Gálatas 5
Matthew Henry · Citado em PreceptAustin
Gálatas 5
Henry: "Give me liberty or give me death!” Patrick Henry would have rather died than give up his civil liberties. He took a stand for liberty, believing with all his heart that death would be better than living under the bondage of British rule. Yet there is a liberty far more important than political liberty and that is the liberty of the soul. Liberty of the heart, mind, conscience, spirit and will from the bondage of law, works, sin, death and hell, and this is what the Apostle Paul is talking about in this section of scripture. Chapters five and six of Galatians deals with grace and sanctification (Christian living). It is not enough to know the doctrine of grace but it must be experienced in one's life. The legalistic teaching of the Judaizers had so penetrated the thinking of the Galatians that it was affecting the way they lived. Right doctrine brings right living and wrong doctrine brings wrong living. These Galatians, instead of trusting in the indwelling Holy Spirit to produce righteousness in them were trying to produce righteousness by depending upon self-effort through keeping of the Mosaic Law. The power for living the Christian life is not found in the Mosaic Law but in the Holy Spirit, and the Galatians were exhorted to put themselves under the Spirit's control. (Liberty Not Legalism) Hansen (IVP NT Commentary - Acts) - This declaration of our freedom is both a statement of an accomplished fact and a goal to pursue. Freedom is ours because of the accomplishment of Christ: Christ has set us free! Paul does not appeal to his readers to fight to be free. Our Christian freedom is not the result of our long march. We have not liberated ourselves by our efforts. We are not able to do so. But now that freedom has been given to us by Christ, that freedom is our goal and our responsibility. Imagine a prisoner who is suddenly surprised to find out that he has been pardoned and set free. He did nothing to accomplish this. He was not even aware that it had happened. But there he stands outside the prison walls, a free man. Now it is his responsibility to live as a free man. Charles Wesley captures the Christian experience of this liberation in one of his great hymns: Long my imprisoned spirit lay Fast bound in sin and nature's night; Thine eye diffused a quickening ray, I woke, the dungeon flamed with light. My chains fell off, my heart was free; I rose, went forth, and followed thee. McGee sums up Galatians 5 - Sanctification by the Spirit; saved by faith and living by law perpetrates falling from grace; saved by faith and walking in the Spirit produces fruit of the Spirit...We come now to the practical side, which is sanctification by the Spirit. Justification is by faith; sanctification is by the Spirit of God....The method of sanctification is by the Spirit. In this section we see the Spirit versus the flesh. Either it is a do-it-yourself Christian life or somebody else will have to do it through you. His method is doing it through you. In this section we see liberty versus bondage. Any legal system puts you under bondage, and you have to follow it meticulously. (Galatians 5) M R De Haan points out that "the last word of the doctrinal section of Galatians (GALATIANS 3-4), FREE! FREE! (ED: The very last word in Greek of Gal 4:31+ is eleutheros = FREE). The believer is free, set at liberty, delivered. Salvation by grace means deliverance and freedom. There is no bondage for those who are in Christ. Now as we shall see, liberty does not mean license to sin; freedom does not mean we are not accountable for our conduct." (Studies in Galatians) And then the first words here in Gal 5:1 are "te eleutheria" literally "the freedom." So Gal 4:31 ends with "free" and Paul immediately and emphatically repeats "the freedom," which has just be described in comparing the offspring of Hagar (the bondwoman) and Sarah (the free woman), the former not free, the latter free. And so Kenneth Wuest in his excellent paraphrase links the end of Galatians 4 with the beginning of Galatians 5... For this aforementioned freedom (Gal 4:31), Christ set us free. Keep on standing firm therefore, and stop being held again by a yoke of bondage. Donald Campbell on Galatians 5:1 - This verse summarizes chapter 4, where the theme is bondage and freedom. It also serves to introduce chapter 5. (Bible Knowledge Commentary) Swindoll - We might translate this opening phrase this way: "To liberty Christ has liberated us." You see, Christ didn't set us free without purpose or to no end. Nor did He set us free so we could enslave ourselves to the nearest legalist or embark on a wild frenzy of immorality. Christ set us free so we could bask in the benefits of His salvation, living out our freedom in Christ without guilt or condemnation. This freedom offers us a new lifestyle. Now we have the ability to live by the Spirit's power. We're free to obey God and do His will joyfully. We can love and serve others. We're able to enter into the Lord's presence through prayer, experiencing a close, personal relationship with Him. Before salvation, we couldn't take advantage of any of these benefits. We were penniless, pathetic slaves to sin. But now, as wealthy freedmen and women, we can enjoy them to the fullest. Christ has set us free so that we may enjoy our freedom. (Swindoll's Living Insights New Testament Commentary – Galatians) Todd Wilson- Legalism is treating that which is good as though it were essential. Whenever Christians turn something valuable into something ultimate, legalism is at work and freedom is forfeited.On the other hand, we preserve our freedom in Christ when what is essential to God is essential to us, and everything else is kept in its place. (Preaching the Word – Galatians: Gospel-Rooted Living) John Stott writes "Our former state is portrayed as a slavery, Jesus Christ as a liberator, conversion as an act of emancipation and the Christian life as a life of freedom." How would you describe your life today? Are you truly living in the freedom found only in Christ Jesus? Paul is writing to tell you that you can because the Son has set you free, so you are free indeed! NO LONGER SLAVES FREE FROM THE LAW It was for freedom that Christ set us free - "So Christ has truly set us free." (NLT) "Christ has freed us so that we may enjoy the benefits of freedom." (GWT) Christ set us free in order for us to be free. He freed us in order that we should have this freedom and maintain, exercise, and enjoy it, not lose it. Notice Paul's pronoun "us" referring to himself and the believers in Galatia. The implication is He set us free to stay free. For the Gentile believers they had just been rescued from slavery to sin, death, and the devil. Now they are being tempted by the Judaizers to go back into slavery, in this context, primarily slavery to the Law. It is notable that the phrase "for freedom" was actually used in ancient times in a formal ceremonious setting in which literal slaves were set free from their former masters and from anyone who might attempt to force them back into slavery. This background would be especially applicable to Gentile believers who Christ had set free "for freedom" (same phrase) and from those who would then attempt to "compel the Gentiles to live like Jews." (Gal 2:14+). The question arises, freedom from what? To be set free indicates one had been previously bound or enslaved. In spiritual terms every human being ever born is born a slave to Sin, death and the devil. These enemies are briefly mentioned below, but in Galatians Paul's primary focus is freedom from the LAW, freedom from the false idea that the Law is a way of salvation, freedom from the Law's condemnation and freedom from the Law as a rule of life. All human beings still "in Adam" (1 Cor 15:22) are slaves to the dominating power of Sin (personified as a "King" or "Master" as in Ro 6:12-13+) and subject to the ruler of this world system, the Devil! (See Sin "personified" as a "King"). This freedom in Christ includes freedom from sin's power and sin's penalty. In Romans 8 after declaring that "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Ro 8:1+), Paul goes on to explain that "the law (principle) of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus (WHERE IS TRUE LIFE, TRUE FREEDOM?) has set you free (eleutheroo) from the law (principle) of Sin and of death. For what the LAW could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the LAW might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.(Ro 8:2-4+) Paul describes the believer's freedom from Sin and death in 1 Corinthians writing... O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Cor 15:55-57) Comment - In other words Christ's "victory" over sin and death set us free from those enemies, for as believers we are now forever safely in covenant with Christ. And why is Law the power of sin? Because as Paul explains in Ro 7:5+ "the sinful passions" are aroused by the Law. The Law stirs up the lusts of Sin for Paul explains "sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead." (cf Ro 7:8+). Can you see the practical application of this principle? When you begin to vainly try to live the Christ life by placing yourself under some rule, guideline, regulation, etc, you have just in essence placed yourself under (subject to) the Law and the effect is to stir up your old flesh nature to commit sin. Beware! This can be very subtle, but it is an immutable principle! How many times have you seen a sign "WET PAINT. DO NOT TOUCH!" and something in you just had to touch it to see if it really was wet! That's the Law stirring up the fallen flesh. But if you are filled with (controlled by) His Spirit (Eph 5:18+), walking by His Spirit, then His Spirit will overpower your flesh and enable you to walk on by without touching the paint! (see Gal 5:16). And so you keep on walking in the freedom in Christ Who set you free and you will not fulfill the desire of the flesh!. In Romans 6:14+ Paul writes... For Sin shall not be master (kurieuo - "lord") over you, for you are not under (the enslaving power of) LAW but under (the transforming power of) grace. In Romans 7 Paul writes that the saints are to have nothing more to do with the Law writing "But now (contrast with Ro 7:5+) we have been released (katargeo) from the LAW, having died to that by which we were bound (katecho = held fast), so that we serve in newness (kainotes) of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter (THE OLD WRITTEN CODE OF THE LAW)." (Ro 7:6+) The writer of Hebrews describes the believer's liberation from enslavement to the devil and the fear of death... Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He (JESUS CHRIST) Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless (katargeo same verb used in Ro 6:6+ where "our body of Sin might be done away with") him who had the power of death, that is, the devil (diabolos), and might free (apallasso - release, liberate from a controlling state) those who through fear of death were subject (enochos from enecho [used below - "be subject"] - in spiritual bondage, under the control of) to slavery (douleia) all their lives. (Hebrews 2:14-15+) Comment - The Greek word for slavery (douleia) describes that state of man in which he/she is prevented from freely possessing and enjoying his/her life and thus is a state opposed to the liberty or freedom which is found only in Christ. In Colossians Paul writes For He rescued (rhuomai - snatched to Himself from danger) us from the domain (exousia = the right and the might) of darkness (DEVIL), and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son (UNDER WHOSE DOMAIN WE HAVE FREEDOM NOW AND FOREVER) (Col 1:13+) Compare Paul's exhortation to Timothy describing the liberating power of teaching the Word of Truth to those who are enslaved to the devil With gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare (pagis) of the devil (OBTAINING FREEDOM IN CHRIST), having been held captive (zogreo = taken and held by the devil as his prisoner of war and under control) by him to do his will.(see 2 Ti 2:25, 26+, cf Jn 8:44, 1 Jn 5:19+) Finally John describes the freedom believers have not only over the devil but over the power of sin... the one who practices (present tense = habitually, not occasionally) sin is of the devil (THE DEVIL IS HIS FATHER, HIS MASTER); for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God (JESUS CHRIST) appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil (TO SET FREE THOSE IN BONDAGE TO THE DEVIL). No one who is born of God (TRUE BELIEVERS) practices (present tense = habitually) sin, because His seed (JESUS CHRIST) abides in him; and he cannot ((present tense = continually) sin, because he is born of God. (1 John 3:8-9+) Here is a summary of the Freedom in which Christ set us free as Paul has described in the letter to the Galatians: (Gal 1:4+) Who (CHRIST) gave Himself for (SUBSTITUTION FOR) our sins so that (PURPOSE) He might rescue (exaireo - pluck out, deliver from danger) us from this present evil age (WORD SYSTEM DOMINATED BY DEVIL), according to the will of our God and Father, (Gal 2:20+) “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live (THE RULING POWER IN MY LIFE IS NO LONGER SIN - I HAVE BEEN SET FREE!), but Christ lives in me (THIS IS FREEDOM); and the life which I now live in the (PHYSICAL) flesh I live by faith in the Son of God (HOW TO LIVE FREE - BY FAITH IN JESUS), Who loved me and gave Himself up for (AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR) me. (Gal 3:13+) Christ redeemed (exagorazo) us from the curse of the Law (OUR ENEMY DEATH), having become a curse for us–for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE”– (Gal 4:4-5+) But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem (exagorazo) those who were under (hupo = signifies subject to the power of) the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons (NO LONGER SLAVES BUT FREE SONS). So from the letter to the Galatians we can see what Christ has done to set us free, so that we might be free indeed... (1) We are rescued "from this present evil age," (2) We have been crucified with Christ so that we are saved from having to live according to our fallen flesh nature. (3) We are redeemed from the curse of the Law which brings eternal death. (4) We are redeemed from bondage to the Law Now ponder the preceding passages and the list of Christ's accomplishments on our behalf and ask yourself, why would I ever want to go back under the Law in a vain attempt to please God or make myself more "spiritual?" But such is the persistent pleading of our fallen flesh. Every morning we awake, you can be assured that our fallen flesh is already "wide awake" and seeking some seductive temptation to draw us away from our freedom in Christ Whose Spirit enables us to "walk in newness (kainotes = EXTRAORDINARILY BRAND NEW, A NEVER BEFORE EXPERIENCED QUALITY) of life." (Ro 6:4+) THE BELIEVER'S DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE Duncan explains that "there were enemies of freedom in Galatia, who were troubling the believers there, confusing them about the Law and trying to bring them under it. So Paul must defend our freedom in these last chapters of the book. He has been doing that all through the book. Galatians is, as it has been called, a fighting epistle from beginning to end. And Paul takes up the fight for our freedom here at the beginning of chapter 5 by first declaring the fact of our freedom and then commanding the Galatians to stand firmly in it. He begins with a declaration of our independence." (Sermon)
Gálatas 5
Henry - The best antidote against the poison of sin is to walk in the Spirit. Vos has a very interesting comment on a subtle difference that one preposition potentially makes in the dynamics of the Spirit enabled walk -- walk by the Spirit versus walk in the Spirit - The apostle’s goal in this passage is to describe liberty in daily life and how it is to be achieved. “Walk by the Spirit” (v. 16) is the preferred translation. The difference from the Authorized Version—“Walk in the Spirit”—is important. Walking in the Spirit implies more dependence on self; walking by the Spirit properly emphasizes the energizing power within. To walk by the Spirit is to allow the Spirit to be the governing principle in one’s life. If the believer permits the Spirit to control, he shall not “fulfill (give effect to or allow to be accomplished) the lusts of the flesh (the natural man or old nature, distinct from physical body).” Don Anderson - “WALK BY MEANS OF THE SPIRIT.” Here Paul states the SECRET OF VICTORIOUS CHRISTIAN LIVING. The Christian must cease from his struggling and