Galatians 5:1

PART THREE
APPEAL TO STEADFASTNESS,
FAITHFULNESS AND DUTY
5:1-6:18

A.

LIBERTY OF THE GOSPEL Galatians 5:1-12

1.

Freedom and Responsibility Galatians 5:1

TEXT 5:1

(1) For freedom did Christ set us free: stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage.

PARAPHRASE 5:1

1 Because believers are the children of the free-woman, do ye Gentiles stand fast in the freedom from the law of Moses, wherewith Christ hath freed us in the gospel dispensation, and be not a second time held fast in the yoke of bondage, as if it were necessary to salvation.

COMMENT 5:1

For freedom did Christ set us free

1.

How do we obtain freedom?

a.

Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32

b.

If therefore the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. John 8:36

2.

In what ways are we free?

a.

Free from sin, ... and being made free from sin. Romans 6:18

b.

Free from death, made me free from the law of sin and of death. Romans 8:2

c.

Free from religious oppression.

1)

Paul emphasized that in this book.

a.

to spy out our liberty. Galatians 2:4

b.

I through the law died unto the law. Galatians 2:19

2)

Jesus condemned religious oppression.

a.

Yea, they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne. make broad their phylacteries (charms) and enlarge the borders of their garments. Matthew 23:4-5

3.

Christ bought our freedom with a great price. 1 Corinthians 7:22-23

stand fast therefore

1.

When we attain a position of freedom, it should be maintained.

a.

The Galatians were being moved by a crafty Jewish force.

b.

We have denominational forces seeking to move us out of freedom in the New Testament Church.

2.

Stand fast is a common exhortation in the N.T.

a.

Watch ye, stand fast in the faith. 1 Corinthians 16:13

b.

Stand fast in one spirit. Philippians 1:27

c.

Stand fast in the Lord. Philippians 4:1

d.

If ye stand fast in the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 3:8

e.

Stand fast and hold the traditions. 2 Thessalonians 2:15

and be not entangled

1.

Affairs of this life entangle one.

a.

No soldier on service entangleth himself in the affairs of this life. 2 Timothy 2:4

b.

The world would have us so busy, that no time would be left to do the Lord's will.

c.

Preachers sometimes are so used by the Red Cross, Y.M.C.A. organizations, etc., that they have no time for soul winning.

2.

The entanglements of the past life are frightful.

a.

If they are again entangled. the last state is become worse than the first. 2 Peter 2:20

in a yoke

1.

The yoke referred to here is the law that Jews were putting on the neck of free Gentile Christians.

Put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples. Acts 15:10

2.

Sin is a yoke: Everyone that committeth sin is the bondservant of sin. John 8:34

3.

The only yoke for us is that of Jesus. Take my yoke upon you. Matthew 11:29-30

of bondage

1.

This is slaverythis is a condition in which there is no sonship and inheritance.

2.

Christ liberated slaves but foolish people went back to bondage.

3.

The Christian has freedom to be a slave in a new sense.

a.

Servants of righteousness. Romans 6:18

b.

Servants unto God. Romans 6:22

c.

Serveth Christ. Romans 14:18

d.

Serve the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:24

e.

Service from the heart. Ephesians 6:6

SLAVERY AND FREEDOM 5:1-23

This chapter has two extremes. We are exhorted to be free of the yoke of slavery, which was a return to the law. Thirteen verses later Galatians 5:13, he is exhorting, Do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love be slaves of one another.

Paul condemns one kind of slavery, but commands another kind. Similarly, legalismin the sense of strong concern for obedience to Godis not wrong; the error comes in our understanding of what laws are really God's laws, and in the attitudes with which we attempt to keep his laws. Paul, following his and our Lord, declares emphatically that the whole law is fulfilled in one word, -You shall love your neighbor as yourself,-' Galatians 5:14.

The servant of God is free indeed. Not to do as he pleasesthat only leads to bondage. Rather, he is free to live in the freedom that comes in knowing he is God's child and is held always by God's love.
According to the apostle James, there are two kinds of faiththe faith of demons and the faith of Christians. Surprisingly enough, devils and Christians both believe in God. The characteristic which distinguishes demonic faith from Christian faith is WORK. The devil believes in God, but he works against God. The Christian believes in God and works, but he works for God.

FALLEN FROM GRACE

Paul said that his converts had fallen from grace. Many wish that he had not written it. Those who believe that it is impossible have a difficult time with this verse and several in Hebrews.
The old argument that if you get it you can-'t lose it, and if you lose it, you never had it, has no foundation in scripture. People who were once active as a church member, have been known to quit the church and to indulge in the worst kinds of sin until death.

Paul in Hebrews 10:38 says of Christians if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

The New Testament is literally full of exhortations to Christians, warning them not to fall away. Some believe a saved person cannot fall away from Christ and be lost. While we would perhaps like to believe that, in view of the teachings of the Word, it's just impossible. Galatians 5:2-4, 2 Peter 2:20-22, Hebrews 3:12; Hebrews 6:4-9; Hebrews 10:23-39.

The Galatians fell away by accepting false teaching. This is a day of stronger temptations than they had.
For what other reasons do Christians fall away? How does it happen? What causes it?
Perhaps, the greatest cause of falling away is just simple negligence. No one plans or decides to fall away. However, a person might neglect his salvation and one day come to the realization that it HAS happened. Sometimes it begins as a change in one's physical circumstancesa move from one city to another, a new baby, retirement, etc. Sometimes one allows himself to get so busily involved in his business that, without intending to, he neglects his spiritual life and falls away.

Sometimes people fall away from the Lord because, after becoming a Christian, they fail to grow. Paul rebuked the Corinthian brethren for remaining spiritual babes. (1 Corinthians 3:1-3) The Hebrews were warned of their dangerous state because they hadn-'t grown. (Hebrews 5:11-14) One cannot remain in a static state spiritually. If he doesn-'t make a positive effort to learn and grow, he will go backwards.

It can happen to you or me. Even Paul had to buffet his body and bring it into bondage lest he should be rejected. (1 Corinthians 9:27) Being a Christian requires some concern and efforts of a positive nature, not merely the negative aspects of not doing evil things.

The fall of a Christian is so very tragic. It's even more tragic than the state of an alien sinner. The Christian has known, he has tasted the heavenly things, he has been a partaker of spiritual blessings. When he falls, he is worse off than the man who has never known. In fact he is worse than a dog eating vomit, says Peter in 2 Peter 2:20-22.

STUDY QUESTIONS 5:1

579.

What is implied in Galatians 5:1entangled again in a yoke of bondage?

580.

How do we obtain freedom?

581.

In what ways are we free?

582.

Are we free from religious oppression?

583.

What do you understand by stand fast therefore?

584.

Is it a common exhortation?

585.

Were they to stand firm in freedom?

586.

How does Christ set us free?

587.

Were the Galatians entangled before they were Christians?

588.

In what danger of entanglement were they?

589.

Can a person be entangled in a good thing too, but to his detriment?

590.

What is a yoke?

591.

Describe the yoke involved here.

592.

Were Jews able to yoke Gentile Christians?

593.

Should the Christian wear a good yoke, and if so, what?