Slaves No More
- What's the gist of all this? Don't be slaves to the law. You've been given your freedom, so take it and run with it, Galatians!
- Paul tells them if they go ahead and get circumcised, things are not gonna work out well. Besides the fact that it's gonna hurt a ton, if they get snipped, they'll be forced to obey all the other 612 Jewish laws on the books. Good luck with that, guys.
- Also, they'll be cutting themselves off from God's grace since they'll be trying to find a relationship with God through the law.
- That path is a dead end. Literally.
- But if they want to follow Christ, they should just do that. No law-abiding required. The only thing that matters is having faith.
- Come on, Galatians! You guys were doing good until someone pushed you off the straight and narrow.
- Hey, it only takes one troublemaker to cause a problem. Toss in a little bit of yeast and it makes a whole bowl of dough rise.
- But whoever it is that's spreading lies there in Galatia, they're gonna pay. God will see to that.
- Paul is pretty angry by this point and says that he wishes "those who unsettle you would castrate themselves!" Watch the potty mouth, Paul.
Freedom Ain't Free
- Paul hopes that the Galatians will stay on the path to freedom, but this doesn't mean they can do anything they want. In fact, true freedom comes in following God's will.
- If they truly love God, they'll devote their lives to loving each other. Hugs all around.
- Paul reminds them to keep their focus on spiritual things instead of material things. In other words, no Rolexes.
- This also means no "fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these." Saturday nights in Galatia are starting to look pretty boring.
- On the other hand, a person who lives in the Spirit will be loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, generous, faithful, gentle, and in control of themselves.
- If a person truly lives in Christ, they'll follow the Spirit's lead and do all these good things.