Law Liberty, or Liberalism

This verse, along with Galatians 2:20-21, captures powerfully and Paul’s message. His theme is grace, God’s grace alone by which persons can be saved. Christ is the source of grace, and freedom is the result of it in our lives. The law and legalism brings us into bondage, but Christ sets us free!

We do well to rehearse the nature of that freedom. It is the freedom of release. “God sent forth His son … to redeem those who were under the law” (Gal. 4:4–5). We will never understand the full impact of this meaning of Christian freedom unless we understand the encompassing nature of sin and evil. Paul knew that sin had not alone affected human nature, reducing us to slaves of our passions, but had also affected the entire universe. The whole “creation groans and labor,” he said to the Romans (8:22). God had to do something of cosmic significance. What He did—the gift of Himself in His Son on the Cross—revealed the suffering heart of God. From Adam on, sin has inflicted pain in the heart of God.

Humans, and all creation, are in bondage to sin until God’s gift of grace, His crucified Son, is received in faith to release us. We need to be freed from sin and the curse of the law.

After healing the man born blind, Jesus said, “For judgment I come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind” (John 9:39, rsv). The entrance into the life of Christ, the freedom He brings, belongs with vision.

Scripture pictures human beings as spiritual creatures in the unity of a physical body with limited capacity, but with enormous potential for spiritual growth. Unredeemed human nature lives like blind people. The world is dark and the frightening shadow of death dogs our steps and devastates our lives. The gospel is the Good News that light has come. The experience of conversion releases us from the bondage of sin and law and gives us a new vision in which all of life, even the physical universe, looks fresh.

We need to be freed from sin, the devil and the world so that we can fellowship with God! Reconciliation is being set free to fellowship and serve God.

“You are no longer a servant but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Gal. 4:7). Freedom is not only exit from every form of slavery; it is entrance—entrance into a new life of the freedom of belonging. We belong to Christ, and because we belong to Him, all belongs to us. Back to Top

Paul again rises to one of his great heights of vision. He will come back to it again as he closes his letter (6:15), the rallying cry of his gospel: “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncir-cumcision avails anything, but faith working through love” (v. 6).

When a person is, through faith, “in Christ Jesus,” nothing—absolutely nothing, circumcision or uncircumcision—can add one whit to his standing before God. Before and since the Galatians, there has been, and will forever be, a tendency in human nature to think in terms of merit. Christianity, at its grandest best, continually negates such notions. “It is just in this way that Christian faith is distinguished from all religion. No religion ever had the courage thus to go to the bitter end of giving man up, as the Christian faith does. All religions make an attempt at the self-justification of man. The worlds philosophy is glory to man! It is exclusively the faith in justification by grace alone which sacrifices not only the rational man, or the moral man, but the religious man as well.”²

Circumcision or uncircumcision—intellectual, moral or religious merit—counts nothing in the economy of God. In that economy all is grace.

You did run well. When we exchange Grace for Law and legalism we loose our direction Verse 7. When Paul first came to them, they received him “as an angel of God” (Gal. 4:14). They accepted the Word, trusted the Lord Jesus Christ, and received the Holy Spirit. They had a deep joy that was evident to all, and were willing to make any sacrifice to accommodate Paul (Gal. 4:15). But now, Paul was their enemy. What had happened?

A literal translation of Galatians 5:7 gives us the answer: “You were running well. Who cut in on you so that you stopped obeying the truth?” In the races, each runner was to stay in his assigned lane, but some runners would cut in on their competitors to try to get them off course. This is what the Judaizers had done to the Galatian believers: they cut in on them and forced them to change direction and go on a “spiritual detour.” It was not God who did this, because He had called them to run faithfully in the lane marked “Grace.” Back to Top

“For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith (v. 5). Not only do we participate in the death and Resurrection of Christ seen in Rom 6, but we also anticipate the perfecting of our righteousness.

By the grace of God, through our faith, we are “accepted as righteous” (justified) here and now. The Spirit gives us the hope that what Christ has begun within us will be completed.

In response to our faith the Spirit comes into our hearts to witness to us that our justification is the first installment. God accepts us, imputing to us the righteousness of Christ. The hope of righteousness assures us of God’s pardon, for all we have been, all our failure, and the full realization of the perfection He has promised in our resurrection. Back to Top

4. The Solution concerning the Galatians problem of extremes is found in Verses 13, 14 - We have been called unto liberty, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word love your neighbor as yourself. The key word, of course, is love. I like the formula Warren Wiersbe gives.

The solution was a commandment, love one another, and serve one another with the emphasis on walking in the Spirit. Jesus also gave this command and added, by this shall all men know that ye are My disciples (John 13:34-35).

