Galatians 5 (3) 

Pray Psalm 36.1-4.
An oracle within my heart concerning the transgression of the wicked:
There is no fear of God before his eyes.
For he flatters himself in his own eyes,
When he finds out his iniquity and when he hates.
The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit;
He has ceased to be wise and to do good.
He devises wickedness on his bed;
He sets himself in a way that is not good;
He does not abhor evil.

Sing Psalm 36.1-4.
(No Other Plea: My Faith Has Found a Resting Place)
Transgression speaks within the heart of him who fears not God;
he swells with pride to flaunt his sin and boasts in wicked words.
He ceases to be good or wise; he plots a wicked way.
His pathway is unrighteousness and evil all the day.

Read Galatians 5.1-12; meditate on verses 7-12.

Preparation
1. Of what was Paul confident concerning the Galatians?

2. What did he wish for those who were troubling them?

Meditation
Paul reaffirmed his confidence in the Galatians, that they would not be persuaded to abandon faith in Jesus alone for some form of Jesus-plus-works (v. 10). God will judge those who distort His Gospel and lead His sheep astray (v. 10). But before that happens, the people of God must exercise vigilance: Remember Who has called you to His Kingdom and glory (1 Thess. 2.12), and reject any false leaven that may be seeking to corrupt the faithful (vv. 7-9).

Paul did not preach circumcision when he was among the Galatians. He never preached it, and for this reason the Jews in every place persecuted him (v. 11). To the wrong-believing mind, the cross is an offense (v. 11). The reason it is an offense is because it eliminates any place for any kind of human works in finding favor with God. Sinful people naturally think they must have something to do with their being saved if they are to be saved at all. They must “be good enough” or at least “sincere”. Tell them, no, it’s just Jesus—His life, death, and resurrection—and they will take offense. Unless the grace of God humbles them to repent and believe.

Paul took no prisoners where the Judaizers and other false teachers were concerned. God, he insisted, will judge them all (v. 10). But Paul had his own thoughts about what these circumcisers ought to do. Verse 12 could be read to mean “cut themselves off” from the true believers. It could also have a more anatomical suggestion, which, I’m certain, would have raised a gasp the first time this letter was read to the churches of the Galatians.

But sometimes a little shock and awe are needed to keep the Lord’s sheep in their proper pasture.

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Besides all the wonderful and precious promises of Scripture, the story of Creation, and the following covenants and mighty works of God; besides all that, Galatians 5.12 stands as one of the greatest comebacks of all writing through all time. Just saying.

Now on to other things.

“You ran well. Who hindered you…?” (Gal. 5.7).
We can hear Paul’s plaintive question to his children in the Lord: You started out just fine, what happened?
Who did this to you? Who changed your mind? Who is pushing you off the “good ground” onto places along the “wayside”, or “stony places” that are “scorched” so that you are “withered away”, or in amongst the “thorns” to be “choked” (Matt. 13.3-8)?

Paul’s heart is so weighed down that his masterful comeback (Gal. 5.12) is understandable.
We, too, should be enraged by the wiles of the enemy that woo us, our family, and friends off the Jesus Path.

The encouragement that Paul used for the Galatians is effective for all times: “have no other mind” (Gal. 5.10) than Jesus only for salvation.

When the children of Israel first left Egypt for the land of Promise, Moses wrote about their journey: “They departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the day after the Passover the children of Israel went out with boldness in the sight of all the Egyptians” (Num. 33.3). They started well. They ran well for a time. And then, what hindered them from a successful trip? How did an eleven-day journey end up taking forty years? (Deut. 1.2).

Job, amidst many trials, said to his unhelpful friends:
“I will teach you about the hand of God;
what is with the Almighty I will not conceal.
Surely all of you have seen it;
why then do you behave with complete nonsense?” (Job 27.11, 12).

Why did they?
Why did the Galatians?
Dare I ask, why do we?

God promises to strengthen us to know His will and do it.
To understand grace and faith and salvation, then works.

“But those who wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint” (Is. 40.31).
“I will run the course of Your commandments,
for you shall enlarge my heart” (Ps. 119.32).

Who or what has hindered you from understanding the Truth?
No one, and no thing. “If God is for us, who can be against us?”
“…in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us” (Rom. 8.31, 37).

As Paul reaffirmed his confidence in the Galatians, I reaffirm our confidence in believers today: we will never “be persuaded to abandon faith in Jesus alone for some form of Jesus-plus-works.”
We will reject false teachers and their teachings—hoping that they will “even cut themselves off!” (Gal. 5.12)
And we will remember that amazing comeback.

Reflection
1. Paul hated the devil and his wiles. Should we? Explain.

2. What can believers do to help one another keep from straying off the Jesus Path?

3. Whom will you encourage today in their walk with and work for the Lord?

If Paul and others would have admitted that the observance of the law of Moses was to be joined with faith in Christ, as necessary to salvation, then believers might have avoided many of the sufferings they underwent. The first beginnings of such leaven should be opposed. And assuredly those who persist in disturbing the church of Christ must bear their judgment. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Galatians 5.7-12

Pray Psalm 36.5-12.
Thank the Lord for His mercy, faithfulness, and righteousness. Call on Him to keep and use you this day so that others might know the refreshing grace of Jesus through you.

Sing Psalm 36.5-12.
(No Other Plea: My Faith Has Found a Resting Place)
Your lovingkindness, LORD, is great, it reaches heav’n above;
Your faithfulness mounts to the skies, and keeps us in Your love.
Your righteousness like mountains high and judgment like the deep
preserve Your creatures one and all and in Your mercy keep.

How precious is Your love, O LORD; we shelter in Your wings.
We drink refreshment to the full from Your abundant springs.
You give us freely of Your grace, we drink it with delight;
life’s fountain is with You, O LORD, in Your light we see light.

O let Your grace continue, LORD, to those who love You well.
Grant righteousness to all who trust and Your salvation tell.
Keep wickedness and pride away; LORD, keep us in Your grace!
For sinners fall before Your wrath, rejected from Your face.

T. M. and Susie Moore

If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).

To learn more about the salvation into which we have been delivered, order the book, Such a Great Salvation, by clicking here. Or order a free copy in PDF by clicking here.

Support for Scriptorium comes from our faithful and generous God, who moves our readers to share financially in our work. If this article was helpful, please give Him thanks and praise.

And please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe with your prayers and gifts. You can contribute online, via PayPal or Anedot, or by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.

Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.