Christ Has Set Us Free: The Danger of Returning to Bondage (Galatians 5:1-6)
Main Idea of Galatians:
To defend the gospel of grace as the sole basis for justification and Christian living, to assert the believer’s freedom from legalism through faith in Christ, and to call believers back to the truth of the gospel.
Questions to Consider:
What is the foundational declaration Paul makes in verse 1 regarding Christ and freedom? What specific command does he then give to the Galatians based on this truth?
What stark warning does Paul issue in verse 2 if the Galatians were to “accept circumcision” (as a means of justification)? What does it mean that Christ would be of “no advantage” to them?
According to verse 3, what is the full extent of the obligation someone takes on if they submit to circumcision as a requirement for righteousness?
What does Paul say happens to those who try to be “justified by the law” (v. 4)? What does it mean to be “severed from Christ” and to have “fallen away from grace”?
In contrast to seeking righteousness through the law, how do believers, according to verse 5, pursue or await righteousness? What role do the Spirit and faith play?
In the sphere of “Christ Jesus,” what ultimately matters and what is rendered irrelevant according to verse 6? How does Paul describe the nature of true, effective faith?
The Text:
“For freedom, Christ set us free. Stand firm, then, and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery. Take note! I, Paul, am telling you that if you get yourselves circumcised, Christ will not benefit you at all. Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to do the entire law. You who are trying to be justified by the law are alienated from Christ; you have fallen from grace. For we eagerly await through the Spirit, by faith, the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything; what matters is faith working through love.”
– Galatians 5:1-6 (CSB)
Observations:
Verse 1: Paul begins with a powerful declaration: “For freedom Christ has set us free.” Based on this, he commands believers to “stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”
Verse 2: He issues a personal and direct warning (“Look: I, Paul, say to you”) that if they “accept circumcision” (in the context of the Judaizers’ teaching), “Christ will be of no advantage” to them.
Verse 3: Paul testifies further that “every man who accepts circumcision” (as a means of justification) “is obligated to keep the whole law.”
Verse 4: He states that those “who would be justified by the law” are consequently “severed from Christ” and have “fallen away from grace.”
Verse 5: In contrast, Paul describes the believer’s stance: “For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.”
Verse 6: He concludes this section by stating a fundamental principle: “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.”
Interpretation:
The Declaration and Demand of Freedom (v. 1): This verse serves as a clarion call and a summary of Paul’s preceding arguments. “For freedom Christ has set us free” is a foundational truth of the gospel. Christ’s work was not to bring us under a new set of rules but to liberate us. As Schreiner (ZECNT) would emphasize, this freedom is not licentiousness but liberation from the Mosaic Law as a system of earning righteousness, from the curse of the law, and from the enslaving power of sin. The imperative that follows, “stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery,” urges the Galatians to actively guard and maintain this hard-won freedom against the allure of legalism, which Paul equates with a return to bondage.
The Dire Consequences of Legalistic Conformity (vv. 2-4): Paul now lays out the severe consequences of yielding to the Judaizers’ demand for circumcision as a requirement for salvation or full acceptance by God.
Christ becomes no advantage (v. 2): If one seeks justification through a legalistic act like circumcision, they effectively nullify the saving benefit of Christ. Choosing the path of works means forfeiting the path of grace in Christ.
Obligation to the whole law (v. 3): Paul argues that accepting circumcision as a legal requirement binds a person to obey the entire Mosaic Law perfectly. It’s an all-or-nothing proposition; one cannot pick and choose parts of the law for justification.
Severed from Christ, fallen from grace (v. 4): This is the most alarming consequence. To seek justification through the law is to be cut off from Christ (the source of true righteousness) and to fall away from the sphere of God’s grace (His unmerited favor). Moo (BECNT) would highlight the gravity of this, indicating that attempting to achieve righteousness through law-keeping is fundamentally incompatible with a relationship with Christ based on grace.
The Spirit-Led Hope of Faith (v. 5): In stark contrast to the futile effort of seeking righteousness through law, Paul describes the true Christian experience: “For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.” This is not an anxious striving but a confident expectation. “Through the Spirit” indicates the Holy Spirit’s enabling power and presence. “By faith” denotes the means by which this hope is apprehended. The “hope of righteousness” refers to the full realization and experience of our righteous standing before God, culminating in future glory. Carson (NIVBTSB) points out the eschatological dimension here—believers live in the present reality of justification by faith while also eagerly anticipating the final consummation of their salvation.