The amazing thing about love is that it takes the place of all the laws God ever gave. “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” solves every problem in human relations (see Rom. 13:8-14). Its much like when we were young we learned not to go out in the street or we could be hurt or killed by an on coming vehicle. We learned through being disciplined by our parents not to do certain things or physical pain would come our way. We learned that doing well was rewarded and doing bad was punished. But when we grew older much to our surprise we found good principles that had been instilled in our hearts. We didn't need to be told to do or not to do certain things, and low and behold we loved our parents with a greater love for there care and hard work. Love had replaced law. The law was added because of transgressions Gal 3:19. That is to restrain, and discover sin. But the solution to man’s sin problem is the finished work of the Cross. The shed blood of Christ that washes and cleanses from all sin. If we walk in the light as He is in the light a change will be taking place on a daily basis. A personal relationship with God through Christ was and is still the solution today (John 17:3). Paul said if we walk in the Spirit we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh Gal 5:16. He gives a very ugly description of the flesh in verses 9-21. Our hope is not in the law, but in Christ through the Spirit. And if we are being led by the Spirit we are not under the law (Gal 5:18). Love replaces law. It replaces selfishness, competition and the extremes that were in the Galatians Church. The old nature must be crucified verse 24. Back to Top

Hope is made the future tense of faith in verse 5, and love is made the present tense of faith in verse 6. There are two ways of looking at this—both revealing love and faith inseparably bound together.

Faith activated by love is one way to look at it. Paul’s experience, graphically described in Galatians 2:20, supports this understanding. It was God who loved me and gave Himself for me that claimed Paul’s faith.

Faith acting in love is another way to see it. Phillips translates this phrase, “faith which expresses itself in love,” and the neb says “faith active in love.” Later in the chapter ( Gal 5:13–15) Paul distinctly calls for the freedom of faith to issue in love of the brethren.

6. Walking in the Spirit - It takes time, effort, the Word of God, prayer, fellowship with other Christians, and faithfulness to you local Church. We are His body He is the head there must be faithful fellowship amongst each other provoking one another to love, and good works (Heb 10:24-25). We've been identified with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. Christ not only died for me, but I died with Christ. Christ died for me to remove the penalty of my sin, but I died with Christ to break sin’s power see Rom 6 and Sanctification the secondary meaning.

You and I are not debtors to the flesh, but to the Spirit (Rom. 8:12-14). We must accept what God says about the old nature and not try to make it something that it is not. We must not make “provision for the flesh” (Rom. 13:14) by feeding it the things that it enjoys. In the flesh dwells no good thing (Rom. 7:18), so we should put no confidence in the flesh rather worship God in the Spirit (Phil. 3:3). The flesh is not subject to God’s Law (Rom. 8:7) and it cannot please God (Rom. 8:8). Only through the Spirit can we “put to death” the deeds that the flesh would do through our body (Rom. 8:13). The Spirit is not only the Spirit of life (Rom. 8:2; Gal. 5:25), but He is also the Spirit of death: He helps us to reckon ourselves dead to sin.

Walking in the Spirit is walking contrary to the flesh, and produces the fruit of the Spirit in its season. Paul gives a description of the fruit in Gal 5: 22, and 23. This is divine love something the flesh can never produce. Grace and liberty go together. Its through Gods Grace and mercy that we have been forgiven in Christ, and that through faith in Christ we overcome the world, because He overcame it first. Grace is an enablement to do what we cannot do. Grace is unmerited favor, because the Bible contrast Law and grace and says one cancels out the other when speaking of our grounds for salvation but its much more as my Pastor once preached, because its only by the grace of God that we can live for Him and please Him the way we aught to, and that's only through faith Heb 11:6.

The surrendered Christian who depends on the power of the Spirit is not denying the Law of God, or rebelling against it. Rather, that Law is being fulfilled in him through the Spirit Rom 8:1-4. It is easy to see the sequence of thought in these closing chapters:

1. I have been set free by Christ. I am no longer under bondage to the Law (Gal. 5:1-12).

2. But I need something—Someone—to control my life from within. That Someone is the Spirit Gal 5:13-26.

3. Through the Spirit’s love, I have a desire to live for others, not for self (Gal. 6:1-10).

4. This life of liberty is so wonderful, I want to live it to the glory of God; for He is the One making it possible Gal 6:11-18.

Conclusion - The Bible speaks of many in these last days who would have a form of godliness and denying the power thereof. If there is a true grace there is also a false grace see (1 Pet 5:12, and Jude 4).

(Jud 1:4) For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

To deny Christ, and turn the grace of God into lasciviousness is to say that Christ is a minister of unrighteousness telling people it doesn't matter how will live. As some were saying in the Church in Rom Let us do evil, that good may come? Whose damnation is just see (Rom 3:5-8)? God will Judge sin!

