Liberated- Part 15

Introduction- Galatians 5:7-12

Last week we considered the challenge given to the believers in the churches of Galatia to “stand fast” in the liberty which they had found in Christ.

In addition to this they were challenged not to be entangled again with the yoke of bondage which the law represented.

Those who would choose circumcision (the works of the law) as a means of justification and righteousness would find that they were then subject to the law in its entirety and that in doing so they have removed themselves from Christ’s influence.

These are described as being “fallen from grace” being then outside the reach of God’s grace having chosen righteousness by the law.

We are reminded that righteousness is not by the works of the law (circumcision) but by faith which worketh by love.

The passage before us today stands as a warning that we must be cautious with regard to the people which we allow to influence us.

The Spread of Error (Vs. 7-9)

This passage opens with what is a familiar illustration in Paul’s writings—that of a runner in a race.

Paul speaks of the fact that the believers in the churches of Galatia did run well—they had to this point been on the right path and running their race effectively.

This meant that they had to this point avoided any temptation to legalism, having yielded themselves to Christ’s influence allowing Him to work within them.

They had apparently embraced Paul’s teaching being convinced that justification and righteousness were the product of faith in Christ not the works of the flesh.

However, now they had been led off course and were no longer living in obedience to the truth.

The question is posed to them—who is it that has hindered you from obeying the truth.

This question is meant to cause them to consider who is responsible for their being now off course and no longer running well.

One thing is certain—this persuasion did not come from God.

It is evident that it was not God who had led the Galatian believers to disobey the truth.

This should serve as a challenge to us to carefully consider the source of spiritual instruction.

We must be cautious that we do not yield to the influence of those who would hinder us in the race and cause us to turn away from the truth.

We must be sure that the teachings of those that influence us are actually aligned with what God has said.

The believers are also warned that “a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.”

This is a familiar illustration which speaks to the fact that a small amount of error will soon spread until all are affected by it.

When a small amount of error is allowed in, it will not be long before it’s effects spread.

This is meant as a warning to reject error wholeheartedly not allowing it to gain any foothold in their lives.

Often believers will tolerate some measure of error knowingly, they justify themselves by insisting that much of what is said is true.

This is a dangerous approach because when error is tolerated in any measure it tends to spread.

Confidence In You (Vs. 10)

At this point Paul expresses confidence that the believers in the churches of Galatia will ultimately return to the Lord , rejecting the error of the false teachers.

Paul is convinced that now that they have been made aware of the error, they will again yield themselves to the Lord and will separate themselves from the influence of the false teachers.

Note here that his confidence in them is “through the Lord”—this simply means that Paul was sure that the Lord would work in them to help them to see that he had spoken the truth and that those who were influencing them were speaking lies.

This is an important point to emphasize—Paul’s confidence wasn’t based in the strength of his argument, though he had presented a great deal of evidence to show that the teachings which they had thought to embrace were not in line with sound doctrine.

Rather Paul’s confidence was in the Lord’s ability to work in them such that they would recognize their error and turn back unto Him.

Every believer has the ability to discern between truth and error and between sound doctrine and false doctrine insomuch as they yield themselves to the Lord and remain sensitive to His leading in their lives.

It is beneficial to have someone like Paul who will point out error and remind you of the truth but ultimately we must look to the Lord to discern what is true.

God often uses human instruments to speak out against error, but ultimately we must look to the Lord in order to know what is true.

Paul was confident that if the Galatian believers would look to the Lord, they would find that Paul was correct in calling out the errors of the false teachers.

He was sure that if they would yield to the God’s influence they would once again be aligned with the truth and would be on course and running well once more.

Paul also speaks of his confidence that those who were responsible for leading them astray would bear judgment.

Those who are responsible for leading others into error will surely be held accountable for doing so by the Lord—it is a very serious offense to lead others away from the truth.

James 3:1 “My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.”

Ecclesiastes 12:14 “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”

The influence of the false teachers has not gone unnoticed by God and He will surely judge them for exerting their influence in such a manner as to advance error and lead men away from the truth.

In No Manner Aligned (Vs. 11-12)

Verse 11 seems to suggest that in some manner the false teachers had suggested that Paul would be in agreement with them.

They seem to have insisted that Paul had himself preached circumcision at some time or another.

It may be that they were referring to his instruction to Timothy regarding circumcision or that Paul himself was circumcised and did not hesitate to observe the rites and rituals of Judaism when among the Jews.

Acts 16:1–3 “Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.”

They were correct in their assertion that Paul had instructed Timothy to be circumcised and likely had suggested the same for others as well at various times.

Galatians 2:3–5 “But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.”

On the other hand he had adamantly opposed Titus being circumcised—so what is Paul’s reasoning.

The point here is that Timothy was not circumcised as a means of justification or righteousness, but simply as a means of being more effective in ministering to the Jews.

Paul refused to have Titus circumcised because in doing so he would have been lending support to the assertions of the false teachers that it was necessary that Gentile believers be circumcised in order to be justified before God.

Paul sums up his own mentality on these issues in I Corinthians 9:19-23

1 Corinthians 9:19–23 “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.”

Paul was willing to exercise his own liberty in Christ in various ways if it meant that he would be more effective in his proclamation of the gospel to various groups.

If Paul had preached circumcision as the false teachers suggest then he would not have been the target of persecution—it was his assertion that justification and righteousness came not by the deeds of the law but through faith in Christ alone which brought persecution upon him from the Jews.

If Paul had paired the preaching of the cross with circumcision his message would not have been offensive to the Jews and he would have escaped persecution—it was his preaching of the cross alone which was so offensive to them and which provoked their persecution.

This section closes with a stern statement from Paul which indicates his desire that the false teachers would be cut off—that they would no longer be able to influence the believers in the churches of Galatia.

This again shows the deep heartfelt concern which Paul had for them and his desire that those who would lead them away from truth into error would be removed so that they could no longer exert influence in Galatia.

Conclusion

This passage stands as a warning that we must be careful who it is that exerts influence in our lives.

We must ensure that those who we allow to influence us are actually acting on God’s behalf, not for their own personal gain.

We must continue to “run well” allowing God to lead us and being careful to separate from those who mix error with truth.

We must remember that an tolerance for error has a tendency to spread infecting our own beliefs and also those of others.

May we look to the Lord for discernment and allow Him to help us to know which influences we should allow and which we should separate from.