“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5:1)
Paul writes stand fast. Persevere in the faith until Jesus returns. The church of the Galatians was being attacked by the Judaizers who insisted they follow the Law. Their argument was that without the Law, there was lawlessness. While this was true and still is true for the unregenerated man, it’s not for the born-again believer. The unregenerated man is still living in the kingdom of sin and darkness. He cannot be good. He is evil and full of sin. His nature is the nature of rebellion like his father the devil. “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” (John 8:44)
But the born-again believer has been born of God. “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” (1John 3:9) Our old sinful man with the nature of the devil has been crucified. “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” (Romans 6:6) That sinful person has died. But God has raised us up a new person with a sinless, pure and holy nature, born of Him. “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2Corinthians 5:17)
When we believed on Jesus and made Him our Lord and Savior, God delivered us from the bondage of sin. “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” (Romans 6:17-18) We don’t need the Law which is for sinners. “But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.” (Galatians 5:18) God gave us the Holy Spirit to live in us. He is the One Who guides us in the way of righteousness, in God’s Truth. “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all Truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come.” (John 16:13) So Paul is urging the Galatians to persevere in the teachings of the New Covenant of Jesus and not to be ensnared with the teachings of bondage. ““For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:2)
The Holy Spirit works in us as we learn God’s Word to change our soul (mind, will, emotions) which influences our actions. “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2) Because of the work of Christ, God’s mercy has birthed us a new spiritual being born of God, with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit Who works in us perfection or the image of Jesus our Lord. If you’re a believer, you know the process. God reveals sin in our lives. We repent of it and the Holy Spirit works in us to conquer it. We do our part in prayer and obedience. And the Holy Spirit works the miracle of victory over old habits, sins and tendencies from our old man.
Paul urges the Galatians not be entangled or ensnared with the bondage of the Law, restrictions based on works and not the Spirit working in us. In other words, trying to do it on our own and getting no where because we cannot do it. The people of the Old Testament are a testimony of that. Before Jesus, they didn’t have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit came upon those who prophesied, led the nation, conquered the enemy and did God’s bidding. But He would not remain with them. Although our spirits are pure and holy born of God, our minds still have the influences of the old man. It needs to be transformed by God’s Word. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2) Then the Holy Spirit works in us to give us the desire to obey and the ability to do so. “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13) The bottom line is that we don’t need the Law to keep from sinning and to please God. God has it covered by His Spirit.
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