Galatians 5:5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.
9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
10 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.
The Christian life begins with true faith and it continued with true faith. Hebrews 11 tells us:
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
True faith has substance. It also involves evidence. Chapter 11 gives much evidence of what true faith looks like. As we have looked at in the book of Galatians, true faith is the faith of Christ. It is not the faith of man.
In verse 5 of our text we are reminded that it is through the Spirit, that is the Holy Spirit, we wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. The Galatians were allowing the Judaizers to get them to walk in the flesh, rather than in the Spirit. They needed to get back to where they started when they were saved. Christians do not go backwards. Christians can get sidetracked but the love of God does not allow true Christians to stay on the wrong track. There are too many false teachers who talk of backsliding and they use that as an excuse for unrepentant sinners. Too many people are content to be considered in a backslidden state as long as they can still be seen as Christian.
I and II Corinthians deal with some carnal Christians. They were in bad shape. God did not allow them to remain there. The solution for them was repentance, acknowledging they were going the wrong way and getting back on track. II Corinthians actually records them getting back on track. It takes humility to admit sin and to turn to God for forgiveness.
In our text, the Galatians needed to get back to the faith they were given at salvation and they needed to grow in that faith.
In verse 6 Paul reminded them again that in Jesus Christ circumcision does not help in saving, and uncircumcision does not hinder salvation. Jew or Gentile, all are saved by grace through faith in Christ. We see here that this true faith works by love. It is the love of God that is at work in the heart of the true child of God. That love draws the saved person into a closer and tighter relationship with God.
In verse 7 Paul is still working with doubters. He reminded them of the race they entered when they got saved. They had been making good progress. Who caused them to disobey the truth? That is a valid question. Notice that Paul asked “who”, not “what”. It is amazing the power that certain people can wield over others. It is amazing the power that the devil can wield over people.
As a pastor for over thirty years I have seen people who seemed to start well, and then they got turned aside by someone. They chose to believe a lie rather than the truth. Many of those in that place would suggest they finally saw the light and they left to follow the light. However, a simple reading of God’s Word shows they are wrong.
In verse 8 Paul reminded these saints that the persuasion they were listening to was not from Jesus Christ. If it did not come from God there is only one other source. That source is the devil. They were yielding to the one whose clutches they had been delivered from.
In verse 9 we are reminded of the power of leaven. Those who bake, know that the quantity of leaven in a dough is quite small in comparison to the amount of flour used. Yet that little leaven makes a big difference in the dough.
In the Christian life, leaven is a picture of sin. A little sin can mess up a beautiful work that God is doing. It is not because Satan is more powerful than God. God could force Himself upon His children, but He wants His child to choose to follow Him. He demonstrates that His way is right and good. He shows the destructiveness of choosing anything other than the truth. The lost shrug it off and they fight hard to resist the truth. The saved are fighting the indwelling Holy Spirit and they cannot win. They can be miserable, but they cannot win.
In verse 10 Paul is confident that the saints will get things right because of the Lord. They will never get things right on their own. The apostle Paul was not strong enough to turn them around. However, the Lord would turn them back to where they needed to be. Christians are saved unto good works.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.
When God begins a good work, He finishes it. Paul also warned that the one who was troubling the saints was under God’s judgment. We certainly know that the devil is under God’s judgment. His time is limited. Those men who were working for the devil were also limited in their time. They would die one day, at the hands of God, not true saints. True saints do not take up arms against spiritual enemies. True saints need to keep their eyes on the Lord Jesus Christ and they need to walk humbly with Him. He will see us through.
There is much opposition to the truth today. There are many who would fall into the camp of the Judaizers and the Pharisees. They have a false religion and they are very good at promoting their lies. They get together and they plan their attack. They use lies and subtlety to try to make it look as though they really care. Those who truly care, submit to God’s Word and they get back on track when they stumble. They do not continue to fight against the truth. That is unprofitable.
Paul asked the saints who they were listening to. That is still a valid question today. It is so easy for us as people to develop a philosophy and hold to it. It is so important to submit to God’s authority. God’s Word is true. The Holy Spirit indwells the true child of God. The true child of God must be open to the Truth. The Truth shall make you free.
Pastor Bartel