FREEDOM FROM JUSTIFICATION BY THE LAW
Galatians 5:1-5 “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.” (Entire applicable Scripture Gal. 5:1-10)
This passage is misinterpreted by some brethren. Let’s go to the “how to rightly divide the Word of God” questions for an accurate determination:
What is the larger passage talking about?
The subject of Galatians 5:1-11 is circumcision; whether or not a Christian must be circumcised in order to be saved. Verses 12-15 clarify that the purpose of our liberty (of no longer being in bondage to justification by the Law). It does not mean or suggest that we are now free to “sin at will” or that disobedience to God’s Law is permissible/acceptable. It DOES NOT MEAN that God has abolished His Holy Law. In verses 16-26 Paul contrasts walking/living in the spirit and walking/living in the flesh, and how our affections and lusts of the flesh have been crucified with Christ on the cross.
What timeless truths are here?
No human act, whether circumcision or baptism, or following the entire law, or any other action performed by us can ever JUSTIFY us to God (secure salvation), because the works of the flesh (i.e., anything a human can do) are sinful/evil (v. 17). Jesus was the pure Lamb of God, sinless without blemish. “IF”, we walk in the Spirit (people disregard this small word – which means the statement to follow is conditional) WE WILL NOT FULFIL the lust of the flesh. Justification (salvation) is only obtained through FAITH in the work of Christ alone not through the Law.
The “bondage” Paul refers to is bondage to BEING JUSTIFIED BY THE LAW, for we are now JUSTIFIED by Christ through FAITH (v. 5; Ephesians 2:8), not by the Law. Old Testament believers were not justified/saved through obeying the Law, as none of them kept the Law: Jesus himself said in John 7:19, “Did not Moses give you the law, and yet NONE of you keep the law?” This is why sacrifices were ongoing in the Old Testament.
How does it apply today (to me personally, to other believers, to the Church)?
It is important that we understand OUR JUSTIFICATION IS NOT THROUGH THE LAW. We are redeemed by CHRIST. Christ came and offered up Himself as a “ONE TIME FOR ALL (and for ALL sins)” sacrifice:
Hebrews 10:10-12, 14, 18 “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest stands daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God . . . 14 For by one offering He (Jesus) hath perfected FOREVER them that are sanctified. . . . 18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.”
After which “there remains no more sacrifice for sins” because Jesus’ sacrifice IS SUFFICIENT FOR ALL (of us and for ALL sin) FOR ALL TIME.
The message of this passage is not that the intent of the Law was abolished, as in verse 14, “Thou shalt love they neighbor as thyself” confirms the intent of the Law remains.
Crying out in the wilderness,
Delann Conrad
Website: https://www.thebattleisreal.org
Galatians 5:1-5 “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.” (Entire applicable Scripture Gal. 5:1-10)
This passage is misinterpreted by some brethren. Let’s go to the “how to rightly divide the Word of God” questions for an accurate determination:
What is the larger passage talking about?
The subject of Galatians 5:1-11 is circumcision; whether or not a Christian must be circumcised in order to be saved. Verses 12-15 clarify that the purpose of our liberty (of no longer being in bondage to justification by the Law). It does not mean or suggest that we are now free to “sin at will” or that disobedience to God’s Law is permissible/acceptable. It DOES NOT MEAN that God has abolished His Holy Law. In verses 16-26 Paul contrasts walking/living in the spirit and walking/living in the flesh, and how our affections and lusts of the flesh have been crucified with Christ on the cross.
What timeless truths are here?
No human act, whether circumcision or baptism, or following the entire law, or any other action performed by us can ever JUSTIFY us to God (secure salvation), because the works of the flesh (i.e., anything a human can do) are sinful/evil (v. 17). Jesus was the pure Lamb of God, sinless without blemish. “IF”, we walk in the Spirit (people disregard this small word – which means the statement to follow is conditional) WE WILL NOT FULFIL the lust of the flesh. Justification (salvation) is only obtained through FAITH in the work of Christ alone not through the Law.
