In the latter part of this chapter the apostle comes to exhort these Christians to serious practical godliness, as the best antidote against the snares of the false teachers. For if a man "keeps the whole law, yet he offends in one point, he is guilty of all" ( James 2:10 ).

For kindness the word is chrestotes ( G5544) .

Oh, I'm comforted by that. I can't go back to my mother's womb and be born again. It is interesting to note the earnestness and strength with which the apostle speaks, now the question had been fairly raised. How could it be otherwise with one persecuting at the moment that he was arrested, in hot deadly opposition to God's church up to his most unexpected call from heaven? This must be indeed confusion; as it is, there is none. Galatians 5:15 by Grant Richison | Apr 11, 2000 | Galatians | 1 comment Read Introduction to Galatians But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! The Galatian church entered a stage of conflict because of legalistic thinking. But what about the Gentiles? The law of Christ makes the going out of love towards another, so to speak, to be his joy. Thus, the idea is, in their contentions they would destroy the spirituality and happiness of each other; their characters would be ruined; and the church be overthrown. But if ye bite and devour one another: Such actions are the opposite of loving their neighbor as they ought. He tells them (Galatians 5:13; Galatians 5:13) that they had been called unto liberty, and he would have them to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ had made them free; but yet he would have them be very careful that they did not use this liberty as an occasion to the flesh--that they did not thence take occasion to indulge themselves in any corrupt affections and practices, and particularly such as might create distance and disaffection, and be the ground of quarrels and contentions among them: but, on the contrary, he would have them by love to serve one another, to maintain that mutual love and affection which, notwithstanding any minor differences there might be among them, would dispose them to all those offices of respect and kindness to each other which the Christian religion obliged them to.

If, when I got on board a 747 at LAX heading for Honolulu, the captain would say, "Now, folks, we're having a little problem here with our navigation instruments.

It is the quality, not so much of the jealous, but rather of the embittered mind. Up to the destruction of Jerusalem it was law; but now, under Christianity, Jerusalem, being rebellious and scorning promise like Ishmael, is cast out and has nothing. Nor is there a greater evidence of God's tender and considerate care for us than such a fact as this. Now these things are an allegory. For they were saying that was it was necessary to be circumcised and to keep the law of Moses in order to be righteous before God, to be saved.

The apostle accordingly now turns to the great argument of his epistle, and the discussion of those grand principles that are characteristic to Christianity, and in full agreement with the facts that have already been brought before you. The law came in meanwhile, serving its own object, which was to bring out what was in the heart of man.

In this case it was God that gave the promise; it was He that confirmed the covenant to Christ, without saying a word about the law till four hundred and thirty years after.

Have ye suffered so many things in vain, if it be yet in vain?

The whole concept is: how do I establish a righteous standing before God? "Cast out the slave girl and her son, for the son of the slave girl must not inherit with the son of the free woman." Such was the will of God the Father that had raised Christ from the dead. 1. Or I can walk after the Spirit and say, "Oh Lord, it doesn't matter. You are bound to carry it out consistently.

The sense is, if you contend with each other; and the reference is, apparently, to the strifes which would arise between the two parties in the churches - the Jewish and the Gentile converts. Their lives should demonstrate the truth that their sinful nature has been crucified with Christ and has no further power over them. "Unless," he says, "you solve the problem of living together you will make life impossible." Need it be added that he was right and Peter wrong? The truth is, that they had their relationship to the twelve tribes of Israel. Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai, which is in Arabia, and corresponds to the present Jerusalem; for she is a slave and so are her children. He is a new creature in Christ. That's just my old flesh that's upset. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. It is wholly apart from works of law.

And I can set up these rules, and I can get out my little gold stars. And I had some who were determined that they were going to convert me to their way of thinking.And I would listen to them and listen to them and listen to them; I don't really make a practice of arguing scriptures. The very reverse of their system is true. "The death of Christ for you isn't sufficient. They are free indeed, and as Christians are done with Law; but love will save them from indulging lower impulses. It is for the purpose of bringing in transgression, answers the apostle. You have fallen from grace. The "Israel of God," I apprehend, would mean, that the only part of Israel whom God owns now consists of those that really are of faith those that .received Jesus.

Ritualism is the present most patent comment on the apostle's statement. And "Titus," as he says here, "who was with me, being a Greek," etc. And they ate, giving over to their fleshly appetites and in so doing, the flesh dominated. "A little leaven," said Paul, "leavens the whole lump."

