Galatians 5:11-12

11 But, brethren, if I still preach circumcision [as some accuse me of doing, as necessary to salvation], why am I still suffering persecution? In that case the cross has ceased to be a stumbling block and is made meaningless (done away).

    

12 I wish those who unsettle and confuse you would [go all the way and] cut themselves off!

    

Amen! But the real question for me has always been why does our Father not just drive these people away from us? 

And to keep me from being puffed up and too much elated by the exceeding greatness (preeminence) of these revelations, there was given me a thorn (a splinter) in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to rack and buffet and harass me, to keep me from being excessively exalted. Three times I called upon the Lord and besought [Him] about this and begged that it might depart from me; But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me! 2 Corinthians 12:7-9

When our Father enlightens us with the glorious Truth that it is all His power all of the time, which is Christ, controlling our entire lives, then He will allow us to be persecuted by false prophets for it, John 15:20. Our Father allows this so that His love will come through even when we are attacked and the world will see it and desire what He has given us. The world will see our Father’s Grace abounding when it shouldn’t be abounding. They will see our Father’s hope flowing from us when they believe that it shouldn’t be. The world will see us being happy and satisfied even though they think that we shouldn’t and they will want the Grace that we have been given. It will also allow us to know that greater is He that is in us, then we who are in this world, 1 John 4:4. 

Jesus was attacked and yet our Father empowered Him to love. Paul, Peter, John, and Stephen were all attacked and the Holy Spirit caused them to love and serve those who were doing it. The persecution that these men endured caused our Father’s power to show itself complete within them. The Truth shined in the darkness and the Truth is what set’s people free, John 8:32. 

I do not ask that You will take them out of the world, but that You will keep and protect them from the evil one. John 17:15

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

Be glad and supremely joyful, for your reward in heaven is great (strong and intense), for in this same way people persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:12

Galatians 5:10

10 [For my part] I have confidence [toward you] in the Lord that you will take no contrary view of the matter but will come to think with me. But he who is unsettling you, whoever he is, will have to bear the penalty.

There are a ton of preachers and religious people who try and make us believe in ourselves. They teach and demand that we must first accept, or that we must first believe, through our own free will’s, to have our Father then act in our lives. So what does the power of Christ have us do to these false prophets?

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven (left, remitted, and let go of the debts, and have given up resentment against) our debtors. Matthew 6:12

Then Peter came up to Him and said, Lord, how many times may my brother sin against me and I forgive him and let it go? [As many as] up to seven times? Jesus answered him, I tell you, not up to seven times, but seventy times seven! Matthew 18:21-22

We are actively used by the Holy Spirit to intercede for these preachers and teachers of anti-christ and we are empowered by the love of Jesus to forgive them, John 20:23. We are one with Jesus and He ever lives to intercede for them, Hebrews 7:25, even though they are actively waring against Him. So how can we do anything but the same thing when we are one with Jesus? 

These false prophets will be allowed to come against us. They will be permitted to attack us. They will damn us and yet none of them will be thrown into the Lake of Fire for what they do to us. They will one day, either in this world, or the world to come, learn that what we are being used to say to them and the world is the Truth.

Take note! I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet and learn and acknowledge that I have loved you. Revelation 3:9

The Holy Spirit will cause us to bless the wolves as they curse us. He will cause us to pray for the preachers of anti-christ as they despise us. We will be blessed to feed the enemies of the Gospel and one day they will come to know the same Truth that we do and they will be set free. 

Galatians 5:7-9

7 You were running the race nobly. Who has interfered in (hindered and stopped you from) your heeding and following the Truth?

    

8 This [evil] persuasion is not from Him Who called you [Who invited you to freedom in Christ].

    

9 A little leaven (a slight inclination to error, or a few false teachers) leavens the whole lump [it perverts the whole conception of faith or misleads the whole church].

