Galatians Introduction, HQ Bible Study Team
CHRIST HAS SET US FREE
Passage: Galatians 5:1~15  
Key verse: 1a
Freedom in Christ
5 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.(A) Stand firm,(B) then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.(C)
2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised,(D) Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.(E) 4 You who are trying to be justified by the law(F) have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.(G) 5 For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope.(H) 6 For in Christ Jesus(I) neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value.(J) The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.(K)
7 You were running a good race.(L) Who cut in on you(M) to keep you from obeying the truth? 8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.(N) 9 “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.”(O) 10 I am confident(P) in the Lord that you will take no other view.(Q) The one who is throwing you into confusion,(R) whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty. 11 Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted?(S) In that case the offense(T) of the cross has been abolished. 12 As for those agitators,(U) I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!
Life by the Spirit
13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.(V) But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a];(W) rather, serve one another(X) humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b](Y) 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
Footnotes
- Galatians 5:13 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit; also in verses 16, 17, 19 and 24; and in 6:8.
- Galatians 5:14 Lev. 19:18
Cross references
- Galatians 5:1 : ver 13; Jn 8:32; Gal 2:4; S Ro 7:4
- Galatians 5:1 : S 1Co 16:13
- Galatians 5:1 : S Mt 23:4; Gal 2:4
- Galatians 5:2 : ver 3, 6, 11, 12; Ac 15:1
- Galatians 5:3 : Ro 2:25; Gal 3:10; Jas 2:10
- Galatians 5:4 : S Ro 3:28
- Galatians 5:4 : Heb 12:15; 2Pe 3:17
- Galatians 5:5 : Ro 8:23, 24
- Galatians 5:6 : S Ro 16:3
- Galatians 5:6 : S 1Co 7:19
- Galatians 5:6 : 1Th 1:3; Jas 2:22
- Galatians 5:7 : S 1Co 9:24
- Galatians 5:7 : Gal 3:1
- Galatians 5:8 : S Ro 8:28
- Galatians 5:9 : 1Co 5:6
- Galatians 5:10 : S 2Co 2:3
- Galatians 5:10 : Php 3:15
- Galatians 5:10 : ver 12; Gal 1:7
- Galatians 5:11 : Gal 4:29; 6:12
- Galatians 5:11 : S Lk 2:34
- Galatians 5:12 : ver 10
- Galatians 5:13 : S ver 1
- Galatians 5:13 : S ver 24; 1Co 8:9; 1Pe 2:16
- Galatians 5:13 : 1Co 9:19; 2Co 4:5; Eph 5:21
- Galatians 5:14 : Lev 19:18; S Mt 5:43; Gal 6:2
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Source:  BibleGateway
Christ has set us free from the law. But some Galatians were persuaded by the false teachers that they also had to be circumcised. Paul argued against this. Those who bought this argument were submitting themselves to the whole law. And the law cannot save. They had thrown Christ away as of no value at all. Righteousness does not come from circumcision or not being circumcised. It comes only through faith in Jesus Christ. Faith, expressing itself in love for God and for others, is all that we need.
2. You are free, but don't indulge your sinful nature (7-15)
The false teachers (Judaizers) had tripped up many Galatians in their race of faith. But Paul was sure that God would remind them of the truth of the gospel and steer them clear of false teachings. And he condemned those who had led the Galatian Christians astray in no uncertain terms. (12) They were free because of Christ. But they shouldn't use their freedom to indulge in their sinful nature. Christ made them free to love and serve God and others.
Prayer: Lord, thank you that Christ made us free. Help me to love you and others as Christ wants from us.
One Word: I am free because of Christ