Bible Study Notes - Called to Freedom - Galatians 5:1-15

Bible Study Notes 

Called to Freedom – Galatians 5:1-15

Introduction

The book of Galatians is the premiere treatise on Christian freedom.  It is a spiritual Magna Charta.  The apostle Paul forcefully articulates the rights that each believer has in Christ.  Unquestionably, those freedoms do not arise from following the law.  On the contrary, adhering strictly to the law will only re-enslave believers to it.  If you imagine having been freed as a slave and then resold into bondage, then you appreciate Paul’s argument to the church at Galatia.  He warns them to resist the slavery of the law and its potential punishments.  Rather, Paul exhorts them to unyieldingly cling unto the liberty that Christ generously gives.

From the beginning of the early Christian movement, two major strands of thoughts existed concerning the “correct” way in which Gentiles could legitimately become Christians.  The apostle Peter and other devout Jews, who meticulously followed the law, were of one mindset.  The apostle Paul, doctor Luke and other cosmopolitan believers were of the absolute opposite view.  The first group insisted that Gentiles had to become Jewish proselytes first.  Essentially, they would practice all Jewish customs and abide by the smallest requirements of the law.  The righteousness that they obtained from the law would enable them to be baptized and then follow Christ.  In stark opposition, the second group found it unnecessary for Gentiles to consider the law.  Christ remains the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets.  His saving works cancels the yoke of law’s requirements.  He liberates followers from the unfruitful quest of striving for righteousness through their imperfect adherence to the law.  Since Christ sets Jews free from this legal bondage, He also frees Gentiles.  From Peter’s visit to Cornelius in Acts 10 and the Council at Jerusalem in Acts 15, this debate plagued the early believers until Paul’s definitive statement in the book of Galatians.

According to Acts 15:5, there were former Pharisees who were converted.  As previous zealots for the law, they “declared that all Gentile converts must be circumcised and be required to follow the law of Moses.”  Their good intentions were ultimately self-serving.  With the purpose of assisting the Gentiles in achieving holiness through the law, these Jewish converts were actually burdening them.  Their commendable objectives proved to be an impediment for their fellow Gentile believers.  So, the apostles took the matter under advisement when they heard about the insistence of the former Pharisees.  After considerable discussion, the Council concluded that “we should stop troubling the Gentiles who turn to God.”  In an open letter to Gentile believers (Acts 15:22-29), the apostles state that they unanimously agreed that the Gentile believers do not need to burden themselves with the weight of the law.  Moreover, the apostles affirm that they did not sanction this teaching from the former Pharisees.  Led by the Holy Spirit, the apostles tell the Gentile converts to abstain from food sacrificed to idols and sexual immorality; consuming blood; and eating the meat of strangled animals.  Those recommendations are consistent with the teachings of Christ as He redefines the law in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5, 6 & 7).

Lesson Setting

Despite the reasonable compromise of the Council at Jerusalem, several Jewish Christians whom Paul calls “Judaizers” refuse to comply with the agreement.  They remain steadfast that Gentiles must wear the yoke of the law rather than the one of Christ’s love.  These Judaizers are so adamant in their belief that they go behind Paul, Barnabas, Silas, Luke and others and attempt to reverse the successes of the missionary journeys.  The try to nullify the gospel of liberty in Christ.  They tell the Galatians and other Gentile believers that the gospel is only valid through the law.

The Judaizers believed that circumcision was the major venue for a right relationship with God.  After all, God established the covenant of circumcision with Moses.  In fact, Moses risked the wrath of God for his failure to circumcise one of his sons.  As a consequence, the Judaizers were convinced that this particular practice had to be upheld by everyone notwithstanding their race, heritage or culture.  They saw themselves as the purveyors of the most significant tradition of their former faith.  They did not consider this requirement as an impediment to the Gentiles.  Like most people who demand devotion to tradition for only its sake, these Judaizers wanted the preservation of their comfort zone.  Unfortunately, their emotional and mental well being surpassed the greatness of spreading the gospel to the world.  Their allegiance to tradition led them to ignore the advice of the Council at Jerusalem.  Additionally, their resolve leads them to cancel the teaching of their elders in the faith by telling the Gentiles that they will not be valid Christians without following the law.  Galatia is the chosen spot of the Judaizers to draw a proverbial line in the sand.  There, they cast down the gauntlet of circumcision.

