Stand fast therefore in the Liberty by which Christ has made us free and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. (13)  For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use Liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.  (14) For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  (15) But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!  (16) I say then:  Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.  (17) For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.  (18) But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

The letter to the Galatians was written by the Apostle Paul. Paul visited Galatia on each of his three missionary journeys and founded churches there. After Paul moved on, legalizers expanded and changed the heart of the gospel Paul preached – jewish men who preached  salvation comes through faith in Christ AND also thru observance of the mosaic law, Jewish customs and ceremonies. Paul made his furious stand against the Judaizers in Galatia realizing that the issue must be resolved. The Law is a standard of behavior but the law cannot grant salvation. Man cannot do anything to earn salvation; it is of grace through the completed saving works of Christ.  Through Christ only we are saved and we now have priceless liberty to cling to.

The doctrine is that we must love our neighbors as ourselves. When saving faith is ignored by not following Christ, peace and unity end. Saving faith compels love. Christianity is not just words and the indwelling Spirit is to be desired. Flesh and Spirit oppose each other – they are directly contrary.  Paul does not lose sight of the doctrine of justification but shows us at every turn that it is impossible to be justified by works.   Paul tells us we are led by the Spirit in faith, and so are NOT UNDER THE LAW.

Paul is telling the Galatians that the gospel gives freedom from consequences of sin, not freedom to sin. He is calling the Law a standard of righteousness, not the SOURCE of righteousness – that what the law cannot do, Jesus did. Further Paul is saying devotion to Jesus is not possible without love for each other.