Why did Paul tell the Galatian believers to stand fast in the liberty in Galatians 5:1?
Paul warned the Galatian believers because legalizers were infiltrating the congregations he had established in Asia Minor, trying to entangle them again with the yoke of bondage—legalism, the law, and Judaism. Christ had made them free; depending on flesh-works like circumcision for salvation would cancel the cross and profit them nothing.
Les teaches that the admonition in Galatians 5:1 was directed to the Galatian believers so they would not fall victim to the legalizers who were making inroads into the congregations Paul had established in Asia Minor. Paul writes, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." Les explains that this yoke of bondage is legalism, the law, and Judaism. In verse 2, Paul says that if they be circumcised—meaning if they depend on something they can do in the flesh for salvation—Christ shall profit them nothing. Les notes this scared him because millions of good, church-going people depend on something of the flesh they have done rather than relying totally on the finished work of the cross. Any one thing plus the cross cancels the work of the cross, so he warns people to realize what the Word says: if you do anything in the energy of the flesh, Christ shall profit you nothing.
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.