Galatians 5:2-6

Alternatives of Entanglement and Freedom Galatians 5:2-6

TEXT 5:2-6

(2) Behold, I Paul say unto you, that, if ye receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing. (3) Yea, I testify again to every man that receiveth circumcision, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. (4) Ye are severed from Christ, ye who would be justified by the law; ye are fallen away from grace. (5) For we through the Spirit by faith wait for the hope of righteousness. (6) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith working through love.

PARAPHRASE 5:2-6

2 Behold, I Paul say to you, that if ye be circumcised as a condition necessary to your salvation, the death of Christ will profit you nothing.

3 And, though ye have been taught otherwise by the Judaizers, I testify, moreover, to every circumcised person who seeks justification by the law, that he is bound to perform the whole law of Moses perfectly; and if he fails, he subjects himself to the curse. (Galatians 3:10)

4 Ye have renounced Christ as a Saviour, who seek to be justified by the law of Moses; consequently ye shall receive no benefit from his death: Ye have excluded yourselves from the free gift of justification offered to you in the gospel.
5 But we believers, the spiritual seed of Abraham, whom God hath promised to justify through the gifts of the Spirit, which are the evidence of our adoption, look for the hoped righteousness by faith to be bestowed on us as a free gift at the general judgment.
6 For in the gospel dispensation, neither circumcision availeth any thing towards our acceptance with God, nor uncircumcision, but faith strongly working by love to God and to man.

COMMENT 5:2

Behold, I Paul

1.

I, who have received the Gospel not from men.

2.

I, called to preach the gospel with authority.

3.

He is not stating this as a personal opinion but to give his statement credence.

if ye receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing

1.

Christ becomes worthless: if He is not everything, then He is nothing.

2.

Circumcision in itself is nothing.

3.

Yet the Galatians looked to it and the covenant it represented for justificationthey forfeited everything in Christ.

a.

It is not so much one thingbut a principle.

b.

If they seek justification by the works of the law, then they renounce justification through faith.

COMMENT 5:3

every man that receiveth circumcision, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

1.

If you submit to one, then you are obligated to all the law, for one commandment or phrase is no more binding than another.

2.

Thus we have two things wrong.

a.

It makes Christ unprofitable.

b.

It obligates one to do all the law.

3.

Circumcision was a seal of covenant relationship, and the covenant obligates one to do it all.

4.

Why did Paul have Timothy to submit? See Acts 15:3.

a.

It was not for Timothy's salvation.

b.

It was an expediency in preaching.

5.

The law is indivisibleit is not to be observed partially.

COMMENT 5:4

ye are severed from Christ

Catholic Bibleye are estranged from Christ

King JamesChrist is become of no effect unto you

1.

In seeking justification by works of the law, you go into apostasy.

a.

This sounds like once saved, not always saved.

b.

You must have the law and no Christor Christ and no law.

c.

A person can be cut off, if Jesus meant what He said. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. John 15:6

who would be justified by the law

1.

This was the choice of some.

2.

They had the privilege to choose the law.

ye are fallen from grace

1.

Yet some say, there is no falling after salvation has been received.

2.

When you fall in the ocean, it matters not which side of the ship you fall fromyou are in the ocean and lost.

3.

To fall from grace means to lose the atonement, the forgiveness of sins, righteousness, liberty and the life.

4.

To lose the grace means to gain the wrath, and judgment of God, death, the bondage of the devil and condemnation.

WORD STUDY 5:4

To sever (katargeokaht ar GEH oh) is to make ineffective; to render idle or inactive. It is also used of a total release from someone. The woman whose husband has died, for instance, is totally released from the law binding her in marriage (Romans 7:2).

Those who rely on legal righteousness make the sacrifice of Christ void, and cut themselves off from him.
To fall away (ekpiptoek PIP toe) was used of coins that fell out of use, or ships that had gone off course. So long as the Galatians were so badly off course, they were no longer on the way to Heaven.

This word is not, however, as strong as the word for fall away parapiptopar ah PIP toe) in Hebrews 6:6. The word used in Hebrews describes a ship that is not only off course, but completely lost. Here in Galatians 5:4, the possibility of return is present.

COMMENT 5:5

we through the Spirit by faith wait

1.

How do we wait?

a.

Through His instruction of divine revelation.