    

Even a little attitude that believes that we have a part to play on our own completely separates a person from enjoying the freedom and liberty of Christ. When a person believes that they have a free will, a will of their own, then what they are really confessing is that they have no part in Christ. If you believe that you must first accept a Truth on your own, for our Father to act in your life, then you have no part in the glorious freedom of Christ empowering you through it all. To think like this is like believing that your arm has to act on its own without being attached to your body. 

Yet don’t fret if you have some of these kinds of thoughts. We can have perfect peace because as we see repeatedly in the Gospels, Jesus was far more often moved by His compassion for us then by our works or faith towards Him. Some people did have faith, but far more didn’t have it and that did not stop Jesus from serving them for one second. Read about the man at the Pool of Bethesda, all the guy did was complain to Jesus and yet Jesus still healed him, John 5.

The Truth is that most of us still have some belief that we have to do things on our own. The reason that the Holy Spirit is having us study this so hard is so that we can hear the Truth and the 

Truth will set us free. 

And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free. John 8:32

The Truth that sets us free, whether we yet have complete faith in it or not, is that Jesus Alone is responsible for causing us to see the Truth that it is all our Father’s power working through us. So the burden is all His and the victory of His Faith is ours. 

Therefore, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit. Romans 8:1

Jesus will never leave us and He will never forsake us, Hebrews 13:5. He is always greater in us then anything that is in this world, 1 John 4:4. And the power of our Father is always more then a conqueror through us, Romans 8:37. Jesus will always do more through us then we can ask for, believe for, or pray for. So we are able to have peace that passes all understanding. 

Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]— Ephesians 3:20

The glorious Truth is that even if we do not believe that it is all Jesus, it still is all Jesus. He will never abandon us, regardless of if we can accept or confess it! 

Galatians 5:5-6

5 For we, [not relying on the Law but] through the [Holy] Spirit's [help], by faith anticipate and wait for the blessing and good for which our righteousness and right standing with God [our conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action, causes us] to hope.

    

The Holy Spirit is responsible for bringing our righteousness. The Holy Spirit is who we rely on: He is our only Strength, He Alone is our Teacher, our Advocate, and He Alone is our Stand By.

But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you. John 14:26

It is insulting to Him to believe that our works make us right. Yet so many believe in their works and while believing that works bring us favor with God sounds religious, it is the message of the anti-christ. If a person believes that we are justified by keeping a law, then they are separated from Christ, Galatians 5:1! To believe this way is like believing that a child must do works to earn the attention and love of his father. If a parent needs a chid to do things for them to love and pay attention to them, then they are lousy parents. 

6 For [if we are] in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working through love.

So are we shown here that we have to work faith and love on our own? Are these two things our law now?

Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

Our freedom is that Jesus is the only reason that we have faith. True faith is not a human ability to believe God, faith is Jesus’ ability to believe God working through us.

I have made Your Name known to them and revealed Your character and Your very Self, and I will continue to make [You] known, that the love which You have bestowed upon Me may be in them [felt in their hearts] and that I [Myself] may be in them. John 17:26

Our peace that passes all understanding is that Jesus lives to make our Father known to us so that we may have His very love dwelling within us. There is nothing that we do first in Christ, we are never separated from our Head to initiate anything on our own. We have no part to play that is separate from Jesus. We are told in the Bible that we have to have faith and love, and the Truth is that Jesus is our source for both. It is impossible for a man to have true faith and love on his own. Everything must come directly from our Head first, John 3:27. If you believe that you must do any work on your own, then you have no part in Christ. 

Galatians 5:2-4

2 Notice, it is I, Paul, who tells you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no profit (advantage, avail) to you [for if you distrust Him, you can gain nothing from Him].

    

3 I once more protest and testify to every man who receives circumcision that he is under obligation and bound to practice the whole of the Law and its ordinances.

What we are being told here is that if we trust in any Law, even the Ten Commandments, to save us or to keep our favor with God, Christ is of no profit to us. I for one want Jesus to be of profit for me. Jesus got the people off who murdering Him, Luke 23:54. Jesus got an adulterous woman free from the death penalty, John 8:10-11. I never really see the Ten Commandments working for anyone? But I do see Jesus being very successful. 

