:
- Ambiguous, crowd-pleasing language
- Subtle changes via sermons
- Leadership changes including only “yes” men
- Manipulative emotional techniques with guilt, flattery, deception
- Changing mission and vision statements
- Splitting the congregation into groups as “vision carriers” versus “obstructionists.”
- Connections with outside networks or seminary movements
- Confusing logic
- Twisting Bible interpretation
- Forsaking the plain, normal sense of Bible interpretation.
V8 This personal belief is not from him who calls you.
The Lord Jesus taught true doctrine, but the false teachers change, reject, or add to it. It is personal beliefs. We all must be aware of personal opinions, etc., that change into doctrine.
V9 A little yeast affects the whole batch of dough.
Let a little error in with only a few people coming on board with the false teachers, and quickly it begins to affect more and more.
V10 I have confidence in you through the Lord that you will think no other way, but he who troubles you will bear his judgment, whoever he is.
Paul has some faith in the steadfastness of the believers in the Galatians churches. There is judgment applied to these false teachers.
A false teacher is one who teaches the Bible by any interpretation other than the plain, normal, literal, historical-grammatical hermeneutics.
False teachers:
- Look and teach like true teachers—Matthew 7:15
- False “words of God” without fulfillment—Deuteronomy 18:20-22
- Preach a false gospel which is anything more than faith such as works, priests, rituals, sacraments, giving money, good works, etc.—Galatians 1:6-9
- Fail the test of Scripture; whatever they teach must be found clearly in the Bible (the standard of truth)—1 John 4:1
- A false Jesus such as a Jesus who had a beginning, adoption, visited India, a human father, didn’t die physically on the cross, didn’t rise from the dead, etc.—1 John 4:1-6
- The stealth pastor who begins teaching truth but slowly brings in destructive doctrines as theistic determinism, double predestination, changes to Bible interpretation, redefines common words (all does not equal all, etc.)—Acts 20:29-31
- Begin to exploit the church people—2 Peter 2:3 (making money off of you by increasing salaries, foistering books, etc.)
- False hopes of peace, blessings, etc. counter to reality—Jeremiah 23:16
- Teach lax moral standards—Jude 1:3-5
- Word to increase numbers of people in church by happy, exciting human messages instead of teaching the Bible itself. Included in this category are those who will not teach prophecy Scriptures or change them to only an allegorical interpretation—2 Timothy 4:2-4
- False miracles that are unverifiable—Matthew 24:24
- Use flattery—Romans 16:18
- Most praise the teacher for his/her great teaching, instead of praising God—Luke 6:26
- Have a list of requirements not clearly taught in the New Testament—Mark 7:6-9
- Add ideas, doctrines, messages from God as equal to the Bible—Isaiah 8:20
We learn:
- Be aware of false teachers and their techniques.
- Know the truth as Jesus and His Apostles taught.
Questions:
- Are you aware of this happening in your church?
- What will you do? Will you join them or confront them with truth? See Ephesians 5:11.