2. Be Free
Galatians 5:1-12 – “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 say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. Ye did run well;

3. Be Free
who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. 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. And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. I would they were even cut off which trouble you.”

4. Be Free
Verse 1: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”
“Stand fast therefore” – Stand firm do not be moved from your position
“Christ hath made us free” – Christ is our liberator
John 8:36 – “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

5. Be Free
Verse 2: “Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.”
“If ye be circumcised” – Implies they had not yet yielded to the legalists
“Christ shall profit you nothing” – Are you trusting Christ or the Law?

6. Be Free
Verse 3: “For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.”
"For I testify again" – Paul is addressing those contemplating circumcision
"That he is a debtor to do the whole law" – A debtor is one who assumes obligation
Romans 3:19,20 – "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God…

7. Be Free
Verse 3: “For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.”
"For I testify again" – Paul is addressing those contemplating circumcision
"That he is a debtor to do the whole law" – A debtor is one who assumes obligation
Romans 3:19,20 – “… Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin."

8. Be Free
Verse 3: “For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.”
"For I testify again" – Paul is addressing those contemplating circumcision
"That he is a debtor to do the whole law" – A debtor is one who assumes obligation
James 2:10 – "For whosever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."

9. Be Free
Verse 3: “For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.”
"For I testify again" – Paul is addressing those contemplating circumcision
"That he is a debtor to do the whole law" – A debtor is one who assumes obligation
Galatians 3:24 – "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith."

10. Be Free
Verse 4: “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.”
"Ye are fallen from grace" – Does this mean you can lose your salvation?
John 19:30 – "It is finished!"

11. Be Free
Verse 5: “For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.”
"For we" – Paul is addressing true believers
"Through the Spirit" – The Spirit of God, the indwelling Holy Spirit
"Wait" – To wait with constant expectancy
"For the hope of righteousness by faith" – Live life awaiting the consummation of our salvation

12. Be Free
Verse 5: “For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.”
Titus 2:13 – "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ."

13. Be Free
Verse 5: “For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.”
I John 3:2,3 – "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”

14. Be Free
Verse 6: “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.”
"For in Jesus Christ" – Jesus is our only means of salvation
John 14:6 – "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

15. Be Free
Verse 6: “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.”
"But faith which worketh by love" – A living faith expresses itself in love
Galatians 5:13 – "By love serve one another"

16. Be Free
Verse 7: “Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?”
"Ye did run well" – Bravely, nobly, gallantly
"But who" – Referring to legalistic leaders
"Did hinder you" – Military term that means to impede one’s progress
"That ye should not obey the truth" – They were turning aside from the truth to follow false teaching

17. Be Free Verse 8: “This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.”
"This persuasion" – The teaching of the legalist
"Cometh not of Him that calleth you" – God didn't call you to do this

18. Be Free Verse 9: “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.”
"A little leaven" – Refers to the doctrine of the legalist
II Timothy 3:16,17 – "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

19. Be Free
Verse 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.”
"I have confidence in you through the Lord" – Paul is persuaded the Galatians will share his loyalty to Christ
"He that troubleth you" – The one continually agitating and disturbing your faith
"Shall bear his judgment" – He cannot escape, God will judge him

20. Be Free
Verse 11: “And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.”
"And I, brethren" – Paul is contrasting himself with the legalists
"If I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution?" – Paul's suffering came as a result of preaching the cross!
I Corinthians 1:18 – “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."

21. Be Free Verse 12: “I would they were even cut off which trouble you.”
"I would" – I could wish
"They were cut off" – That they would cut themselves off
"Which trouble you" – Those causing so much disturbance and confusion

22. Be Free
I Corinthians 3:11 – "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."