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David Guzik · Citado em PreceptAustin
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Guzik adds that "Because the context focuses on the way we treat one another, Paul has in mind using our freedom in a way that tramples on the toes of others... It is easy to think liberty is “the right to sin,” or “the privilege to do whatever evil my heart wants to do.” Instead, this liberty is the Spirit-given desire and ability to do what we should do before God." (Galatians 5 Commentary) Swindoll (see his diagram above) - Paul warns his readers against giving our flesh—our natural tendency toward sin—an "opportunity" by abusing our freedom. The Greek word translated "opportunity" is aphormē, referring to a "pretext." That is, God's grace should never be used as an excuse for sin. I'll repeat that statement so it will never be misunderstood: The grace of God should never be used as an excuse for succumbing to temptation and sin. Because I believe in and preach grace and freedom, I've occasionally been accused of preaching lawlessness and license. Nothing could be further from the truth. Paul says (and I wholeheartedly agree) that we have been freed from the power of sin. To return to the sinful lifestyle that God has forgiven would be to return to slavery. Instead, having been freed from the dark, shameful oppression of sin, we are to embrace our true calling to serve one another through love (5:13). Liberty should result in love, not legalism or license. (Swindoll's Living Insights New Testament Commentary – Galatians) Opportunity (occasion) (874)(aphorme from apó = from + horme = start of rapid movement) means to make a start from a place and specifically is a place from which a movement or an attack can be made. Aphorme describes a starting point or base of operations for a military offensive in war. Paul is saying "freedom" might provide a base of operations from which their flesh could launch an attack on their soul. A T
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Guzik says "The great fear of the legalist is that liberty will be used as an opportunity for the flesh. The idea is that people will just go out and sin as they please, then say to a spineless God, “I’m sorry, please forgive me,” and then go on doing whatever they want again. Paul recognized the danger of this attitude, so he warned against it here." (Galatians 5 Commentary) Hansen remarks that "Paul blasts out these trumpet calls of freedom to Christians who are in danger of putting themselves under a heavy yoke of slavery. Their immediate goal is circumcision—painful discipline under the law. Their larger purpose would then be, as Paul informs them in verse Galatians 5:3, the obligation to obey the whole law. Their total preoccupation would be to learn the Jewish traditions and keep the Jewish customs. Paul knows very well from his own experience (Galatians 1:14) that that road does not lead to freedom. So he repeats his declaration of freedom to emphasize the new purpose of their life in Christ: they are called to freedom from slavery under the law."...After the second declaration (THE CALL TO FREEDOM) Paul gives a command not to use freedom to indulge your sinful nature but to serve one another in love. In other words, we are first told not to lose our freedom by turning back to slavery; then we told to use our freedom by entering into slavery. (ED: The command below to serve is douleuo which means to be a slave) No doubt Paul sets up this apparent contradiction as a kind of warning signal. Paul clearly sees the danger that his teaching about freedom from slavery under the law might be interpreted to mean freedom to do whatever our selfish desires lead us to do. (The IVP New Testament Commentary Series – Galatians) For you were called to freedom, brethren - To freedom you were called. This repeats Paul's point in Galatians 5:1+. God's call to the pagan Galatians was a call to salvation, a call from bondage to sin, death, Satan and a call to freedom in Christ to live a brand new manner of life only possible as they were enabled by the Spirit. Yes, believers are free from the Law. They are not free to live lawless, but enabled by the Spirit to live lawfully (not legalistically) and lovingly. Called (2564)(kaleo from root kal-, whence English “call” and “clamour”) literally means to speak to another in order to attract their attention or to them bring nearer, either physically or in a personal relationship. In this context called refers to God's call of sinners ("Divine call" of God to participation in salvation). Related Resources: What is the effectual calling/call? What does it mean that God draws us to salvation? Irresistible Grace - is it biblical? Freedom (liberty) (1657) see note above on eleutheria