1)

John 14:1-6

2)

Every scripture inspired of God. 2 Timothy 3:16

3)

them that preached the gospel unto you by the Holy Spirit sent forth from heaven. 1 Peter 1:12

4)

For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:21

5)

The Spirit himself beareth witness. Romans 8:16

a.

We have to know God's words else we would not know to wait for God's blessings.

b.

Hope makes our waiting worthwhile.

c.

Through His indwelling presence we wait patiently.

2.

How else could you wait? The faithless do not wait.

a.

The Galatians were trusting in carnal ordinances.

b.

Their faith was not on the proper source for inheritance.

for the hope of righteousness

1.

What is the difference in faith and hope? (See Luther, p. 203)

a.

They differ in their origin.

1)

Faith originates in the understanding.

2)

Hope arises in the will.

b.

They differ in function.

1)

Faith teaches, describes, directs.

2)

Hope exhorts the mind to be strong, courageous.

c.

They differ in their objectives.

1)

Faith concentrates on the truth.

2)

Hope looks to the goodness of God.

d.

They differ in sequence.

1)

Faith is the beginning of life before tribulation. Hebrews 11:1-40

2)

Hope comes later and is born of tribulation. Romans 5:1-21

e.

They differ in regard to their effect.

1)

Faith is a judge; it judges error.

2)

Hope is a soldier; it fights against tribulations, the cross, despondency, despair, and waits for better things.

a.

By faith we begin; by hope we endure.

b.

Hope without faith is blind arrogance because it lacks knowledge.

2.

Faith, hope and love are the three greatest of Christian virtues, 1 Corinthians 13:13.

hope of righteousness

1.

This may have the same meaning as Peter's statement, receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:9

2.

In this realm there will be no sin, but righteousness. Revelation 21:27; Revelation 22:15

COMMENT 5:6

neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision

1.

A person's physical condition in relationship to Abraham matters not.

2.

The valuable thing is faith in Christ and circumcision is of no value.

faith working through love

1.

The valuable faith is one that works through love.

a.

Faith without works is dead. See James 2:17.

1) Idle faith is not justifying faith.

b.

Faith without love is nothing. If I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:2

2.

If loving service is not manifested, the Christian is no better than a Galatian depending upon circumcision.

WORD STUDY 5:6

Working (energeoen er GEH oh) could be more literally translated being energized. Faith becomes effective when it is united with love and put to work. Although Martin Luther found an impassable gulf between salvation by faith in Galatians and salvation by works in James, this verse bridges that gap.

STUDY QUESTIONS 5:2-6

594.

When Paul mentions self as in verse two, does he lessen the authority of his word?

595.

If Christ is not worth everything, is He worth anything?

596.

Why was circumcision an issue?

597.

If Christ is our Saviour, do we need to depend upon observances, rituals, etc., to save us?

598.

Why does obedience to one law demand obedience to all?

599.

If circumcision is a seal, then would it demand that a person go all the way?

600.

Why did Paul have Timothy circumcised?

601.

Do we have a right to expediencies in order to win some to Christ?

602.

What does the word severed mean?

603.

Is it the same as apostasy?

604.

Can we say that it is falling from grace?

605.

Does this verse destroy the once in grace, always in grace theory?

606.

What other ways is the word severed translated?

607.

Did Jesus say that a person can be cut off? Cf. John 15:1-6.

608.

What would do the severing?

609.

Were they responsible for their own severing?

610.

Does Paul say that a man can fall from grace?

611.

What all is involved when a person falls?

612.

Does he lose the atonement, the forgiveness, eternal life?

613.

Will a person have punishment for severing himself?

614.

How much false teaching may one accept to sever him from Christ?

615.

How do we wait?

616.

What is the Christian waiting for?

617.

Is the waiting a time of indolence?

618.

Two words are used that are similar. What is the difference between faith and hope?

619.

What has the Spirit to do with our waiting?

620.

Describe the hope of righteousness.

621.

Is hope of righteousness different from hope of the righteous?

622.

Will there be righteousness where the Christian is going?

623.

Does Christ make void both circumcision and uncircumcision?

624.

What is the one availing thing?

625.

What does Paul connect with faith here?

626.

Does the faith he describes do work?

627.

What is the motive of the work?

628.

If we work with any other motive, is it worthwhile? Cf. 1 Corinthians 13:1-13.