To stand fast in the liberty of Christ means to remain immovable in the freedom Christ has purchased, refusing to be entangled again in legalistic bondage.
Galatians 5:1 commands believers to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free and not be entangled again with the yoke of bondage. That yoke, Les Feldick teaches, is legalism — the law, Judaism, or any system that says a person must do something to be accepted by God.
Galatians 5:1 — This verse contains the direct command to stand fast in the liberty Christ has provided and names the danger of a yoke of bondage.
The Bible says, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage" (Galatians 5:1). The command is to remain firm in the freedom Christ has made possible. The following verse, Galatians 5:2, shows the seriousness of mixing a flesh-based requirement with salvation: "Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing." Scripture also sets believers on the side of freedom: "So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free" (Galatians 4:31).
Les Feldick explains that Galatians was written because Jewish believers were pressuring Galatian believers to return to the law, circumcision, and Judaism. Paul's opening command in Galatians 5:1 — "stand fast therefore" — means exactly what it says: be immovable in the liberty Christ purchased, and do not be entangled again with the yoke of bondage, which is legalism. If someone depends on circumcision or any other fleshly act for salvation, Christ profits him nothing. Les stresses that whenever anyone says "you have to do that to be a child of God," that is false teaching and the believer should run.
Les identifies the yoke of bondage as legalism, the law, and Judaism. It is any system that tells a person he must do something to be accepted. The law was never given to save anyone, so to put oneself under the commandments as the basis of acceptance is to take up a yoke Christ freed believers from.
No. Les teaches that liberty is not license. Being free does not mean a believer is free to do as he pleases; rather, he is free from the demands of legalistic systems and is under the full exercise of his free will. Believers have intense liberty, but that liberty is exercised as a believer responding to God.
Les contrasts law and grace: under law, picking up sticks on the Sabbath resulted in death by stoning, but under grace, a failing believer is not stoned or cast out. God deals with His children in love and will move from one level of discipline to another when needed. This is part of standing fast in liberty — knowing failure does not put a believer back under the law's condemnation.
Why Every Believer Still Struggles With Sin — Romans 7:15-25
life that now since his conversion, Christ in the person of the Holy Spirit is dwelling where? Within him. That's the inward man he's talking about. That Christ now dwells within. And he is the one that can give us victory over our adversary, first and foremost, old Adam. But old Adam, of course, is under the control of Satan. So I delight in the fact that God is in my inward being.
The Command to Stand Fast
Les teaches that 'stand fast therefore' means 'the immovable' — believers are to be immovable in the liberty Christ made them free, not entangled again with legalism.
Feet in Concrete
Les uses the phrase 'feet in concrete' to illustrate the firmness Paul calls for when he says stand fast in liberty.
Falling Victim to Legalizers
Les explains the verse is a warning against legalizers who were making inroads into Paul's churches; if circumcision is depended on for salvation, Christ profits nothing.
Legalism is False Teaching
Les says that whenever someone insists 'you have to do that to be a child of God,' that is false teaching and a believer should run; liberty also does not mean free to do as you please.
Intense Liberty Under Grace
Les contrasts law's death penalty with grace's loving discipline, showing the liberty believers have is so intense that most of Christendom does not understand it.
The Law Was Never to Save
Les emphasizes the law was never given to save anyone, so anyone trying to keep commandments as the basis of acceptance is placing himself under the yoke of bondage.
Liberty Is Not License
Les states plainly that liberty is not license and that law and grace cannot mix; Paul would not give in and command his Gentile converts to embrace legalism.
Galatians 5:1: Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
This is the central command that names the liberty believers have in Christ and warns against returning to bondage.
Galatians 5:2: Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
This verse shows why depending on circumcision or any flesh-based requirement for salvation cancels Christ's profit.
Galatians 4:31: So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
This verse places believers on the side of freedom, not under the bondage associated with the law.
It means to be immovable and firmly planted in the freedom Christ has provided, refusing to return to legalistic demands. Paul commands this in Galatians 5:1, and Les Feldick describes it as standing with your feet in concrete.
No. Les Feldick teaches that liberty is not license. Believers are free from the yoke of legalism, but they are not free to do as they please; they are free to exercise their free will as believers.
It is legalism, the law, and Judaism — any system that tells a person he must perform certain acts or rituals to be accepted by God. Les says whenever someone insists you must do something to be a child of God, that is false teaching.
Watch the Teaching: Why Every Believer Still Struggles With Sin — Romans 7:15-25