Paul becomes furious when he learns of the Judaizers attempt to abolish his preaching and teaching.  He stops his activities and immediately writes this immortal polemic on the freedom that Christ gives to every believer.  At times paternalistic yet fiercely eloquent and considerate, Paul admonishes the church at Galatia to remain free in Christ.  He encourages them to resist this early Christian heresy.  In today’s lesson, we explore how Christ’s freedom compares with the law.

Exposition

I.  Hold on to Your Freedom (Galatians 5:1-3)

Paul warns the Gentile Christians of Galatia to zealously guard their freedom in Christ.  First, they must refuse the ritual of circumcision and other necessities of the law.  Christ liberates us to a new freedom whereby righteousness emerges from an intimate relationship with God.  Despite a perfect attempt, obedience to the laws will never produce holiness.  Therefore, it would be deceptive to attempt this type of justification.  To do so would mean enslavement to the entire law.  Paul, thus, reminds the Galatians to cherish the saving work of Christ by preserving their liberty.  In the eternal words of the first verse, he forcefully says, “So Christ has really set us free.  Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.”

Just as light and darkness cannot occupy the same space, Christ and the law are not compatible for the purposes of righteousness.  If the Galatians choose circumcision and the law, then they have nullified the salvation of Christ.  Paul says “Christ cannot help you,” if you are looking to the law to establish righteousness before God.  The law paves the road of self-justification; that road does not eventually lead to God.  Righteousness that is honored by God comes through faith in the atonement and redemption that Christ gives.

In the third verse, Paul informs the Galatians on just how weighty the law is.  He reminds them that if they were to choose the path of the law, then they would have to follow the whole law.  Half-heartedness and half stepping would not suffice.  God would not respect a lukewarm attempt to achieve sanctity.

II.  Justification through Faith in Christ (Galatians 5:4-6)

Paul reiterates that the law is not the passageway to salvation.  Rather, salvation is found only through a genuine faith in Christ and His atoning sacrifice.  Moreover, reliance on the law cuts one off from Christ.  It separates you from the grace and liberty God offers all believers in Christ.  Only a legitimate belief in His redemptive mission will enable a believer to stand before and relate to God.

More significantly, faith in Christ cancels the worth of circumcision.  It does not matter whether one is circumcised or not.  Belief in Christ will justify and liberate all regardless of their anatomy.  “What is important is faith expressing itself through love.”  This love cannot emerge from the law.  It is based in the relationship between God and His highest creation, humankind.  It frees each believer to generously love everyone else by most sharing Christ’s love instead of pursuing selfish ambitions.

III.  Why return to the Yoke of the Law? (Galatians 5:7-12)

With usual rhetorical flare, Paul questions why the Galatians allowed themselves to be led away from the salvation of the cross and back to the law.  He says, “You were running a good race.”  In essence, he asks, “What happened?”  Having been released from the yoke of the law, why would anyone place that load upon their shoulders again? What slave would willingly return to bondage after the experience of emancipation?  Having been called to the freedom of Christ, why would the Galatians prefer the yoke of the law to the trophy of the cross?

In the ninth verse, Paul quotes a familiar proverb.  “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.”  He warns the Galatians that this heresy will only begin a downward spiral of unrealistic teachings and demands.  Before they would fully understand it, the Galatians would have agreed to unbearable conditions in the hope of obtaining salvation.  The Judaizers would have captured their minds, hearts, and souls.  Being a Christian would have become more troublesome than following the law.  The Galatians probably would have fallen away.  It all would have begun with the simple heresy of requiring circumcision of new believers.

Paul assures the Galatians that he no longer advocates circumcision.  If he were doing so, then why would he suffer the persecution that he is experiencing?  Additionally, Paul insists that the Lord does not require this ritual for anyone to come to Him.  “In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.”  There would have been no need for the gift of Christ and His redemptive work.  Also, the preaching of the cross by Paul and the other apostles and the missionary journeys would have been in vain.  If righteousness was still available through circumcision, then Christ died for absolutely nothing.  Thus, Paul’s original messages to them were worthless. 

With predictable polemical overkill, Paul desires the extreme punishment for tbese Judaizers.  For these outside agitators of the gospel, he hopes they will take their teaching to its logical and practical end.  “I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves.”  If they are so certain that circumcision is the only path to God, then why not become eunuchs.  Paul, in a moment of charged emotion, hopes that they will mutilate themselves just as they are butchering the gospel of Christ.

