Stand Fast in Liberty! (Gal 5:1-6)
Speaker: Rev Dr Quek SY
Date: 15 Jan 2023

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Sermon notes taken by:

Tina Wong


The focus of standing fast is not on the act itself but on the object of standing fast. In Galatians 5:1, the object is the liberty in Christ, the freedom that Jesus has accomplished for us. If the object of one’s standing fast is wrong, then one should be moved and not be steadfast. Otherwise, one is considered stiff-necked.

  1. Galatians 5:1: Freedom from the bondage of sin

Jesus has made us free from the penalty of death and the guilt of sin. We are now children of God who can live a life that is spiritual. We are blessed with the mind of Christ. This is the liberty we received when we received Christ. We must stand fast in this liberty continuously (i.e. never stop standing fast) because we are always under assault. To be “entangled” (Gal 5:1) is to be confused. The idea of entanglement refers to one not rejecting (or objecting) when any aspect of the gospel is diminished or attacked. This is not standing fast on the gospel of Christ. To stand fast on the true gospel of Christ is to be unmoved from it.

  1. Galatians 5:2-4: How standing fast was compromised

The doctrine of circumcision was given by God during the time of Abraham. In Galatians 5:2, Paul was not belittling circumcision. He was highlighting the wrong understanding of the doctrine of circumcision that Gentile believers had to be circumcised in order to be saved. While circumcision was very important when Israel was a national witness, if the Jewish teachers were to follow through with their teaching, Paul argued that they then must also keep the law perfectly (Gal 5:3), which was impossible. Thus, in Galatians 5:4, Paul said that to be “justified by the law” means not having salvation at all in the first place (i.e “fallen from grace”). He had to be very blunt here because of the seriousness of the issue.

Misinterpreting and twisting the Word of God is the work of the devil. We must reject false teachers and their false teachings. When we are faithful in the least, we can be faithful in the much. We are not to be entangled, especially about our salvation. We must be sure of our own salvation.

  1. Galatians 5:5-6: Standing fast secures our faith and hope

As we stand fast on the true gospel of Jesus, our faith will be intact and our hope real. One can be circumcised but it must be done with the correct understanding that circumcision has no bearing on one’s salvation. We must make sure of our “faith which worketh by love” (Gal 5:6). Love to God and those around us resulting from our faith is the evidence of our salvation. Let us stand fast and stay true to Jesus all the days of our lives.

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