The Offensive Cross – Galatians 5:1-15

Paul's closing exhortation to the Ephesian church is remarkably similar to his admonitions in Galatians 5. In both cases the apostle pleads with the church to stand firm. The Ephesians are addressed again, this time by Christ directly in Revelation 2. Christ commands the church to repent and return to their love for the Lord and His gospel that first inspired them. From these parallel passages, we deduce a warning – Established churches can be easily subverted and corrupted if they do not diligently contend for the gospel in its purity and clarity. In the case of the Ephesians, Paul encouraged them to stand against “the schemes of the devil”. He indicated that their most formidable enemies were not the obvious powers we experience in flesh and blood, but instead they were rulers, authorities, cosmic powers, spiritual forces of evil, etc.. In Galatia these forces found a 'Trojan horse' in adding to the work of Christ the work of man in ceremonial law keeping, insisting on the necessity of circumcision for salvation. This is exactly the kind of enemy which the armor of God is designed to conquer. In our passage today, we are instructed in the ways of spiritual conflict modeled by the apostle Paul. The Galatian heresy of legalism is no match for truth – righteousness – the gospel of peace – faith – salvation – and the Word of God.