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John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 5:1-26

The Nature of Christian Liberty1-12. The futility of seeking justification by attempting to comply with the demands of the Mosaic Law; the inconsistency of works and faith as methods of salvation.Paraphrase. ’(1) Since Christ has freed us from the necessity of obeying these legal demands and customs, let us consistently maintain and use our liberty. (2) To receive circumcision as necessary to salvation is to renounce allegiance to Christ, (3) since submission to this rite commits one to the... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Galatians 5:16-26

(16-26) To follow the guidance of the Spirit is to obtain a double release: on the one hand, from the evil appetites and passions of the flesh or of sense—which is the direct antithesis to the Spirit—and on the other hand, from the dominion of the Law. It is easy to tell which has the upper hand—the flesh or the Spirit. The flesh is known by a long catalogue of sins, the Spirit by a like catalogue of Christian graces, the mere mention of which is enough to show that the Law has no power over... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Galatians 5:24

(24) But such things are just what the Christian would do. He will have nothing to make him act differently. He will not need to be taught peaceableness, goodness, or self-control, for the impulses which run counter to these are dead within him: they were killed at the moment when he gave himself up wholly to a crucified Saviour.And.—Better, How, or But; introducing a summary conclusion from what has gone before, applying it to the Christian.They that are Christ’s.—The reading of the oldest... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Galatians 5:1-26

Christian Liberty Galatians 5:1 What is 'liberty?' Obedience to oneself; obedience to a law which is written in a man's own heart. If I obey myself, and myself is not a right self, it is, indeed, 'liberty,' but, being a bad liberty, it becomes 'licentiousness'. If I obey a law outside me, and the law within me is opposed to that outer law which I obey, the act I do may be quite right, and the only right one, but my obedience is not 'liberty,' it is compulsion; it is bondage. Liberty is when... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Galatians 5:16-26

Chapter 23CHRIST’S SPIRIT AND HUMAN FLESH.Galatians 5:16-26LOVE is the guard of Christian freedom. The Holy Spirit is its guide. These principles accomplish what the law could never do. It withheld liberty, and yet did not give purity. The Spirit of love and of sonship bestows both, establishing a happy, ordered freedom, the liberty of the sons of God.From the first of these two factors of Christian ethics the Apostle passes in Galatians 5:16 to the second. He conducts us from the consequence... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Galatians 5:1-26

III. THE WALK OF THE JUSTIFIED BELIEVER, AS NOT UNDER THE LAW, BUT UNDER GRACE CHAPTER 5 1. Stand fast! Be not entangled! (Galatians 5:1-6 ) 2. Exhortations and the law of love. (Galatians 5:7-15 ) 3. Flesh and Spirit. (Galatians 5:16-21 ) 4. The Fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-26 ) The first exhortation is to maintain, by faith, the liberty which is found in Christ, to stand fast in that liberty where with Christ has made the believer free and not to be entangled again with the... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 5:1-26

LIBERTY TO BE PRACTICED (vs.1-6) Chapter 4 dealt with the perfect freedom introduced by God Himself through Christ, freedom given to all who have been redeemed by His precious blood, freedom from the bondage of law in all its forms. It is not, however, freedom to walk in our own ways according to our own wills (for that is really bondage), but freedom from fear of judgment, freedom from the Law as a rule of life, freedom to walk with God in the blessedness of intimate communion with His own... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Galatians 5:1-26

PRACTICAL APPLICATION In applying the doctrine Paul urges his readers to stand fast in the liberty of Christ (Galatians 5:1-12 ), but in doing so not to abuse that liberty (Galatians 5:13 to Galatians 6:10 ). He mentions four ways in which it may be abused: 1. Uncharitableness (Galatians 5:13-15 ) 2. Uncleanness (Galatians 5:16-25 ) 3. Pride (Galatians 5:26 to Galatians 6:5 ) 4. Selfishness (Galatians 6:6-10 ) The first-mentioned warning or exhortation speaks for itself. They were to cease... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Galatians 5:19-26

(19) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, (20) Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, (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. (22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 5:16-26

16-26 If it be our care to act under the guidance and power of the blessed Spirit, though we may not be freed from the stirrings and oppositions of the corrupt nature which remains in us, it shall not have dominion over us. Believers are engaged in a conflict, in which they earnestly desire that grace may obtain full and speedy victory. And those who desire thus to give themselves up to be led by the Holy Spirit, are not under the law as a covenant of works, nor exposed to its awful curse.... read more

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