GALATIANS 5.1-26

The Spirit makes it Easy to be Saved

1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

  The connection between the fourth and fifth chapters of Galatians is close, so much so that it is difficult to see how anybody could ever have hit upon the idea of making a chapter division.

The Freedom That Christ Gives

  When Christ was manifest in the flesh His work was "to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound."  Isaiah 61:1.  The miracles that He performed were practical illustrations of this work, and one of the most striking may well be considered just now.

  "And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.  And, behold there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.  And when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.  And he laid His hands on her; and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God."  Luke 13:10-13, KJV

  Then when the hypocritical ruler of the synagogue complained because Jesus did this miracle on the Sabbath, he referred to how each one would loose his ox or ass from the stall, and lead him to water; then He said:

  "And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?"  Verse 16.