    

4 If you seek to be justified and declared righteous and to be given a right standing with God through the Law, you are brought to nothing and so separated (severed) from Christ. You have fallen away from grace (from God's gracious favor and unmerited blessing).

If someone tells you what you have to do to have God do something in your life, then what they are telling you is that you are separated from Christ. If you believe that you have to worship on a certain day, then you have no part in Christ. If you believe that you have to give money so that God can provide for you, then you have no part in Christ. If you believe that you have to wear certain clothes or have a certain hair style, then you are separated from Christ. If you believe that any work will give you favor with our Father, then you have no grace and you are separated from Christ. 

All of these kind of works sound so religious and right, but they all drive the focus and attention towards our flesh and not towards Jesus and therefore they are anti-christ. In Christ we will work, but we will work because it is our Father within us doing His works, John 14:10. Our Father will use us to do great and wonderful things like raise the dead, heal the sick, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, comfort the widows and orphans, prophesy, perform miracles, love, forgive, intercede, and cast out demons, John 14:12. Yet these works are not the focus, Jesus is the focus, love is the focus. Works do not justify us or empower us, Jesus does. These things are just works. We marvel not at the works that our Father does through us, we marvel at our Father’s grace, Luke 10:20. 

I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing. John 15:5

I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]. Philippians 4:13

Galatians 5:1

1 IN [this] freedom Christ has made us free [and completely liberated us]; stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery [which you have once put off].

Christ, which is the anointing and power of our Father, has completely freed us and has completely liberated us from the burden of ever having to take thought about loosing our favor and unity with Him. Jesus came and He gave us life and our life in Christ is an abundant life, John 10:10. There is no fear for us who are in Christ, because He has given us His very peace, John 14:27. In Christ we are assured and have complete freedom that we will eternally be united with our Father, just as Jesus is eternally united with Him Romans 6:4-11. The yoke of works to accomplish this freedom has been removed from us, 1 Peter 5:7. Our salvation is a free gift from our Father, Ephesians 2:8, and our Father’s gifts are eternal, He never takes them back once He gives them, Romans 11:29. 

For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable. [He never withdraws them when once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.]

The work of each [one] will become [plainly, openly] known (shown for what it is); for the day [of Christ] will disclose and declare it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test and critically appraise the character and worth of the work each person has done. If the work which any person has built on this Foundation [any product of his efforts whatever] survives [this test], he will get his reward. But if any person's work is burned up [under the test], he will suffer the loss [of it all, losing his reward], though he himself will be saved, but only as [one who has passed] through fire. 1 Corinthians 3:13-15

And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you. Philippians 1:6

We are Jesus’ possessions. We have all been bought with the price of His Blood and He will not fail with any of us.

[Just as] You have granted Him power and authority over all flesh (all humankind), [now glorify Him] so that He may give eternal life to all whom You have given Him. John 17:2

Galatians 4:30-31

30 But what does the Scripture say? Cast out and send away the slave woman and her son, for never shall the son of the slave woman be heir and share the inheritance with the son of the free woman.

    

When Ishmael was cast out from Abraham was he killed and destroyed, or was he just not permitted to be an heir of Abraham’s? Our Father gave Ishmael a promise of great power, yet not the power of being a son who was an heir, Genesis 21:18. Our Father told Hagar that He was going to make Ishmael a great nation. Far too many think that just because a person is not chosen to be born again and become the Bride of Christ, that they are thrown into the Lake of Fire. This is not true at all, it only means that they are not called to be the Bride. Yet they are chosen to be the guests of the Bride and Groom at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, Matthew 22. They will be a great nation, just as Ishmael. 

