UNDERSTANDING MATURE, FREE OBEDIENCE TO THE LAW
Paul writes that believers are no longer under the school master –– we can now obey God with mature liberty. We should obey in the spirit of the law, which is greater than the letter. The law is obviously a good thing when administered fairly with flexibility and kindness.
Galatians 4:21-26, “Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise,” (NKJV)
It took a miracle from God, based on faith in God, for Abraham to get his son Isaac.
“24 which things are symbolic…25 for this Hagar...corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children–– 26 but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.”
Paul is saying much of Judaism is in bondage because of the influence of the Pharisees. They are in the bondage of over-regulation and misapplied rules. The extremist party that was seducing them would surely bring them into religious bondage. Some Jews did not follow the Pharisees who had a lot of influence, but note what Jesus himself said of their impact:
Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden,and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
One of the many reasons the Pharisees hated Christ was that His message countered their own messages which put people in heavy bondage. Saving oneself by basing your salvation on the judaizing party’s administration of the law will not work, Paul asserts.
LAWFUL USE OF THE LAW OF GOD IS OFTEN NOT UNDERSTOOD
The Apostle Paul instructed Timothy about the proper use of the law which some teachers unfortunately misapplied, and misunderstood its deep true meaning.
1 Timothy 1:7-9, “Desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm. 8 But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, 9 knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers…"
Paul explains using the liberty and grace provided by Christ as the foundation believers should stand upon. However, he reminds them that this is never to be used as a license for bad behavior.
Galatians 5:13, “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”
When believers follow the spiritual depth of the law properly then they are far from evil.
Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”
Self-control is one of the virtues Christians should develop to help avoid the carnal lusts that the law prohibits. We need Christ's help through the Holy Spirit, to grow spiritually into one who is well beyond any law breaking.
THE “CIRCUMCISION PARTY” WERE DISHONEST HYPOCRITES
Why did Paul warn the brethren in most of his New Testament epistles against this party? They came in SECRETLY in order to undermine spiritual truth. They tried to turn people away from free, balanced worship of God to a version of extreme Pharisaical Judaism. Further, they wanted to discourage the number of gentiles that would enter the church.
Galatians 6:12-1 “…these would compel you to be circumcised, ... 13 For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.”
Note Acts 10:28, where Peter was told directly not to call uncircumcised gentiles unclean by God. Yet these misguided plotters were selective in the laws they kept. They were not really fully obedient. They pressured and tried to deceived Paul's newly founded gentile congregations. Paul is saying, “Stay free from the bondage –– not free of the wonderful laws of God.” Deceived worldly churches use carved idols (figures) and the day of the sun god, so they must find a way to defend their theology and must therefore misunderstand the book of Galatians. Note an example of Pharisaical abuse:
Mark 2:23&27, “Now it happened that He went through the grain fields on the Sabbath; and as they went His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain. ..27 And He said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.”
HOW UPSET WAS THE APOSTLE PAUL WITH THESE SLEEPER AGENTS?
Paul uses a bit of hyperbole to express his deep warnings about them.
Galatians 5:11-13, “And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offense of the cross ceased. 12 I would they were even cut off which trouble you. 13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.”
Whether Paul really wanted the knife to slip or not, he was very upset. The circumcision agents were becoming a persistent undermining force. Paul wanted us to be strong in the pure mature worship of the true God.
Galatians 5:1-3, “ Stand fasttherefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.” (KJV)
Even in today's world we have some believers that drift into Judaism inappropriately. If you are a Messianic Jew, that is wonderful if done properly. But non-Jews who think going into all the Jewish customs etc. makes them more righteous are misguided. It looks out of place. We must stand firm in a balanced, mature gospel of Jesus Christ. The Pharisees were very self-righteous. Christ wants us to remain humble and forgiving of each other.
Galatians 6:1-3, “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. 2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.”
Christians are loving and kind.
The Pharisees, not God, developed over 600 Sabbath rules. These rules can be cruel.
