Lesson 11 - Trust in Faith

Up to this point in Galatians, several times and in different ways, Paul stated that justification or righteousness is not earned by adhering to the law.  Paul used his own testimony of revelation.  He repeated the story of his private meeting with the beit din, Barnabus and Titus.  He explained his point through the story of confronting Peter.  In chapter 3 he used Old Testament scripture references to prove his point, and then followed up in chapter 4 with an allegory using Sarah and Hagar as metaphors.

Paul is about to wrap up his argument now with one last thought process.

o   5:1 – I included this verse in Lesson 10 also, as a finishing point to Paul’s allegory using Hagar and Sarah to represent slavery and freedom.  This is a good verse to set the tone for his next argument.  “Do not submit yourself to the yoke of slavery,” is just another way of saying, do not allow yourself to believe you can find justification or righteousness from the law.

o   5:2 – 5:6 – Paul is reiterating the basis of his teaching and the foundation for salvation.  Faith in the Messiah is the key to salvation.

§  v2 – “Christ will be of no advantage to you” – Remember Paul’s entire point of this letter.  He is primarily writing to the uncircumcised Gentiles in the churches of Galatia, reassuring them, and proving through scripture that circumcision, or converting to be legally Jewish, is not the key to salvation.  By accepting circumcision as salvation, then what is the point of claiming faith in Christ?  If you have faith in Christ, then it contradictory to claim circumcision is required.

§  v3-5 – “severed from Christ”

§  Paul uses very drastic language because believes so deeply that salvation is independent from circumcision (Jewish conversion).

§  One must take this statement in context of the whole letter to Galatia, and with the continuation of his thought which reads, “you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.”  Paul is writing that seeking justification from the law, not adhering to the law, is wrong.

§  “Through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness” – Paul just said, hope of righteousness, instead of claiming righteousness.  None of us are indeed righteous, but will be made righteous, not through circumcision (Jewish conversion) but through our faith in Messiah.

§  v6 – Only faith is what counts towards this hope of righteousness.  There is nothing we can do, outside of being faithful, that will provide us this hope of righteousness, whether legally Jewish or not.

Paul wrote, “I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law” (v3).  Skipping down to verse 6, I think, helps explain his point: “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.” 

First of all, do not forget that when Paul uses the term circumcision, he is not talking about the physical act of circumcision.  He is using that as a term meaning “convert to legal Jewish citizenship.”  This is still a common use of the term.

Keep in mind that Paul is Jewish, so he is lumping himself into this concept.  He is making a point that within the assembly of those that accept Jesus as the Messiah, there is no status for salvation.  Earlier in this letter he wrote, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (3:28).  He is obviously not being literal that there is no distinction between male and female.  He is writing about status within salvation, and making a very distinct point that salvation is for all people. 

Paul is the first that we are aware of, to make it his life mission to teach the gospel this way.  Peter was actually the first to receive a vision (Acts 10 & 11) that God did not consider Gentiles unclean, as Jewish law did.  But Paul picked up after this vision and used scripture to define his gospel.  He pointed to the promise given to Abraham, at least 13 years before circumcision.  Prior to this Jews had interpreted scripture to mean that the only road to God was being Jewish, either natural born or converted proselyte.

o   5:7 – 5:12 – “Who hindered you?”

§  This is a question many of us have had to ask ourselves at one point. 

§  The image of new believers comes to mind when he says, “You were running well.” Excited new believers in Galatia taking up faith in Jesus as the Messiah and leaving behind their life of idol worship to honor the God of Abraham with the Jews.  The excitement of realization that God is alive and not just a statue.  The excitement of a real God of love and not just worshiping in fear of displeasing an idol.

§  “Who hindered you” – “This persuasion is not from him who calls you.” – Unlike a believer who is walking away from a church, or just missing attendance, Paul is concerned about false teaching.  He is concerned about the emphasis being put back on Jewish conversion for salvation rather than faith in God and Jesus as the Messiah.

§  v11 – Paul is reminding them that they are not alone.  He taught them an accurate gospel that faith is the key.  “If I still preach circumcision, why am I being persecuted?”  Paul is reminding them that he hasn’t changed his teaching, and is still willing to stand for that belief. 

§  Up to this point he has continuously repeated his message.  He has used examples, an allegory, testimony from the beit din, retelling a story about Peter.  One line of thinking after another in this letter is telling them to stay strong on the course.

Like any good teacher, or anyone good at arguing a point, Paul continuously repeated his argument that salvation (justification, righteousness) is about faith, not about Jewish conversion.  These people lived in a culture filled with continual penance and sacrifice.  These Gentiles, living in a Roman culture, were surrounded by idols, pagan temples, sacrificial alters, and either participated in constant penance or sacrifice to win the favor of these gods.  As they become part of an assembly that worships the God of Abraham, with Jews and proselytes, it would be natural to consider that God would require something (circumcision) in order to win favor.  Paul is introducing a radical idea that salvation is a matter of the heart. 

The author of the book of Hebrews told us that “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”  How difficult it must have been for so many in this culture to shift from a life full of daily requirements to earn the favor of your god, whether the Greek gods or the God of Abraham.   Trusting in your own actions, knowing you have tangible evidence for your justification, then being told that the measure of trust justification and sanctification is through intangible faith (things not seen). 

Have you ever tried to argue with someone that does not believe in God at all?  There are people that believe this universe is pure happenstance and death is just one cycle of life and there is nothing for us afterwards.  The problem is that you, as a believer, have a certain measure of faith.  You have “conviction of things not seen.”  This conviction drives your faith.  This conviction becomes organic within your thoughts and your being.  Our faith matures and increases through answered and unanswered prayer, observing life, feeling God, hearing God, reading scripture, witnessing miracles, and associating with others that also have faith. As our faith matures, this conviction becomes as organic as breathing and walking.  Everything you view, once you profess your faith, is based on this conviction. 

Trust in faith!