Part CVI on Galatians Study

Romans 7:4-6
"Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.  For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter."

Romans 7:4-6
"Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; (or the work of the Last Supper and the Cross) that ye should be married  (begin to be conjoined)to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, (that old Adam nature. We were spiritually dead) the motions of sins, which were by the law, (remember all the Law could do was condemn. The Law always made whoever was trying to keep it, guilty. And yet that's the very thing that people somehow like to resurrect and bring back into their lifestyle) did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. (Remember the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life. That's the two opposites) But now (as a result of believing our Gospel) we (believers) are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held (this Hebrewism holds true even to today); that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter  (the letter also refers to mans flesh which carries the penalty or curse of the letter)."

Remember that the letter kills (condemns) but the Spirit gives Life, resurrection Life into those who have died to self-will and the spirit of the world. Do you see how plain that is? We're not to be laboring under that old system of Law which is now crucified as far as God is concerned, it's dead, it's gone, and oh we saw that especially in the letters to the Corinthians. Remember that veil that was never taken away for Israel? They could never understand that the Law was now finished and done with and that's why they're still trying to keep it today. But we're to know better. We know that the Law has been satisfied, set aside, crucified and put to death. Now back to Galatians Chapter 5. Also remember when we speak of the Law we're not just talking about the Ten Commandments and Temple worship, BUT RATHER WE”RE TALKING ABOUT ANYTHING THAT WE CAN ATTACH TO THE BEAUTIFUL GOSPEL WE BELIEVE FOR OUR SALVATION. THAT'S LEGALISM! Legalism is anything that we can make up in our mind that we're going to do and then go and do it.That makes it Idolatry.

Now when we speak of legalism, we recall a little book that took place back in southwestern Missouri. We used to say, "Hey this is the river where that little fellow was the main character of the book we read." But we'll never forget the little fellow in the book was about 12 or 14 years old and he'd been kind of a little rascal, and he said, "Well I guess if I really want to please mama I'd better go and join the church." Does that sound typical?

Now we say that with a smile, but listen how many adults today come to that same place? Well maybe it's time we quit sewing our wild oats and we'd better settle down and we'd better go join a church." What is that? That's legalism. That's doing something that you can make up in your mind, "This is what I'm going to do!" Others will say, "Well I guess I should go and get baptized!" That's the same thing. It's still something that we can do, it's a works religion, it's legalism, and you could just as well take your sacrifices to some imagined temple someplace, because your accomplishment has the same end. Now reading on.

Galatians 5:1-2
"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul (now he always emphasizes his Apostleship. We saw that in the Corinthian letters.) say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, (in the flesh for salvation now remember) Christ shall profit you nothing."

Now we've got to remember in the context, what was the point of legalism that these Galatian believers were being subjected to? Well circumcision, because that was the main point of legalism in Judaism. So circumcision was the big point then - today we've got other things. Circumcision is not the point today that will lead people astray, but here at Galatia this was the crowning mis-teaching that they were being subjected to. And Paul says, "If you're going to practice the Jewish rite of circumcision as a part of salvation then my Gospel how that Christ died for you and rose from the dead for you will profit you nothing!" This is true of any doctrine of mans concoction which man adds to his religious legalism and its results is the same, it profits them nothing because like Israels example its idolatry.

Now that we've shaken people up over the years - we know we have when we say now don't just limit that to circumcision. We can put anything in there that a man or woman can do when they add anything to Paul's beautiful Gospel for salvation, we don't care what it is. We've had people say, "My pastor said that unless I speak in tongues I can't be saved." Well let's just put it in there so you can see, and this is no malice toward anyone.

"Behold I Paul say unto you that if you speak in tongues as a requirement for salvation then Christ shall profit you nothing." Now we've got you thinking haven't we? All right let's use another word, baptism! Yeah, we see heads nodding all over the place.

"Behold I Paul say unto you that if you are baptized in water as a requirement for salvation then Christ shall profit you nothing." If we have to tell God that we have to be baptized in order to be saved, then God's going to tell us, "Sorry I'll have nothing to do with you."

Now that's strong language and we know it is, but listen that's what the Book is talking about. If we say, "Well I'm going to go and join a church," and if we're expecting that to somehow be part of our salvation then immediately we cancel the work of the Last Supper and the Cross. That's what the Book says, it's not our private idea or opinion. It would be great if we could do things like that for salvation. We wish we could tell people, "Go join a church and you'll make it to heaven." We remember an old neighbor of ours years ago and we were talking across the fence, and one of the local pastors had come out and told him if he would just come in and join his church and give $5.00 a year, he'd go to heaven when he died. And the old boy told me, "Now even I know better than that." Well thank God there are still people a little smarter than the others. But listen the world is full of these crazy ideas, but they reject the simplicity of this Gospel. Now verse 3.