Christ Our Liberator

First, if you accept this false message, then you view Christ as insufficient (v. 2). Salvation by human achievement sees Christ as not doing enough. "This was tantamount to saying that Moses must be allowed to finish what Christ had begun" (Stott, Message of Galatians, 133). But Jesus' work is perfect! You cannot add to it or improve on it! Calvin writes, "Whoever wants half of Christ loses the whole" (148).

Second, if you accept this message, you must obey all of the law (v. 3). This false message of circumcision carries a further all-encompassing obligation: observing the law in its every precept, "since this is what their circumcision commits them to, and [they] are seeking to 'be justified by the law'" (Stott, Message of Galatians, 133). There was a policy of gradualism: you start with this and you would then do more observance of the ceremonial law. Paul has already said in 3:10 that no one can keep the law.

Third, if you accept this message, then you are turning away from the doctrine of grace (v. 4). Many have used this as a proof text that you can lose your salvation, but that is not what Paul is saying. We know this based on his other texts, and more precisely based on the context here. Paul is talking about falling away from the doctrine of grace. If you believe salvation is by the law, you have abandoned the belief that salvation is by grace. He says that you cannot have it both ways: either salvation is by divine accomplishment (Christ died for our sins) or it is by human achievement (your good works).

Fourth, if you accept this message, you lose the hope of future glory (v. 5). Paul says, "For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness" (emphasis added). Righteousness is ours now (2 Cor 5:21), but we await our glorification with Christ (2 Tim 4:8). We are declared righteous, but our righteousness is hidden from the world. It will be unveiled on the last day. On that day, it will be undeniable.

How did we get this hope? We received that hope by trusting in Christ by grace alone. The hymn writer said it best: "My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus' blood and righteousness" (Mote, "My Hope is Built"). This hope keeps us running! Samuel Rutherford said, "If Christ Jesus be the period, the end and lodging-home, at the end of your journey, there is no fear, ye go to a friend ... ye may look death in the face with joy" ("The Loveliness of Christ").

Until then, liberated people live "by faith" as they "eagerly wait for" the hope of righteousness (v. 5). Further, Paul says, circumcision does102 not matter, but "faith working through love" does (v. 6). Here we have the virtues or marks of a justified believer: faith, hope, and love. Works-based righteousness leads to fear, bondage, and despair; oh, the contrast of believing in the doctrine of grace and trusting in the finished work of Christ!

Paul says the false teacher's message is ultimately empty. He says circumcision does not accomplish anything (v. 6). Near the end of the letter, Paul says that what counts is "a new creation" (6:15). The teaching of the gospel is not empty. It is life changing. It leads to a life of "faith working through love." That is, love is the fruit of saving faith. (Paul expands on this concept more in 5:13-15 and 22.) False teachers were all about this external ritual; Paul says the Christian life is about faith that is demonstrated through loving service.

Notice the characteristics of the false messengers in Galatia. They seem to be typical of all false teachers.

First, false messengers hinder obedience to the truth (v. 7). This was true in Galatia, and false teachers certainly hinder people from obeying the truth today.

Second, false messengers are not from God. Paul says, "This persuasion did not come from the One who called you" (v. 8). We know God did not send them because they were teaching a false gospel of circumcision. Regardless of whether someone tells you that God "called" them or "sent" them, do not believe them if they are not teaching the true gospel. Paul says let them be eternally condemned, not embraced (Gal 1:7-9)!

Third, false messengers contaminate others. Paul says, "A little yeast leavens the whole lump of dough" (5:9). False teachers are like yeast that permeates all the bread dough and makes it rise. In the New Testament, yeast is often a symbol of permeating sin and false doctrine. Jesus said, "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees" (Matt 16:6). False teachers are so problematic because they affect so many people. This is why Paul is so intense in this letter.

Fourth, false messengers will be judged (v. 10). He writes, "I have confidence in the Lord you will not accept any other view. But whoever it is that is confusing you will pay the penalty." As for those hearing the false teachers, Paul has confidence that those who were truly in Christ would not be persuaded by the false message. He believes at least some of the 103Galatians will eventually detect the error and walk in the truth. As for the false teachers, he is confident that God will judge them.

Fifth, false messengers persecute true teachers (v. 11). Paul is being persecuted because he is preaching the gospel. You would think that to preach something that is freely available to all people would be accepted, but it is not. Why then? Paul was being persecuted for one simple reason: The cross offends people. People would rather you make much of them and preach a salvation-by-works system than to stand up and brag on Jesus and the cross and point people to Him as the only way.

I have a friend who recently shared about some attenders in his congregation. He said, "They told me they would not be back because they were deeply offended by the exclusive claims of the gospel." The cross: it is either a stumbling block, or it is the power of God for salvation (1 Cor 1:18). You either boast in it, or mock it and reject its power.

