v1: Liberty is a life to be lived; we must stand firm in the liberty into which Christ has brought us. Having been brought out of the yoke of slavery, we must not go back into it.

v2-4: Circumcision is the mark of bondage. If a Christian is circumcised, there are clear and serious consequences;

• Christ will profit you nothing;
• You are a debtor to keep the whole law;
• You are estranged from Christ, since you seek justification by the law;
• You have fallen away from grace;
• There is a real loss of blessing, although not of salvation.

Paul had a deep commitment to those who sought this route, "I labour in birth again" (4.19).

Notice that to fall away from grace is to fall into legalism, not to fall into sin.

v5: In the way of truth, the way of the Spirit, we look forward to resurrection, being the hope of righteousness; this is our inheritance by faith. Legalism cannot bring such hope.

v6: Ritual has no value; what matters is faith expressing itself through love. This gives freedom to those who had already been circumcised; it is not the end, if they repent and turn back to Christ.

v7-10: The effects of false doctrine.

v7: "Who?"; false doctrine came in through people, not from Him who called (v8). The spirit of man is fickle and unreliable; the mature man is both discerning and cautious. The illustration here is of an athlete; the one who obeys the truth is like an athlete who runs well; the Galatians had begun well, but had stumbled through false teaching.

v8: There is a distinction between true and false. God calls us into the truth, in which we can have full confidence. And God cannot contradict Himself.

v9: False doctrine, the leaven, or yeast, affects the whole lump. 1 Cor 5.6 refers to the leaven of immorality. Again, there are two errors to avoid - legalism and hedonism. The spiritual man walks a path distinct from both; Jesus spoke of a narrow way; our confidence is that He is the way, and that He can keep us on the way.

v10: Judgment upon false teachers, for all teachers face a greater condemnation (James 3.1). Teachers influence others, and false teachers influence others adversely. Paul was confident that the Galatians would repent, and have no other mind, except the mind of Christ, which was also in Paul.

v11: Legalism stands against the message of the cross of Christ. The cross brings persecution, 1.23; 4.29. This should not surprise us, nor must this be allowed to deflect us from obedience to God.

v12: Paul feels strongly about those who had spoiled the churches in Galatia.

v13-26: In light of Paul's teaching about law and grace, some brought the accusation that he promoted sin, Rom 6.1, 15. The response is clear: we are set free to serve Christ, not to please ourselves. This section clearly explains the difference between the works of the flesh and the works of the Spirit.

Many see only legalism and anti-nomianism; they are ignorant of the way of Christ. It is important that this letter answers both errors, as many believe that to depart from legalism is to follow anti-nomianism, and vice versa.

v13: Paul's key statement in this section, which he explains and expands. We have liberty to love. Freedom is not lawlessness, nor is it individualism; we are free to do what we should do. See Jude 4; such people so abuse God's grace that they actually pursue sins.

v14-15: A proper attitude to others, maintained by love. Love is manifested by the presence or absence of particular attitudes and actions. And love is the indispensable mark of the true Christian.

v16-18: There is such a thing as personal spiritual conduct, living in the Spirit, walking in the Spirit, being led by the Spirit; the 'way of the Spirit' contrasts with two errors;

• "You will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature"; this is the life of no restraint, anti-nomianism, pleasing self, pursuing personal pleasure, and selfishness.
• "You are not under law"; this is the life of outward restraint, or legalism. This may refer to all outward restraints, including culture, education, family, etc. Such restraints can prevent us from being led by the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit brings a new, inward, restraint, a life of obedience, and Christ-like character. Notice that we experience an inner conflict (v17), for the natural man is in conflict with the Spirit; but we can know God's victory in the conflict.

v19-21: The works of the flesh are actions and attitudes such as are seen in unbelievers. Since such will not inherit the kingdom of God, these actions and attitudes are inappropriate for believers. The inclusion of such things here indicates that Christians can fall into these sins.

These sins are destructive;

• they destroy sexual purity, and personal dignity; sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery (emphasis on sex);
• they promote false religion, including occupt practices; idolatry, witchcraft (emphasis on sorcery);
• they destroy relationships; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissension, factions, envy (emphasis on selfishness);
• they result in drunkenness, and, orgies (emphasis on excess).

Paul had already warned them against such things, and he continues to do so.

v22-23: The nine-fold fruit of the Spirit is the Christ-like character which is to be developed in each of us. The fruit is the result of walking in the Spirit, Rom 8.9. We have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires, and we must put on the character of Christ.

Fruit can only grow where there is life; this fruit can therefore only grow where there is faith in Christ. The clear expectation is that all these things are to be seen in our lives. It is such characteristics that provide a testimony to those who do not know Christ.

In contrast the law cannot produce such quality of character. But also, none of these things is against the law. Therefore we do not need to impose the Law on converts, since the Spirit, working in us, will produce this fruit.

Joy is that sweet and pleasant affection which eases the mind, exhilarates and comforts the spirits. It is fully rational, arising from the sense of God's love and favour, see Ps 94.19. God's love is poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, and from that love flows our joy, Rom 5.5. Such joy confirms our adoption as God's sons.

v24: We trust in God to make us holy, but we are not passive, but active in pursuing holiness. Beware the error of quietism, which states, 'let God make you holy'. By an act of faith and decision, we break with sins, and follow true holiness.

v25: Paul's conclusion; since we are made alive in the Spirit, we must walk in the Spirit. We have rejected the life of sin, and we must therefore pursue Christ-likeness. "Walk in the Spirit" conveys the idea of a military rank; this affects our character, and also our relationships with others, as addressed in chapter 6.

v26: In terms of our relationship with others, we are not to become critical or hurtful towards others.

The letter was written against the curse of legalism. The references in this chapter (v15, 26) reflect difficult inter-personal relationships. We can conclude that a legalistic environment damages our relationships with each other; biting, devouring, destroying, provoking, envying are all fruit of legalism.