Galatians 5:6-10
 
Gal 5:6 (KJB)
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
 
Any thing - prevail or forcefulness
 
Here Paul is stating that race does not matter when it comes to salvation. Whether a person is a Jew (circumcision) or a Gentile (uncircumcision) both have no pre-salvation special standing before the Lord. The only way a person becomes saved, is through the Lord Jesus Christ which is salvation by grace alone. Race never plays a part in salvation because God is going to have His elect in every country in the world. It is salvation by grace and not race. The true Christian experiences the love of Christ throughout their life on earth and into eternity. The true believer then passes that love on to others by witnessing to them and doing good works as a result of salvation.
 
Gal 5:7 (KJB)
Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
 
Did hinder - Restrained, checked, or cut off
 
Paul now uses an analogy from the world of sports which would have been familiar to the Galatians. He uses an analogy from marathon running. One of the defensive moves in a marathon is to try and cut off another runner to gain his spot. Paul is saying here that they were running the race very well, so who cut them off to the point that they no longer obeyed the truth? The truth is justification by faith and not the keeping of the law.
 
Gal 5:8 (KJB)
This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.
 
Persuasion - Influence or credulity
 
The fact that these Galatians had decided to keep the law did not come from the Lord Jesus Christ who called them but these false teachers attempted to derail these Christians by trying to get them back under the law. This means that these false teachers were under the authority of Satan. Whenever anyone tries to teach a Christian that justification by grace alone is not enough or it is not the true gospel, then they are coming in the power of Satan to try and destroy these Christians. (1 Pet 5:8 KJV) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: This is why Peter admonished us to make sure we know the true Gospel and in whom we stand because Satan will do what he can and use anyone or any method to try and destroy the Christian. Now Satan can only hinder the Christian but if we follow his false teachings via his false teachers, it will cause us great consternation in our Christian walk.
 
Gal 5:9 (KJB)
A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
 
Paul uses the permeation power of leaven to show that in a loaf of bread all it takes is a little leaven and that leaven will saturate the entire loaf of bread. Paul transfers that principle to the Galatians that all it takes is a little false teaching and that will be enough for it to mushroom and spread throughout the whole church. In our day, the same principle applies. How many churches never embraced tongues and as soon as someone comes into the church who believes in tongues, they talk to one and they embrace it, now you have two who believe in tongues and that continues until the church becomes a tongues church. This principle can apply to any and all false teachings, it does not matter what it is because any false teaching can take root and spread like a forest fire. This is why we must be very vigilant in our biblical studies so we will not fall prey to false teachings.
 
Gal 5:10 (KJB)
I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.
 
Have confidence - Convinced or satisfied
Troubleth - Stir up or disturb
 
One thing that Paul is definitely saying in this verse is that he definitely does not discount the keeping power of the Lord. This is why Paul is convinced through the Lord that the Galatians will not turn back to the law and then he places the responsibility of the false teachings on the false teacher. The false teachers would be responsible before the Lord for trying to derail these Christians and will stand in the judgment for their sins unless they become saved. It is the same thing today, those who bring false teachings will give an account to God for bringing them and trying to overturn the faith of the Christians. Even those false teachers who teach unbelievers will face the same fate. The Holy Spirit who indwells the true believer will guide us into all truth. There may be a season when we may embrace a false teaching but if we continue to search the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit will guide our studies and show us the error so we can reject those studies and even teach others the errors in the false teachings. Sometimes false teachings can be so close to the truth that may seem like true teachings but careful analysis will always reveal where the error lies.

Back