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Answer
In Galatians 5, Paul challenges his readers to focus on walking in the Spirit rather than walking according to their flesh. Early in the chapter, he asserts that faith working through love is the only thing that has any value. He states, “For in Jesus Christ, neither circumcision avails anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love” (Galatians 5:6). To avail means to benefit or help.
Galatians 5:6 states, “For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love” (NKJV). Here, Paul specifically responds to a false teaching that was gaining prominence in the Galatian region. This teaching required the infusion of the Law of Moses into the Christian walk. It was so appealing to some in that culture that even Peter and Barnabas were temporarily swayed by it (Galatians 2:11-13). In Galatians 5, Paul explains that believers in Christ are free and not under the Law of Moses. He says, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1)—that law was fulfilled when Christ died, as its purpose was to show people’s need for a savior and lead them to Christ (Galatians 3:24-26).
Paul goes on to explain that if a person puts themselves under the law, they would be rejecting Christ as the means of salvation and instead relying on their own ability to keep the whole law (Galatians 5:2-4).Frequently, he would be cutting himself off from the grace that is found in Christ and instead choosing to walk in legal obligation. Paul’s illustration is hypothetical to demonstrate the absurdity of trying to choose justification by works rather than justification by grace. The absurdity lies in the fact that believers are already in Christ by faith, have the Spirit of God, and are anticipating one day seeing the hope of righteousness fulfilled in our lives «For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. », (Galatians 5:5). This anticipation is by faith and not by works, so it would be nonsensical for a believer to abandon the anticipation that is through faith and begin to rely on one’s own flesh.
No one is justified by works, nor is works the basis of a believer’s sanctification. Paul adds that whether or not one is circumcised (referring to the heritage and requirement of the Mosaic Law) is of no consequence because circumcision (again, placing oneself under the law) avails nothing; that is, circumcision has no power to help a person grow spiritually. Rather, faith working through love is the only thing that avails anything—“the only thing that counts” «For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. », (Galatians 5:6).
The believer does not grow to Christlikeness by keeping the Law of Moses—that law had a purpose (to serve as a tutor to lead people to Christ) and was never intended to cause people to grow in Christ. Instead, believers should be walking by the Spirit of God (according to His Word) and allowing Him to bear fruit in their lives (Galatians 5:22-23). If a believer is walking in Christ, according to the Spirit of God.d, then God is bearing fruit in that person, and that individual will not walk according to the deeds or works of the flesh « This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. », (Galatians 5:16).
We who have been given new life by faith through the Spirit of God should walk in the Spirit «If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. », (Galatians 5:25). Faith working through love—through God’s love for us «I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. », (Galatians 2:20)—avails much. Because of His love, and because of the Spirit of God producing love in us, we can serve one another in love «For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. », (Galatians 5:13). Believers have no capacity to accomplish this kind of love in their own flesh. So, by stating that faith working through love is the only thing that avails anything «For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. », (Galatians 5:6), Paul is explaining that the same power that brought justification to believers is the power that is at work in us to help us grow in Christ and become more like Him.
