The book of Galatians is commonly quoted off point and out of context to demonstrate that the Law of God is abolished.  This simply is not true, rather, Galatians proves that the law of God still exists and should be followed. 

         This is a continuation of the study on Galatians Chapter four.  If you have not read Galatians Chapter four please read that first here or begin at the beginning of the Galations articles by clicking here.  In Galatians chapter four, Paul finished with an allegory of the two covenants using Isaac and Ishmael as examples.  Here in chapter five Paul starts by explaining the liberty we have in the Messiah.  Please read Galatians chapter five before you continue.
 

The Law of Liberty:

          "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage" (Gal. 5:1).  As we have seen earlier, this liberty is not freedom to break God's law, but freedom to learn God's law.  This is what James meant when he called the Law "the perfect law of liberty" (James 1:25).  God's law provides freedom (liberty).  This "yoke of bondage" is that of seeking to be "justified by the law" (Gal. 5:4), which is why he said, "if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing."  Here Paul makes it clear that the topic of his epistle is that of not relying on the law for justification, but following it for the sake of santification.  "For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law" (Gal. 5:2-3).  Paul is not speaking of the act of circumcising a man, but a group of people trying to sway the Galatians into their group.  These are the "false brethren" from chapter two who "seemed to be somewhat" (Gal. 2:6), they were "of the circumcision" (Gal. 2:7-9), they were from Judea (Acts 15:1), they were of the "sect of the Pharisees" (Acts 15:5), they claimed to be believers (Acts 15:5), they believed you must be circumcised prior to salvation (Acts 15:1), and they did so that they may "glory in their flesh" (Gal. 6:12-13).  Paul is not suggesting not to be circumcised, nor is he saying circumcision is bad.  If he was, then since Paul himself is circumcised (Phil. 3:4-5) he must also be a "debtor to do the whole law," but since he is not trusting in his circumcision for justification he is not.  This is more evidence that Paul is here speaking of a group of people and not the act of circumcising.

          Paul continues, "For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith" (Gal 5:5).  And what does the spirit do for us, but helps us to "walk in [His] statutes, and ... keep [His] judgments, and do them" (Eze. 36:27).  "For in Jesus Christ neither [trusting in] circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love" (Gal. 5:6).  Paul reminds them of where they started -faith.  They did "run well" except that someone did "hinder [them] that [they] should not obey the truth" (Gal. 5:7).  And this hindrance did not come from "Him that calleth [them]," or, from the Messiah.  Paul then uses an analogy the Messiah used when he said, "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump" (Gal. 5:8, Matt. 6:6).  This sin that has infiltrated the Galatian church will grow unless taken care of, but Paul has, "confidence in [them] through the Lord, that [they] will be none otherwise minded" (Gal. 5:10).  Paul wishes those that trouble the Galatians would be "cut off," most likely referring to them being excommunicated from the church (Gal. 5:12).

          For they have been "called unto liberty," but they are not to use their liberty to sin, but rather to love and serve each other (Gal. 5:13).  For all the law is fulfilled in this, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" (Gal. 5:14, Matt. 22:39).  Paul is urging them to practice God's law and giving them the means to do so.  We are to practice God's law by His Spirit with love, for this is what love means, to "keep His commandments" (1 John 5:3).  But beware not to "bite and devour one another," for that only leads them to consume one another (Gal. 5:15).  However, if they "walk in the Spirit, [they] shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Gal. 5:16, Eze. 36:27).  For the flesh and the spirit are contrary to each other (Gal. 5:17).  If we seek to follow God's law in the flesh we will fail, but if we use the Spirit we will succeed.  But if we are, "led of the Spirit, ye are not under the [curse of the] law" (Gal. 5:18).
 

The works of the Spirit:

          Paul then compares the "works of the flesh" (Gal. 5:19) with the "works of the Spirit" Gal. 5:22).  The works of the flesh are "Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like" (Gal. 5:19-21).  These are all the result of breaking God's law.  The works of the Spirit are "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law" (Gal. 5:22-23).  The fruit of the Spirit is the result of practicing God's law.  Those that practice the works of the flesh "shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Gal. 5:21).  Those that practice "the fruit of the Spirit" are "Christ's" and "have crucified the flesh" (Gal. 5:24).  Therefore, "if we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit" (Gal. 5:25).  As we have seen from Eze. 36:27, walking in the Spirit is practicing God's law.

          Here is the example, "if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted" (Gal. 6:1).  This is the application of what Paul is teaching.  Those who are walking in God's spirit should seek to restore those who have been "overtaken in a fault."  This is contrary to what those of the circumcision do.  Those of the circumcision do not restore, but rather sit in judgment.  The Galatians are to restore in the spirit of meekness, not of judgment.  For this is "the law of Christ" (Gal. 6:2) to bear each others burdens.  We are to do this in the spirit of humility, of which the Messiah is our perfect example (Gal. 6:3).  We are to prove our own work, for we shall all bear our own burden before God (Gal. 6:4-5).  We should not be deceived, "God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting" (Gal. 6:7-8).  Though we don't see the result of our good immediately, we should not give up, for in due season we shall see (Gal. 6:9).  We should "do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith" (Gal. 6:10).
 

          Paul finishes the letter reminding them of the dangers of the circumcision.  For those of the circumcision "constrain [them] to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ" (Gal. 6:12).  They seek to circumcise the Galatians to "glory in [their] flesh," but they themselves don't even keep the law (Gal. 6:13).  The Galatians, however, should glory only in the cross of the Messiah (Gal. 6:14).  Paul concludes with a message of "peace" to all who choose to "walk according to this rule" (Gal. 6:16).

          My friend, throughout this entire epistle Paul no where eliminates the law of God, rather he endorses it.  God's law is our friend and teacher.  It instructs us in righteousness.  Paul is trying to put the law in it's proper place, that of sanctification.  Those of the circumcision try to put the law in our justification, which is no salvation at all.  I encourage you to read through the scriptures and recognize that God's "law is holy ... and just, and good" (Rom. 7:12) when put in it's proper place.  It is our instructions for life and how to live, but to fulfill the law we must "walk in the Spirit" (Gal. 5:16, Gal. 5:25, Eze. 36:27).

By Steve Siefken

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Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth

not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV