Galatians 5:1-12

Galatians 5:1-12
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

It's election time and there are many people who are talking about our eroding freedoms here in America. As a Christian you have been set free.  Don't willingly go back to being a slave.
 
² Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.

Once you start down the path of works and earning you salvation, then Christ's death on the cross will never be enough for you.  Forever you will be adding to salvation.

  ³ Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. ⁴ You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. ⁵ For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. ⁶ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

I believe this is harder for men to grasp than women.  Men are action centered where women understand grace more as they have the maternal instinct. Faith is hard because it requires us to wait on God and believe. I know I want results NOW! However God's righteousness will come through the Spirit in HIS time.

⁷ You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? ⁸ That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.

It's no how we begin the race.  Get rid of the distractions or those who pull you away from God.  If you are alive, the race is not over.  It's not to late to finish well.

  ⁹ “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” ¹⁰ I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty.

It does not take a lot of corruption to completely pollute ones life. The analogy of brownies was shared with me.  If I mixed all the ingredients together and just before putting it in the oven I added a teaspoon from the cat box would you eat my brownies?  I mean it's just a little bit.  So it is with corruption in our lives.

God will punish those who lead Christians astray.  That is why I said "I don't know" yesterday.  I do not want to lead anyone away from Christ.

  ¹¹ Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. ¹² As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!

 Paul was annoyed that these agitators were saying he preached circumcision. If circumcision is required for Salvation then Christ sacrifice is void.  He was so annoyed that he wished this group with emasculate themselves.  I think he was hoping they wouldn't breed.

Don't add to Christ.  He died for sin and it is enough.

God Bless.