The chapter started with the fact that we are not slaves when we are in Christ. We are liberated from slavery , we no longer identify with the lineage of the bond woman Hagar, we are of the supernatural and covenant descendants through Isaac that was born by Sarah.
It was for this freedom that Christ set us free [completely liberating us]; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery [which you once removed].
Galatians 5:1 AMP
It is important to note the warning in this verse not to be subject again to yoke of slavery. I believe what can make one subject again to slavery is sin and lack of faith in Christ and obedience to Christ.
Notice, it is I, Paul, who tells you that if you receive circumcision [as a supposed requirement of salvation], Christ will be of no benefit to you [for you will lack the faith in Christ that is necessary for salvation]. Once more I solemnly affirm to every man who receives circumcision [as a supposed requirement of salvation], that he is under obligation and required to keep the whole Law. You have been severed from Christ, if you seek to be justified [that is, declared free of the guilt of sin and its penalty, and placed in right standing with God] through the Law; you have fallen from grace [for you have lost your grasp on God’s unmerited favor and blessing].
Galatians 5:2-4 AMP
Circumcisions was something God required of the Israelites to do for all their male. Here is no longer talking of just that circumcision but circumcision of the heart, of the thought process of the way you see yourself. The process of circumcision natural takes off the fore skin. Here we are required to be free from spiritual blindness that could have hung over our heart based on false doctrine and religious practices that doesn't necessarily leads to salvation or upholds us in living righteously for Jesus.
When you seek to live under the law, you are walking far away from the precepts of living a Christ like life. Walking under the law doesn't guarantee salvation. Walking under the law is regimented, fulfilling all doctrine and religious right in a bid to tick all the boxes of the requirements of the law but it doesn't necessarily move you close to God or guarantee eternal life. The only way to eternal life and to Christ is by renouncing sin, confessing it, and accepting Jesus as your personal Lord and saviour.
For we [not relying on the Law but] through the [strength and power of the Holy] Spirit, by faith, are waiting [confidently] for the hope of righteousness [the completion of our salvation]. For [if we are] in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but only faith activated and expressed and working through love.
Galatians 5:5-6 AMP
We are no longer subjected to the law as we have the holy spirit in us, He is in charge of us. Either circumcised or not which is what differentiates Jews from Gentiles. We are free from the law when we have Christ and the Holy Spirit in us.
You were running [the race] well; who has interfered and prevented you from obeying the truth? This [deceptive] persuasion is not from Him who called you [to freedom in Christ]. A little leaven [a slight inclination to error, or a few false teachers] leavens the whole batch [it perverts the concept of faith and misleads the church]. I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view [contrary to mine on the matter]; but the one who is disturbing you, whoever he is, will have to bear the penalty. But as for me, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision [as I had done before I met Christ; and as some accuse me of doing now, as necessary for salvation], why am I still being persecuted [by Jews]? In that case the stumbling block of the cross [to unbelieving Jews] has been abolished.
Galatians 5:7-11 AMP
I see this part of the scripture as a warning. Warning from deception and deceptive teaching and teachers. We must be discerning of the type of teaching and teachers we listen to, no matter how motivating and uplifting they sound. If they don't lead us to Jesus and help us grow our faith in Christ it's not worth ruining our soul based on such teaching. Paul was a persecutor of the believers before he met Jesus on his way to commit more attrocities but when he met Christ, he changed and started winning soul because he had tasted freedom and knows the difference between the time he was in bondage as a persecutor to the time he was free living for Christ.
For you, my brothers, were called to freedom; only do not let your freedom become an opportunity for the sinful nature (worldliness, selfishness), but through love serve and seek the best for one another. For the whole Law [concerning human relationships] is fulfilled in one precept, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself [that is, you shall have an unselfish concern for others and do things for their benefit].”
Galatians 5:13-14 AMP
Salvation through Christ brings freedom from the law, however it should not be a license to walk in flesh and fulfill the desires of flesh just because you can't be nabbed under the law. This here is a matter of self accountability and responsibility as a believer. Yes, we are free from the law but we must consciously live a life that is sold out to Christ. That is why we have the Holy spirit, He can always help us move just as God wants us to rather than yielding to the flesh at every given second. It's not humanly easy to live above flesh but it is possible through the help of the Holy Spirit.
The scripture also mentioned about loving your neighbour as yourself, which to me is possible if you indeed know how to love yourself. In doing so, it will be possible to love others just like yourself. The scripture also mentioned bickering (Galatians 5:15) arguing about trivial things, all these fall under the flesh, yielding to the flesh.
But I say, walk habitually in the [Holy] Spirit [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance], and then you will certainly not carry out the desire of the sinful nature [which responds impulsively without regard for God and His precepts]. For the sinful nature has its desire which is opposed to the Spirit, and the [desire of the] Spirit opposes the sinful nature; for these [two, the sinful nature and the Spirit] are in direct opposition to each other [continually in conflict], so that you [as believers] do not [always] do whatever [good things] you want to do. But if you are guided and led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the Law.
Galatians 5:16-18 AMP
Allowing your interaction and yielding to instruction from the Holy Spirit to be your day to day lifestyle is important as a believer. As mentioned in the scripture it helps us navigate our path away from the works of flesh. As long as we still occupy this body here on earth, we will feel the temptations and weight of flesh but we can and are already overcomers if we yield to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
The works of flesh
Now the practices of the sinful nature are clearly evident: they are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of self-control), idolatry, sorcery, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions [that promote heresies], envy, drunkenness, riotous behavior, and other things like these. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21 AMP
The practices of the works of flesh will not inherit the kingdom of God. What is the purpose of existing temporarily on earth, yielding to flesh and knowing eternity with God is never guaranteed.
