Chapter 19
THE IMPORTANCE OF FAITH
(Galatians 5:1-6)
Before we begin our short study about the importance of faith let us pray,
Dear Heavenly Father, Almighty God,
We come before You in the Name of Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Father, please open our ears, our eyes and our heart to hear, see and understand the importance of keeping faith in Your Son Jesus Christ. Father, help us to stay away from the tendency to submit to laws, rules and traditions to justify ourselves to You. Help us to truly believe in Your love for us and help us to completely rely upon Your Son, Jesus, and the saving work He did for us.
Amen
INTRODUCTION
Let us begin our study by reading the following verses from Paul's letter to the churches in Galatia,
Galatians 5:1-6
"[1] It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. [2] Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. [3] Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. [4] You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. [5] But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. [6] For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."
For this particular study we will explore some of the key points contained in each of the above verses. We begin with,
GALATIANS 5:1
"[1] It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."
As we reflect upon the above Scripture and our previous studies we discover that the freedom we have in Jesus Christ is twofold.
The first major freedom Jesus purchased for us is the,
FREEDOM FROM VARIOUS RELIGIOUS LAWS, RULES AND TRADITIONS
To see this we begin by reading from,
GALATIANS 4: 22-23
"[22] For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. [23] His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise."
To better understand the implications of following the law rather than trusting in God's Word or Promise, the Holy Spirit is asking us to reflect upon what happened between Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, Isaac and Ishmael. Specifically, the Holy Spirit is teaching us that for this allegory Sarah represents the covenant of freedom; whereas, Hagar represents the covenant of slavery.
In the following verse the Holy Spirit begins by revealing to us that Hagar, Sarah's maidservant or slave, represents the Law.
GALATIANS 4:24
"[24] These things may be taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar."
To see this let us remember that, God called Moses to go up Mount Sinai to give him the Law. This is recorded in,
Exodus 19:20
"[20] The LORD descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up"
As we saw in earlier chapters, the law produces children, who are followers of the law. These children or followers of the law become enslaved by it and by their sins.
The reason for this is that when we look to religious laws, rules and traditions we find that with our minds we agree with them and wish to obey them. However, in our efforts to do this we discover that the laws of God are spiritual and by nature we are carnal, which means unspiritual. To see this let us read from,
Romans 7:14
"[14] We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual …”
Hence, we cannot comply with the spiritual demands of the law with only our carnal strength or energy. Thus, the law can only reveal to us our sins and hold us accountable for them. This principle is clearly stated in,
Romans 3:19-20
"[19] Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. [20] Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin."
Thus, we find the truth of the following Scripture,
Romans 7:25
"[25] … , I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin."
Therefore, if I wish to follow various laws, rules and/or regulations to be justified before God, I find myself enslaved by them and my sins. Hence the question arises as to; “Who will set us free?” As it turns out the Apostle Paul asked this same question. To read his question and the answer to it we go to,
Romans 7:24-8:2
[7:24] O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? [25] I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.
[8:1] There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. [2] For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
In other words, by faith in Jesus Christ to bring forth the fruits of the Holy Spirit, specifically the Holy Spirit’s love, we will be set free from all the laws of sin and death.
Hence the question of; “Why will this happen?” The answer is simply that love fulfills the law. To see this we begin by considering Jesus’ response to the lawyer who asked Him; “What is the greatest commandment?” To read what Jesus said we go to,
Matthew 22:35-40
[35] Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, [36] “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” [37] Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ [38] This is the first and great commandment. [39] And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ [40] On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
This principle is beautifully summarized in,
Galatians 5:14
[14] For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
This brings us to the second major freedom that Jesus purchased for us, which is,
FREEDOM FROM THE POWER OF SIN
To see this let us read from,
Romans 6:3-11
"[3] Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? [4] We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. [5] If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. [6] For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin-- [7] because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. [8] Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. [9] For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. [10] The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. [11] In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus
Let us notice the following verses,
3 … Those baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death, that is our old self was crucified with Him, that is the one void of the Holy Spirit.
4-5 … We, that is our old self, were buried with Him in the waters of baptism. We did this so as Jesus was raised from the dead, we also may now live a new life.
