Paul warns the Galatians against legalism's yoke of bondage and against accepting a perverted, 'another gospel' that adds Law-keeping to grace.
Paul warns the Galatians not to be drawn back into legalism—the yoke of bondage of the Law—and not to accept a perverted gospel that adds human requirements to grace. He admonishes them to stand fast in the liberty Christ purchased and to reject anyone, even an angel from heaven, who preaches another gospel. Les Feldick emphasizes that this false gospel was not a totally different message but a twisted version of the one Paul preached.
Galatians 5:1 — This is Paul's direct command to the Galatian believers to remain in the liberty Christ purchased and not to go back under the yoke of bondage.
Galatians 1:7-8 — Paul identifies the false message as a perversion of the gospel and declares a curse on anyone who preaches another gospel, even an angel.
Paul's warning is explicit. He tells the Galatians, 'Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.' In the same chapter he writes, 'Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.' He also identifies the source of the trouble: those who were troubling the Galatians were perverting the gospel of Christ. Paul called the message they promoted 'not another' gospel, but he did not soften the warning. He declared that even if he or an angel from heaven preached any other gospel than the one he delivered, that preacher should be 'accursed.' The repetition in Galatians 1:9 shows how serious the warning is.
Les Feldick explains that Paul's letter to the Galatians was written specifically because the Judaizers of Galatia were convincing Gentiles that they had to keep the Law to experience salvation. Jewish believers were pressuring the Galatians to return under the Law and practice circumcision, so Paul wrote to refute that and admonish them not to become legalists. In Galatians 5:1, Les identifies the 'yoke of bondage' as legalism, the Law, and Judaism, and he says believers are called to stand fast in the liberty Christ purchased. Les also explains what Paul means by 'another gospel.' It was not a completely different message the Galatians would have recognized as false; rather, it was a perversion of the pure gospel Paul preached. People were adding to it or taking from it, twisting it off center. Paul responds with the strongest possible language: anyone preaching another gospel—even an angel from heaven—stands accursed. Les stresses the seriousness of this warning by noting that every word of Paul's epistles is inspired by the Holy Spirit, and that in the day Jesus Christ judges all men, everyone will be judged by what they have done with Paul's gospel.
Les Feldick explains that the letter was written because the Judaizers of Galatia were convincing the Gentiles that they had to keep the Law to experience salvation. Jewish believers were 'hammering' the Galatian believers to come back under the Law and practice circumcision and Judaism to the fullest extent, so Paul wrote to refute that teaching. The result is a letter that admonishes believers not to fall under the temptation to become legalists.
Paul writes that the message troubling the Galatians is 'not another' gospel, but an attempt to 'pervert' the gospel of Christ. Les explains that this 'another gospel' was not a completely different message—the Galatians would have recognized that. Rather, people who were basically using the same gospel were adding to it, taking from it, or twisting it so that it was no longer the pure gospel Paul proclaimed. Paul's response is an unqualified curse on anyone who preaches it, even an angel from heaven.
In Galatians 5:1 Paul tells believers to stand fast in liberty and not be entangled again with the yoke of bondage, which Les identifies as legalism, the Law, and Judaism. Les says that whenever someone comes along and says you have to do something to be a child of God, that is false teaching. He also cites Paul's warning that if someone is circumcised in dependence on the flesh for salvation, Christ profits them nothing. The letter was written because these believers were being convinced they had to keep the Law in addition to grace.
Why Paul's Letters Are the Most Neglected in the Bible
lived before us or after us. And so Paul never lifts himself up as the only one that we're to pay any attention to, but yet he brings out so many doctrines that you won't find anywhere else in Scripture. That it behooves us to spend the best part of our time then in Paul's epistles. And from that, funnel back and forth throughout all the rest of the Scriptures. I just had a thought and it left me.
The Yoke of Bondage Defined
Les identifies the 'yoke of bondage' in Galatians 5:1 as legalism, the Law, and Judaism, and explains that Paul wrote to keep believers from falling victim to the legalizers making inroads into the Galatian churches.
The Seriousness of Paul's Warnings
Les says Paul makes warnings in Galatians that should shake people living an illusion, because everyone will be judged by what they did with Paul's gospel: Christ died, was buried, and rose again.
The Accursed Other Gospel
Les reads Galatians 1:7-9 and emphasizes the strong language of 'let him be accursed'—even if the preacher is an angel from heaven—because the Galatians were being moved by a perverted gospel.
The Occasion for Galatians
Les gives the historical reason for the letter: the Judaizers of Galatia were convincing Gentiles they had to keep the Law for salvation, which is why Paul hurriedly wrote to oppose legalism.
Stand Fast, Do Not Be Entangled
Les explains that 'stand fast' and 'be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage' mean believers are not under the demands of the Law, and legalism is the bondage.
Perverting the Gospel
Les clarifies that the false gospel was not completely different, but a twist—people using the same gospel but adding to it, taking from it, or perverting it—so the Galatians were being moved from the pure gospel.
Christ Profits Nothing
Les applies Paul's warning to any teaching that says you must do something to be a child of God, and says that trusting circumcision for salvation means Christ profits nothing.
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.
Paul's core admonition answering the question of what believers should do—stand fast, don't get entangled.
Galatians 5:2: Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
Paul's warning that circumcision for salvation cancels the profit of Christ.
Galatians 1:7: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Paul explains that the message troubling the Galatians is not truly another gospel but a perversion.
Galatians 1:8: But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Paul's curse on any preacher—even an angel—who delivers another gospel.
Galatians 1:9: As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Paul repeats the curse, showing how seriously the warning is meant.
Paul warns believers not to be entangled again with the yoke of bondage—meaning legalism, the Law, and Judaism—and not to accept a perverted gospel that adds requirements to grace. He also warns that anyone preaching another gospel stands accursed.
Les Feldick explains it as legalism, the Law, and Judaism. Paul admonishes believers to stand fast in the liberty Christ has given and not be entangled again with that yoke because the Galatians were being convinced they had to keep the Law for salvation.
Paul says that though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel than the one we preached, let him be accursed. Les stresses this shows how serious it is to change the gospel message, since the warning is aimed at anyone who distorts it.
Watch the Teaching: Why Paul's Letters Are the Most Neglected in the Bible