Why does the cross offend? It crushes human pride. It obliterates the religion of human achievement. For this crowd, it wiped out the idea that you were saved by keeping the Mosaic laws.

In one of Paul's most colorful statements, he says, "I wish those who are disturbing you might also get themselves castrated!" (v. 12). I have said some coarse things, but I have not used this line! It illustrates Paul's disgust and his passion. The gospel meant everything to Paul. If we really cared about the gospel and people's souls, we too would want false teachers to cease from existence.

This argument is summarized simply in this: Trust in Christ's atoning work alone for salvation. Find your righteousness in Him. Resist anyone who points you somewhere other than to Christ alone.

Christ Has Set Us Free: Live to Love and Serve

Galatians 5:13-15

There are two things Paul wants us to avoid about Christian freedom: legalism (trying to earn acceptance before God by works) and license (misapplying the doctrine of grace). In verses 13-15 Paul addresses the temptation to license. He talks about the moral law in a positive sense. Paul shows that freedom from the law does not do away with the obligations of holy conduct. Rather, justified people are now free to do what Christ wants! He says that part of being free from sin's slavery is that we are free to love and free to serve! This freedom represents the fulfillment of the Old Testament law of love. This subject of love continues in 104Galatians 5:22 and 6:1-4. Here we see the call to love one another and our neighbors.

Negatively, Paul says, "Don't use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh" (v. 13). The "flesh" does not refer to that which clothes our bony skeletons, but our fallen human nature. We are prone to drift spiritually because of our flesh. Christian freedom is not a freedom to sin but a freedom from sin. Christian freedom is a freedom to enjoy serving others and pursuing godliness. Do not live to gratify the desires of the flesh. That is an abuse of freedom and a misunderstanding of freedom.

Positively, Paul says that because we are free let us "serve one another through love" (v. 13), fulfilling the law of "Love your neighbor as yourself" (v. 14). "Serve" is actually the word for "slave" (Stott, Message of Galatians, 141-42). Paul has said, "Don't be a slave," but now he says, "You are free to be a slave." Luther put it well: "A Christian is free and independent in every respect, a bond servant to none. A Christian is a dutiful servant in every respect, owing a duty to everyone" (George, 378). It is a paradox. The Galatians were free from bondage and under grace. But Paul says that they were now free to love and serve others. It is as if he says, "If you want a law, here is one: love" (cf. 6:2). But the difference in Paul's exhortation is that it is fueled by the Spirit (5:16-6:10), and it is not done in an effort to earn righteousness. When it comes to loving our neighbors as ourselves, we must remember that keeping the entire law for our justification is unattainable, but Jesus fulfilled it for us. Now, as a result of our faith in Him, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are free to live out the moral teaching of the law. The Spirit changes us and empowers us to obey God.

It is surprising that Paul does not say, "Love God and neighbor,"as Jesus taught. Perhaps this is shorthand, or maybe he has the Galatian setting in mind and just wants to mention love because of the context. But more likely, he has in mind the idea that love for God manifests itself in love for neighbors. The two are inseparable.

The call to freedom, then, is a call to oneness in Christ and to loving service within the believing community. The Galatians were not saved to be a group of isolated individuals. And neither were we. We are brought out of bondage to live in community. A lot of Christians follow the American way of life more than the Bible. Americans love individuality and autonomy and anonymity in church. But Christianity is about living in community (cf. 6:1-10). Look at this verse! Christ saved you, liberated you so that you could be so committed to others that it looks105 like slavery! Do not presume you are growing when you are not in community. Do not be a Christian ninja, just sliding in and out of worship services without anyone seeing you! The Lord saved us so we could love and serve others.

The call to freedom also means that we are free from using people. We are free from seeking approval from people. We are free from self-promotion. Instead, we are to live out of the overflow of a heart that has been set free by Christ and to serve others lovingly.

Paul adds that love does not look like biting and devouring one another or being "consumed by one another" (5:15). These words refer to animal-like behavior. If we go around taking chunks out of one another, then we will consume one another like ravenous sharks or hyenas. Paul is probably speaking of malicious talk and gossip. Such practice is the opposite of the outworking of the fruit of the Spirit that leads to kindness, gentleness, and goodness.

In sum, Paul says that Christ has set us free! So let us live free, resting and rejoicing in Christ. Let us live in the truth, not believing the message of false teachers. Let us love and serve others.

In the movie Chariots of Fire (1981), Eric Liddell speaks that famous line, "When I run, I feel His pleasure." While you may not like physical running, I pray that you will feel the pleasure of God as you run in the freedom of the gospel. Feel the pleasure of not being guilty, of overcoming the grip of sin, of not being enslaved to legalism; feel the pleasure of living by the Spirit; feel the pleasure of having access to God, being accepted by God; feel the pleasure of having a secure future with God; and feel the pleasure of loving and serving one another and your neighbors as yourself.

You are free to run. Do not let anyone hinder you.

Reflect and Discuss