The fundamental definition of sin is saying anything other than what God says about a given subject. Therefore, the concept of liberty is not a logical absolute. Speaking of liberty on a spiritual level, as with all things, it is what God says it is. If God says serving Him is true liberty, only a blasphemer would argue. From God's viewpoint, the best we could possibly hope for is serving Him through His Son, Jesus Christ. Having just established the difference between spiritual liberty and bondage in the parable of Sarah and Hagar in the previous chapter, Paul makes the obvious request the Galatians choose to remain in Sarah's line, and not fall for the lies of Hagar's bondage.
Circumcision itself means nothing. As the primary symbol of Judaism, it represents slavery. To accept ritual circumcision under the Law -- to become a convert to Judaism -- comes with a requirement to keep the entire Law of Moses. Attempting to find peace with God through the Law is a major downfall, for the path of grace cannot be confined inside the boundaries of the Law. The Law is merely behavior; any sinner can obey the ritual requirements without ever changing their hearts. Following Christ is only possible through the Spirit of Christ. The two systems are mutually exclusive simply because they operate on different planes. Only in Christ do we have any hope of eternity.
It's likely Paul knew the names of the Judaizers who swarmed the Galatian churches. His question is rather rhetorical: "What sort of person would...?" This stuff is not from Christ, nor His servants. Having started so strongly in the way of faith, it was certainly not from Christ they were turned off the path. Using the parabolic figure of leaven as sin, Paul shows it takes only a tiny bit of falsehood to corrupt genuine faith. Once you admit any element of non-faith into the gospel, it will eventually twist the whole thing around to something humans must do by their own power. Faith is another word for a power of commitment not possible in the flesh, which breeds divine confidence. Paul gave them faith and confidence, which could pull them out of this mud pit of falsehood. Judaizers didn't even understand faith, so they were doomed.
Part of the Judaizer's lie was telling the Galatians Paul surely supported the ritual of circumcision. If in circumcising Timothy, one should suppose Paul still promoted that ritual as a part of Christian faith, why do the Jews and Judaizers still oppress him? Surely they would have no excuse for taking offense at the Cross! Let them go the whole way, and emasculate themselves. Won't that please God even more?
The Judaizers made the fatal error of equating spiritual liberty with being a moral libertine. Liberty is not about giving the flesh what it wants, but cuts off the flesh in the spiritual sense of nailing it to the Cross. Why would you waste time detailing the various aspects of sexual purity if you could answer the whole question with agape -- what does your fellow human actually need from you to see Christ? In pursuing His teaching of sacrificing the flesh for the higher good of the gospel message, we satisfy all the rules anyone could dream up. You can't possibly do your brother or sister harm by walking in the Spirit. If you let yourself become entangled in the Judaizers' endless partisan debates over ritual details, and rankings and empty gestures of respect and chasing titles, you'll end up destroying one another as your various "positions" become paramount over Christ's love.
By walking in the Spirit, you conquer the desires of the flesh. Those desires include all the silly rankings and rules of the Judaizers. The desires of the Spirit are at war with the desires of the flesh. If you embrace the Law the way the Judaizers do, you embrace the flesh, and cannot obey the demands of the Spirit in your higher nature. Walk in the Spirit and you are far above the detailed nit-picking of the Law, because you are obeying God Himself. If you follow the way of the Law, which is the way of the flesh, you must contend with all the evil which inevitably overpowers the flesh. Paul offers a sample list of those evils. From the beginning, Paul warned those things did not reflect the new Life in Christ. If you embrace Christ and His Spirit, the focus of your life is not avoiding evil, but gaining holiness. Paul paints a picture of holiness with a matching list of righteous character traits, the traits of Christ's presence in the soul.
Again, Paul emphasizes the power of the flesh is dead for those in Christ. It is not for nothing the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us. That Presence is meant to permeate our whole existence, manifesting in our daily conduct. A primary feature of this is humility, giving grace and preference to others. That's what Christ looks like in people. His servants don't demand preference, don't wave their ranks and credentials all around. Only the flesh needs that. The Spirit is living Truth, and presents His own credentials. There's no place for envy in His power, because people and their status in the flesh won't matter at all.
Return to Index
[<-- Previous Lesson]
[Next Lesson -->]
Ed Hurst
09 January 2008
COPYRIGHT NOTICE: People of honor need no copyright laws; they are only too happy to give credit where credit is due. Others will ignore copyright laws whenever they please. If you are of the latter, please note what Moses said about dishonorable behavior -- "be sure your sin will find you out" (Numbers 32:23)