Galatians

Unbound, Unchained, Unbroken

Week 10 | Galatians 5:1-12

Lisa Scheffler, author

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I recently watched a “true crime” documentary that told the story of a robbery that ended in murder. Several people who were implicated in these crimes were interviewed for the film. One of the co-conspirators stood out to me. Although all signs pointed to his very limited involvement (he’d been duped by the others and was not involved in the violence), he didn’t want to plead his case in court. In fact, he readily confessed and was anxious to go back to prison.

This man had been in and out of trouble most of his life. He admitted to preferring prison life to life on the “outside.” He appreciated that he always had enough to eat and a place to sleep. But more importantly, he liked that his days were planned out for him and he didn’t have to make many decisions. The rules were clear. He had decided that freedom was a burden he really didn’t want. For him, imprisonment was more desirable than living as a free man.

Does this attitude surprise you? I’m not sure it would have surprised the Apostle Paul. It’s possible he saw something like it in the Galatian Christians.

Day 1

Since we paused for Mother’s Day, let’s take a moment to review the situation that Paul was confronting in the Galatian church.

See how well can you answer these questions. (If you need a reminder, or are just joining our study, read the verses listed.)

• Why did Paul write this letter? What had been going on in the Galatian house churches that had him so concerned? (See Galatians 1:6–9 and 3:1–3.)
• What role did the Jewish law, and particularly circumcision, play in this controversy? How did Paul and Peter end up in conflict over this issue? (See Galatians 2:7–8, Galatians 2:11–14.)

So far, Paul has used his own testimony (1:10–2:21) and theological arguments (chapters 3–4) to persuade the Galatian Christians that the voices they’ve been listening to have been leading them astray. In this final section (5:1–6:10), Paul applies his message directly to the situation these churches were facing. By understanding his message to them, we can better understand how the Spirit would have us apply it to ourselves.

In our passage this week Paul issues a blunt declaration. With his arguments from chapter 4 as a platform, he dives headfirst into the issue afflicting the Galatian churches — circumcision. As you read our passage for the week, notice how Paul frames his discussion. Why does he oppose circumcision? Also notice what, according to Paul, has value in God’s eyes.

Read

Galatians 5:1-12

5 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

² Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. ³ Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. ⁴ You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. ⁵ For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. ⁶ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

⁷ You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? ⁸ That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. ⁹ “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” ¹⁰ I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty. ¹¹ Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. ¹² As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!

Why is Paul angry at his opponents and frustrated with the Galatians? What truth does he want them to see and obey?

Respond

Those who are in Christ, Paul argues, are free from requirements of the law, including the rite that marked entrance into the old covenant, circumcision. For a Jewish person in Paul’s day, following the law affected everything you did. Adhering to its regulations set you apart from your Gentile neighbors and defined your community. Even Jewish Christians who were loyal to Jesus found it difficult to understand how life without the law was possible. Wasn’t the law God’s will? What would govern their choices and determine their lifestyle? This will be something Paul explains in the rest of his letter. But first, he will deal directly with the issue of circumcision and once again confront those who are promoting it.

Only by faith in Christ can you be made right with God. There is no “both/and” in this situation. You cannot put your faith in the law and in Christ. What’s more, why would you want to? Christ has set us free! Why would you want to go back to prison?

We aren’t made right with through law-keeping, but by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and victory over sin and death. “Following the rules” will never be the source of our righteousness before God. It doesn’t matter if you’re trying to keep the Mosaic law, or some other code of conduct, your ability to be a rule-keeper is not what makes you free. As we delve into Galatians 5 this week, let’s consider what does make us free, and how we should use that freedom.