Yes, the Galatian believers were turning back to legalism due to the influence of Judaizers who insisted they must keep the Law (e.g., circumcision) for salvation.
Les Feldick explains that Jewish believers convinced the Galatians that salvation required keeping the Law, circumcision, and other Jewish practices. These teachings appealed to human pride—people like to 'show what they have done.' Paul wrote urgently to correct them, emphasizing that believers are free in Christ and not under the yoke of bondage.
Galatians 5:1 — This verse directly addresses the Galatians' situation, urging them to stand fast in liberty and not be entangled with the yoke of bondage (legalism).
In Galatians 5:1, Paul admonishes the believers to stand fast in the liberty Christ has made them free, warning them not to be entangled again with the yoke of bondage, which is legalism. This indicates they had previously embraced the Law but were now tempted to return to it. Galatians 4:9 similarly asks how they could turn again to 'weak and beggarly elements,' referring to the Law, after having known God.
Les Feldick explains that the Galatian believers, though saved by grace, were being 'hammered' and 'besieged' by Jewish believers (Judaizers) who insisted they must keep the Law, practice circumcision, and follow Judaism fully. These legalizers made inroads into the churches Paul had established in Asia Minor. Les emphasizes that legalism appeals to the human ego because people like to claim, 'look what I have done.' He notes Paul's distress and the urgency that prompted his letter to the Galatians, which he wrote personally without his secretary, due to the severity of the situation.
The Judaizers were Jewish believers who insisted that Gentile believers had to keep the Jewish Law, including circumcision, to be truly saved. They were convincing the Galatians that works of the Law were necessary for salvation, moving them away from the pure grace message Paul had preached.
Legalism appeals to human nature because it satisfies the ego—people like to think 'look what I have done' and base their salvation on personal works. Paul addressed this, noting that the Galatians had fallen for this, though God will have none of self-effort as a basis for salvation.
Paul reacted with urgency and wrote the letter to the Galatians to refute the legalists' teaching. He reminded them that they were not under the Law but under grace. He called the Law 'weak and beggarly elements' and 'a yoke of bondage,' urging them to stand fast in their freedom in Christ.
The Simplicity and Complexity of Salvation
Les establishes the bedrock of salvation as belief in Christ's death on the cross, which is simple and yet complex, setting the stage for why falling into legalism is such a departure from grace.
Paul's Purpose in Writing Galatians
Les explains that Galatians was written because Jewish believers were pressuring the Galatians to return to the Law, circumcision, and Judaism, and Paul refuted this by reminding them to stand fast in liberty, not be entangled with the yoke of bondage.
Warning Against Circumcision
Les shows that Paul warned the Galatians that if they depended on circumcision (a flesh work) for salvation, Christ would profit them nothing, indicating the grave danger of legalism.
Why God's Strength Is Made Perfect in Weakness — 2 Corinthians 12:9
Well I think it wasn�t that they pitched Christianity overboard, but I think they turned their back on the apostles teachings of pure grace, and went back under so much of the legalistic teachings and influence of Peter, James, and John, and the Jewish community, as we�re going to see when we get into the book of Galatians.
Judaizers Besieging the Churches
Les describes how the Galatian churches were besieged by Judaizers who insisted they couldn't be saved without keeping the Jewish Law, and they were 'falling for it' because works always appeals to the human intellect.
Temptation to Return to Bondage
Les highlights Paul's question to the Galatians: after knowing God, why would they turn again to the 'weak and beggarly elements' (the Law) and desire to be in bondage again?
Judaizers Convincing Gentiles
Les states that Judaizers were convincing Gentiles they had to keep the Law for salvation, and Paul wrote the letter to admonish them not to fall into the temptation of legalism, which appeals to the human ego.
The Law as Weak and Beggarly
Les explains that Galatians was written to prove to the Gentiles they were not under the Law, which is 'weak and beggarly,' yet they still wanted to go back, prompting Paul's strong concern.
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 directly addresses the Galatians' temptation to return to the Law, urging them to remain free in Christ.
Galatians 4:9: But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Paul questions how the Galatians could turn back to the Law after coming to know God, highlighting the folly of legalism.
Legalism is the teaching that salvation or sanctification is based on keeping the Law, such as circumcision and other Jewish observances. Les Feldick explains that the Galatians were being led into this by Judaizers who insisted it was necessary for salvation, appealing to human pride.
The Judaizers were Jewish believers who pressured the Galatian Gentiles to keep the Jewish Law, including circumcision, for salvation. They were 'hammering' the believers and making inroads into the churches, leading them back under legalism.
Paul wrote the letter to the Galatians urgently, even without his secretary, to refute the legalists' teachings. He admonished them to stand fast in their liberty in Christ and not be entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Watch the Teaching: Not Under Law, Under Grace — Galatians 1 Explained Verse by Verse