Setting – Paul admonishes them to not adopt another view
Content – Paul states that the Galatians were doing well in their walk (v. 7) “You were running well”, but these ‘other’ people (v. 7) “who hindered you from obeying the truth?” diverted them from following the truth. And this persuading didn’t come from God (v. 8-NLT) “It certainly isn't God, for he is the one who called you to freedom”. This type of distortion affects everyone (v. 9) “A little leaven leavens the whole lump {of dough.}”.
But Paul feels that they are able to ignore this other persuasive view (v. 10) “I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view”. Paul makes the question that if some of the Judaizers were saying that Paul’s message included circumcision (v. 11a) “if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted?” If this was true (v. 11b) “Then the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished.” He ends this section with (v. 12-NLT) “I only wish that those troublemakers who want to mutilate you by circumcision would mutilate themselves” In other words, if this circumcision was true devotion, then these Judaizers should go to the extreme religious devotion, as some cults did, and castrate themselves.
Application – The truth is set. We don’t need to add to it or take away from it. Paul even states that if he himself were to preach a different gospel, that he should be cursed. For out day-to-day walk the truth is simple, we are saved through faith in Christ. We don’t need to do extra things to gain or better our salvation. With this truth, Paul states in the upcoming verses “For you have been called to live in freedom--not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature” We are free, but we don’t say that we can sin all we want now because we have been justified. In fact, if we feel like we can exercise our sinful nature freely, then most likely we didn’t enter into Christ salvation.
Content – Paul states that the Galatians were doing well in their walk (v. 7) “You were running well”, but these ‘other’ people (v. 7) “who hindered you from obeying the truth?” diverted them from following the truth. And this persuading didn’t come from God (v. 8-NLT) “It certainly isn't God, for he is the one who called you to freedom”. This type of distortion affects everyone (v. 9) “A little leaven leavens the whole lump {of dough.}”.
But Paul feels that they are able to ignore this other persuasive view (v. 10) “I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view”. Paul makes the question that if some of the Judaizers were saying that Paul’s message included circumcision (v. 11a) “if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted?” If this was true (v. 11b) “Then the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished.” He ends this section with (v. 12-NLT) “I only wish that those troublemakers who want to mutilate you by circumcision would mutilate themselves” In other words, if this circumcision was true devotion, then these Judaizers should go to the extreme religious devotion, as some cults did, and castrate themselves.
Application – The truth is set. We don’t need to add to it or take away from it. Paul even states that if he himself were to preach a different gospel, that he should be cursed. For out day-to-day walk the truth is simple, we are saved through faith in Christ. We don’t need to do extra things to gain or better our salvation. With this truth, Paul states in the upcoming verses “For you have been called to live in freedom--not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature” We are free, but we don’t say that we can sin all we want now because we have been justified. In fact, if we feel like we can exercise our sinful nature freely, then most likely we didn’t enter into Christ salvation.
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