Paul has shown great concern that the Galatians not be carried into wrong thinking. He consistently warn them of the ensnaring into bondage IF they receive false teaching. Not one "tittle" should be added to salvation...ONLY JESUS! plus nothing else!!! This salvation frees us from any other requirements - we have FREEDOM from sin and death (separation from God). This freedom does not mean that we are free to do anything...it means = free to do what we ought (By His GRACE - the desire and power) enables us!!
Good works flow from the love and life of the Lord in and through us to others and does not earn or ensure salvation. The LORD ALONE provides salvation for everyone who places their "measure of faith" in HIM! Legalism is the futile attempt to earn and/or keep a realtionship with God through good works - consitutes enslavement to an imporssible load.
If you are going to put any error into His Truth, you might as well put it all in! v.12...heresy is a whole lot of Truth with a little bit of error mixed in.
The yoke of bondage is not for the Christian. You're out of bondage...hang on fiercely to your freedom. We are to take His yoke upon us which is "easy and light".
Paul states the conflict and confusion of the "others" saying that he taught circumsion...how like the enemy! Satan is the author of confusion. A man does not teach what he is being persecuted for not teaching!!!!
The message of Christ and our freedom in Him always has opposition. Many do not want us to share with fellow Christians about our freedom in Christ. Jews are still offended today (as they were in Paul's day) with the message of Christ's atoning death.
Paul is exhorting us to not view our freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. There is a definite battle going on - the flesh and the spirit are in conflict. To be FREE IN CHRIST is not the liberty to sin. Don't misuse grace as a springboard or a launching pad for sinful living. We rather should use our liberty to serve one another through love. Willingly enter a bondage of love..."owe no man except a debt of love".
1. We are feree because of what Christ has done. 2. We accept our freedom by continuing to trust God and His grace for our salvation and not adding anything to the requirement but JESUS! 3. We retain our freedom by resisting all efforts to inject legalism into Christianity 4. Use our freedom to serve others and help our churches and to refuse to misuse it by doing what might harm others or our churches.
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