Paul tells us the grace of God teaches us to deny ungodliness (Tit 2:11, 12). He told the liberal Galatians to not turn liberty into a license to sin verse 13. The true grace of God teaches and enables us to live a life in Christ that pleases God in true righteousness and holiness. The Bible tells us to stir up the pure mind that is in us for we have the mind of Christ. Always think in terms of scripture and reject the worlds philosophies and filthy values.

We are not ministers of the letter, but of the Spirit (see 2 Cor 3 especially verse 6). A letter in a word pinpoints an exact character in that word, but using the whole word gives greater understanding, compassion and spirit, without deviating from the letters meaning. Love doesn't deviate from the letter, although sometimes the Spirit may tell us to keep our mouth shut and wait for the right time? The letter of the law kills, but the Spirit gives life and control to ourselves and others. It's important to say that every godly principal in the OT is still for us in the NT that all scripture is profitable for doctrine, reproof, for correction and instruction in righteousness 2 Tim 3:16. The letter speaks of the OT law and legalism. For an example of the letter of the law in the OT, if you missed one dollar of tithing going back to the 1st pay check you ever made you are condemned to hell because the law kills, spiritually, literally, and eternally. This does not do away with the principle of tithing God honors, and promises to still open up the windows of heaven through giving from the heart, because Jesus did not come to do away with the laws righteous principals, but offer forgiveness and grace through the Cross also. The word letter means in the Greek that which is written referring to the Law of Mosses. Legalism is trying to merit our salvation through works and good deeds, which is self righteousness not the righteousness of God in our hearts that comes by grace through faith. To merit our own salvation is part of human nature and is the basis of all other religions in the world as I already said. We are not to frustrate the grace of God but be led by the Spirit through faith Gal 2:21. Paul in 2 Cor 3:6 was speaking of Himself as a minister of Christ of the Spirit the NT not of the letter the OT. Paul preached the law of faith that no man could boast and whatsoever is not of faith is sin (Rom 3:27 and Rom 14:23). Remember the only way to please God is faith, struggling with a sin is not sin, it's giving into it Heb 11:6.

The legalists, of course, told people that any person could obey the Law and become spiritual and as many religions today say, work your way to heaven. A legalistic ministry has a way of inflating the egos of people. When you emphasize the grace of God, you must tell people that they are lost sinners who cannot save themselves. Paul’s testimony was, “But by the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Cor. 15:10). No one is sufficient of himself to minister to the hearts of people, layman or preacher. That sufficiency can only come from God, by His Spirit.

As you read this chapter, note the different names that Paul used for the Old Covenant and the New Covenant as he contrasted them. In 2 Corinthians 3:6, “the letter” refers to the Old Covenant Law, while “the Spirit” refers to the New Covenant message of grace. Paul was not contrasting two approaches to the Bible, a “literal interpretation” and a “spiritual interpretation.” He was reminding his readers that the Old Covenant Law could not give life; it was a ministry of death (see Gal. 3:21). The Gospel gives life to those who believe because of the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. Warren Wiersbe

Gal 3 deals with God's law being good but unable to give life and the promise of God which is by Grace through faith as it was with Abraham and is with us. The Galatians received the Spirit and miracles through faith not by works of the Law. Those who chose the Law are under the curse of the Law. The Galatians were trying to be perfected by the flesh after starting in the Spirit Paul called it foolish Gal 3:3. Why because the letter kills and the OT covenant has be done away with , we have a problem called the weakness of the flesh, so God sent His Son who condemned sin in the flesh and offers us true life, that only He can give Rom 8:3. Grace, Law and legalism can never go together. His formula is that law and legalism cancels out grace, the letter kills.

(Rom 4:14) For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:

Sanctification must come from a power from out side of our self. Imagine a thermometer saying I'm not quite up to the mark today. I aught to be up to 80%.Could the thermometer raise itself up to the required temperature. No, it would have to depend on a condition outside of itself. In the same manner someone who perceives they have come short of the divine standard cannot raise themselves up to the divine standard. They must be acted upon from a force apart from themselves, and that force is the Spirit of God. Paul's command, and remedy as he walked this tight rope between law, and liberalism was to serve one another in love with emphasis on walking in the Spirit.

The Command of the OT such as thou shalt not lie is just as strong as the NT Covenant only its in grace not the flesh! It's still a command! Only now we have the opportunity for Christ sinless life and resurrection power to work in us! We have the opportunity lets live for Christ!

1. We have been Called unto Liberty	4. The Solution concerning the Galatians problem of extremes
2. Only Christ for Justification	5. Love the present tense of our faith
3. The perfection of our righteousness	6. Walking in the Spirit and Conclusion