Week ten: 5.1-15 Circumcision is of no value, we are free

Rev. Stanley L. Derickson Ph.D.

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5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

This is probably the key verse if you would want one; it sums up the book fairly well.

The Galatians were called to "stand fast" or persevere, or stand firm in their liberty. The tense is a present, so keep standing would be the thought of the verse. Don't take that stand and leave it, don't let down liberty and take on bondage - stand and keep standing firm.

So many fail to stand firm in what they believe today. Many are the times when I stood firm and suffered the consequences and costs, but the knowledge of standing firm was a great comfort. When doctrinal position is questioned, we must stand firm, when life position is questioned, we must stand firm, and when moral position is questioned, we must stand firm for what is right, honorable and Biblical.

Some will quake at this next comment, but the word liberty has the thought of what we call license today. It is the freedom to do whatever we please, whether it is right or wrong. It is freedom to follow Christ and it is freedom to follow Satan - we are free in Christ to do whatever we want, whenever we want, and for as long as we want.

Now, before the tar is warmed for the feathers, let me say, we are free to do so, but our love for Christ, our desire to serve Christ, and our devotion to following Christ will not allow us to live outside the constraints placed for our voluntary acceptance as believers. We can live against God, but we ought not.

Too many today in the church take this liberty very seriously and live as they like rather than placing themselves under the constraints of Christian living. Sad. Many a pastor has been told to mind their own business when confronting a believer with sin.

"Make free" is the verb form of the word translated liberty. The liberty is that freedom given us, and the "make free" is that which makes us at liberty. It is the singular act of Christ which gives us the liberty in which we do and should stand firm.

"And be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." relates to the belief of the Galatians that they had to go back under the law. "Entangled" is just what it describes in our language and culture. It is to be ensnared in, tangled up in, and not able to escape from. The law followed is an ensnarement to the believer.

Now, lest anyone get the wrong picture of the law, be sure to understand that it is an ensnarement to the believer and the believer only. To the lost person it is not an ensnarement, but a guide toward the Gospel which can free them.

This is a simple and inadequate illustration, but it will give you a little feel for this idea. Consider the many smokers that have left this addiction, left its health inhibiting clutches, and left its pocket book robbing character, for the freedom of not being tied to such a habit, THEN returning to that habit and all its consequences, having been free of all that and then going back to smoking and becoming ensnared again.

I have observed this several times, and still wonder at how the person can do that, how they can understand the danger, the addiction, and the hurt of the habit, then to enjoy the freedom, the good health, and the added finance only to turn again to the dark days of being tied to a habit that leads only to the grave for so many.

And here we have people leaving that freedom in Christ for the confines of the legal system than binds them in such a complete and stifling way.

2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.

The term "circumcised" is a present tense, so he is not suggesting that some were contemplating presenting themselves for physical circumcision, but that they already had gone through this procedure.

I think verse six sets the way Paul is using the word circumcision here. He is using circumcision as the term to encompass all that keeping the law requires. He is saying that this right, this procedure, this sign is of no use to you spiritually, and that Christ is the key.

He is saying that this sign of the Sinaitic covenant is no longer a valued act for the person desiring to follow God. It will not make you more spiritual, it will not make you more acceptable, and it will not make you more valuable to God. It can only be that step which leads you into obedience to the entire law of the old way which is physical and not spiritual.

What Paul is not saying when he says "Christ shall profit you nothing" is not that if you are Christ's and decide to follow the law then you are lost. He is suggesting only that if you set aside Christ, you will have no profit from him. He cannot free you, He cannot be your guide, and He cannot do a thing for you - you will be bound to obey the law instead.

3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

Wonder if anyone has counted the ways that Paul has already stated this concept to the Galatians, and still he pounds it home one more time. If you place yourself in attempting to obey one part of the law, you are bound to do the whole law.

The suggestion is and it is truth, that if you even decide to keep the Sabbath as your day before God, because the law requires it, you are debtor to follow every single letter of the law. What a total burden to take upon oneself, yet many of the Galatians evidently were contemplating it or had already done it.

4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

Now, here we have a serious statement of fact from Paul, not that the person is lost, but that they have chosen to follow one of two paths toward salvation. One is the law which cannot save and the other is grace which will definitely save. If they have chosen to follow the law, they have chosen not to follow grace where they once stood. They have turned from or fallen from grace to follow the law.

Christ and grace cannot assist them in their desire to be justified by following the law. This is contrasted in the next verse with those believers that follow grace toward eternal salvation.