Look at Jesus’ parable of the Kingdom of Heaven, there are guests there and only one of them was found unworthy and wasn’t allowed to stay, Matthew 22:11-12. Only the one who commits blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is thrown into the Lake of Fire, Matthew 12:31. The Truth is that there is only one unforgivable sin. The rest of the guests are permitted to stay and celebrate for all of eternity the Marriage of the Bride and Groom, which is the saved and Jesus. These guests will be served by us and taught by us and they are a great nation, Revelation 3:9!

Read in Revelation 21 and you will see the glory that the nations will bring to us when the New Jerusalem and new earth have come into being. The people of the nations will be those who weren’t chosen to be the Bride of Christ and who did not commit blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. How cool is that? The Truth is that because of what Jesus did for man, not many of us will be lost. Every knee will bow to the Truth that Jesus is Lord and that will set them free, Romans 14:11, and that will bring great praise to our Father. Our Father’s desire that all men be saved and come to the knowledge of the Truth will be satisfied through the power of Jesus’ love for us, 1 Timothy 2:4. 

31 So, brethren, we [who are born again] are not children of a slave woman [the natural], but of the free [the supernatural].

We are the Bride! Jesus has born us into freedom and that gift will never be taken away from us. I love Galatians, I just love it! 

For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable. [He never withdraws them when once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.] Romans 11:29

So if the Son liberates you [makes you free men], then you are really and unquestionably free. John 8:36

Galatians 4:27-29

27 For it is written in the Scriptures, Rejoice, O barren woman, who has not given birth to children; break forth into a joyful shout, you who are not feeling birth pangs, for the desolate woman has many more children than she who has a husband.

28 But we, brethren, are children [not by physical descent, as was Ishmael, but] like Isaac, born in virtue of promise.

Our Father is in total control of His children and His Grace is all free to us. Our Father did not birth us through our obedience to a law, He birthed us through His Own free will and choice, Romans 9:11. Our Father is not reactive, He is active. Believing in Laws, or works, or actions, all make our Father reactive to our wills. This attitude blasphemes the Holy Spirit by taking credit for His works. Our Father in no way cares if a man is circumcised or not. He is not impressed or moved by if we get together on Sunday or Saturday. He doesn’t care if we wear a suite or jeans to fellowship, or if our hair is long or short. If we drink wine or grape juice for communion in no way empowers Him or limits His abilities to favor us. If we mess up doesn’t for one second remove Him, or His power, from directing our life’s. What our buildings are called do not mean a thing. These things, and these types of things, all have a false show of humility, when in reality they are all dung and they all take the glory and power away from our Father and place it on man. These things are all anti-christ. 

29 Yet [just] as at that time the child [of ordinary birth] born according to the flesh despised and persecuted him [who was born remarkably] according to [the promise and the working of] the [Holy] Spirit, so it is now also.

People who are slaves of the flesh persecuted our freedom in the Old Testament, during Jesus‘ life, and in the New Testament. But look at what Jesus tells us in Revelation 3:9. 

Take note! I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say they are Jews and are not, but lie--behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet and learn and acknowledge that I have loved you.

Those who confess that they are of the Truth, but who put their faith and trust in works and in the Law, will be forced to learn the Truth from us. Jesus does not tell us that these people are thrown into the Lake of Fire and destroyed, He tells us that they will finally be forced to learn. They finally learn the Truth that will set them free, how great is that? 

The Bible teaches us that we are now one with Jesus, Galatians 2:20. Jesus was always forgiving. When the people were killing Him, He forgave them, Luke 23:34. When people committed adultery Jesus forgave them, John 8:10. People doubted and questioned what He said and taught and He forgave and fed them, Matthew 16. They asked Him how often we should forgive and He told them seventy times seven times, Matthew 18:22. Just because people don’t know and even if they persecute us, they will be forgiven and they will learn the Truth that will set them free, John 8:32. Some will learn now in this time of history and some will learn when Jesus returns and raises all men from the dead. Either way all men will be saved and come to the knowledge of the Truth, 1 Timothy 2:4.  

Galatians 4:24-26

24 Now all this is an allegory; these [two women] represent two covenants. One covenant originated from Mount Sinai [where the Law was given] and bears [children destined] for slavery; this is Hagar.