What Truly Matters: Faith Working Through Love (v. 6): Paul concludes with a pivotal statement that encapsulates the essence of practical Christian living within the sphere of grace: “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.” In the new covenant community (“in Christ Jesus”), external religious markers like circumcision (or its absence) are irrelevant for one’s standing with God. What truly has value is “faith working through love” (or “faith expressing itself through love”). This isn’t faith plus works for justification; rather, it’s that genuine, saving faith is not static or merely intellectual assent. It is a living, active trust in Christ that inevitably and naturally expresses itself through acts of love towards God and others. As Merida & Platt (CCE) emphasize, the gospel of grace does not lead to passivity but to a transformed life where faith energizes loving action. White (GTI) could further elaborate on how “faith working through love” becomes the defining characteristic of a life lived in response to God’s grace, fulfilling the true intent of God’s commands in a way that legalism never could.
Application:
Actively Guard Your Freedom in Christ: Recognize that the freedom Christ won for you is precious. Be vigilant against any teaching or mindset (whether from others or within yourself) that would try to add works, rituals, or legalistic requirements as necessary for your acceptance with God.
Understand the “All or Nothing” Nature of Justification by Law: If you are tempted to rely on rule-keeping for righteousness, remember Paul’s warning: it obligates you to perfect obedience to the entire law, an impossible standard that negates Christ’s sufficiency.
Live by Faith, Empowered by the Spirit: Cultivate a daily dependence on the Holy Spirit. Your Christian life is to be lived by faith from start to finish, not by self-effort or striving to meet a legalistic code.
Focus on What Truly Counts with God: Don’t get sidetracked by external religious observances or debates over non-essentials as if they determine your salvation or spiritual status. Instead, cultivate a genuine faith in Christ that actively expresses itself in tangible acts of love.
Live with Eager Hope: Embrace the “hope of righteousness” with joyful anticipation. Your future glory and complete conformity to Christ are secure because of your faith and the Spirit’s work, not your performance.
Connection to the Main Idea:
This passage (Galatians 5:1-6) is a crucial articulation of Paul’s defense of the gospel of grace. By passionately exhorting the Galatians to “stand firm” in their Christ-won freedom and starkly warning them against the “yoke of slavery” associated with legalistic requirements like circumcision, Paul directly reinforces his main argument that justification and Christian living are based solely on grace through faith in Christ. He makes it clear that attempts to be justified by the law nullify the benefits of Christ and lead one away from grace.
How Does This Text Point to Christ?
Christ is unequivocally presented as the source of our freedom: “For freedom Christ has set us free” (v. 1). The entire passage revolves around the implications of either accepting Christ’s sufficiency or attempting to add to it. Paul warns that if one relies on legalistic acts (like circumcision for justification), “Christ will be of no advantage” (v. 2), and such a person is “severed from Christ” (v. 4). True spiritual reality is found “in Christ Jesus” (v. 6), where the only thing that counts is faith—a faith in Him—that works through love. Our “hope of righteousness” (v. 5) is also secured through what Christ has accomplished and is realized by faith in Him.
Summary:
In Galatians 5:1-6, Paul makes a powerful appeal for believers to stand firm in the freedom that Christ has won for them and not return to the slavery of legalism. He issues a stern warning that if they embrace circumcision as necessary for salvation, Christ will be of no benefit to them, they will be obligated to keep the entire law, and they will have fallen from grace. Instead, Paul affirms that true believers, through the Spirit and by faith, eagerly await the hope of righteousness. He concludes that in Christ Jesus, external rituals are meaningless; the only thing that counts is faith that actively expresses itself through love.
Be Intentional:
Identify one specific area this week where you might be tempted to operate out of a legalistic mindset (e.g., trying to earn God’s favor through performance, judging yourself or others based on external standards). Consciously choose instead to rest in the truth of your freedom in Christ and God’s grace.
Think of one practical way you can allow your faith to “work through love” towards someone in your family, church, or community.
Ask Yourself:
In what subtle ways might I be tempted to add my own efforts or certain religious practices to the finished work of Christ as a basis for my acceptance before God?
Does my daily life truly reflect the freedom Christ has purchased for me, or do I often live under a self-imposed “yoke of slavery” (e.g., fear, guilt, performance pressure)?
How does the concept of “faith working through love” challenge or encourage my current understanding and practice of the Christian life?
Bibliography:
Carson, D. A. (General Editor). NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible (NIVBTSB). Zondervan.
Merida, Tony & Platt, David. Exalting Jesus in Galatians (CCE) (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary).
Moo, Douglas J. Galatians (BECNT) (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament).
Schreiner, Thomas R. Galatians (ZECNT) (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament).
Schreiner, Thomas R. Christ Crucified: A Theology of Galatians.
White, A. Blake. Galatians: A Theological Interpretation (GTI).
