Galatians 5 Bible study: Called for freedom

The chapter opens, "Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and don’t be entangled again with a yoke of bondage." (5:1) (tap liberty, free). Then the letter's I gives its name: "Behold, I, Paul, tell you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing." (5:2). The next verse goes on, "Yes, I testify again to every man who receives circumcision that he is a debtor to do the whole law." (5:3). "You are alienated from Christ, you who desire to be justified by the law. You have fallen away from grace." (5:4). "For we through the Spirit, by faith wait for the hope of righteousness." (5:5). "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision amounts to anything, but faith working through love." (5:6). These notes give circumcision as each verse names it, say no more of the law, of being justified, of grace or of righteousness than the verses do, and make none of it a verdict on anyone today.

Genesis 16:15→leads toGalatians 5:1

Paul writes that “Abraham had two sons, one by the servant, and one by the free woman” and that “These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants” (Galatians 4:22-24). He ends, “we are not children of a servant, but of the free woman” (Galatians 4:31), and, “Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free” (Galatians 5:1).

ἐλευθερίαeleutheriasay el-yoo-ther-EE-ah

Strong's: "freedom", and it gives the noun as formed from eleutheros (G1658). "Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free" (5:1), and "For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don’t use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh" (5:13): behind liberty and both freedoms is this one noun, three times in this chapter. Favor's Galatians 2 counts it in the letter. 1 Peter has it in "Live as free people, yet not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God." (1 Peter 2:16), where it is behind freedom.