CIRCUMCISION OF THE LAW
Galatians 5.1-6
Paul again returns to the issues of circumcision and declared that anyone who is circumcised, now is under obligations of the Rituals of the Law, and above all, physical circumcision does not make a person justified by the Law, because a person under obligation to keep all Statutes Law.
It is similar to a servant whose obligation to perform a certain duty, there is no special praises or honors for him, because it is his duty. Paul declared that no justification by the Law for those who perform Rituals of Moses under the Christ, but only for the people before Christ, they are justified by obeying the Law, because Christ introduced Spiritual circumcision, and physical circumcision became obsolete.
Christ brought Spiritual Commandments of the Law up to front as essentials for justification, and circumcision under Christ became Spiritual Circumcision and not Physical, and so, Physical circumcision lost its justification and passes it to a Spiritual Circumcision by Holy Spirit and Fire by which Christ was Baptized second time on the cross, and will Baptize by it all His followers, as He Himself predicted and prophesied.
Paul also concluded that the physical circumcision and no circumcision under the Christ means now nothing, but everything in the Law became Spiritual and replaced by Faith, Hope, and Righteousness (5). Faith and Hope and Righteousness are pure Spiritual qualities, they are beginning of the Spiritual worship and service of GOD for all who truly follow Him. Whoever has true Faith in Christ, his/her Faith working through Love, which is the highest level of Spiritual worship and serves of GOD a human can achieved, and so such people will be Spiritually circumcised, not Physically, and will join their GOD in Spirit and not in physical flesh. (6.13).
This is why Paul praises these Spiritual Qualities of Faith, Hope, and Love so high in 1Corinthians 13.13.
RUNNING THE RACE
Galatians 5.7
7. "You were running well, who hindered you from obeying the truth?"
This is very interesting expression of Paul than he compared missionary work to a sport of running and boxing. The point is that it is a race in our short life. We have many missionaries in this world but not everyone among them is a good missionary. Actually, everybody who is truly believe in Christ and follow His Spiritual Commandments can be a missionary and spread Gospel everywhere he or she goes.
But the most important thing is to be the first to come to finish line in your missionary work as it is important to any athlete who participating in sport's competition. Life is very short just like the race itself and limited by time, and so, the athlete (missionary) has to give everything he of she got in order to finish their race in time and be the first to receive his/her reward. For ordinary athlete it will be a medal, but for Spiritual athlete - the missionary, it will be the Eternal Life and high position in Heaven among the angels of GOD.
~ 7. *Run the race: (1Corinthians 9.24-27) (Galatians 2.2).
LOVE FULFILLS THE LAW
Galatians 5.13-14This words of Paul never stop amazes people, particularly the first part of the statement, "The whole Law is fulfilled in one Word...you shall love..." (14). (Romans 13.8) (Galatians 5.14.22-23).
As indicated in (1Corinthians 13.13), Love is the highest above all Spiritual Qualities and Love also a combination and storage of all Spiritual Qualities what only exist, and so, one who possess true Love for GOD is fulfill the entire Law! It actually make perfect sense. GOD is Love and He loves to save people, and He gave the Law because of many transgressions of humankind (Galatians 3.19), in order to guide them to Him - to Love, to bless them, and to save them.
So, whoever has Love for GOD and His Law, obeys the Law out of Love for GOD and for His Word, and not because the Law was written and given to confine, restrict, and lock up humans into obedience and domination of the Law by force. Those who Love does not need the Law to guide them, because whoever loves GOD and His Word, the Love of GOD already have the Law written in the hearts of those who love GOD, it is written in their spirit, and they obeying and fulfilling the Law without its written copy, but in Love, in joy, and in great appreciation to GOD. In other words, in Faith, in Hope, and in Love.
~ 13-14. Love your neighbor, alien, stranger, and love one another: (Leviticus 19.18.34) (Deuteronomy 10.19) (Proverbs 25.21-22) (Matthew 5.43-44, 19.19, 22.39) (Mark 12.31.33) (Luke 10.27-28) (John 13.34, 15.12-13) (Romans 13.9-10) (Galatians 5.14) (James 2.8) (1John 3.10-11, 4.7-8.11.21) (2John 1.5).
In the following statements Paul talking about Spirit and flesh, the Works, and the results of the Spirit and flesh giving the examples of these things. But in all Paul's writing the result and the Fruit of the Spirit is Love (22), because Spirit cannot produce anything else except Love, it is its context and substance and nothing else can come out of it. (22-23).
And Paul ends his Epistle with final words of true wisdom, "Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passion and desires."
In the passages below the Love of GOD is summarized in different things.
Matthew 5.45
45. "in order that you may be sons of your Father Who is in Heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."
Luke 6.35-36
35. "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.
36. Be merciful just as your Father is merciful."