Galatians 5:1-4 (WEL) Therefore, stand firmly in the liberty by which Christ freed us, and don’t be entangled again with the yoke of slavery. 2 Look, I, Paul, say to you that if you are going to be circumcised, then Christ will not be of any profit to you. 3 For I testify again to every man who is circumcised that he is obligated to do the whole law. 4 Christ is useless to you, whoever of you is trying to be justified by the law. You have fallen from grace.
Chapter summary:
(Holman Commentary) “In chapter 5, Paul explains to the Galatian Christians: Through grace, Christ has set you free. Stand firm, and do not fall back into the slavery of the law. Yet do not use your freedom as an opportunity to sin. Do not give yourself over to the deeds of your carnal desires but rather to the deeds of the Holy Spirit.”
J. Vernon McGee (Precept Austin) writes: “McGee sums up Galatians 5 – Sanctification by the Spirit; saved by faith and living by law perpetrates falling from grace; saved by faith and walking in the Spirit produces fruit of the Spirit…We come now to the practical side, which is sanctification by the Spirit. Justification is by faith; sanctification is by the Spirit of God….The method of sanctification is by the Spirit. In this section we see the Spirit versus the flesh. Either it is a do-it-yourself Christian life or somebody else will have to do it through you. His method is doing it through you. In this section we see liberty versus bondage. Any legal system puts you under bondage, and you have to follow it meticulously.”
V1 Therefore, stand firmly in the liberty by which Christ freed us, and don’t be entangled again with the yoke of slavery.
There is a continuation of thought from chapter 4:31. Since we are of the free woman, therefore stand firmly, which is to continue to believe the truth, be determined, be stubborn to hold on to the truth.
Jesus Christ frees people from bondages: 1) from lies to truth (John 8:32), 2) blindness to sight (John 9:39 and 2 Corinthians 4:4-6), 3) from slavery to sin to freedom from sin (John 8:34 and Romans 6:6), and 4) from God’s wrath to God’s blessings (John 3:36 and Romans 5:9).
This slavery is to the Law. If these false teachers want you to be circumcised, eat Kosher, celebrate the feasts, and rest of the Sabbath, then by necessity, one must follow, obey, the whole law (James 2:10). See Acts 15:10 and Galatians 5:3.
V2 Look, I, Paul, say to you that if you are going to be circumcised, then Christ will not be of any profit to you.
There is no profit if a man is circumcised. It does not save from God’s wrath, forgive sins, restore fellowship with God, or bring spiritual blessings.
V3 For I testify again to every man who is circumcised that he is obligated to do the whole law.
Keeping parts of the Law is of no value. See Deuteronomy 27:26 and Galatians 3:10.
V4 Christ is useless to you, whoever of you is trying to be justified by the law. You have fallen from grace.
If faith is not enough and one must also be circumcised, then salvation is not by faith alone. The Mosaic law cannot justify anyone, because no one obeys it sinlessly. See Romans 9:31 and Romans 4:14.
Fallen from grace does not necessarily mean loss of salvation. It refers to instead of living a life of faith, as Abraham, there is a falling into living a life dedicated to obeying the Mosaic law.
We learn:
- The Mosaic Law cannot bring salvation; it brings the knowledge, awareness, of one’s sin.
- If one leaves living by faith, they lose God’s mercy and grace to live the Christian life, which is a life living by faith in God’s promises, laws, rules (Galatians 6:2).
Questions:
- Are you saved by faith alone in Jesus Christ alone?
- Are you living a life of faith in God’s words and promises? (Compare Matthew 28:19-20)