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Guzik adds that "This is exactly the pattern set by Jesus. He had more liberty than anyone who ever walked this earth did. Yet He used His liberty to through love serve one another." Guzik - The flesh expects others to conform to us, and doesn’t care much about others. But when we through love serve one another, we conquer the flesh (ED: MORE ACCURATELY THE SPIRIT WHO ENABLES THIS QUALITY OF LOVE EMPOWERS US TO CONQUER THE FLESH). It isn’t through an obsessive, contemplative attitude of navel-gazing that we overcome the flesh, but by getting out and serving others. This is exactly the pattern set by Jesus. He had more liberty than anyone who ever walked this earth did. Yet He used His liberty to through love serve one another. (Galatians 5 Commentary) Love (26)(agape) is unconditional, sacrificial love and Biblically refers to a love that God is (1Jn 4:8,16), that God shows (Jn 3:16, 1Jn 4:9) and that God enables in His children (see note on fruit of the Spirit - Gal 5:22+). Biblical agape love is the love of choice, the love of serving with humility, the highest kind of love, the noblest kind of devotion, the love of the will (intentional, a conscious choice) and not motivated by superficial appearance, emotional attraction, or sentimental relationship. Agape is not based on pleasant emotions or good feelings that might result from a physical attraction or a familial bond. Agape chooses as an act of self-sacrifice to serve the recipient. From all of the descriptions of agape love, it is clear that true agape love is a sure mark of salvation. Agape love does not depend on the world’s criteria for love, such as attractiveness, emotions, or sentimentality. Believers can easily fall into the trap of blindly following the world’s demand that a lover feel positive toward the beloved. This is not agape love, but is a love based on impulse. Impulsive love characterizes the spouse who announces to the other spouse that they are planning to divorce their mate. Why? They reason “I can’t help it. I fell in love with another person!” Christians must understand that this type of impulsive love is completely contrary to God’s decisive love, which is decisive because He is in control and has a purpose in mind. There are many reasons a proper understanding of the truth of God's word (and of the world's lie) is critical and one of the foremost is Jesus' declaration that "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love (agape) for one another." (John 13:35). Andrus - The word serve is actually the Greek word for slavery. Isn't it ironic that, having urged his readers not to become slaves to the Law or to the sinful nature, Paul should now encourage them to become slaves of one another? It is a paradox for sure, but a valuable one. Slavery to the sinful nature is self-destructive. But slavery to one another is a deep source of joy. (Sermon) Serve (1398)(douleuo from doulos = servant) means to be a slave, to serve, to do service, to be in the position of a slave and thus act accordingly. It means to act or conduct oneself as one in total service to another. Serve is in the present imperative. Don't try to obey this reliance on your own strength for you cannot do it! This love is supernatural, God-like love and can only be produced as fruit enabled by a supernatural Source, the Holy Spirit. Related Resource: See discussion of the Need for the Holy Spirit to obey NT commands (or "How to Keep All 1642 Commandments in the New Testament!") One Anothers in the NT - most are positive but some are negative Rom. 12:10; Rom. 12:16; Rom. 13:8; Rom. 14:13; Rom. 14:19; Rom. 15:5; Rom. 15:7; Rom. 15:14; Rom. 16:16; 1 Co. 6:7; 1 Co. 7:5; 1 Co. 11:33; 1 Co. 12:25; 1 Co. 16:20; 2 Co. 13:12; Gal. 5:13; Gal. 5:15; Gal. 5:17; Gal. 5:26; Eph. 4:2; Eph. 4:25; Eph. 4:32; Eph. 5:19; Eph. 5:21; Phil. 2:3; Col. 3:9; Col. 3:13; Col. 3:16; 1 Thess. 3:12; 1 Thess. 4:9; 1 Thess. 4:18; 1 Thess. 5:11; 1 Thess. 5:13; 1 Thess. 5:15; 2 Thess. 