If someone tells you that we are still bound to Laws, laws like the the Ten Commandments, and bound to works, then what they are actually telling you is that you are still a slave to the flesh. They are saying that Jesus did not set us free. They are saying Grace has no effect on us. They are telling you the message of the anti-christ and their message will only lead to failure and defeat. It is not the Truth and it will not set anyone free!   

    

25 Now Hagar is (stands for) Mount Sinai in Arabia and she corresponds to and belongs in the same category with the present Jerusalem, for she is in bondage together with her children.

If a person believes in keeping religious laws to find favor with our Father then they are in bondage. 

    

26 But the Jerusalem above (the Messianic kingdom of Christ) is free, and she is our mother.

In Christ we are now free, our works no longer keep us in Christ or remove us from Him, Romans 11:29. This freedom now allows us to be used by our Father to do the works that He did through Jesus and this freedom allows Him to use us to do even greater works, John 14:12. In Christ we now are the instruments of our Father’s righteousness. Jesus will now use us to show the world that they are loved and that He is Lord, John 17:21-23. Our Father will now use us to do His works of forgiveness, healing, love, prophecy, faith, and miracles. In Christ there is now no more condemnation, Romans 8:1. In Christ there is freedom from the law of sin and death, Romans 8:2. In Christ the fear of messing up is removed, 1 John 4:18. In Christ we have eternal life and our life is just as Jesus’ is, an eternal life of serving others. 

People who want to tell us that we are just human, that our flesh is weak, that we have a free will that is separate from our Father’s will have no revelation of the Truth that has set us free. These people still trust in themselves and in the flesh, so they trust in works that they believe will find them favor with God. This is all anti-christ. This faith slaps what Jesus came and gave to us right in the face, because it says that we control our Father’s Grace. It teaches that all of what Jesus has is available to us if we just do things to get it, thus placing us in charge of our destiny. What sheep is in charge of its destiny? What body part, separate from the head, acts with its own free will?

Galatians 4:18-23

18 It is always a fine thing [of course] to be zealously sought after [as you are, provided that it is] for a good purpose and done by reason of purity of heart and life, and not just when I am present with you!

    

19 My little children, for whom I am again suffering birth pangs until Christ is completely and permanently formed (molded) within you,

    

20 Would that I were with you now and could coax you vocally, for I am fearful and perplexed about you!

    

21 Tell me, you who are bent on being under the Law, will you listen to what the Law [really] says?

    

22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondmaid and one by the free woman.

    

23 But whereas the child of the slave woman was born according to the flesh and had an ordinary birth, the son of the free woman was born in fulfillment of the promise.

    

We are born again, we are born into the fulfillment of the promise of freedom. Our Father chose to have us, He willed our birth, we did not will it, Matthew 22:14. Our Father birthed us into absolute and eternal freedom, John 8:36. We are now as Jesus is, even though we are in this world, 1 John 4:17. 

There will be those who try the argument against our freedom in Christ by saying that we proclaim that we are to just sit back and do nothing. These people, and this argument, fail to realize the glory of our new birth. To be born again means to be united and made one with Christ, John 17:20-22. Jesus is not lazy, He ever lives to serve so that we might be saved to the uttermost, Hebrews 7:25. We are now Jesus’ body, we are now flesh of His flesh, and bone of His bone, Ephesians 5:30, so we too will ever live to serve our Father’s Kingdom and the world. 

Our Head, Jesus, will cause us to do the will of our Father and our Father so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son to it. If we are born again, we will, regardless of our flesh, serve the Kingdom of God. We will be used to by the Holy Spirit to serve, because Jesus now empowers and directs our paths. We do not enable Jesus to do this through us by our works or our efforts. The hand does not direct the head, the head directs the hand. A branch does not direct and empower the vine, the vine empowers the branch. The clay doesn’t will what it will be, the potter does and the Truth is that Jesus is our Head and we are His body. Jesus is now our Vine and we are His branches, and our Father is the Potter and we are His clay. This is the freedom that we have been born into, to be just as Jesus is. Jesus is One with God, the Two are not separate in any way and neither are we. Jesus can’t stop being God and we are now perfectly united with Jesus. Jesus is the flesh of God. Our Father’s flesh does not have a separate will and purpose from His Spirit and the works of God’s flesh do not keep them one.  

