Galatians 6:11

Galatians 6:11 says, Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.  Paul was very concerned about the false teachings that were beginning to come into the church at Galatia.  He wrote the letter himself, not dictating it to someone else to write it down.  I believe that this made it even more personal and ensured that nothing could be misrepresented by someone writing these things down for him.  Verse twelve adds, As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.  Paul said that those who wanted to make themselves right through the flesh, or their own goodness in the keeping of the law, demanded that gentile Christians be circumcised.  When they did this, they were negating salvation by faith in the sacrifice of Christ on the cross as being the only way to and requirement for salvation.  Verse thirteen continues, For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.  Paul said that those who were demanding that believers in Christ be circumcised were unable to keep the law.  They could not be reconciled to God through the law, yet wanted to glory in placing others under the same law that condemned them.  Verse fourteen declares, But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.  Paul declared that his only glory was in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Christ was not his Lord alone but is the Lord of all who believe in Him.  Paul said that through Christ he was crucified to the world and the world was crucified to him.  He no longer lived by the flesh but lived by faith in Christ.  Paul asked God to forbid him from glorying in anything other than the cross, and so should we.  Verse fifteen adds, For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.  This was the point of disagreement in the church.  Paul said that neither being circumcised nor not being circumcised mattered.  We are a new creature through Christ, and nothing that we did or didn't do before matters.  We are simply to live under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Verse sixteen continues, And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.  Paul prayed for peace to those who believed in salvation by faith in Christ alone, who were the Israel of God.  Verse seventeen states, From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.  Paul asked that no one trouble him by questioning his faith, because he bore the marks of Christ.  This was no particular mark that a believer must have, but the marks that Paul had suffered from being punished for his belief in salvation for all who believed in Christ.  Verse eighteen continues, Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. Unto the Galatians written from Rome.  Paul may have been writing to the Galatians to correct them, but he did so that they might know the peace that comes from having Christ as the Lord of their lives.  We today must also want that same peace for everyone, especially for those who proclaim Christ as their Savior and Lord.  We cannot allow anyone to add to the requirements of the gospel.

Galatians 6:1

Galatians 6:1 says, Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.  Paul tells us that if we see someone that has been overtaken by a fault, or fallen into a sinful action, that we who live by the Spirit are to restore them with a spirit of love.  Paul did not say that we are to condemn that person and look down on them.  I believe instead that we need to consider that having an attitude of moral superiority leaves us open to temptation, since this attitude would not be from the Spirit but from the flesh.  Verse two adds, Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.  Paul tells us that we are to help those who are burdened.  We are all, as followers of Christ, to live by the example that He set.  Verse three continues, For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.  This is a warning against self-justification or self-pride.  When we begin to glorify ourselves, we are deceiving ourselves.  We are all saved by grace alone and cannot begin to glorify ourselves.  Verse four states, But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.  Paul said that if we prove ourselves by the work done for God that we might rejoice, but only to ourselves, and not seeking the praise of others.  Verse five adds, For every man shall bear his own burden.  This seems to contradict verse two that tells us to bear one another's burdens, but it really doesn't.  Speaking to an individual, Paul tells us we are responsible for our own actions and should accept that responsibility.  When speaking to the church, Paul tells us we are to help those who are struggling.  I believe this also means that even though other people are not responsible for our burdens, if we are doing our best to overcome them, then we should be willing to accept their help.  Verse six continues, Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.  Paul said that if we have been taught the word of God that we are to share it with others.  This also means that some are called to be teachers, and as such they should utilize their gift to benefit others.  Verse seven declares, Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.  Paul tells us that we may fool people, but we will never be able to mock God by proclaiming to follow Him while sowing seeds of corruption.  We will one day reap the harvest of what we sow.  Verse eight adds, For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.  If we are living by the rules of the flesh and ignoring the salvation and leadership that come through Christ, then we are sowing to corruption, or to temporal things.  If we are sowing under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, then we are sowing to everlasting life.  Verse nine continues, And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.  Paul advises us to not grow weary of well doing, which would mean living for God's glory under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  We are to do what God calls us to do as long as we are able to do it.  God will always empower us to do what He calls us to do.  Verse ten concludes, As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.  Paul calls on Christians to do good to everyone.  We are to have a concern for even those who may despise us and are to share the love of Christ with them.  Paul also says this should especially be true of the household of faith, or our fellow Christians.  We are to follow the will of God through the leadership of the Holy Spirit in our relationship to all people.

