OUR FATHER IN WHOM THERE IS LIBERTY

Galatians chapter 5 verses 1 - 15 carries the apostle Paulˋs urging to the believers in Galatia not to fall for the trap of trying to add to their salvation by following the strictures of the law for he said that following any part of the law in order to obtain righteousness would obligate them to follow the whole of the law and would thus be in a state where they have fallen from grace. 

1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. 2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. 4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

7 You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.

11 And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. 12 I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off!

13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

Paul asks the Galatians who in particular brought them them false doctrine for he certainly did not bring to them anything like what they were cultivating in their midst.

Paul prescribes for them a way to think about the new culture of love that they had been initiated into through faith in christ that had set the baseline of conduct around the principle of loving their neighbours as themselves. 

In the absence of this loving culture, the apostle warns the Galatians that they would end up turning on  one another and they would bite and devour one another until they were ultimately consumed. 

Amen.

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