Galatians 4:14-17

14 And [yet] although my physical condition was [such] a trial to you, you did not regard it with contempt, or scorn and loathe and reject me; but you received me as an angel of God, [even] as Christ Jesus [Himself]!

    

15 What has become of that blessed enjoyment and satisfaction and self-congratulation that once was yours [in what I taught you and in your regard for me]? For I bear you witness that you would have torn out your own eyes and have given them to me [to replace mine], if that were possible.

    

16 Have I then become your enemy by telling the truth to you and dealing sincerely with you?

    

17 These men [the Judaizing teachers] are zealously trying to dazzle you [paying court to you, making much of you], but their purpose is not honorable or worthy or for any good. What they want to do is to isolate you [from us who oppose them], so that they may win you over to their side and get you to court their favor.

Works sound right and it is easy for people to follow after them. Works seem to make more sense to us then Grace does. But works and laws actually take away from the glory of God. When people place their faith in trust in their works, what they did for God and not what our Father did through them, they are preaching anti-christ. It is a very humbling attitude that proclaims that we initiate nothing on our own. This attitude of humility has to be given to us from our Father, because it goes so contrary to man and ego. Wolves in sheep’s clothing will come into fellowships and they will sound so religious and they will sound so right. These wolves will say that our love for God makes us want to wear these clothes, not eat these types of food, make this graven image to show respect, and worship this certain way on this certain day. But the primary focus of their message will always be on human effort and not on Christ, the power of our Father working through us. 

The glorious Truth is that the Holy Spirit will cause us to love as God loves, John 17:26. He will cause us to forgive and lay hands on the sick and they will recover. The Holy Spirit will cause us to believe as Jesus believes and serve as Jesus serves, 1 John 4:17. Our works will not limit or empower our Father for one second. As Paul wrote, our Father will actually work more powerfully through us when we are weak, Galatians 4:12-13. The only thing that empowers the Holy Spirit for us is Grace, and Grace is free and it is unmerited, Ephesians 1:6. When the Holy Spirit is given to a man, works will come, but the works are a byproduct of salvation. Our works  do not bring salvation, keep salvation, or strengthen salvation. It is amazing how relevant the message that God gave to the Galatians is for us today. 

Galatians 4:12-13

12 Brethren, I beg of you, become as I am [free from the bondage of Jewish ritualism and ordinances], for I also have become as you are [a Gentile]. You did me no wrong [in the days when I first came to you; do not do it now].

In Christ we are free from all of these beggarly things. Here is a great Truth, Jesus is our Shepherd 100% of the time, Hebrews 13:5. So Jesus will absolutely cause His Bride to become free from all of the bondage of fake religion. He will lead us to the Truth and it will set us free, John 8:32. Our Husband will not allow us to be hurt in any way by anyone or anything.  

13 On the contrary, you know that it was on account of a bodily ailment that [I remained and] preached the Gospel to you the first time.

Look at what we are told here: a bodily ailment gave Paul the ability to preach the Gospel to the Galatians. 

So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak [ in human strength], then am I [truly] strong (able, powerful in divine strength). 2 Corinthians 12:10

The Truth will set us free and the Truth is that even in infirmities the called and chosen of God are blessed. Paul was sick and it gave him the opportunity to be used by our Father to glorify His Kingdom in Galatia. All things work out for good for those who are in Christ, Romans 8:28. Faith comes from hearing the Truth, Romans 10:17, and the Truth is that even if we get sick, our Father will use us greatly. We have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to put no faith or trust in our flesh and our flesh will in no way enable or limit our ability to be used to serve the world and the Kingdom.

