Galatians
Chapter 5
Vs. 1 Paul encourages the Christians to stand strong in the freedom they have in Christ. To not let other people put them into “bondage” to the old laws.
Vs. 2 Paul said: If you think that you will be more acceptable to God if you have circumcision——that is not true. What good will Christ’s death do for you?
If being circumcised makes sure your salvation then why did Jesus die?
Why bother to trust in Jesus? Just be circumcised.
But being circumcised does not give you salvation.
Vs. 3 I say this to every man that is circumcised. If you obey that law and do it to be accepted by God then you will need to keep all of the laws to be accepted by God.
Vs. 4 If you try to make yourself acceptable to God by keeping the old laws then you are ignoring the grace of Christ.
You can not be under the grace of Christ and be required to “do” something to get salvation.
It is either a “gift” of grace and forgiveness or you do something to earn it.
It can not be both ways.
Vs. 5 We who have believed we will have salvation and forgiveness by faith.
We wait for the day or time that we will receive the promise God gave.
We wait until the time we are in heaven and see that our faith in Jesus’ grace and forgiveness has given us heaven.
Vs. 6 When we are in Christ by our faith it does not matter if we have circumcision or do not have circumcision. It is our faith by love that matters.
Paul wrote a letter to the Romans about circumcision. Romans 2:28, 29 Paul said that when we are “circumcised in our heart” we are a “ spiritual Jew“.
In the Old Testament, the mark for the Hebrew/Jewish man, was circumcision. That marked him as believing differently than those around him.
In the New Testament, Christians are “marked” not with a mark on the outside, but by the “cutting” away of sin and being against God. Those things have been “cut” out of us. And now, we love God and want to be on God’s side.
Other people see that we believe differently and we live differently than others. Because we do not do those things we did before. We try not to sin. And we love going to church and learning about God.
Vs. 7 You were going along so well. Who is this that has made you question your salvation through faith?
Vs. 8 This is not of God. God called you to freedom.
Vs. 9 Discouraging words wrong words are like yeast in bread. It takes only a little and the whole thing is full of yeast. So a few wrong words have spread among you and have everyone questioning their faith.
Vs. 10 I feel sure about you. That you will keep on in the faith and you will ignore these people who have tried to upset you by their wrong teaching.
God will take care of judgment of that person who did wrong.
Vs. 11 Some say that I preach that men must be circumcised. Really? If that were true why are the Jewish leaders after me to hurt me? They are angry with me because I preach salvation by faith in Christ.
Vs. 12 I wish those who go around preaching that men would cut themselves (in circumcision) would be “cut off” from preaching such things.
Vs. 13 You have been called to liberty—freedom. Not to use this freedom to do sin.
But to live right and serve others in love.
Vs. 14 All of the laws can be put together in one: “Love your neighbor and do to them as you would to yourself.”
Vs. 15 If you “Bite” at each other in mean hard words you will “eat up” each other. Do not destroy each other by hard mean hatful angry words.
Vs. 16 If you walk in the Spirit of God you will not do things that are of the selfish flesh nature.
(We sometimes give much thought about not doing bad things. We should be giving our thought to “I will obey the Spirit of God. I will walk being careful to feel Him speak in my mind and heart.”)
Vs. 17 Our nature is to be for self. Our nature tends to do wrong. It is a battle everyday to follow the Spirit and not our own way.
It is like two “powers” fighting each other.
Vs. 18 If you are led by the Spirit you are not under the old law.
Vs. 19. 20, 21 Here are some of the “works” of the flesh desires of our sinful nature:
Sexual sin
Thoughts that are not clean/pure sexual, hateful,
Wanting to do wrong sexual things or watching or looking at these things
Worship idols
Being part of things that are of demons, Satan, like magic, occult cards, fortune
telling, astrology, trances, meditations, witchcraft, etc.
To say things that make “division” among people. To say things that get people mad at another person. To say things that make others be against another person. To stir up trouble.
To try hard to be “better” than everyone else with the feeling of pride to be a “cocky” pride, a “I’m better than you pride.”
Envy, being jealous.
Anger that is not controlled.
Getting drunk.
Murder.
Wild parties
Strife–arguing, fighting,
Paul said: I have told you about these things before. I am telling you again. People who do these things will not have part in the kingdom of God.
Vs. 22,23 These are the things that should be in our life if we walk in the Spirit:
Love
Joy
Peace
Long suffering meaning long patience
Gentleness
Goodness
Faith
Meek not proud
Temperance (keeping in the medium range) having self-control in all things
There is no law against all of these things.
Vs. 24 If we belong to Christ we need to put to death the desires that are sinful, selfish, part of our nature of our flesh.
We need to put on and make alive the things of the Spirit.
Vs. 25 If we say we live in the Spirit then let us walk in the Spirit.
Vs. 26. Let us not be trying to get glory and attention to ourselves. Let us not do things that upset and make people angry. Let us not be jealous of each other.