The purpose of Paul in writing to the Galatian Church was based on the reports of the inclination of these Gentile believers toward Judaistic faith. Judaism is the belief that the cutting away of the foreskin of his flesh (circumcision) of males is a sign of the covenant made with Abraham and by that act one is accepted into the nation of Israel and with God Gen 17:9-14. “…You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you…”vs 11
Note however that Abraham believed the promise of God before the cutting of the foreskin. And on the basis of faith, he was made righteous Gen 15:6,[And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness] not by the cutting of the flesh- circumcision. Circumcision was the outward sign of that inward faith in the promise (covenant) of God to Abraham. The Law was the code of conduct for those who had received that circumcision. Circumcision and the laws are thus united and synonymous- to be circumcised is to keep the law and to keep the law is to be circumcised. Since the old covenant did not deal particularly with the issue (regeneration) of the heart, these outward acts became the measure a person’s righteousness. These acts of circumcision and obedience to the laws are regarded, largely by Paul, as ‘works’- indicating that they are human efforts; or ‘the flesh’ meaning they are products of the fallen nature which cannot please God Gal 3:2,3. This is the reason Paul disputed that for a follower of Christ, the way is reversed. A Christian is not justified by works- outward observances of circumcision, hence the law, but by faith (an inward regeneration) and fellowship with God is by obedience to the truth of God as revealed in Christ Jesus Gal 3:7-11.
Christian liberty, therefore, is freedom from the bondage of the Law. Christ has set us free from the legalistic rules of the old covenant, by which the Jews sought to please God, which on the contrary the New Testament Apostles described as a yoke Acts 15:10. Some believing Pharisees had taught and demanded that Gentile believers should be circumcised to be saved Acts 15:1 and to keep the law of Moses Acts 15:5.
Christian liberty was recognized by the conference of Apostles and elders (Acts 15:6) that the new Gentile disciples should not be made to bear the yoke that neither the fathers nor themselves were able to bear. But salvation being by grace through faith was sufficient and assuring Acts 15:10-1 1. This was the understanding of Peter. James the elder gave his sentence, that is, his decision over the matter of whether the new Gentile believers should be circumcised and to obey the laws of Moses as the legalistic Jews demanded, to merit salvation, maintain it and even prove it. Should they be free from the ceremonial/ moral laws of the Old Covenant, to follow the law of the Spirit in Christ Jesus? He also confirmed that demanding that the new disciples be compelled to be circumcised would be to trouble them vs. 19. So, it pleased all the Apostles and elders vs 22 not to compel the new Gentile disciples to be circumcised to obey the laws of Moses vs 24 as a requirement for justification for righteousness. This decision was also very pleasing to the Holy Spirit vs 28, who also saw the imposition of the law as a burden.
The receiving of this news brought great joy and rejoicing to the new Gentile believers Acts 15:31. Why was this a thing of rejoicing? Primarily because one who is circumcised is a debtor to the whole law Gal 5:3 and if one keeps the whole law and fails to keep one of the laws he has failed in all James 2:10-11. This is the curse of the law (of works) Gal 3:10- for as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. Those who try to be justified by the (works of the) Law are constantly bearing this guilt of not being able to measure up to the standard of the law because they cannot- they are always failing in some aspects of the law. This is the trouble, the burden the yoke that Christ has set us free from. The foolishness of the church in Galatia is their lack of steadfastness in this liberty of Christ- freedom from the burden of trying to fulfil the whole law to be justified for righteousness before God as against simply trusting in the person of Lord Jesus Christ- of His work of grace- that introduces us to walking in the Spirit; obedience to the truth of God in Christ, of which love is the chief law- the law of Christ Gal 6:2
Are you trying to ‘convince’ God that you are worthy of being in right standing with Him through self-sacrificing efforts? Do you think you need to do so much for Heaven to be sure and open to you? Are you trying to be ‘pure’ through self-denial that is not dependent on the help of the Holy Spirit? You may actually be provoking God’s wrath by doing so. Depending on your efforts to be righteous is a statement of your rejection of God’s way of making one righteous before Him. Righteousness which comes by faith is based on believing and accepting the person of Christ and His works as sufficient and in faith to obey God’s truth as revealed in Christ by His Spirit in His Word. Christian liberty is trusting in Christ and His works alone for redemption, sanctification and glorification. And then sanctification (fellowship and intimacy with God) is by the Spirit through obedience 1 Pet 1:2. We are freed from the burden of guilt of always failing to measure up by our efforts to trusting in the righteousness of Christ imputed to us. Therefore, our perfection is not the focus but Christ’s perfection. It is Christ’s acceptance by the Father that we are also assured of acceptance.
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted Gal 6:1. Whereas failure in one aspect of the law is failure in all, the grace of Christ does not condemn or cut us off if we fail rather it restores us. This is the yoke that is broken and the burden lifted. Halleluyah!