Paul continues to swing at the Judaizers' false gospel of works like a pinata on Cinco de Mayo. These spiritual snake oil salesmen have convinced the new believers of Galatia that the apostle's message was incomplete. They've preached that Jesus may have gotten us into the kingdom, but it's up to us to stay in.
And a key part of that is through circumcision. Throughout Galatians 3 and 4, Paul used the Old Testament to whack away at their counterfeit gospel. And here in chapter 5, the candy comes spilling out.
The apostle wants to make sure that we're paying attention to his point by writing, "Look: I, Paul..." (v2). This is his way of saying, "Listen up! Don't miss this! Everybody look right here!”
It's his way of not only making sure everyone is focused and attentive, but he's reminding them that he's an apostle. He's making sure they realize Jesus has appointed the man from Tarsus as His official representative.
Now that he has our attention, he begins his last brutal assault on the Judaizers and their call to self-salvation. "If you accept circumcision, Christ will be no advantage to you" (v2).
Don't be confused. God had called His chosen people to be circumcised (Gen 17:10-11). But He did not save them through the cutting of the foreskin (thank goodness!). This was merely a sign that He would fulfill His covenant pledge of the coming Messiah. Let's call it a powerful and painful "reminder."
Circumcision was actually an outward symbol of an inward change, what the Bible calls the circumcision of the heart (Dt 30:6; Jer 4:4). A modern parallel is baptism. Jesus calls every one of His followers to get wet as a symbolic act of He has washed them spiritually clean from sin (Mt 28:19).
But baptism doesn't save. And circumcision didn't save. They are only an outward signs of an inward act. God works from the inside out. Man works from the outside in. Only the inside out work of God has any lasting and real effect.
The Judaizers taught that the only way non-Jews could follow Jesus was by becoming Jews. And that included circumcision. But Paul tells the Galatians to pump their breaks and put down the knife.
If they agree to this, "Christ will be of no advantage to you" (v2). There's no need to accept the sign of God's covenant promise when He's already fulfilled His covenant promise in Jesus! We no longer need the reminder because it's already be done!
But wait just a Mississippi minute. What does first century circumcision have to do with 21st century Christ followers? The best idea is to play "fill in the blank" with this verse. Take out the word circumcision and substitute whatever thing you think is necessary to make sure you're saved.
What is it? Good works. Bible reading. Quiet time. Prayer. Church attendance. Service and ministry. Charity work. Devotion to family. "If you accept _______, Christ will be of no advantage to you." Fill in the blank. Go ahead. We'll wait on you.
OK. Ready to move on? Good. When we purse any kind of self-salvation through any sort of personal legalism, we're totally on our own. Jesus is no help to us. In other words, if you want to try and save yourself, suit yourself. As Dr. Phil would say, "How's that workin' for ya?"
Paul goes on to say, "I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligate to keep the whole law" (v3). Again, feel free to play a little "fill in the blank" and sub your own pet salvation project there.
The apostle uses the Greek word οφειλετης/opheiletes. It means a debtor or someone who owes an obligation to someone else. So the literal translation here is "every man who accepts circumcision is a debtor to the whole law.”
When it comes to the law, it's all or nothing. Break one part and you break it all (Gal 3:10-11; Dt 27:26; Rom 3:24-29; James 2:10). Using Paul's debtor analogy, once we fail to keep any part of the law, then we're spiritually bankrupt. We owe a debt we could never pay. It's all or nothing.
But there's Good News. VERY Good News. As the long awaited Messiah, Jesus came and live the perfect life that we couldn't live. He died the brutal death we should have died. He rose to eternal life that we don't deserve. He did what we could never do.
And in exchange, we get His perfect, sinless righteousness (2Cor 5:21). Luther called it the Great Exchange. Theologians use the $2 term Penal Substitutionary Atonement. All we need to do is place our trust what Jesus has done for us. NOT what we can do for ourselves.
Paul then paints a dark and scary picture of what happens when we try to save ourselves through our own good works. "You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace" (v4). When we reject what Jesus has done for us, we're in BIG trouble.
The apostle uses the verb καταργεω/katargeo. This Greek term actually means to nullify or render ineffective. When we try to save ourselves through the law or any sort of personal legalism, we render Jesus' life, death and resurrection ineffective.
In other words, works righteousness and self-salvation is kryptonite to Jesus' saving power. If we want to shut ourselves off to the power of Christ, all we have to do is save ourselves in our own power.
Save yourself? Suit yourself.
©2012
Jay Jennings
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