For we [Christians] are the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit and by the Spirit of God and exult and glory and pride ourselves in Jesus Christ, and put no confidence or dependence [on what we are] in the flesh and on outward privileges and physical advantages and external appearances— Philippians 3:3

Little children, you are of God [you belong to Him] and have [already] defeated and overcome them [the agents of the antichrist], because He Who lives in you is greater (mightier) than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4

I do not ask that You will take them out of the world, but that You will keep and protect them from the evil one. John 17:15

Our Lord is always greater in us and He will always keep us powerful, in sickness and in health! 

Galatians 4:8-10

8 But at that previous time, when you had not come to be acquainted with and understand and know the true God, you [Gentiles] were in bondage to gods who by their very nature could not be gods at all [gods that really did not exist].

9 Now, however, that you have come to be acquainted with and understand and know [the true] God, or rather to be understood and known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and beggarly and worthless elementary things [of all religions before Christ came], whose slaves you once more want to become?

10 You observe [particular] days and months and seasons and years!

    

I wonder why so many Christians want to be bound by weak and beggarly things like go to church on Sunday because it is the Lord’s day? When the Truth is, every day is the Lords, ! Why do we think that what we eat matters in us finding favor with our Father? So many get so caught up with things like don’t eat certain things during the weeks leading up to Easter? Where in the New Testament is this found? Where in the Bible is it found to make an image of a saint and pray to it? Or make an image of the cross and trust in it to keep you faithful? Where can it be found to pray to our brothers and sisters in the Lord? Is there anywhere in the Word where we are told that we have to wear a tie or suite or a dress when we get together to fellowship? All of these things, and so many more, are worthless things that cause men to look to works and not towards Christ. All of these types of things are anti-christ and they destroy those who practice such beggarly things. 

11 I am alarmed [about you], lest I have labored among and over you to no purpose and in vain.

   

This is the attitude that I pray that we all gain: we should be alarmed when people try to tell us how works make us holy. If the conversation ever brings the attention towards us and what we have to do to get our Father’s favor or respect we should immediately sound the alarm. Works for the Bride of Christ do not bring grace, they do not bring salvation, and they do not stop wrath. The only thing that brings all of these things is Jesus, our Groom. The Holy Spirit will cause those who are truly saved to keep the conversation towards the Truth and the Truth will set the world free!

Galatians 4:6

6 And because you [really] are [His] sons, God has sent the [Holy] Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba (Father)! Father!

We really are now God’s children and because we are His kids, we now have the Holy Spirit just as Jesus has Him. Just as Jesus is kept by the power of the Holy Spirit, so are we. Jesus came and allowed Himself to be sacrificed so that we could have everything that He has. Jesus has died to sin once and because of what He did for us, so have we.

Because we know that Christ (the Anointed One), being once raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has power over Him. For by the death He died, He died to sin [ending His relation to it] once for all; and the life that He lives, He is living to God [in unbroken fellowship with Him]. Even so consider yourselves also dead to sin and your relation to it broken, but alive to God [living in unbroken fellowship with Him] in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:9-11

We are the body of Christ right now, Ephesians 5:30, so we too are dead to sin and alive to live as one with God. Our relationship with sin has ended. We are now free from the law of sin equals death. 

Because we are members (parts) of His body. For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is very great, but I speak concerning [the relation of] Christ and the church. Ephesians 5:30-32

For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has freed me from the law of sin and of death. Romans 8:2. 

7 Therefore, you are no longer a slave (bond servant) but a son; and if a son, then [it follows that you are] an heir by the aid of God, through Christ.

We are now an heir of God by His direct aide through Christ. It is only by our Father’s grace that we are saved, it is all His gift to us, Ephesians 2:8. Our Father decided to give us life in Christ and our Father never withdraws His gifts once they are given.

For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable. [He never withdraws them when once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.] Romans 11:29. 