IV.  Freedom in Christ Means Love (Galatians 5:13-14)

Christ calls believers to a freedom of love and consideration for one’s neighbor.  His freedom is not a license for self indulgence; it is not a passport to the world of self gratification and the satisfaction of all sinful desires and impulses.  Christ’s freedom is not a permit to totally discard the law and its wisdom.  After all, the law reveals the character of God and His holy nature.  Rather, Christ liberates us to served each other in love.  Instead of helping others in a feeble effort to gain righteousness via the law, the love of Christ frees us to genuinely care for others in appreciation for God’s love through Christ.  It is the difference between charity, community service and ministry.  The latter is grounded in the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Paul reminds the Galatians that the entire law is summarized in a single command.  “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  Circumcision would not necessarily give believers that type of consideration for others.  It is a ritual that seeks personal justification.  Actually, it does not give an advantage of following the whole law.  But, the cross of Christ liberates us to fulfill the essence of the law.  We freely show concern for each other out of gratitude for the liberation that God gives in Christ.

V.  Conflict Leads to Destruction (Galatians 5:15)

Paul concludes this passage of the letter by warning the Galatians of their need to resolve this conflict.  Christ’s liberty and the teachings of the Judaizers could not co-exist indefinitely.  Eventually, they would cancel each other.  The destruction of the church at Galatia would result.  If they were not careful, then mutual extinction would be certain for both camps.  He sternly challenges them to cease “biting and devouring each other.”

Lesson Summary

Would Gentiles believers have to become Jewish worshippers in order to be Christians?  Since Christ fulfills the Law and the Prophets, should the Gentiles practice the Law of Moses as they follow the teachings of Christ?  Simply stated, was it necessary for Gentiles to be circumcised in addition to being baptized in order to be a genuine believer in Christ? Those were the $64,000 questions for the early Jewish Christians.  At the Council at Jerusalem, the apostles, formerly the eleven disciples of Christ and Matthias, conclude that the Gentiles should not be  burdened with the requirement of circumcision and the Law of Moses.  As new converts, the Gentiles should follow the teachings of Christ as He redefines the essence of the law.  Additionally, Paul, on the missionary journeys, preaches the liberation of the cross.  He tells the Gentiles that Christ has freed them to love everyone.  Whether one is circumcised or not mean nothing.  Loving everyone as God loves humankind in  Christ is what counts.  However, there were Jewish converts, former Pharisees, who were frightened that the rich legacy of the law would be lost.  They feared that the liberty of Christ would erase Moses and the Prophets.  So, they ignored the recommendations of the Council at Jerusalem and the teachings of Paul.  These Judaizers launch a campaign in the new  churches to preserve the practice of circumcision.  In doing so, they attempt to nullify the salvation of the cross.  Mostly, they encourage new believers to exchange the liberty of Christ for the yoke of the law.  In his letter to the Galatians, Paul pens the “Magna Charta” of Christian freedom.  He warns the church against re-enslaving themselves to the law.  He tells them to live in the freedom in which Christ has made them free.  More significantly, Paul insists that Christ’s liberty is one of love and service to neighbor not self satisfaction.

Lesson Overview

Imagine the heated debates of the Galatians.  Paul comes and preaches the crucifixion of Christ and its resulting liberty.  This freedom is divinely and generously given to all who merely believe.  Yet, it seems inadequate to justify anyone before God.  Can it be that straightforward?  The libertarians who accept the gospel as communicated through Paul say, “Yes, absolutely.”  However, the Judaizers answer resoundingly, “No, that is not sufficient.”  How were they to resolve this internal conflict?

Today, we face similar challenges in the Church.  Like the Judaizers, there are those who insist that one must be baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues in order to be saved.  They have burdened the saving act of the cross with an additional and personal requirement.  Their insistence on this spiritual ritual impedes some people from coming to Christ.  In addition, there are Sabbath keeping believers who maintain that believers must worship on Saturday.  There are others who demand outward signs of holiness before they will sanction the conversion of a believer.  These current requirements parallel the circumcision requirement of the Judaizers.

Paul destroys these attempts at personal justification and self righteousness by prevailing upon the liberty of Christ.  The yoke of law is not to be worn by believers.  We no longer need any rituals to gain access to God.  He has given us total and complete access once and for all through His Son.  We freely and successfully relate to God through Christ.  Our authentic faith in His atonement and resurrection removes the yoke of the law.  Thereby, the gospel cancels the necessity of all human rituals, past and present.

The Main Thought Explained

Christ calls us to a freedom of love in the ultimate sense.  We are grossly mistaken if we consider the liberty of Christ as a license to satisfy every physical and hedonistic impulse we have.  To the contrary, the freedom of Christ enables us to love everyone just as God does.  Forsaking selfish ambitions, we show others Christian consideration.  Through the love of Christ, believers become slaves to each other rather than prisoners of the law.