Overview of Galatians 5

Says Galatians 5 opens “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free”, and the readers are told to “Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery”. Paul warns that “if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all”, and that those “trying to be justified by the law have been severed from Christ” and “have fallen away from grace”. He turns to those who have obstructed them, to the offense of the cross, and to freedom used to “serve one another in love”, because “The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”” They are to “walk by the Spirit”; the works of the flesh are set against the fruit of the Spirit; “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires”. The chapter follows the close of chapter 4, already treated in Children of the free woman (4:28–31) and From slaves to sons and heirs (4:1–7).

Implies Christ has set believers free. They are to stand firm and not take up a yoke of slavery again. Love fulfills the law. The Spirit leads and bears fruit.