Father rid me of every works of flesh in Jesus name amen
The Fruit of the Spirit
But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 AMP
I pray lord that you increase the fruits of the spirit in me, increase my yarning for them and my adherence to them in Jesus name.
The fruit of the spirit can only blossom in the life of a believer that plans themselves in the word of God. The word of God is the seed that will eventually germinate and bring out the fruits of the spirit. You can't have the fruit of the spirit without the seed or the seeds of the word of God.
Living for Christ
And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature together with its passions and appetites. If we [claim to] live by the [Holy] Spirit, we must also walk by the Spirit [with personal integrity, godly character, and moral courage—our conduct empowered by the Holy Spirit]. We must not become conceited, challenging or provoking one another, envying one another.
Galatians 5:24-26 AMP
Lord I belong to you, help me to live a life that is empowered by the Holy Spirit for the rest of my life here on earth in Jesus name amen.
Galatians 6
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any sin, you who are spiritual [that is, you who are responsive to the guidance of the Spirit] are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness [not with a sense of superiority or self-righteousness], keeping a watchful eye on yourself, so that you are not tempted as well. Carry one another’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the requirements of the law of Christ [that is, the law of Christian love].
Galatians 6:1-2 AMP
This chapter started with what should be done when you see someone fall into sin. The word caught in sin depicts that you saw them do it and it reminded me of the woman caught in the act and they wanted to stone her to death but Jesus rescued her by asking those without sin to cast the first stone (John 8:7).
This is worth reflecting on, when you catch or observed or heard about someone committing or committed a sinful act how do you react, how do I react? Do we judge them and just excommunicate them? That is self righteousness because no one is infallible except God. I understand it might not be easy to just look away but casting them away and cutting them off might not be the right solution.
Lord grant us grace to help others when they fall and not judge them into condemnation in Jesus name amen
For if anyone thinks he is something [special] when [in fact] he is nothing [special except in his own eyes], he deceives himself. But each one must carefully scrutinize his own work [examining his actions, attitudes, and behavior], and then he can have the personal satisfaction and inner joy of doing something commendable without comparing himself to another. For every person will have to bear [with patience] his own burden [of faults and shortcomings for which he alone is responsible]. The one who is taught the word [of God] is to share all good things with his teacher [contributing to his spiritual and material support].
Galatians 6:3-6 AMP
We are meant to bear each others burden in a loving and correcting manner. We are meant to look inward and examine our own attitude and self righteousness and not compare ourselves to others. This can be burdensome and at times uncalled-for because we believe that our lives should not be slowed down or tampered by someone else's but the truth is our destinies here on earth are connected. In as much as salvation is personal we will still need to be the right scripture that others will read for them to draw close to God either they are already believers or not.
Doing good to others
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked [He will not allow Himself to be ridiculed, nor treated with contempt nor allow His precepts to be scornfully set aside]; for whatever a man sows, this and this only is what he will reap. For the one who sows to his flesh [his sinful capacity, his worldliness, his disgraceful impulses] will reap from the flesh ruin and destruction, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not grow weary or become discouraged in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap, if we do not give in.
Galatians 6:7-9 AMP
God is all knowing and all seeing, we can't mock God or ridicule Him in any way, shape or form. So if we do good we will reap good, it doesn't necessarily mean from those we do good to but God knows how to give good turns to those who do good according to His will. So if you sow fleshy desires and continue to do things based on the impulses of flesh, its just like the theory of seed and harvest time. A time will come that the harvest will be ripe and plentiful and whatever you have put in the time of sowing is what you will harvest. It is important to invest right on growing with and in the fruit of the spirit. The world we live in right now promotes lots of works of flesh as oppose to fruits of the spirit. Some don't even regard the word of God as the ultimate, they follow all different types of theories because as human we are drawn to things we see compared to what we don't see.
So then, while we [as individual believers] have the opportunity, let us do good to all people [not only being helpful, but also doing that which promotes their spiritual well-being], and especially [be a blessing] to those of the household of faith (born-again believers).
Galatians 6:10 AMP
Lord grant me grace to do good to all people and be a good scripture that they read and lead them to you in Jesus name amen.
For even the circumcised [Jews] themselves do not [really] keep the Law, but they want to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh [that is, in the fact that they convinced you to be circumcised]. But far be it from me to boast [in anything or anyone], except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither is circumcision anything [of any importance], nor uncircumcision, but [only] a new creation [which is the result of a new birth—a spiritual transformation—a new nature in Christ Jesus]. Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule [who discipline themselves and conduct their lives by this principle], and upon the [true] Israel of God (Jewish believers).
Galatians 6:13-16 AMP
Apostle Paul's in these letter was laying emphasis on living for Christ either circumcised or not. Don't live to please man, the ordinance of man and the law that separates Jews from Gentiles based on circumcision.
From now on let no one trouble me [by making it necessary for me to justify my authority as an apostle, and the absolute truth of the gospel], for I bear on my body the branding-marks of Jesus [the wounds, scars, and other outward evidence of persecutions—these testify to His ownership of me]. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, my brothers and sisters. Amen.
Galatians 6:17-18 AMP
Lord I want to boldly bear your witness everywhere I go, grant me the grace to stand for Christ to the very end. Help me to love others as you love them and treat them with your love and not judge them. Above all let me make heaven in Jesus name amen.
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