Not striving. It also described the bands of the devotees of Bacchus, god of wine. Paul was preaching that Jesus paid the complete price for your redemption on the cross. And so, such things leaves an unending list of things of the flesh. There was no consciousness of the identification of the saint with Christ. You got to be circumcised." Men that have followed after my perverse teachings. Concerning these things, or those in whom these fruits of the Spirit are found, the apostle says, There is no law against them, to condemn and punish them.

And a little leaven soon leavens the whole lump. There is no recounting what God had done for them.

Know ye therefore that they which are of faith" (not those that cry up the law) "are the children of Abraham. who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? WebGalatians 5:115 focuses on what those in Christ should do with our freedom in Christ. You got to walk the tight rope. Another reason inducing to love is taken from the pernicious consequences of a contrary spirit and conduct. What is the difference? In other words, if the believer simply were one forgiven by grace, without having either life in Christ or the Holy Ghost dwelling in him, he might, perhaps, plead that he could not avoid sinning. He does not charge them with anything of an openly gross or immoral nature; but what a proof that the truth of God, that the grace of Christ, is exclusive of everything but itself! Again it is worth while to look at each word separately. And, you know, I mean, you're having now go to .

Now notice, works of the flesh, works plural. But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. For he comes to another and most cogent argument. You can't be both.

Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing ( Galatians 5:2 ). They had followed Jesus in His earthly path of presentation to Israel. This is exceedingly important, and the more as I believe the scope of the allusion to Abraham and to his seed is not often appreciated. As it is reasoned out in Romans 7:1-25, the law came, and he died.

II. WebThe meaning of this proverbial warning (see on 1 Corinthians 5:6) is: If the false apostles have, by means of their persuasion, succeeded in making even but a small beginning in the work of imparting to you erroneous doctrines or false principles, this will develope itself to the corruption of your whole Christian faith and life. But its most suggestive use is that katharos ( G2513) is used of that ceremonial cleanness which entitles a man to approach his gods. The essence of it is that it does not describe the spirit which desires, nobly or ignobly, to have what someone else has: it describes the spirit which grudges the fact that the other person has these things at all. Christianity brings everything to a climax; it also settles all questions. The gospel had brought in before God this double conclusion, founded on the first Adam and the last.

It is a joy whose foundation is God. You ought to be circumcised, you know." Now, let us not believe or think that this liberty that we have is the liberty to do anything we might want to do in the flesh. That is to say, after his flights of thought can he reduce it all to something that the ordinary man can understand and do? The flesh will not be ruling over you anymore. The apostle does not say, if grievous wolves should enter in among you and not spare the flock; but suggests if they themselves should act the part of wolves to one another; having reference to their controversies about the law and circumcision, and the necessity thereof to justification and salvation; which were managed with great heat and bitterness, occasioned great contentions, and threatened them with divisions, parties, and factions; and were attended with envy and malice, with reproachful words, biting sarcasms, scandalous invectives, and injurious actions, which must be of bad consequence: hence he adds. Thus it appears that the Galatians as well as the Corinthians had been similarly affected. Can anything prove that it is not an old creation better than this that there is neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free, male nor female, which last at least is an absolute necessity for the perpetuation of the race?

. "The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life" ( 1 John 2:16 ). Do you want a law?

it.

For what the law is actually saying to you is that you should love God supremely and love your neighbor as yourself.

This immense privilege had no connection with law whatever. Surely now there was some link with the twelve! On this the apostle reasons. To have been with the Messiah, the hearer of His words and the witness of His work, up to His departure, was ever a condition to those who were accustomed to the twelve apostles. The law holds out but never gives blessing.

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Obeying the truth will make life impossible. hands of God he comes to another and most obvious is.


And no wonder. but for what he can get out of it. This may be concluded from what frequently happens in the divine dispensations, as well as from an express declaration by the hand of Moses. The apostle turns this into an admirable piece of divine reasoning in defence of the gospel. There are two things in the Christian; he has a life, a new life in Christ, but he has also, the Holy Ghost. That is, the most simple and most obvious truth is just the last thing a man thinks about. Paul had written in the earlier part, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me" ( Galatians 2:20 ). It is not a question of law at all. Here it means that tranquillity of heart which derives from the all-pervading consciousness that our times are in the hands of God. And of course, that's exactly what the temptation led Adam to is fleshly domination. Love (as Jesus taught, Mark 12:31 and parallels) includes everything Galatians 5:15 - Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT) They danced and laughed and sang his praises.

