< Galatians 5 >

The apostle’s conclusion from his arguments that disciples have been made free from the Law is that they should: “Stand fast therefore in the freedom wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage”. Some were zealously urging the disciples to be circumcised as required under the Law, but if they did so it would “profit them nothing”. They would have to keep the whole law, Christ would not save them, and they would have fallen from grace. Erroneous doctrines like this, if not killed off immediately, would spread through the whole Christian body, just as leaven permeates a whole loaf of bread. Therefore the disciples had to resist wrong doctrine with all their might.

They had been set free by Christ, therefore they were exhorted to “use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another”. To love God is the greatest commandment, and the second, said Jesus, is: “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself”. It may be thought that this commandment was introduced by Jesus, but it was in fact part of the Law of Moses in the Old Testament. Jesus quoted it, and the apostle applies it here.

The word of God is Spirit, and we should be influenced by this instead of by our flesh for the two are in opposition to one another. The flesh results in the evils listed here, which we see all about us today, and “they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God”.

Christ’s disciples are required to bring forth the fruit of the Spirit. One who manifests these virtues in his life, and who has crucified the flesh, will inherit the kingdom of God.