Galatians 5:13

Galatians 5:13 says, For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.  Paul issues a warning in this verse.  He said that even though we are called to liberty in Christ that we are not to use that liberty to justify actions of the flesh.  We cannot claim that since all our sins are forgiven through Christ that it does not matter if we commit a sin.  Paul tells us that this liberty in Christ should lead us to serve one another in love.  Verse fourteen adds, For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  Paul said that if the Galatians wanted to live under the law, that all the law was fulfilled in one commandment, and that was that we love our neighbor as we love yourself.  Verse fifteen continues, But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.  I believe that Paul was warning against fighting within the church.  If we begin to fight against one another based on additions to the gospel, we will all destroy our witness for Christ.  Verse sixteen states, This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.  Paul gives us the solution for eliminating disputes among Christians.  He tells us to walk in the Spirit.  When we do this, we will not be tempted by the flesh, or the things of this world.  Verse seventeen Paul adds, 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.  Paul warns us that being led by the things of this world puts us at war with God's Holy Spirit.  We cannot follow both.  Verse eighteen continues, But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.  When we accept Christ as our Savior, we are freed from trying to be justified by the law.  At the same time, we are to make Christ our Lord and live under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  In the next three verses, Paul speaks of the works of the flesh.  Verse nineteen says, Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,  Verse twenty adds, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,  Verse twenty-one continues, 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.  These are things that people are guilty of when they attempt to live justified by the law, and even being guilty of one of these keeps anyone from inheriting the kingdom of God.  We do not earn our place in the kingdom of God but inherit it by faith.  The next two verse speak of the fruit of the Spirit.  Verse twenty-two states, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  Verse twenty-three adds, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  Paul contrasted the works of the law with the works of the Spirit, and he concluded that there was no law that could stand against the work of the Spirit.  When we become Christ's through faith, we live under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and become a new person.  Verse twenty-four continues, And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. Paul said those who are Christ's have been crucified to the lusts of the flesh.  Verse twenty-five says, If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.  I believe that Paul was saying that our actions should be consistent with our words.  If we live under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, then we do not need to attempt to justify ourselves by the law.  Verse twenty-six adds, Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.  I believe that Paul was warning against trying to prove that we are somehow superior to other Christians by any earthly act.  We are to glorify God and love others through our faith in Christ.

Galatians 5:1

Galatians 5:1 says, Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.  Paul told the Galatian Christians to stand fast in their liberty through Christ.  We must do likewise today.  If anyone begins to add anything to salvation other than individual faith in Christ, then they would put us back under the bondage of the law.  Verse two adds, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.  We need to remember that this whole discussion was about the need for the Gentile Christians to be circumcised in order to be truly saved.  Paul said that if circumcision, a sign of obedience to the law of God, was necessary for salvation then Christ would be of no profit to them.  The only way that we can benefit from the sacrifice of Christ on the cross is when we acknowledge that faith in Him alone brings salvation.  Verse three continues, For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.  Paul told them, and us, that if we are to be subject to salvation by any part of the law that we must keep every part of the law in order to be saved.  Jesus taught that this was not just in our actions, but in our thoughts as well.  Anytime someone adds anything to faith in Christ alone as a requirement for salvation they negate salvation, because they reject God's plan that was in place from the beginning.  Verse four declares, Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.  We cannot be saved by the law and grace.  Under the law, we attempt to prove ourselves worthy of salvation, and under grace we declare that we can never be worthy.  God proclaims us worthy through His grace alone.  Verse five adds, For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.  Paul said that we are to be guided by the Holy Spirit as we await in hope of the righteousness of faith.  I don't believe that Paul meant that we live simply hoping that we can be made righteous, or acceptable to God, but that he meant we live under the leadership of the Holy Spirit knowing that we are made righteous through Christ alone.  Verse six continues, For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.  Paul tells us that nothing else is required for salvation but faith in Christ which brings us salvation by the love of God.  Since God gives us salvation because of His love for us, I believe that we are supposed to share the gospel with the lost world out of love for them.  Verse seven asks, Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?  I believe that Paul was asking them if they began in faith, how could they now let anyone keep them by living by faith alone.  Verse eight adds, This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. Just as Paul told the Galatians, anything that is added to faith in Christ alone as the requirement for salvation does not come from God.  We are to live under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, Who alone advocates for and comforts us.  We do not need to go through anyone else, living or dead, to speak to God.  Verse nine continues, A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.  I believe Paul was warning us that a little bit of error about salvation can affect the whole truth of salvation.  It can therefore affect many people.  Verse ten states, 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 said he had faith that the Galatian Christians would remain faithful and not listen to the one who was causing trouble.  We likewise must remain true to the gospel and never allow anyone to cause us to doubt the truth of salvation by faith alone. Verse eleven adds, And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.  Paul said that if he preached circumcision as a requirement of salvation, as evidently some were saying, then why was he being persecuted by the Jews.  Verse twelve concludes, I would they were even cut off which trouble you.  Paul said he would rather have those who presented a false gospel cut off from the church.  We need to have that same attitude today.  If anyone comes attempting to add requirements to the gospel other than faith in Christ alone, instead of being tempted to follow them we must ask them to leave.