Paul reminded Christians: In this case, happily, the brethren near at hand went along with him in heart. The spiritual Christian discovers the righteous requirements of God's law being fulfilled in and through him. The apostleship of Paul, therefore, was entirely independent of Jerusalem and the twelve.

That they should not strive with one another, but love one another. By biting and devouring (89) he means, I think, slanders, accusations, reproaches, and every other kind of offensive language, as well as acts of injustice arising either from fraud or violence.

Josephus ascribed it to Jezebel when she built a temple to Baal in Jerusalem. One of them fell from his place, but the vacancy was filled up directly. If he wrote to the Romans;, it was transcribed, or at any rate written, by another. I need money to get home. Who put up a road-block to stop you obeying the truth? If I am a mere man, a sinner, the end of that is (for responsibility is not like power, destroyed by sin) the eternal judgment of God. The case is hit off exactly to the life. The apostle specifies the works of the flesh, which must be watched against and mortified, and the fruits of the Spirit, which must be cherished and brought forth (Galatians 5:19; Galatians 5:19, c.) and by specifying particulars he further illustrates what he is here upon. That it is our duty and interest in this struggle to side with the better part, to side with our convictions against our corruptions and with our graces against our lusts. The consequence is, "If ye are led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law;" and more than this, if we are producing the fruits of the Spirit, he can easily say, "Against such there is no law." The way they triumph over these wrong desires is not by putting themselves under the law, but by allowing Gods Spirit to direct their lives (16-18). "Now, the other way to be righteous is through faith in Jesus Christ, receiving that grace of God through Him, where God accounts me, as He did Abraham, righteous because I believe. ] A climactic figurative designation of the hateful working of party enmity, in which they endeavoured mutually to hurt and destroy one another.

You cannot weaken his apostleship without endangering the very gospel that you have received yourselves. Things which were once a mystery and I couldn't understand are now very understandable. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

There was no difference either way. Those who lived in Jerusalem were too prone to preserve the clothes and the cradle which had their place and use at first, but had no claim to be kept up among the Gentiles. "Are ye so foolish? Paul was confident the Galatians would resist the one leading them in the wrong direction. For the foundation was at stake. By-and-by will be fulfilled the promised earthly blessing, and power, and glory for Israel like the sand and the stars.

But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. It isn't a liberty to live after my flesh. It means to give up your own desires, goals, and ambitions for power and glory, and to put yourself at the service of others.

It will appear that we are the disciples of Christ indeed when we have love one to another (John 13:35); and, where this temper is kept up, if it do not wholly extinguish those unhappy discords that are among Christians, yet at least it will so far accommodate them that the fatal consequences of them will be prevented. and devour one another -- As wild beasts do. I'm going to walk in love." It will create a lot of envy and a lot of provocation. For Peter is not said to have withdrawn from the Lord's table where the uncircumcised met, but from the simple matter of eating with the Gentiles. So, "do not use your liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love," the real key is love, "serve one another.". For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, which answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. It is a grim illustration at which a polite society raises its eyebrows, but it would be intensely real to the Galatians who knew all about the priests of Cybele. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump ( Galatians 5:9 ).

So the minute I start peddling books and saying, "Now, to really understand the Bible, you better read my books, because you'll just, you know, read the Bible, you'll be in darkness. Not at all, says the apostle, you are returning straight into your old heathenism without knowing it yourselves. And so, Rev 21:8 if you want the reference on that. Paul now warns them about a consequence of this.

They're covered by the fact that you're walking in love.
Then, bringing in the name of Jerusalem, the Spirit leads him to apply the prophecy of Isaiah, which shows that millennial Israel (in their turn abandoning self-righteousness, and made free by God's grace in Christ) will look back and count as their own those now brought in as Christians, and find far more children begotten by the gospel, in the time of their own desolation, than even when they flourished of old, and had ,all that earthly power and glory could give. Even as in a natural man there is something of this struggle (the convictions of his conscience and the corruption of his own heart strive with one another; his convictions would suppress his corruptions, and his corruptions silence his convictions), so in a renewed man, where there is something of a good principle, there is a struggle between the old nature and the new nature, the remainders of sin and the beginnings of grace; and this Christians must expect will be their exercise as long as they continue in this world. In that chapter of Romans we have a man converted indeed, but without liberty, and consequently powerless. Why can't the Mormons tell you that? He habitually measured things not so much by their bearing on Jews or Gentiles as by their effect on Christ's glory.

That is, liberty in Jesus Christ.

In his case the breach with man was evident; the association with heaven, and not Jerusalem, was too plain to be disputed or evaded.

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