The Epistle to the Galatians

Sept 5, 2010 Bob Eckel 1

The Tragedy of Legalism: Galatians 5:2-4

• Gal 5:2 – NKJV “Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing.”– ‘Indeed I’ – more than a soft touch of emphasis here

• Also in II Cor 10:1, Col 1:23, Eph 3:1, I Thess 2:18

– Now, notice the tense of the verb language to follow• if you become circumcised – 3rd class present passive subjunctive

– You may be likely in the future to become circumcised

• Christ will profit you nothing – future active indicative– Are we talking about becoming saved here or living the life

» Acts 15:1 and/or Gal 5:2?

» Either way justification by/of works, and justification by/of faith are like oil and water – they cannot stand together

» Compare this to the many views of baptism in churches today.

The Epistle to the Galatians

Sept 5, 2010 Bob Eckel 2

The Tragedy of Legalism: Galatians 5:2-4– Gal 2:21 -‘I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes

through the law, then Christ died in vain.’– Heb 4:2 – ‘For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them;

but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.’

• Paul is not condemning circumcision, e.g. Timothy, so he could enter the Jewish synagogues – Acts 16:1-3

• He is condemning the thinking that any sort of rite could gain a person a standing with God

• Gal 5:3 – NKJV “And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law.”– Again, Paul assumes a position of authority; strong language– If you take this path, you’ve got a big task ahead of you

• Let’s look at James 2:10, Gal 3:10

The Epistle to the Galatians

Sept 5, 2010 Bob Eckel 3

The Tragedy of Legalism: Galatians 5:2-4• Rom 4:4 ‘Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as

debt.’

– And we are totally free from the Law• Its condemnation• Its manner of receiving God’s blessing• Obedience to its statutes

– debtor – one who is bound, i.e. to a contract• We too are debtors but not to the flesh – Rom 8:9-14

• Gal 5:4 – NKJV “You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.”– Notice how being under law for our justification makes Christ become of no

effect or estranged or made void to us.– What does it mean to have fallen from grace?

• Aorist active indicative• In context it has nothing to do with those who have performed horrendous sins,

but those who are doing their best to be good.

The Epistle to the Galatians

Sept 5, 2010 Bob Eckel 4

The Tragedy of Legalism: Galatians 5:2-4• This is not an abandonment of morals but doctrine

– The Galatian error – Gal 1:6, 3:3

• But Christ is the end of the Law for everyone that believes– Rom 10:3,4; Rom 11:6

• The concept of works vs. faith: Rom 4:4,5

– Merryman – ‘It is impossible for a believer to fall out of grace (i.e. to lose his salvation); it is possible for him to fall away from grace-provision for successful Christian living.

– How do you know whether or not you are living by grace or by law?

• What are the metrics?

KEEP LOOKING DOWN!