Lesson Six

The fifth chapter of Galatians is tied closely to the thoughts at the end of Galatians 4. Paul believes that you have to choose your mother carefully. So, who is your mother? She will be either Hagar the slave or Sarah the freewoman. Paul’s advice? It is "for freedom Christ has set us free" (Galatians 1:1a). Since that is the case, "stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery" (Galatians 1:1b). This is a key verse because Paul makes it clear you cannot do both, rely on the law for salvation and receive it as a gift from Christ. You must decide!

In the next two paragraphs, Paul "turns up the heat" on those who want to combine salvation under Christ and the keeping of the law of Moses. His assertion is that "if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you" (Galatians 5:2). Keep in mind that circumcision is not the problem, it is the symptom that it represents: submission to the law for salvation. It might seem easy to submit to circumcision; however, the problem is that if you keep one part of the law, you are "obligated to keep the whole law" (Galatians 5:3). The student is encouraged to read James 2:10-11 also. Paul states that the cut that severs the skin in circumcision (when used as a way of attempting to be justified) is also the cut that severs one from God’s grace (Galatians 5:4). His conclusion of this thought is that "in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love" (Galatians 5:6). This is a faith that allows us to "eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness" (Galatians 5:5). Ones who have chosen this faith have chosen Sarah, the freewoman, as their mother. They are free from the slavery of the law.

Paul begins this section by considering how well the Galatians had been doing and questioning, "Who hindered you from obeying the truth?" (Galatians 5:7). One thing is for sure, it was not the one who called them to the gospel, that is Christ (Galatians 5:8). Paul expresses his confidence that the Galatians will follow his beliefs (Galatians 5:10) and he reminds them that he certainly does not hold the view that circumcision should be practiced. As proof to this he reminds them that if it were his belief, he would not be persecuted as he is now (Galatians 5:11). To emphasize his point about how strongly he feels about this issue, he states, "I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!" (Galatians 5:12).

There is a desire on the part of Paul to help the Galatians understand that they should not misuse the freedom of salvation by grace rather than works by giving "an opportunity for the flesh." Rather, they should "through love serve one another" (Galatians 5:13). The choices are to "love your neighbor as yourself" or to "bite and devour one another" (Galatians 5:14-15).

In the final section of this chapter, Paul draws a sharp contrast between "walking by the Spirit" and the "desires of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16). In Galatians 5:17-24, the comparison is drawn. Below is a chart of the difference in the two lifestyles. The student is encouraged to use a Bible dictionary or concordance to find other passages that will help you see the meaning of unfamiliar words.

Paul’s exhortation is that, "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit" (Galatians 5:25). Some of the things that will not happen in the life of ones who walk by the Spirit are summarized in Galatians 5:26, "Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another."