October 26, 2014
Morning Service

Galatians 5

 

            Paul has heard that there have been teachers in Galatia teaching the churches that they must keep the law’s of Moses, in order to be pleasing to God.  These Jews that are teaching this, I believe mean well, but are not correct in their teaching.  We have already seen that there is a difference in expectations between the Jew, and Gentile, even though the Apostle Paul says there is none.  This is because of conscious sake.  Paul himself, took on a vow, to show the people that he too kept parts of the law.  It’s in the rightly dividing of the Word where the understanding comes into view.  Keep reading, and the Scriptures clear up.  We continue this morning in chapter five of Galatians.

 

Gal 5:1-26  Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 

·         Liberty, and bondage are the two issues here.

·         Liberty, because Faith in the work that Jesus did on calvary is sufficient for man’s salvation.

·         Bondage, because certain Jews think you must keep the law’s of Moses in order to be saved.  We understand it is because of all of laws that man has added to the law’s of God that makes the law a burden, and puts man into bondage.  All of the Ten Commandment laws are taught in the New Covenant except the keeping of the Jewish Sabbath.  It’s all the other laws, added by man that puts one in bondage, called Judaism.

·         It’s like the Catholic Church.  It’s the largest, and claims to be the oldest Christian teaching church.  However, it left the pure teaching of the Word of God, and added man’s teachings, which corrupted it, and now is recognized by Christians that study their Bibles, as teaching Roman Catholicism, instead of the pure Gospel of the Bible.

·         There is no Vicar of Christ, to head the church, just men, given gifts by God to edify, and govern the church, and point people to the Lamb of God, who is still, and always will be the head of the church. 

·         There is no risen Mary Mother of God, though blessed forever, in the hearts of all Christiandom.  Mary is still in the grave waiting for the resurrection.

·         There is no purgatory, as to where you must pay the church to get your lost loved ones out of.  It is teachings like this, speaking where the Bible does not speak, that takes away your authority in speaking in the Name of Jesus, because He never said, or taught this.

·         God has seen fit to give us access to the Word of God, that we might study to show ourselves approved unto Him, and not be led astray by false teachers.  Jesus said, “ the blind shall lead the blind, and they shall both fall into the ditch.”  We are blind when we don’t read, and find the truth for ourselves.

(2)  Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 

·         Paul is not saying don’t circumcise your sons.  He is just saying that it does nothing for your salvation.

(3)  For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 

·         That is, if you do it because you want to be justified to God, by doing it.

(4)  Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. 

·         The conflict here is Grace, and Law. 

·         The Gospel of the New Covenant is one of Grace, and not of keeping the Law.  It’s doing our best to keep the law of liberty, which is taught in the New Covenant.

(5)  For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.  (6)  For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. 

·         Notice, we wait.  It’s something in the future, and it is by faith that we wait for it.  Two reigning factors, Faith, and Love.  Two main ingredients of Christianity.

 

(7)  Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? 

·         To answer that question Paul, Judaizers, working on their conscious.

(8)  This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. 

·         This teaching is not from God.

(9)  A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. 

·         A little bit of false teaching corrupts the entire Gospel.

(10)  I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. 

·         James says this concerning teachers, Jas 3:1  My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

·         Knowing this, shouldn’t we speak where the Bible speaks, and be silent where it doesn’t speak?

(11)  And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution?

·         I don’t preach justification by the law.

then is the offence of the cross ceased. 

·         I teach justification by faith in the work that Jesus did on Calvary.

(12)  I would they were even cut off which trouble you. 

·         Paul has already pronounced a curse on them, for they teach another gospel, than what he taught. 

(13)  For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 

·         Paul elaborates more on this subject in other letters.  We won’t go there this morning, but you can run reference on liberty, and find the place where he teaches more thoroughly on the subject.    

·         And love, it the most powerful witness for our gospel message.  Strive to be a servant, you will never be happier.  Learn to serve, rather than be served.

(14)  For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 

·         Love never fails.

(15)  But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.  (16)  This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.  (17)  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 

·         Paul speaks of this in his Roman letter chapter 7.  This helps us to understand the battle that goes on in our walk with God.  The flesh, lusting against the Spirit of God in our bodies.  It will be a constant battle until our bodies are changed from mortality unto immortality.

(18)  But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.  (19)  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,  (20)  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,  (21)  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 

·         These are the attributes that Christians battle daily.  We overcome these by prayer, and Bible study.

(22)  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  (23)  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 

·         And these are the attributes we want to cultivate in our daily walk with God.  We also do this by prayer, and Bible study.

(24)  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 

·         Put to death, through prayer, and Bible study.

(25)  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.  (26)  Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

 

ALMIGHTY GOD, YOUR WORD IS SO CLEAR, AND UNDERSTANDABLE.  HELP US TO DO OUR BEST TO OBEY, AND WALK IN THE LIGHT OF YOUR WORD.   AMEN.