6-7 … So that we should no longer be slaves to sin, our old self, the one void of the Holy Spirit, was crucified and buried with Jesus Christ. Hence, those who have been born again of the Holy Spirit and baptized into Jesus Christ have been set free from the power of sin. That is, we are now a new creation with two natures: (1) our sinful nature and (2) the Holy Spirit.
11 … We are to consider ourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. This leaves us with the questions of: "How?" "How does one do this?" The answer to these questions lies in the principle by which the Apostle Paul lived his life. Paul’s principle is recorded for us in,
Galatians 2:20
"[20] I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
To expand upon this a bit more let us read the following exhortation in,
Romans 6:12-13
. [12] Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. [13] Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.”
Thus, if we are a true born again believer in Jesus Christ and through the Holy Spirit we live our lives by faith in Him to live His life in and through us, we will discover the truth of the following Scripture in our lives,
Romans 6:14
"[14] … sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace."
With all this in mind, let us now reread the following verse,
Galatians 5:1
"[1] It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."
Now that we have a better appreciation for the freedom that Jesus Christ purchased for us, let us read the instruction Paul wrote to those who were contemplating circumcision. His instruction is recorded in,
GALATIANS 5:2
"[2] Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all."
Question: Is the Scripture against circumcision? (Or) Is the issue one of insisting that circumcision is necessary for salvation?
For our answer let us read about what happened at the council in Jerusalem. This event is recorded for us in,
Acts 15:1-11
"[1] Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved." [2] This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. [3] The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the brothers very glad. [4] When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them. [5] Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses." [6] The apostles and elders met to consider this question. [7] After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. [8] God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. [9] He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. [10] Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? [11] No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.""
Let us notice the following verses,
1-2 … The issue was whether or not circumcision was necessary for salvation.
5 … Some of the believing Pharisees believed that circumcision and obedience to the Mosaic Laws were necessary for salvation.
9 … God revealed to Peter that it was by faith that He purified the hearts of Cornelius and his household (see Acts 10:24-48).
10 … Peter asked the question of; "Why impose the laws on others when they themselves could not totally comply with them?"
11 … The judgment of the council was that:
"It is by Grace, which is God's unmerited favor towards us, through Jesus Christ, that we are saved."
In reflecting upon the above, one might be left with the question as to: "Is circumcision the only issue?" (Or) "Is circumcision just one of many?" To find out let us read what Paul wrote to the Colossians on this subject.
Colossians 2:16-23
"[16] … do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. [17] These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. [18] Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. [19] He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. [20] Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: [21] "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? [22] These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. [23] Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence."
Let us now move on and read from,
GALATIANS 5:3
"[3] Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law."
In other words, if a person looks to circumcision or any other law, rule or tradition as necessary for salvation, then it will be necessary for them to follow the whole law. This brings us to the following question:
"If a person is bound to the law in its entirety, what happens if they fail in just one little point?" To find out let us read from,
James 2:10
"[10] For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it."
Let us now consider the following questions. If a person looks to the compliance of the Law as necessary for salvation and not completely and totally to Jesus Christ, “What do they do or where do they go to be free from the guilt of the sin they have committed?” Let us remember Peter told us that neither he nor his fellow Israelites were able to comply with all the demands of the Law. Let us also remember the penalty for sin,
Romans 6:23
"[23] For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Will the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made on the cross still bring them forgiveness and cleanse them from their sins? To find out let us read from,
GALATIANS 5:4
"[4] You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace."
Wow! What happens to them now? Are they forever and irrevocably condemned to spend eternity in Hell?
No, to be saved from their sin, they must repent. They must change their view and stop looking to the law, rules and/or traditions to justify themselves. They must come to Jesus Christ, seek His forgiveness and receive His Grace and Mercy. To see this let us consider the following,
Acts 3:19-20
"[19] Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, [20] and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you--even Jesus."
THE MESSAGE
The point or message of this study is provided to us in,
Galatians 5:5-6
"[5] But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. [6] For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."
CLOSING
Let us close our study by reading from,
Colossians 3:12-17
"[12] Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. [13] Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. [14] And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. [15] Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. [16] Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. [17] And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Amen and Amen