5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

Simple fact of where Paul and other believers are in their spiritual life - living by faith and enjoying a righteous life through the Spirit of God.

6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Now, this passage is a clear concise statement that might answer a question that some men might come up within this area of circumcision. If I am circumcised physically am I bound to live the law? No. If I am not circumcised, should I be? If I am not circumcised am I more spiritual than one that is not? No to both of these questions.

Paul clearly says to the believer that circumcision or uncircumcision is irrelevant to the believer, that living by faith is what is needed. No matter what our parents or the government decided when we were born about circumcision - none of it relates to our spiritual salvation.

7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?

The word used here to give the idea of hinder is a word used of someone running out onto the track in a race and jostling a runner so as to throw him off track or off step so that his good race is quite hampered.

It seems that Paul did not know what the Judaizers/Judaizers were, only that they had done their work and that some had been mislead into false doctrine. This is a straight forward statement and a clear question. Who is it that did this to you?

Paul must have desired to know the source of this false doctrine. I have to wonder if he didn't plan to confront it personally at a later time.

8 This persuasion [cometh] not of him that calleth you.

No, matter where it came from Paul guarantees that it did not come from Christ. This would be to combat anyone suggesting that accepting Christ might bring them to understand the need of the law. Christ frees, He does not bind.

9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

Oh, how true and oh how sad to see pastors allowing a person to teach false doctrine in their church.

We decided to try a little church we had knowledge of - the pastor was from a good school so we went to Sunday school. Much to my surprise the teacher was implying that there could be errors in the Scriptures. He suggested that a certain passage might be wrong. Then one of the class seemed to be in agreement with the teacher and by the end of the class it was clear that the entire class had a very low view of inerrancy and of the trustworthiness of the Scriptures.

I was sure that the pastor could not agree to their view of things but decided maybe I'd better check. I called and asked about the class. He told me that the class was a split off from another church that felt comfortable in his church so they had their little class and attended the church.

How ridiculous to allow wolves to have free access to the sheep. Had we been an immature couple in the Lord that wandered into that class we could have received serious false doctrine.

Oh, how dangerous to allow wolves to teach the sheep. When false doctrine is found it must be rooted out for the sake of the sheep and the prosperity of Christ's church.

10 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.

Paul leaves this false teacher to his judgment before the Lord, and trusts that the Galatians will understand that leaven needs to be removed before it does its damage.

I Peter 5.1-4 relates to this as well as Heb. 13.17.

11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.

He has already alluded to the fact that those of bondage persecute those of freedom and grace, and he states clearly that he is persecuted, implying that it was coming from the Judaizers. Evidently someone had accused Paul of preaching obedience to the law and he logically dispels this rumor.

12 I would they were even cut off which trouble you.

This could relate to one of two things. That something outside the church would cut off the Judaizers access to them, or that they would remove the Judaizers from their midst. Paul uses a future tense here thus they have not been cut off as yet, but his desire is clear - that they WOULD be cut off.

I think from his illustration of Hagar and Ishmael that his desire is for the people of the Galatian church to cut off these false teachers. In the church, only the church can cut off false teaching - unless the Lord might intervene and take care of the problem, by physically removing the person in some manner.

13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only [use] not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

There are three items of truth here. We are free, but we are not to use the freedom to sin; rather we should serve one another.

Now, that "serve one another" is a phrase that is a study of its own. If you want an introduction to the thought look for "one another" in my writings (In the book Notes On Lots of Other Things). Or better yet, just study it yourself, the New Testament speaks of many things that we are to do for one another - take time to study this important topic.

14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, [even] in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Here we have quite a statement from a man that has just condemned the law and its keeping in a number of ways over several cases of proof and he suggests that loving your neighbor can fulfill the whole thing.

I suspect he wants to say, if you really want some relationship to the law then follow what the Lord told us to do - love our neighbor - neighbor being the church brethren (assumed from the context).

This could be a quote from the Old Testament, or it could have been something that Paul heard from the Lord while here on earth or even when Christ was teaching Paul. Luke 10.27 mentions it when the lawyer spoke to the Lord and in Matt. 19.19 it is mentioned by the Lord when he spoke to the rich young ruler. Lev. 19.18 is the occurrence in the Old Testament.

15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

I think these final thoughts relate to how they cut off the false teachers. Be careful in your cutting, so to speak. The usual church life is one of serving one another, not cutting others off. Get rid of the leaven, but don't slice the whole loaf into stuffing makins.

APPLICATION:

1. The obvious application from the last verse might run along the lines, of how do we treat one another in the church? Are we loving and caring or do we tend to shun and despise those we don't like or those that tend to disagree with us?

