Galatians 5:7-12
"Ye did run well, who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. I would they were even cut off which trouble you," Galatians 5:7-12. How different would our view of false teachers be if we viewed them as exceeding sinful and to the point of being deadly? If we viewed them like this we would surely mark them and warn others about them. As we learned last week from verse 7, we would put name and face together and point our fingers and say, that person hindered us and others in our Christian walk. Is it too harsh to say false teachers are exceeding sinful? These false teachers are purposefully deceiving as many people as they can. They are not being true to the scriptures, nor are they telling the truth. They are habitual liars. Too add to their sinfulness, they are also thieves. With their words they rob people of their living. They convince people to give money etc. with the hope that God will bless them tenfold. They look you in the eye and smile while they say these things. They are exceeding sinful.
Let us look at some scriptures dealing with this. "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful," Psalm 1:1. Blessed is the person who does not do these things, the first of which is walking in the counsel of the ungodly. Counsel is advice. Don't listen to nor follow the advice of false teachers, no matter how good it seems. They always have an underlining motive. King David prays for protection in Psalm 26 and in Psalm 101 he pledges to have nothing to do with wicked people. The New Testament also speaks much about the coming of false teachers, and their judgment. "For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire," II Peter 2:21-22. Read II Peter 2.
"This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you," Galatians 5:8. Last week in verse seven, Paul had the Galatians specifically point out who they were that was leading them astray. He builds on that in verse 8. This persuasion means persuasiveness. "Calleth" in this verse means to call to repentance. There are two different calls here. One call is from the false teachers, and the other call is from the true teachers of the gospel. Each call leads to different eternity's. "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel," Galatians 1:6. Scripture calls us to repent, and to live the rest of our lives repenting. Jesus Christ saves our souls, and then we live the rest of our lives turning away from sin. This can only be done by the grace of God. We are dependent upon Him. These false teachers were pointing the Galatians to look to themselves, not to Christ. The Galatians had heard two calls, one that leads to Christ, and one that leads away from Christ. We hope that they would respond like the Corinthians did. Turn to II Corinthians 7, specifically verses 9-10, "Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." The Corinthians responded correctly to the letter of rebuke sent by Paul.
"A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump," Galatians 5:9. As leaven causes that which it is mixed with to ferment and turn sour, a few bad men will corrupt a multitude when they are allowed to mix in. Again, the way Paul is writing this, the Galatians will have to recognize those people who are leading them astray. Not just what they are teaching, but the people themselves. We will see this again in verses 10 and 12.
"I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be," Galatians 5:10. Paul's confidence in them is through the Lord. He knows that only the Lord can convince them of their wrong doing. When they do repent, they will all be likeminded, of the same opinion. In chapter 1, Paul pronounces a curse on those who preach a false gospel. Here in verse 10 he reiterates that curse on those who are troubling the Galatians. "Troubleth" in this verse means to stir or agitate (roil water):- trouble. This person or people, whether they are Jews or Gentiles, teachers, preachers, laymen, etc., they shall receive their judgment. "Judgment" in this verse means a sentence of punishment or condemnation, implying also the punishment itself as a certain consequence. This judgment comes from God. They may live their best life now on this earth, but if they do not repent and believe the gospel alone for salvation, they will stand before God one day having only their own righteousness, and Christ will say unto them, depart from me ye workers of iniquity, I never knew you; and then He will cast them into the lake of fire to be tormented day and night for eternity.
"And I brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased," Galatians 5:11. Apparently some were saying that even Paul was teaching that you had to be circumcised. If that were the case, then why are they still persecuting Paul? Their own words did not line up with their actions. If Paul was preaching salvation by keeping the law, then the offence of the cross would have ended. But, Paul is still preaching the cross, which means he is still preaching the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the cross. The cross is offensive to those who are trying to earn their salvation. "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God," I Corinthians 1:18. Turn to I Corinthians 1:18-2:5; Romans 9:30-33; I Peter 2:7-8.
"I would they were even cut off which trouble you," Galatians 5:12. "Cut off" in this verse means to amputate. Paul wants to cut off the part that is troubling the Galatians. "Trouble" in this verse means to disturb, agitate, put in commotion. Spoken of the minds of Christians. Those who cause division by teaching and preaching false doctrines must be separated from the true church. This process can be painful, but it is needful for the life of the church. As we continue going through this chapter, we will see the difference between those who are led by the flesh, and those who are led by the Spirit. Please send questions and comments to: richardsonbaptistchurch@gmail.com. Soli Deo Gloria.
