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CHPATER 5Stand fast in gospel liberty—Seek faith, love, Christ, and the Spirit—The works of the flesh and the fruits of the Spirit set forth. |
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1 aSTAND fast
therefore in the bliberty wherewith Christ hath made
us cfreea, and
be not dentangled again with the yoke of
ebondagea.
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1a the liberty wherewith Christ hath made
us free Though often and rightfully stated to be that liberty from
the bondage of sin which is being spoken of here, there is a further meaning
in that we have all become fallen through Adam unto this temporal mortal
carnal estate of the natural man. And in this estate we of ourselves are
bound, unable to lose ourselves from the death of the grave. Thus the Savior
has made us free from death, that physical death which we suffer due to the
fallen state of man; as well as he has freed us from the bondage of sin, that
we might overcome the spiritual death and be return back into the presence of
God.
1b be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage In considering this matter it can only be that corruption of the flesh which is sin that is being spoken of. For the gift of life from the grave is a free gift unto all men unto immortality. But the freedom from sin is given but to those who come unto Christ to bow the knee and confess with the tongue that he is God, our God unto salvation and righteousness. Often when men repent of sin, they are all to quick to return unto that which they have once repented of. This of course is not true repentance, for they find themselves but again entangled in that which they had sought to remove themselves from. True repentance is to forsake sin, receive of the Savior's forgiveness and never look back. Therefore one becomes truely free of that bondage which held them back and bound and servant of the devil. |
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2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be
circumcised, Christ shall profit you
nothinga.
3 For I testify again to every man that is acircumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the alaw; ye are fallen from bgrace. |
2a if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing Now this is not merely refering to the physical state of have been circumcised. It speaks of entering in and adhereing to the ordinance of circumcision. That is, having the full intent of the heart to live by and and according to the Law of Moses. Many 'Jewish Christians' had accepted Christ and baptized into his church and order, but they also clung unto the traditions of the Law of Moses. But the Law of Moses was fulfilled and was but dead in any meaningful ordiance of the Old Testament. But as the Savior noted, you cannot put new wine into old bottles. The Gospel of Christ DOES NOT work in any manner, way, shape or form with, within or along side the Law of Moses. The Law of Moses and also that of Abraham's circumcision had been fulfilled. It was no longer to be enforced as an ordinance of the gospel. And when certain Jews brought the excess bagage with them of the circumcision of Abraham along with them into the Gospel of Christ, it did but cause cross purposes in the Church. Paul was well aware of this. And he confronted Peter upon the matter that such was allowed to be tollerated in the Church of its Jewish members, that they still considered themselves to be of the order of the now dead works of Abraham and the order of animal sacrifice as opposed to fully doing away with the old and putting on the new fulness of the Gospel of Christ. | |
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5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of
righteousness by afaith.
6 For in Jesus Christ neither acircumcision bavaileth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but cfaith which worketh by dlove. 7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not aobey the truth? |
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8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.
9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. 10 I have aconfidence in you through the Lord, that ye bwill be none otherwise minded: but he that ctroubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. |
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11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why
do I yet suffer persecution? then is the aoffence of the
cross ceased.
12 I would they were even acut off which btrouble you. 13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto aliberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love bserve one another. |
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14 For all the alaw is fulfilled in
one word, even in this; Thou shalt blove thy
neighbour as thyself.
15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. |
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16 This I say then, aWalk in
the bSpirit, and ye shall not fulfil the
clust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the aSpirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be aled of the Spirit, ye are not under the blaw. |
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19 Now the works of the aflesh are
manifest, which are these; Adultery, bfornication,
cuncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, astrife, seditions, heresies, 21 aEnvyings, murders, bdrunkenness, crevellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. |
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22 But the afruit of the
bSpirit is clove, djoy,
epeace, flongsuffering,
ggentleness, goodness, hfaith,
23 aMeekness, btemperance: against such there is no law. |
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24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the
flesh with the aaffections and lusts.
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25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, aprovoking one another, envying one another. |