20160818 Thursday, August 18 2016
Galatians 05: What Does God's Law Prohibit?

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God"

Many Christian-professing people have been misled into believing that they are not "under the law," but notice very carefully that God's Law prohibits the things that violate His terms of Salvation - repentance. Christians are not under the penalty of the Law if they repent and obey God's Law (see Christ Died For Repentant Sinners and the Fact Finder question below).

"5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

The confusion about what the Holy Bible actually says about "the law" most-often is the result of people regarding the man-made traditions of Judaism, which were not the Law that the LORD actually gave to the Israelites (see Israel In History and Prophecy: Judaism and Israel Never Knew Purim, Hanukkah Or Judaism), and all of humanity, as "the law." They mistakenly believe that the command to do away with vain "laws" is doing away with God's actual and pure Law. But it isn't.

Notice that the Messiah rebuked them for not observing what the LORD (see The Identity Of The LORD God and The LORD God Our Saviour) actually gave to Moses: "For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: But ye say ... Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye."

"7:6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 7:8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. 7:9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. 7:10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: 7:11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. 7:12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; 7:13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye." (Mark 7:6-13 KJV)

It was that vast distinction that the apostle Paul was emphasizing when someone had been attempting to convince the Christians of Galatia (see Unto The Churches Of Galatia) to observe the very religion that had rejected the Messiah with their dead-end traditions. Paul was not teaching freedom from the Law of God. He was taking about the freedom that comes from the true Law of God as it was actually given (see Faith Is The Law). As we read above, salvation depends upon that true freedom: "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."

"5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

5:2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 5:3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. 5:5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

5:7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? 5:8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. 5:9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. 5:10 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. 5:11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. 5:12 I would they were even cut off which trouble you.

5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 5:15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another." (Galatians 5:1-15 KJV)

Again, the true Law as it has been from the very beginning, and the dead-end that awaits those who refuse to repent: "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God."

"5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 5:26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another." (Galatians 5:16-26 KJV)

Fact Finder: Why is genuine repentance required for grace? What does "grace" actually mean?
See What Does Grace Really Mean?