1:3; Tit. 3:3; Heb. 3:13; Heb. 10:24; Heb. 10:25; Jas. 4:11; Jas. 5:9; Jas. 5:16; 1 Pet. 1:22; 1 Pet. 4:8; 1 Pet. 4:9; 1 Pet. 4:10; 1 Pet. 5:5; 1 Pet. 5:14; 1 Jn. 1:7; 1 Jn. 3:11; 1 Jn. 3:23; 1 Jn. 4:7; 1 Jn. 4:11; 1 Jn. 4:12; 2 Jn. 1:5 Left Side Of The Road For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” —Galatians 5:14 Growing up in the US, I always thought it interesting that in some countries motorists drive on the left side of the road instead of the right. Then, when I was in England, I heard a London tour guide explain one possible reason for this law: “In the 1800s, pedestrians as well as horse-and-carriages used the same roads. When a carriage was on the right side of the road, a driver’s horse whip would sometimes hit a passerby. To remove this hazard, a law was passed requiring all carriages to travel on the left side of the road so the pedestrians could be kept safe.” Just as the rules of the road are for our benefit and protection, so are God’s commands. Because He loves us, He has given them to us for our benefit. Paul writes: “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Gal. 5:13-14). Thy Word is everlasting truth; How pure is every page! That Holy Book shall guide our youth And well support our age. —Watts The Bible has treasures of wisdom to mine. “Isn’t There Anything Else?” Through love serve one another. —Galatians 5:13 A prominent Christian leader was known for his willingness to help needy individuals with their social and financial problems. When asked why he took time out of his busy schedule to do this, he replied, “When I was a boy, I worked in our family grocery store. I was taught that I should never ask a customer, ‘Is that all?’ Instead, I was told to say, ‘Isn’t there anything else?’ I have carried this philosophy over into my Christian work.” That man of God was filled with so much love for others that he wanted to see them develop in all areas of their lives. In Romans 16, the apostle Paul commended many in the church who were like this man. He singled out Priscilla, Aquila, Mary, Persis, and several others who had labored for the Lord with willing hands and loving hearts. They were not content to do minimal service but were always busy ministering to the needs of fellow believers. Beautiful lives have they who bear The burdens of those heavy laden with care; Earnest are they who daily show Compassionate service wherever they go. —Anon. You may serve God without loving Him, but you cannot love God without serving Him. Dangerous Freedom Do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. —Galatians 5:13 Freedom is dangerous in the hands of those who don’t know how to use it. That’s why criminals are confined in prisons with barbed wire, steel bars, and concrete barriers. Or consider a campfire that is allowed to spread in a dry forest. It quickly becomes a blazing inferno. Unchecked freedom can create chaos. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Christian life. Believers are free from the law’s curse, its penalty, and its guilt-producing power. Fear, anxiety, and guilt are replaced by peace, forgiveness, and liberty. Who could be more free than one who is free in the depths of his soul? But here is where we often fail. We use freedom’s luxury to live selfishly, or we claim ownership of what God has merely entrusted to us. We slip into patterns of self-indulgent living, especially in affluent societies. The proper use of freedom is “faith working through love” to serve one another (Gal. 5:6,13). When we rely on the Spirit and expend our energies on loving God and helping others, the destructive works of the flesh will be restrained by God (vv.16-21). So let’s always use our liberty to build up, not to tear down. Christ came to give us liberty By dying in our place; Now with new freedom we are bound To share His love and grace. —D. De Haan Freedom doesn’t give us the right to do what we please, but to do what pleases God. Galatians 5:14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." Phillips -For after all, the whole Law toward others is summed up by this one command, 'You shall love your neighbour as yourself'.
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Guzik - This reminds us of a pack of wild animals. That’s how the church can act when it uses its “liberty” as a platform to promote selfishness. If you want to see some action, put two selfish people together. Selfish people will eventually be consumed by one another. (Galatians 5 Commentary) Consumed (355)(analisko from ana = away + halisko = to take) means literally to take away, , to destroy, to use up and so when spoken of fire meant to consume or burn up. Figuratively it describes the destruction of the Antichrist by the Christ (2 Th 2:8KJV not NAS or ESV). In the passive voice as in this passage analisko describes the effects of strife within a group and thus meant to be ruined or destroyed (Gal 5.15)