Pastors ought to accept all their people, not just run off those they don't like or that they find themselves disagreeing with. Love one another as thyself - wow, how long has it been since your pastor showed that sort of love and concern to you, or your Sunday school teacher, or that person in the pew beside you, or for that matter, when have you treated those people with love, as you would yourself.

Well should we consider how we love ourselves so we can know how to love others in our church? Yes, it might be painful, but let’s do it.

I take really good care of my physical being.

I take really good care of my financial being.

I take really good care of my wants.

I take really good care of my desires.

I take really good care of my toys.

I take really good care of my mental being.

I take really good care of my everything.

In short if I have a need I love myself enough to fulfill that need. So, how does that relate to the church member next to me? You should be willing to fill some of their needs if it is within your ability. BUT FIRST, you must talk to them to a depth way past "good morning" or "welcome to our church, glad to have you" to find out what their need might be that particular day.

How do you react when someone asks for prayer for financial help, do you dive right in and pray about it or do you dive for your billfold? When someone needs a friend, do you suggest they call a pastor, or do you sit down and listen to their problems? I think we get the picture.

2. This may be a stretch to some, but I think it relates quite well. The passage made it clear that circumcision amounts to nothing positive or negative toward salvation - it is irrelevant, thus certainly not necessary in any way.

Let's take that one step further, is there any physical item that we do or can do to ourselves that will make us more saved? Of course not. The middle age monks that beat themselves and fasted long long days did so for naught. Salvation is by grace not by anything physical we can do. Staying slim, or getting heavy, exercising, not exercising - all are for nothing if you are trying to save yourself from eternal damnation. Some of these might well be healthy for you, but they will do you no good toward salvation.

3. Relating to a little leaven affecting the whole lump. Years ago we had a church situation where a vote was taken and the vote was unanimous to not do something. One couple disagreed with that decision even though they voted for it, I guess so they would seem supportive of the church. To effect a turn around they went to every home in the church (except ours - the pastor) and convinced everyone in the church to support their desires. They then approached me to ask that the subject be brought up again for another vote.

Now, it wasn't that the decision was so important that it couldn't have been voted on and changed, but it was the attitude of going behind the back, of sneakiness if you will, the attitude of getting your own way if you will, the attitude of my desire is more important than the leadership of the pastor - these were the real issues that the couple never became cognizant of, they simply got their own way.

Now, they didn't ruin the church, they didn't run the pastor off, nor did they become leaders in the church, but they did affect the entire lump in a negative way for several weeks.

4. There is a discussion that needs to be considered. When Paul said we are free from the law, what law was he speaking of. Yes, the obvious is the Mosaic Law, and this is the one he is speaking of, however just what is meant by the "law." Is it the entire law, is it the moral law, or is it the ceremonial law.

Some make a distinction and suggest that he was doing away with the pomp and circumstance, but retained the moral aspect of the law. The question is, just where did Paul delineate this division? He doesn't and that is the problem these folks have. Paul simply states "the law" and does not divide nor subtract, just comments on the whole.

Others suggest that the ceremonial was done away with and that the moral aspect was incorporated in part into a new law the law of Christ (Gal. 6.2) Thus keeping the Sabbath becomes keeping the Sunday. Sunday becomes what the Sabbath was and all the commandments that are repeated in the New Testament (all but the Sabbath one) are taken into Christ's new law.

Others suggest that the laws that children are under vary with the age of the child, yet when they begin to mature some of the laws continue on into their new area of maturity while others drop away. This would account with Paul saying the law is done and we are free of it while the New Testament holds some of the old parts for the new.

Okay, that sounds kind of like the previous one. Hummm, seems they all are looking to keep some of that law around, when Paul said we are free of it! Did I miss something here?

Simply put, in my mind, the law is gone, done, finished, while Christ tells us that there are some new commands to keep. The Law of Moses is completely gone, both ceremonial and moral and we are free of it. Now, that we are free to live for Christ He has a few things that He would like us to do in life - namely some of these new commands.

Yes, look to the law for principles of life, yes, look to the law for guidance of life, but don't you dare attempt to start reading the Old Testament and applying it directly to your personal life in this age of grace. Grace has FREED us from the law. Where the law is reiterated in the New Testament, yes, go forth following it, but again - don't you dare suggest that it will help you gain access to heaven, for it most certainly will not.

