Future Righteousness

Introduction

A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians (a) Appeal to the Galatians to Stand Fast in Their Freedom in Christ (5:1–12)

He who seeks divine acceptance by law is in reality relying upon the flesh. See Rom. 7:18–8:9. We, on the other hand, depend not on flesh but on the Spirit.

IMPORTANT:

1 Corinthians 6:12–14 NASB95

12 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, but God will do away with both of them. Yet the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body. 14 Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power.

v.5

Galatians 5:5 NASB95

5 For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness.

“for” = contrast with v. 4

Explains the distinction between Paul and his followers and Peter/Judaizers and his followers.

Philippians 3:8–11 NASB95

8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Romans 8:23–25 NASB95

23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

Hope is created inside of a believer by the Holy Spirit.

The Epistle to the Galatians (a) The Law Demands Total Commitment (5:2–6)

The ‘hope of righteousness’ is the hope of a favourable verdict in the last judgment (Rom. 2:5–16). For those who believe in Christ such a verdict is assured in advance by the present experience of justification by faith, with its concomitant rejoicing ‘in hope of the glory of God’ (Rom. 5:1f.; cf. 1 Thes. 5:8, ‘the hope of salvation’). In their case the eschatological verdict of ‘not guilty’ is already realized. Their hope is not vague or uncertain; it is fostered and kept alive by the indwelling Spirit of God.

v.6

Galatians 5:6 NASB95

6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.

In Christ, neither temporal, bodily conditions benefit a person.

Romans 14:17–18 NASB95

17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.

Word Pictures in the New Testament Galatians 5:6

Availeth anything (ἰσχυει τι [ischuei ti]). Old word to have strength (ἰσχυς [ischūs]). See on Matt. 5:13. Neither Jew nor Greek has any recommendation in his state. See 3:28. All stand on a level in Christ. Faith working through love (πιστις δἰ ἀγαπης ἐνεργουμενη [pistis di’ agapēs energoumenē]). Middle voice of ἐνεργεω [energeō] and “through love,” “the moral dynamic” (Burton) of Paul’s conception of freedom from law.

Galatians 3:28 NASB95

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.