THE NATURE OF CHRISTIAN LIBERTY
1-12. The futility of seeking justification by attempting to comply
with the demands of the Mosaic Law; the inconsistency of works and
faith as methods of salvation.
PARAPHRASE. '(1) Since Christ has freed us from the necessity of
obeying these legal demands and cust... [ Continue Reading ]
Connected closely with preceding section.
BONDAGE] to legal observances. CHRIST HATH MADE US FREE] by fulfilling
the Law, and so teaching us to obey it, not in the letter but in the
spirit, which we shall do best by living by faith in Him, and having
the same mind in us as was also in Him cp. Matth... [ Continue Reading ]
BE CIRCUMCISED] RV 'Receive circumcision' as essential to salvation.
CHRIST.. PROFIT.. NOTHING] because you thereby reject Him as sole and
sufficient Saviour.... [ Continue Reading ]
Circumcision is the sign of the system of which it is a part, and its
practice indicates that a complete observance of all the Law's
requirements is obligatory.... [ Continue Reading ]
CHRIST IS BECOME, etc.] RV 'Ye are severed from Christ, ye who would
be justified,' etc. By resorting to the Law for salvation, as if
Christ were not sufficient, you are no longer Christ's people. FALLEN,
etc.] fallen down from the higher plane of grace upon the lower plane
of Law. To us now the bon... [ Continue Reading ]
The true mode of salvation, viz. by the agency of the Spirit, on
condition of faith alone.... [ Continue Reading ]
AVAILETH] for salvation. FAITH WHICH WORKETH] an active, energetic
faith: cp. James 2:14.... [ Continue Reading ]
RUN WELL] before the Judaisers misled you. WHO DID HINDER] a
rhetorical question.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Cometh_] RV '_came_' This dissuasion from loyalty to Christ to which
you have yielded does not emanate from God, but is contrary to His
will.... [ Continue Reading ]
A LITTLE LEAVEN] It would seem that only a few of the Galatian
converts were affected by the false teaching; but their influence
would soon prove farreaching and pernicious: cp. 1 Corinthians 15:33;
Leaven is always used in NT. as a symbol of influence. Our Lord uses
it to illustrate the influence o... [ Continue Reading ]
The Apostle now adopts a more hopeful tone, and turns from reproof to
encouragement. NONE OTHERWISE MINDED] than as I have taught you.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN IS THE OFFENCE OF THE CROSS CEASED] RV 'then has the
stumbling-block of the cross been done away.' The Judaisers who had
'troubled' the Galatians had evidently brought against the Apostle the
charge that he still preached circumcision himself, although he had
dispensed with it in the case of th... [ Continue Reading ]
WERE EVEN CUT OFF] RV 'would even cut themselves off,' RM 'would even
mutilate themselves'; i.e. would even go beyond circumcision, like the
priests of Cybele, whom the Galatians had formerly worshipped. A
bitterly satirical wish. The Apostle was evidently carried away by his
righteous wrath at the... [ Continue Reading ]
A caution against an easy and common misunderstanding of Christian
freedom: cp. Romans 6:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
The real moral substance of the Mosaic Law was the gospel principle of
love: cp. Matthew 22:40; Romans 13:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
BITE AND DEVOUR] in party strife. CONSUMED] as respects your personal
and collective Christian life.
16-26. The spiritual and the carnal life contrasted.
PARAPHRASE. '(16) In the life which is fostered by the Spirit you will
find your true safety against the evils of which I am warning you.
(17) Fo... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SPIRIT] the sanctifying Spirit of God. SHALL NOT FULFIL] because
the Spirit and the flesh are contrary principles. THE FLESH] a general
name for the sinful impulses.... [ Continue Reading ]
The carnal desires are opposed to the Spirit, and the impulses from
the Spirit are contrary to these desires.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT UNDER THE LAW] Those who live under the guidance of the Spirit of
God are in no need of the Law. They do what is right not because the
Law commands it, or because the Law penalises wrong-doing, but because
they live under the influence of Christ and have His Spirit in them;
e.g. they refrain fro... [ Continue Reading ]
WORKS OF THE FLESH include not merely carnal sins, such as the first
three in the list, but evil passions like strife and jealousy and
their social effects, such as factions and divisions.
22, 23. AGAINST SUCH (virtues) THERE IS NO LAW] hence there can be no
condemnation for those who possess them.... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVE CRUCIFIED] in the act of uniting themselves to Christ by faith:
cp. Galatians 2:20; Romans 6:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
The inner life should rule the outer life.... [ Continue Reading ]
VAINGLORY] indulging in rivalry and jealousy. PROVOKING] to strifes of
opinion. ENVYING] cherishing grudges.... [ Continue Reading ]