Life, Spirit, and Christian Freedom For Paul in Gal. 5+6

Intro

Paul explains 'justification by faith' in earlier Galatians
He now gives them practical lessons that they can live out.
Tells them to hold tight to the freedom Jesus gave them.
With the freedom, they should live a life that pleases God and is not reckless or sinful.

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Paul compares Christian effort to "a runner in a race" - Fitzmyer
He says they made a good start in their lives, but Judaisers have been getting in their way and hat they have been sidetracked from true path.
Paul compares Judaisers to yeast in dough: small but overpowering.

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Paul's main point is that Christian freedom is liberty from having to secure justification by actions and laws.
Through his death Jesus set the Galatians free from having to obey the Jewish Law.
However, Paul meant the dietary and circumcision laws - not ethical and moral laws.
Paul stresses that liberty "must not be confused with libertinism" - Gurthrie.
The Christian freedom that Jesus gives them does not mean they are free to sin - they are free to not sin.

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They were to use the power of the Holy Spirit to live a life of loving service to others.
The Holy Spirit would enable them to develope a Christ-like character.
Bruce: to "walk by the Spirit" means "let your conduct be directed by the Spirit."
Paul says the free spirit and selfishness are "antithetical" and that they can only live one of these ways.

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Paul reminds the Galatians of the gift of the Spirit that God had given them when they had first believed in Jesus.
Those who let God's Spirit do the growth work in him "harvests a crop of real, eternal, life."
Paul accuses Judaisers of boasting, but Paul only boasts about the cross of Jesus.
Circumcision means nothing, all that matters to Paul is a new creation.

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Paul explains that those who follow his proclamation on life in the Spirit and Christian freedom will be the "the true Israel of God."
Core issue boils down to a simple but profound choice: Christ or the Torah - Hubbard.

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