Galatians 4:4-5

4 But when the proper time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born subject to [the regulations of] the Law,

    

Look at what the Holy Spirit tells us here, the proper time has fully come for us. Now is the day of our salvation and today is the accepted time for us to be mature, 2 Corinthians 6:2. Our Father does not have to wait until Heaven to fully and perfectly be united with us. Jesus came and He succeeded. 

5 To purchase the freedom of (to ransom, to redeem, to atone for) those who were subject to the Law, that we might be adopted and have sonship conferred upon us [and be recognized as God's sons].

We have been purchased by Christ, this Truth makes us the slaves of Christ. Now ask yourself this, who is responsible for the slave, is it the Master of the slave or the slave?

You were bought with a price [purchased with a preciousness and paid for by Christ]; then do not yield yourselves up to become [in your own estimation] slaves to men [but consider yourselves slaves to Christ]. 1 Corinthians 7:23

Jesus purchased our freedom from the Law. Which means that we are now free from do this work to obtain God’s favor and don’t do that work to avoid His wrath. The children of Israel couldn’t even keep a simple law like make one day a week Holy. So to set us free from the weakness of the flesh, our Father sent Jesus and now we are free from all of the fear of succeeding or failing by our works. In Christ we are now free from the bondage of being a man and we enjoy the freedom of being a new creature in Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:17. In Christ we have perfect freedom and peace, John 14:27. Our peace is the Truth that now all things work out for our good, Romans 8:28. Our victory is that now we are more than conquerors through Christ Who loves us, Romans 8:37. The price that was paid for us has set us free to be as Jesus is, even when we are on this earth, 1 John 4:17!

Galatians 4:1-3

1 NOW WHAT I mean is that as long as the inheritor (heir) is a child and under age, he does not differ from a slave, although he is the master of all the estate;

2 But he is under guardians and administrators or trustees until the date fixed by his father.

There is so much peace in the Truth in the fact that our Father fixes the dates and times and seasons. Our Father knows better than anyone what is needed and the best time for it to come into being. Our Father fixed the time for Jesus to come to this earth. God fixed the time for Jesus to be born, He fixed how Jesus was to be born, and He fixed when and how Jesus was to die. Our Father was in total control of Jesus’ life and His destiny. I don’t know many people that will argue with this and actually most of us have a great deal of faith with this Truth. So here is my question: why do we freak out when the exact same thing is said about our own life’s? Why do we have so many issues with our own life’s being predestined by the grace and power of our Father, Who is God, when we do not have any issues whatsoever with Jesus’ life and death being predestined by Him?

This Jesus, when delivered up according to the definite and fixed purpose and settled plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and put out of the way [killing Him] by the hands of lawless and wicked men. Acts 2:23

To carry out all that Your hand and Your will and purpose had predestined (predetermined) should occur. Acts 4:28

3 So we [Jewish Christians] also, when we were minors, were kept like slaves under [the rules of the Hebrew ritual and subject to] the elementary teachings of a system of external observations and regulations.

External observations and regulations make us slaves to the flesh and put us in bondage to it. Think of the things that we hear so often in today’s religion: wear this, don’t wear that, go to a building on a certain day, eat this during this time, pray in this position, don’t go there, give this amount of money, and all of the other religious regulations and observations that enslave us to the works of the flesh. We take a scripture and make it a rule based on our own efforts and then we call it faith. Remember what the Holy Spirit showed us in Galatians Chapter 3: that if we rely on these human efforts then we are doomed to destruction. These types of rules that attempt to bring us into right standing with our Father are elementary, they have been done away with. 

The glorious Truth for us is that if something is required of us to do, it is the responsibility of the Holy Spirit, our Strength, to cause us to do it. Works of the flesh will not save us and the lack of a work will not remove us from our salvation. They are just works. If a work is desired by our Father for us to do, then Jesus will Shepherd us in the work and His power will cause us to accomplish it. Sometimes we may be fully aware of what is happening and sometimes we may not, but the responsibility all lies with Jesus. Jesus is responsible because He is our Head, He is our Vine, and He is our Lord.