The “bondage” Paul refers to is bondage to BEING JUSTIFIED BY THE LAW, for we are now JUSTIFIED by Christ through FAITH (v. 5; Ephesians 2:8), not by the Law. Old Testament believers were not justified/saved through obeying the Law, as none of them kept the Law: Jesus himself said in John 7:19, “Did not Moses give you the law, and yet NONE of you keep the law?” This is why sacrifices were ongoing in the Old Testament.
How does it apply today (to me personally, to other believers, to the Church)?
It is important that we understand OUR JUSTIFICATION IS NOT THROUGH THE LAW. We are redeemed by CHRIST. Christ came and offered up Himself as a “ONE TIME FOR ALL (and for ALL sins)” sacrifice:
Hebrews 10:10-12, 14, 18 “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest stands daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God . . . 14 For by one offering He (Jesus) hath perfected FOREVER them that are sanctified. . . . 18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.”
After which “there remains no more sacrifice for sins” because Jesus’ sacrifice IS SUFFICIENT FOR ALL (of us and for ALL sin) FOR ALL TIME.
The message of this passage is not that the intent of the Law was abolished, as in verse 14, “Thou shalt love they neighbor as thyself” confirms the intent of the Law remains.
Crying out in the wilderness,
Delann Conrad
Website: https://www.thebattleisreal.org
FREEDOM FROM JUSTIFICATION BY THE LAW
Galatians 5:1-5 “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.” (Entire applicable Scripture Gal. 5:1-10)
This passage is misinterpreted by some brethren. Let’s go to the “how to rightly divide the Word of God” questions for an accurate determination:
What is the larger passage talking about?
The subject of Galatians 5:1-11 is circumcision; whether or not a Christian must be circumcised in order to be saved. Verses 12-15 clarify that the purpose of our liberty (of no longer being in bondage to justification by the Law). It does not mean or suggest that we are now free to “sin at will” or that disobedience to God’s Law is permissible/acceptable. It DOES NOT MEAN that God has abolished His Holy Law. In verses 16-26 Paul contrasts walking/living in the spirit and walking/living in the flesh, and how our affections and lusts of the flesh have been crucified with Christ on the cross.
What timeless truths are here?
No human act, whether circumcision or baptism, or following the entire law, or any other action performed by us can ever JUSTIFY us to God (secure salvation), because the works of the flesh (i.e., anything a human can do) are sinful/evil (v. 17). Jesus was the pure Lamb of God, sinless without blemish. “IF”, we walk in the Spirit (people disregard this small word – which means the statement to follow is conditional) WE WILL NOT FULFIL the lust of the flesh. Justification (salvation) is only obtained through FAITH in the work of Christ alone not through the Law.
The “bondage” Paul refers to is bondage to BEING JUSTIFIED BY THE LAW, for we are now JUSTIFIED by Christ through FAITH (v. 5; Ephesians 2:8), not by the Law. Old Testament believers were not justified/saved through obeying the Law, as none of them kept the Law: Jesus himself said in John 7:19, “Did not Moses give you the law, and yet NONE of you keep the law?” This is why sacrifices were ongoing in the Old Testament.
How does it apply today (to me personally, to other believers, to the Church)?
It is important that we understand OUR JUSTIFICATION IS NOT THROUGH THE LAW. We are redeemed by CHRIST. Christ came and offered up Himself as a “ONE TIME FOR ALL (and for ALL sins)” sacrifice:
Hebrews 10:10-12, 14, 18 “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest stands daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God . . . 14 For by one offering He (Jesus) hath perfected FOREVER them that are sanctified. . . . 18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.”
After which “there remains no more sacrifice for sins” because Jesus’ sacrifice IS SUFFICIENT FOR ALL (of us and for ALL sin) FOR ALL TIME.
The message of this passage is not that the intent of the Law was abolished, as in verse 14, “Thou shalt love they neighbor as thyself” confirms the intent of the Law remains.
Crying out in the wilderness,
Delann Conrad
Website: https://www.thebattleisreal.org
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