5. I guess I rely too much on logic. If I had been in this congregation and the Judaizers started telling me that I needed to be circumcised to be saved, I would ask them then why can't my wife be saved? This business of circumcision/salvation is so ridiculous - it isn't even a part of it in the Old Testament - only a sign of belief in God and His promise to Abraham.

6. Note might be made also that it is faith and faith alone that brings us to God, not faith plus love, and not faith plus works. Some today emphasize love so much it is almost equal to faith in reaching God - not so.

7. In 5.5 we see the idea of waiting. The thought is used seven times in the New Testament, and it is that waiting for the Lord's return. You might find this an interesting side study. (Rom. 8:19, 23, 25; 1 Cor. 1:7; Gal. 5:5; Phil. 3:20; Heb. 9:28)

8. In verse thirteen we have the phrase "only [use] not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another." This to some commentators is showing that we all have a sin nature that, in essence, controls us and demands sin of us - some talk about having a new nature and that the new nature can help us fight that old nature, but their evidence is that the old nature wins most of the time.

NOT! We have a bent toward serving self or serving the desires of our body/mind/ambitions, but it does not control us, and it need not control us - all we have to do is walk with God and our bent toward self will be ineffectual. (See my theology on natures if you just can't resist digging into this topic.)

9. It is of note to me that Paul points out, in a round about way, that the Galatian Christians had little foresight into their recent teaching. They had not taken it to its logical end. Paul tells them in most clear terms that the end is bondage to the law.

Often times when sitting in church I see pastors/teachers making error of teaching because of this very lack of wisdom called foresight. They see what they see in a passage and teach it without thinking of the logical end of what they are teaching. If they would see the end of their line of thought they would know that they are teaching false doctrine. It may sound good on the surface, but what are the implications of what you are saying.

In a word the Galatians forgot to "think" through what they were accepting as truth.

The political community in America has this same short sightedness; they vote what sounds good without thinking of the ramifications of their vote. Foresight is needed in this life; else we might well miss the next!

10. There is a reality in our current world; we are one religion among many. We may believe we are the true and one religion but we are one of many that believe we are one and true. The Islamic men that destroyed the Twin towers on 9-11 are also quite faithful to their one and true god.

We must realize that there are many that would have us change what we are and what we believe. The Islamic also believes that circumcision is a ritual that they should pursue. This alone should tell us that their religion is false - if we believe Paul knew what he was talking about they are placing themselves under the law for righteousness.

I do not know just what law they are putting themselves under, though since they claim Abraham as their father I would assume at least in part they are looking to the keeping of the Mosaic Law as their duty. I searched some of their websites and found that they hold to the revelations given all the prophets, including Moses, so a following of the Law of Moses would be required. One site indicated this to be true, though others did not mention it.

This is a great passage for us to understand. One that is trusting the law is to be cut out of our congregation, while one that is trusting Christ is to be loved and trusted by the congregation. I would not want to set a division between the Muslim and the Christian, but Paul says there is one. We cannot accept the Muslim as a brother in any way, other than as created beings - as another man/woman in the human race. In that sense we accept and honor them, but we cannot accept them in any spiritual sense what so ever. They are of Ishmael and under bondage to the law if they see circumcision as part of their reaching heaven.

11. Barnes mentions an interpretation relating to the cutting off in verse 12 which was held by many of the church fathers including "Chrysostom, Theodoret, Theophylact, Jerome, Grotius, Rosenmuller, Koppe, and others." He does not elaborate on the position, but quotes Koppe in Latin. I don't do Latin, but I didn't need to know the language. I recognized enough words to understand that they felt that Paul was talking about some drastic action that they felt the people themselves should carry out. Suffice it to say that these church fathers were giving a little literal application of the Lord's command in Matt. 5.30 - enough said. (Matt. 5.30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast [it] from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not [that] thy whole body should be cast into hell.")

12. I have given some thought to the historical situation of these Galatians. They had been led to the Lord by a converted Jew that had been a strong and devout Jew. They had, at best, a copy of the Old Testament for their Scripture. They would have been excited about living for God so would turn to His word for direction.

Now, if I were in Galatia in this situation, I have to understand why these people were so easily sidetracked. They would have been easily swayed toward taking on some of the practices of the law thinking they would help them become more spiritual. I have to think that they were a well prepared plot to plant and raise false doctrine.

Don't be too hard on the Galatian people that were hoodwinked by the false teachers. They needed to have the guidance of truth. Don't be too hard on the people of our age either, when they go off after false doctrine and change their lives to be in keeping with that false doctrine.

Truth is the key and it is the church's duty to deliver it. Too bad many churches are delivering up the false rather than the true.