GALATIANS 5
The first two chapters Paul defended the Gospel of Grace, in the next two he explained how grace came by faith not by the Law and now he will show how to apply this Gospel of Grace in the last two chapters.
The Gospel of Grace Applied 5:1 6:18
A. Position of Liberty: Stand Fast 5:1 12
1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be
subject again to a yoke of slavery.
2 Behold 1, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit
to you.
3 And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision,, that he is under obligation
to keep the whole Law.
4 You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you
have fallen from grace.
5 For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness.
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith
working through love.
We are freed from the slavery of the Law and have the assurance of salvation in Christ. Why would we want to go back to the lack of assurance and slavery? We would lose the Grace that God gave us through Christ and a good definition of Grace is; the free and eternal love, favor and mercy of God, which is bestowed upon all those who by faith take His Son Jesus Christ as their Savior. Paul when goes on in verses 7 12 to condemn those that teach a wrong message.
7 You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?
8 This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you.
9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.
10 1 have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view; but the one who is disturbing you will bear his judgment, whoever he is.
11 But 1, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished.
12 I wish that those who are troubling you would even mutilate themselves.
James also gave a condemnation to those who taught a wrong message.
JANMS 3:1
1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.
B. Practice of Liberty: Love One Another 5:13 15
13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."
15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
MATTHEW 22:36 40
36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?"
37 And He said to him, ""YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’
38 "This is the great and foremost commandment.
39 "The second is like it, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ 40 "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."
The Old Testament is a book of Law and the New Testament is the book of Love. We are slaves if we follow the Law, because we can not keep the whole Law and the Law says if we stumble on one of the Laws we have broken the whole Law.
JAMES 2: 10
10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.
The covenants given in the Old Testament were temporal, follow Me and I will give you the promise land, follow Me and I will make a great nation of you ect. The New Testament is about Love. If you love Me you will keep My commandments.
JOHN 14:15
15 "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
JOHN 4:1 6
1 "Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.
2 "In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
3 "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
4 "And you know the way where I am going."
5 Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?"
6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
C. Power for Liberty: Walk in the Spirit 5:16 26
1. Conflict between the Spirit and the Flesh 5:16 18
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
2. Works of the Flesh 5:19 21
19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
3. Fruit of the Spirit 5:22 26
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self control; against such things there is no law.
24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
26 Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.
PLAN OF SALVATION
ROMANS 10: 17
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
HEBREWS 11:6 6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
ACTS 2:38
38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
ROMANS 10:9 10
9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
MARK 16:16
16 "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.
MATTHEW 7:21
21 "Not everyone who says to Me, "Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
