Galatians 5:[1] 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.
Since we are children of Heavenly Jerusalem we are not subject to the law which is of the earth (Galatians 4:24-25). (Romans 5:13//Romans 6:1-7//Romans 7:1-4). But if you chose to be circumcised in an effort to comply with the law of Moses you are then obligated to comply with the law. Either the gospel is sufficient for salvation or it is not. It cannot be a combination of the work of the cross and our own efforts to maintain salvation.
The “ye” of verse four are those who are trusting in their works for salvation and righteousness before God. The “we” of verse five are those of us who have put our trust in Christ and by faith receive God’s righteousness as did Abraham. We are neither saved nor maintain salvation on our own merits. We who are born again will receive God’s righteousness through faith and that not in this life but in the one to come. Just as we will receive a new body at the Rapture.
The sin, death, and Hell question was settled the moment we became a citizen of Heavenly Jerusalem and put our trusut in Christ (Ephesians 1:12-14)
5:[6] For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
[7] Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
[8] This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.
[9] A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
[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.
This thought is repeated in Galatians 6:15. We are neither Jew nor Gentile but rather a new creature created in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28)
The body at Galatia had been following the teaching of Paul but now someone had come in and began to teach them they were made perfect by the flesh or there were acts needed to be done by us in order to be saved. This teaching is not of the Lord but man. He compares the act of being circumcised for perfection as a SIN. Leaven is a type of sin. Whomever is teaching this false doctrine will face the consequences from the Lord for his false teaching.
[11] And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.
[12] I would they were even cut off which trouble you.
[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.
The teaching we are not under the law is offensive to some but it is the truth of the Gospel. Paul says he could avoid conflict by preaching we must keep the law. Paul refused to compromise the truth in an effort to get along with those teaching falsehood. He would not be a prisoner of the Jews if he complied with preaching the law. Just because we have the promise of God’s righteousness and are not under the law we are not to use this as an excuse to sin but rather being dead to the flesh we should leave a godly life pleasing to the Father. The Jewish priesthood had the most to lose by Christianity. With no observance of the law where would the priesthood be? Temple worship? The authority enjoyed by the priests? Remembering the priesthood was supported entirely through the law having no other trade or support. If the Christians were under circumcision at least the natural choice to do the act would be a former Jewish priest (according to Acts many of the priesthood turned to Christ) and who better to teach new Gentile converts about the law than a former priest? (False religions are more concerned with profits than the prophets) Titus 1:10-11
[14] For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
[15] But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
[16] This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
Arguing and strife among the brethren is not of God. We are to operate under love. (Romans 7:17-8:4)
If you walk under the leadership of the Holy Spirit and allow Him to control you then the flesh being dead will not trouble you.
[17] For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
[18] But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
We are in a spiritual battle every day of our walk here on earth. We need not concern ourselves with dos and don’ts if we are walking under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 7:12-25)
[19] Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
[20] Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
[21] Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
The flesh indeed will not inherit. The Christian may lose rewards but not their salvation. For a Christian salvation is not based upon their work but on the finished work of the cross. Our rewards are based on our works. (1 Corinthians 3:10-15) Christians have become a new creature in Christ.
These are not things you do when being led by the Spirit but rather when you allow your dead body control you. Note some of these are physical acts while others are attitudes and thoughts.
Colossians 3:6//Ephesians 5:5//1 Corinthians 6:9
[22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
[23] Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Fruit is a natural product of a healthy plant.
We are PLANTED in Christ’s death. Death to self and self concerns. Death to our old ways. (Romans 6:5)
We are ROOTED in love, Christ and faith. (Ephesians 3:17//Colossians 2:7)
We are WATERED by the Word (Ephesians 5:26)
It is administered by the Holy Spirit. (Titus 3:5//1 Corinthians 6:11)
Our “Sunlight” is the Lord Himself. Plants always turn towards the sunlight.
11 Corinthians 4:6 Colossians 1:12-14 1 Thessalonians 5:5-6 Ephesians 5:8-20
[24] And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
[25] If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
[26] Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
The moment we accepted Christ as our Savior our body was placed on the cross with Him and His death became our death and His time in Hell became our own. We are in Christ and in Him we are a new creature.
Romans 6:1-11///Romans 4:6-11, 22-24////Romans 5:13////Colosians 3:1-3//Galatians 6:14
If you have been born again you are alive in the Spirit. John 3:6-7
Envying and vain glory are works of our dead flesh and signs of carnality or lack of spiritual maturity.