It Starts Small

5 For freedom, Christ set us free. Stand firm, then, and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery. ² Take note! I, Paul, am telling you that if you get yourselves circumcised, Christ will not benefit you at all. ³ Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to do the entire law. ⁴ You who are trying to be justified by the law are alienated from Christ; you have fallen from grace. ⁵ For we eagerly await through the Spirit, by faith, the hope of righteousness. ⁶ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything; what matters is faith working through love.

Galatians 5:1-6

 It was for freedom that Christ set us free

We have been liberated from the chains of sin and death! We are free from the exhausting demands of rigid rules. We no longer need to adhere to them just to win God’s favor. Would a truly free individual ever wish to revert to the shackles of slavery? Just as a healthy person shuns the idea of reverting to illness, so too must we flee from the law! Returning to the old covenant means abandoning the magnificent grace that Christ symbolizes. The new covenant embodies this grace. It would be a grim return to bearing our transgressions alone. We would forsake the wondrous sacrifice of Christ on the cross, which cleanses us from all sin!

Christians far too often get caught up in following rules instead of embracing the incredible relationship we have with God. Many feel compelled to stick to certain practices to be deemed a “good Christian.” They do this sometimes out of mere habit. Other times it’s because they fear the judgment of others. This kind of religion can be exhausting! But our Heavenly Father looks deep into our hearts. When we truly love God, our desire to serve Him flows naturally. We serve because of a heartfelt response to the immeasurable love He has shown us. It is not out of obligation. It is not to avoid disapproval from fellow believers. When you cultivate that real, vibrant relationship with God, serving Him transforms from a burden into a delightful, liberating joy!

Consider the transformative act of giving money or tithing. When you feel obligated, it becomes a heavy weight, sapping your joy and turning generosity into a chore. Yet, when you choose to give freely, you are driven by a genuine desire to make a difference. It ignites a spark of joy within you. Your actions are imbued with profound meaning. You uplift others and share in the beauty of generosity.

⁷ Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver.

2 Corinthians 9:7

The same principle resonates profoundly in every facet of the Christian life. We are called to serve God not with reluctance or obligation, but with exuberance and joy! When your heart is aligned with God, you will eagerly choose to serve Him. This choice comes from the depths of your soul. In that service, you will discover true delight and fulfillment.

if you get yourselves circumcised, Christ will not benefit you at all.

These powerful verses thunder the message that circumcision is fundamentally flawed! Yet, when we dive into the broader context of the entire book, we see Paul’s fervent argument. He argues passionately against placing our trust in the law. The Galatians had fallen into the trap of relying on the Old Testament law. Their circumcision served as a misguided emblem of that dependence. They approached circumcision with the misguided belief that this act could offer them salvation. Understanding their perilous mindset, Paul emphatically urged them to abandon the idea of circumcision altogether. This same fierce conviction motivated him to refuse to let Titus be circumcised at the outset of the book.

There’s a profound lesson buried within these words! Any good deed performed merely to earn salvation or to curry favor with God transforms into a sin rather than a true act of kindness. For a work to shine as genuinely good in the eyes of the Divine, both the action and the motivation must align in righteousness. If either falters, it ceases to be virtuous and becomes a misstep instead.

⁶ All of us have become like something unclean,
and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment;
all of us wither like a leaf,
and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.

Isaiah 64:6

How can a righteous act be likened to a filthy garment? The answer often lies in the underlying motivations, which can be deeply flawed. Consider the Pharisees, for instance. They reveled in their generous giving. They strode to the forefront to contribute large sums. They reveled in the attention they drew to themselves. But this was merely a facade—a theatrical performance. Their actions were driven by a thirst for respect and admiration from others.

² So whenever you give to the poor, don’t sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be applauded by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward.

Matthew 6:2

Jesus pointed out that they “have their reward.” The Galatians were dangerously toying with the idea of circumcision for misguided reasons. Driven by pride, they sought to brand themselves as worthy of God’s favor. They recklessly elevated themselves above others in a pursuit of superiority.

Be fervent in examining your motivations. What drives you to attend church on Sundays? Is it merely the routine of the day? Or the concerned gazes of those who might notice your absence? Here’s a powerful practice: Every Sunday, before you step into church, immerse yourself in prayer. Seek God’s guidance to help you worship Him with all your heart and soul. Plead for enlightenment, that He may reveal the sin in your life. Ask Him to empower you to embrace the teachings you receive. Request opportunities to reach out and make a difference. A heartfelt prayer can transform your attitude and bring you closer to God.

Is salvation by works or grace?

Every other religion in the world teaches people to rely on good works. Our faith is different.

⁸ For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— ⁹ not from works, so that no one can boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9

Salvation is an incredible gift from God, a precious treasure we do not deserve. Grace cannot be earned. If we try to grasp it through our own efforts, it slips away from us. The only way to receive this divine grace is by embracing God’s generous offer, freely given to us. Paul passionately urges, “you are alienated from Christ… you have fallen away from grace.” Christ’s profound sacrifice is a lifeline. It is extended to those who humbly come to Him on their knees. They cry out, “I need you!” It is not meant for those who naively believe, “I can do it myself.” In the end, you face a choice. Place your faith in Christ. Otherwise, you rely solely on your own strength.

²⁴ Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

Matthew 19:24

Jesus said it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. The reason is that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Rich people trust in themselves. Therefore, it is extremely difficult for them to humble themselves by saying “I need you” to Jesus. It is difficult for both rich and poor to reach the point where they are ready to rely entirely on the mercy of God.

 For we eagerly await through the Spirit, by faith, the hope of righteousness

Here is one of the “already but not yet” verses, a profound truth that ignites our spirits! The moment we believe, we are positionally righteous before God, an amazing gift bestowed upon us. We have been unconditionally forgiven of our sins. We embrace the incredible reality that we are now the recipients of a new nature and the Holy Spirit! Yet, we find ourselves on a journey, not yet perfectly righteous in our actions. This is the beautiful tension we hold—an exhilarating wait in faith for the glorious fulfillment that lies ahead!

³⁰ And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.

Romans 8:30

While we are waiting, we are being sanctified day by day.

⁶ I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:6

God has predestined us to be “conformed to the image of His Son.” This is a process. He began it in our lives, and He will complete it.

neither circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything

Here, Paul emphasizes that circumcision holds no power to save us, nor does the refusal to undergo this rite. The sole essence of salvation lies in faith! This faith springs forth from love—an outpouring of God’s boundless love toward us, to which we respond with our hearts! In today’s context, circumcision has lost the contentious weight it carried in Paul’s time. But let us ponder: what other religious rituals might people mistakenly cling to for salvation? How should we approach such beliefs with an open and discerning heart?

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Cross References:

Questions to Ponder:

• What has Christ set us free from?
• What has He set us free to?
• What is the yoke of slavery Paul refers to?
• In what ways were you like a slave prior to coming to Christ? How is your life different now?
• Is Paul teaching that it is wrong to be circumcised? What, then, is his point?
• What is the relationship between circumcision and the law?
• Why is a person who tries to satisfy the demands of the Old Testament law “severed from Christ”?
• Explain the meaning of the word “grace.” How is our salvation grace from God?
• What key word besides “grace” is mentioned in verses 5 and 6?
• How do faith and grace work together?
• What works, besides circumcision, might a person depend on today for salvation?

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