Nailed To The Cross, Part XV

We continue in this post talking about the fulfillment of the law through Christ. Jesus fulfilled the law for us (or in our place) so that we now do not have to meet the requirements of the law in order to be saved or deemed righteous. Instead we are saved by promise. God promised us eternal life to all who believe in such freedom through Jesus Christ and God's testimony of His Son.

The Galatian church were infiltered by men (of the circumcision or Jews) which tried to get them to adhere to the laws of Moses and most importantly circumcision. Paul urges the Galatians to be mindful of the fact that they are saved by grace which is spiritual but these men would rather them perform "physical" acts of the law in order to be saved. In the early church, this was commonplace. Many claiming to be Christian would take advantage of new converts and try to get them to lean more towards the law of Moses and fulfill rites associated with the old Jewish code.

Paul encourages the Galatians to remember that they are saved by grace and not their actions in conforming to the law. He encourages them to live by the "spirit" of the law (which is love) and not the written code of the law itself.

Galatians 5:1-15

1It 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.

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

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

13You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 14The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 15If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.