Line Upon Line

The Apostle to the gentiles tells the churches at Galatia to remain free, what does he really mean by liberty in Christ? Our focus will be on the book of Galatians- where those words come from ‘stand fast in liberty’.

Galatians 5:1 NKJV 1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

What does freedom from entanglement mean? First remember that Christianity was considered a sect within Judaism started by Jesus of Nazareth, an astounding Rabbi or master teacher.

John 20:16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).

Therefore we ask what did the Galatians believe and practiced at the time this letter arrived? Looking at Acts chapters 13 thru 15 most of them came out of the synagogues as Sabbath keepers. They therefore would know He is not abolishing the Sabbath.

Acts 13:42-44 So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. 43 Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. 44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God.

None of them would conclude that the Apostle’s words meant that the fourth commandment was now voided. They knew that he was referring to other issues. What were those issues? Our world today comes at this book from a protestant perspective therefore many leading clerics for centuries have misunderstood it!

WHAT WAS THE LIBERTY THAT PAUL SAID WAS AT RISK ?

The apostle Paul warns them of the problems within Judaism promoted by the very over regulation loving Scribes and Pharisees. They administered the laws of God in such a manner as to put the Jewish nation into bondage, note:

Galatians 4:22-25 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a free woman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the free woman through promise, 24 which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar– 25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children–

Jesus Christ himself said the same things with regard to the Jewish nation.

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.“

Jesus is not undermining the very laws He gave Moses but it might it appear that way from our world’s perspective. Jesus is saying that it is how to administer the Sabbath for instance, not erasing the Sabbath is the issue.

Mark 2:25-28 .., “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry,..26 “how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat, except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?” 27 And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. 28 “Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”

Christ said exceptions can be made for varying circumstances but you dictatorial leaders are making the people miserable on the Sabbath. This is what the Apostle Paul was railing against.

All of God’s laws were meant to serve mankind not to make us miserable or enslaved.

Matthew 23:3-5 “Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. 4 “For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5 “But all their works they do to be seen by men…

Jesus is not saying rebel against their governing authority and break the Sabbath or other core moral doctrines. But He is saying ignore their bad moral examples and extreme regulations. Paul is saying this to the Galatians as well. The major issue is circumcision. The Judaizers were pressuring the people to misuse the circumcision law. It would in affect, greatly reduce the number of gentiles being converted to the true religion. That was not God’s will.

Galatians 2:4-5 And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage), 5 to whom we did not yield submission …that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

False teachers were poisoning the minds of true believers so that they could misuse the circumcision law to limit and block gentiles from getting converted. Well then, what was Paul promoting to these gentiles?

GRACE AND THE POWER OF GOD IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN OUR EFFORTS

Paul in his letter is saying that human law keeping efforts are not as powerful as God’s helping us in His graciousness and love. We owe our salvation to grace than to law keeping and especially the kind of law keeping pushed by the Pharisees that kept the people in bondage.

Galatians 2:15-16″We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 “knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

Our salvation is based on the sacrifice of Christ not by any of our law keeping. Yet note:

Galatians 2:17 “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not!

Remember that sin is the breaking of God’s law. Note I John 3:4. Paul is not against the law but is warning about trying to gain salvation in a self-righteous attempt to earn salvation without the grace of God as pushed by THE circumcision party.

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 “I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.“

Do these words of Paul undermine the proper use of the law, note.

Galatians 3:21-22 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

Liberty in Christ is meant to convey the truth that religious legalism is wrong. Grace is what saves us and trusting in Jesus not self. However this grace should not be used as a license to sin and become immoral in our belief system. More truth will be covered in part two.