We are about to enter the realm that remains beyond the fence, that those of the Law and humanity's many religions have to claim over as a thief to reach (John 10:1, 10), to escape from their bondage. Wherein those who become born from above wonder as sojourners and as free men. For this purpose and reason I shall restate the last line of chapter 4 which reads in this fashion in the ESV, "So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman."
Galatians 5:1, 2-6, 7-12, 13-15 "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole Law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the Law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait(G553) for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of Him that calleth you. A little leaven (religion's legalism, Matthew 16:6, 11-12, Mark 8:15, Luke 12:1) leaveneth the whole lump. I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. I would they were even cut off which trouble you.
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law (of Agape) is fulfilled in one word, even in this (quoted from Leviticus 19:18); "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another." (KJV)
Galatians 5:1, 2-6, 7-12, 13-15 "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole Law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the Law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait(G553) for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from Him who calls you. A little leaven (religion's legalism, Matthew 16:6, 11-12, Mark 8:15, Luke 12:1) leavens the whole lump. I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law (of Agape) is fulfilled in one word (quoted from Leviticus 19:18): "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another." (ESV)
Galatians 5:1, 2-6, 7-12, 13-15 "Christ defines our faith; he is our freedom from anything from which the Law could never free us! Find your footing in this freedom. Do not let religion trip you up again and harass you to a system of broken rules and obligations! (In this parallel, Christ represents Sarah, the faith-mother who birthed us in the resurrection. The rock-hewn tomb represents Sarah's dead womb! [1Peter 1:3])
I, Paul, am of the opinion, and you can quote me: If you would again consider circumcision as necessary to improve your standing before GOD, then you make Christ of no relevance to yourselves. Then you might as well delete Him from your life altogether! (By still holding on to any Jewish sentiment like keeping the Sabbath, etc, has the same effect.) I will state it categorically, that if you endorse circumcision as a means to obtain righteousness, you are immediately obliged to keep the whole law! (In for a penny, in for a pound!) Law-righteousness has nothing in common with grace-righteousness; they are opposites. As impossible as it is for anyone to travel in two opposite directions at the same time, equally irrelevant Christ becomes to anyone who continues to pursue righteousness under the Law. Our minds are made up; there is absolutely no advantage for anyone to pursue righteousness in the flesh; righteousness is a spirit dimension reality and can only be [1]embraced by faith. What GOD believes is our exclusive reference. (Any other basis for righteousness leaves humanity falling hopelessly short. The word, [1,G553 from G575 and G1551 from G1537 and G1209] apekdechomai, is often translated, to wait for; the components however, point to a favorable embrace; (G575) apo, is from (G1537), ek out of, and (G1209) dechomai to grasp, to welcome hospitably, to embrace.) GOD believes that we are fully represented in Christ, which takes circumcision or any contribution of the flesh out of the equation. Agape fuels faith. (It is easy for Agape to believe!)
You started off like an athlete on a mission, who distracted you? You seemed so completely persuaded about the truth! GOD is not confused about you. He surnamed you! It is impossible to hide the effect of the smallest amount of yeast; the process of fermentation is immediately triggered. (A little bit of religion's legalism corrupts a person's whole life. [Matthew 16:6, 11-12, Mark 8:15, Luke 12:1]) In spite of the interference of those "law-loving" people, I remain convinced about our like-mindedness in the LORD. It does not matter what high profile position anyone may occupy, do not let their title disturb or distract you! The very Law they promote will be their judgment! (The fermentation process is unavoidable when you host a legalistic mind-set.) would i compromise the message of the cross and preach circumcision just to avoid persecution! How insane would that be? (This whole matter boils down to thinking that justification is the result of something we still have to do, or knowing that it is the result of something GOD has already done!) These people who are so keen to cut off things should cut off their legalistic religious influence in your lives altogether!
Your redeemed identity defines your freedom, my Fathers! But freedom does not mean that you are now free to again employ the Law. On the contrary, your freedom finds its most complete expression in a Agape that serves one another! As free as you are to this law, so enslaved you are now to Agape! (You are at last free to live the life of your original design.) Agape already completes this law: this is the nitty-gritty of this law; to value your fellow human as equal to yourself. (Which was again and again proved to be completely impossible to achieve by employing the DIY tree-principles.) the best efforts under the legalistic mind-set sooner or later ended up in strife: back-bitting, tearing one another apart, devouring and consuming one another. (It gets ugly! See how divorce destroys love dreams; exbusiness partners fighting one another in court; consider how worthless life becomes in war!) (The Mirror)
In our next visit the LORD willing, we shall look at our keeping in step with the Spirit. Until then may the LORD GOD reveal his life in you and yours.
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