Galatians 4:21

Galatians 4:21 says, Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?  Paul asked those who now desired to be under the law, instead of under faith alone, if they even understood what the law taught.  We likewise must realize that any other way to God other than through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross will ultimately prove us guilty in God's judgment.  Verse twenty-two adds, For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.  Paul reminded the people at Galatia about Abraham.  Abraham had two sons, one by his own design with a handmaiden and one by the promise of God with his wife, a freewoman.  Abraham and Sarah failed to have faith in God being able to fulfill His promise to them and felt they needed to ensure God's plan would succeed by acting on their own.  We today must never believe that we control God's will in any way.  God is not dependent on us in any way, but we are always dependent on Him.  Verse twenty-three continues, But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.  Ishmael was born of the flesh, from the plan of Abraham and Sarah to fulfill God's promise on their own.  Isaac was born of the promise made to Abraham and Sarah.  Their plan did not replace God's plan, and neither will ours.  Verse twenty-four states, Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.  Paul said that the two births were an allegory for the two covenants, one of the law and one of faith.  The law led to bondage and faith leads to freedom.  Verse twenty-five adds, For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.  Agar, or Hagar, the bondservant, represented Mt. Sinai, where the law was given, and was now subjected to Jerusalem, where faith in Christ alone was finally realized.  Just as Abraham and Sarah had tried to achieve the promise of God based on their own actions as opposed to simply having faith in God, so it is if we attempt to justify ourselves by the keeping of the law as opposed to simply having faith in Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse twenty-six continues, But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.  God's promise to Abraham was a free gift, and so is the salvation represented by Jerusalem.  Verse twenty-seven says, For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.  Verse twenty-eight adds, Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.  Paul said that though there might be more born who were not true descendants of Abraham that those who now put their faith in Christ were like Isaac, the children of the promise to Abraham by God.  Verse twenty-nine continues, But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.  Paul said that those born of the flesh persecuted those born of the Spirit then and now.  Of course, now those Jews who wanted to add the law as a requirement of salvation would be some of those persecuting those who believed in salvation by faith alone.  Verse thirty states, Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.  There are those who say that God was unfair to Hagar, but she was no more cut off from salvation than any person ever was.  God's promise was to Abraham and Sarah, and He wanted no confusion about who the promise was to be fulfilled through.  Verse thirty-one adds, So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.  Paul said that Christians, those who put their faith in Christ alone, were free from bondage.  Under the law, we will always be in bondage, and under faith in Christ we will always be free from the penalty of sin.  We cannot mix the two.

