Galatians 5:1 Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. NHEB
Paul’s use of “therefore” lets us know that we are in a transition to something new as this verse is the final exclamation point for chapters 3 and 4. Although in his time there was an emperor and the majority of people in Rome were slaves, Paul is not talking about political freedom. Instead, the liberty Paul is talking about is spiritual freedom. By returning to the Law, these Galatians are subjecting themselves once again to slavery as once in bondage to the Law, they are therefore subject to sin and death.
Galatians 5:2 Listen! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you at all! 3 And I testify again to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. NET
Paul is not only hurt but mad that people are following the false teachers especially since he has led and taught the group. Yet for some reason, they are still attracted to the Judaizers.
Galatians 5: 4 You who are trying to be declared righteous by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace! NET
This is one of two texts that push on eternal security. One view is that Paul is talking to people who still haven’t made a decision regarding Christ but the whole book of Galatians is written to believers who have been misled by false teachers. Instead, Paul is talking about apostasy which is a rejection, by your own decision, of your relationship with Christ. By choosing to follow the Law, these Galatians are wanting to be their own savior. (Of course, whenever we talk about someone abandoning Christ, there is the question about whether or not that person was ever saved).
The Law has a purpose which can be viewed either legalistically or through grace. Lutherans, for example, distinguish between Law and Gospel with the Law preparing you for the Gospel and afterward is of no further use. Calvin viewed the Law as not only preparing us for the Gospel but also as highlighting our shortcomings after we are saved so we can start becoming the people God wants us to be. In this regard, the Law becomes our guide to spiritual maturity (even though the Law won’t save you). It is no different in the Old Testament as Law doesn’t enter the Exodus story until after an act of grace by God.
The inward workings of the Holy Spirit toward the Law is how grace filled approach to the law looks like. The critique by Jesus isn’t against the Law but is focused instead on the human interpretation of the Law by the rabbis. We have a tendency to fall into the trap of measuring ourselves against the Law. What we need to remember is that religion is grace while ethics is gratitude.
Galatians 5:5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we wait expectantly for the hope of righteousness. NET
We are waiting for that day in the future when everything will be made right. Meanwhile, Paul wants us to understand that perfection can’t be achieved.
Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision carries any weight – the only thing that matters is faith working through love. NET
At the end of the day, it is about being justified by faith which is evidenced by lives of love.
Galatians 5:7 You were running well. Who hindered you, not to obey the truth? 8 This persuasion is not of the One calling you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. BLB
Recall that Paul was a tentmaker so he was around a great many athletic competitions since they needed tents to house people at these events. God wants us to run the race but here something has interrupted the Galatians’ run. That is, things we going fine for the Galatians until someone elbowed their way into the front. In the Old Testament, leaven is a symbol of sin and corruption so it is sin that has sidetracked the Galatians from obeying the truth.
Galatians 5: 11 Now, brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. 12 I wish those agitators would go so far as to castrate themselves! NET
In future letters, Paul will not be so in your face but here the stakes are high as salvation hangs in the balance. His comment in verse 12 isn’t particularly nice but given the situation in the Galatian church, this is about truth over unity.