simply trust the Holy Spirit to live out the life of Christ through him, to do within him what he cannot do for himself. The focus of the words “BY MEANS OF” is upon: DEPENDENCE and SUBMISSION. We also need to include here that this is a PRESENT IMPERATIVE so therefore it is something that we are commanded to do on a daily basis: CONTINUALLY BE WALKING BY MEANS OF THE SPIRIT In like measure to the yieldedness of the individual to the Spirit, so in like measure will be the experience of victory over the law of sin and death. We can say that it is VICTORY THROUGH DEPENDENCE. Consider for a moment the LIGHT BULB. To it an unseen current flows which makes it light. It is not correct to say that the bulb is giving light, for it has no power to do so apart from the current it receives. So all we need is the divine power of the Spirit flowing through us to make us godly. It takes this and nothing else will do. It is the Spirit who energizes the new nature within us. Satan convinced Adam that he could light the bulb by himself through his flesh. And when he rebelled, God threw the master switch and out went the light and also the life. Now when the Holy Spirit comes in, He brings life and light. In like manner, as we allow the current to flow, so will our light shine. But we have the ability to quench the Spirit and to grieve the Spirit in our lives, and as we do, this divine current is not allowed to flow. By our will we can flip the switch and quench and grieve the Holy Spirit. (Notes) Pinnock points out: How are the Galatians to check their tendency to devour each other? How can they control their runaway self-centeredness and learn to give themselves freely in loving service to others? The answer is the Spirit controlled life (v. 16). If they would walk in the Spirit, they would not have to answer the call of the lower nature. Paul is not telling them to do something they have not done before. He is urging them to keep on walking in the Spirit day by day. This is the secret of Christian holiness. Paul describes the Christian life as a conflict of opposing forces. What the Spirit yearns for in our lives is antithetical to what the lower nature desires (v. 17). A civil war rages within the believer. Peter wrote about it: “Beloved, I beseech you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh that wage war against your soul” (I Peter 2:11). The Spirit and the flesh are implacable foes. Paul’s teaching makes it impossible to accept “quietism,” the theory that sanctification does not require effort or struggle on our part. All we have to do is surrender to God and let Him have the victory over sin. While it is true that God sanctifies us, it is not true that a person being renewed by the Spirit exists in a state of passive surrender. God has done everything to make our sanctification possible, but we must make our calling and election sure by putting to death the old life and walking in the Spirit. Gutzke points out: Consider this. If a person had a vacant lot, what could be expected to grow on that vacant lot naturally without any attention? There would be only weeds! It would be an unsightly affair. But if that person was to put in a garden there, cultivating and planting it, there would be vegetables. Or think of a person being responsible for the care of a group of boys. If that person was to turn that group of boys loose, and they were to spend two, three, or four hours together in some place, there could be trouble. On the other hand, those boys could have a wonderful time playing baseball, if someone was channeling their energies into a constructive program. This is what Paul means when he writes: “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh” (5:16). Bartlett says: IN THESE VERSES we have clearly depicted the struggle between the old nature and the new nature which is the common experience of Christians everywhere. And this conflict is a war to the death. There can be no cessation of hostilities until we are called home to glory. A truce is out of the question. Appeasement policies are futile. We may as well recognize the situation at the outset....Herein lies the key to conquest—not through the terrors of the law, but through the Spirit of the Lord will victory over the flesh be won. The spirit of the law and the law of the Spirit are poles apart. The injunction to walk in the Spirit implies power of choice on the part of the believer (ED: YES BUT SEE Phil 2:13NLT+ WHERE THE SPIRIT GIVES US THE DESIRE AND POWER - OF COURSE WE STILL HAVE TO CHOOSE HUNDREDS OF TIMES A DAY BUT IT IS ON THE BACKGROUND OF SUPERNATURAL PROVISION - MYSTERIOUS? YES. BUT TRUE! SEE RIDDERBOS BELOW), whether to submit to the bondage of sin or to enter into that freedom in the Spirit which is rightfully his as a child of God. (Galatians 5:16-23 - Practical Application) Ridderbos says: He must walk by the Spirit, that is, he must in fellowship with Christ let himself be ruled by the Spirit. The principle of the Spirit does not make human effort unnecessary, but arouses it and equips it to put all its forces into the service of the Spirit. Harrison says: Now we have reached the climax of our prolonged antithesis, or, we may better say, we have this antithesis reduced to its final terms, summed up in two comprehensive words: flesh and Spirit. On Our Side it is flesh; on His Side it is Spirit. These are the two antithetical elements of life, the two opposing resources upon which life must depend. If we are living our life, it’s flesh; if we are living His life, it is Spirit. (Galatians 5:16 Spirit versus Flesh)