Galatians 4:12

Galatians 4:12 says, Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.  Paul asked the Christians at Galatia to be as he was.  I believe that Paul was speaking of his total devotion to doing God's will.  Paul said that he did not feel personally injured by their attitude, but that what he was telling them was still out of an attitude of love for them.  If we feel that those who proclaim to be Christians are trying to change the gospel, we cannot approach them with any attitude except one of love.  Verse thirteen adds, Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.  We still do not know exactly what this infirmity of the flesh was, but Paul said it didn't stop him from preaching nor them from listening.  God will provide the ability for us to do what He calls us to do, even if we have some infirmity.  Verse fourteen continues, And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.  Paul said that whatever this infirmity, which could have been seen as a temptation for him to quit, was not viewed as a reason for those he witnessed to not to accept him.  Paul said they received him as they would an angel from God or even Christ Himself.  Though we can never take the place of Christ and will never be an angel, if we are presenting the truth of God, then we should be accepted as His messengers.  Paul was not saying this to bring glory to himself, but to bring glory to God.  Verse fifteen asks, Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.  Paul asked the Christians at Galatia what had changed the blessedness that they had in the gospel.  They had believed in what Paul was preaching enough that they would have plucked out their eyes and give them to him if it would have helped him, but now they were questioning the gospel that he preached.  If our salvation is not firmly rooted in Christ alone, we may begin by being blessed by the gospel but soon start to question or add to it.  Verse sixteen adds, Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?  Paul had been viewed as an angel, or messenger from God, and he asked if he were now viewed as an enemy because he told them the truth.  Sometimes those who have professed faith in Christ are led astray because they have not really believed in Christ alone.  When someone attempts to correct them, that person is viewed as an enemy.  It is easy to allow things that are not taught by Christ to enter into our beliefs about what the church should be.  Verse seventeen continues, They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.  Those who taught things that were against the gospel, and I believe that Paul was still speaking of the necessity of following Jewish traditions, were zealous, but Paul said that their zeal would exclude the Gentiles from coming to God simply through faith in Christ.  Verse eighteen declares, But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.  Paul said that it was good to be zealous in the gospel at all times, whether he was with them or not.  We may have been led to Christ by a particular person, but our zeal should be for Christ alone.  If we are committed to following the will of Christ, we will not be led astray by what someone else may preach that is not consistent with the gospel.  Verse nineteen adds, My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,  Paul called them little children I believe because they had not matured in faith.  Paul said he was very worried about them.  Verse twenty continues, I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.  Paul desired to be with them because he doubted their commitment to the truth of the gospel.  These were people who had professed Christ as their Savior while Paul was there, but now were following the teachings of others who were adding to the requirement of the gospel.  We cannot be guilty of following the teachings of any person for salvation, but only the truth of the gospel.

Galatians 4:1

Galatians 4:1 says, Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;  Paul said that as long as an heir was a child that they were no different than the servant.  Heirs were under those who taught them until they became of age.  The law was what taught and directed people until the coming of Christ.  With Christ's coming, people of any age could claim the promise of God through faith in Christ.  Verse two adds, But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.  Just as heirs are under tutors and governors until the time appointed by their fathers, so were people under the law for guidance and direction until the time appointed by the Father.  That time came when Christ came to the world and lived blamelessly and died for our sins.   Verse three continues, Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:  Paul is still referring to living under the law versus living under salvation by faith in Christ.  Until the coming of Christ, people were under the law to identify as being God's people.  Now, by faith in Christ, they could claim the promise of God with no need for anyone or anything to stand between them and salvation.  Verse four declares, But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,  Paul said that when the time was right that God sent His Son, born of a woman and under the law.  Jesus lived in perfect obedience to the law and was thereby the only acceptable sacrifice for sin.  By His sacrifice, He set us free from the penalty of sin.  Verse five adds, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.  Paul gives the result of Jesus's sacrifice and that is that He set us free from the penalty of sin if we accept Him as our personal savior and Lord.  We are redeemed by Jesus Christ to become adopted sons, or children, of God.  We do not become just servants, though we are, but the children of God by adoption, joint heirs with Christ.  Though some translations leave out the begotten when referring to Jesus, that is what makes Him unique.  Verse six continues, And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.  Paul said that since we are God's children, He sent His Spirit to live in us so that we would be able to proclaim God as our Father by faith.  Verse seven states, Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.  Again, we are more than just a servant, though I believe that even as an heir we still willingly obey and serve the Father.  Verse eight adds, Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.  I believe that Paul was saying that before we know the true God by faith that we still serve some false god.  I don't believe that we necessarily have to claim to serve any particular god, but we still follow some false god, whether we call it fate or materialism or whatever.  Verse nine continues, But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?  Paul asked the Galatians, how after being known by God, in a personal relationship as His children, how could they want to return to the bondage of the law.  That would be like returning to being a beggar instead of living as a child of God.  Verse ten says, Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.  I believe that what Paul was saying was that they wanted to keep the Jewish traditions as a necessity to prove their salvation.  I don't believe that Paul was saying that these traditions were wrong necessarily of themselves, but the way that they were viewed was wrong.  Traditions or rituals can never become a part of the plan of salvation.  We can only come to God through Christ, with no other requirements.  Verse eleven Paul adds, I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.  I believe that Paul was speaking of being afraid of what the Jewish believers were attempting to add to the gospel.  If they did not believe in salvation for all people through faith in Christ alone, then Paul said that he felt that he had labored in vain.  If anyone proclaims to be a follower of Christ but adds other requirements for salvation, then they are not truly His.