A final appeal to walk in the liberty of Jesus.

In light of what he has stated thus far, Paul now challenges the Galatians to walk in the truth he has set forth.

God pleads with us to take His strength and walk in that freedom, and to not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

Significantly, it is Christ who has made us free.

Paul also made it emphatic: the liberty

Stand fast means that it takes effort to stay in this place of liberty

Yoke of bondage: This phrase reminds us of what Peter said in Acts 15:10 about those who would bring the Gentiles under the law:

Certain Jewish teachers of that day spoke of the Law of Moses as a yoke, but they used the term in a favorable light.

Paul saw a legal relationship as a yoke, but as a yoke of bondage. It is related to slavery, not liberty.

It certainly was bondage. Jewish teachers counted up 613 commandments to keep in the Law of Moses.

When we embrace the law as our rule of walking with God, we must let go of Jesus.

The legalists among the Galatians wanted them to think that they could have both Jesus and a law-relationship with God

How tragic! Jesus, dying on the cross, pouring out His blood, His life, His soul, His agony, His love for us — and it will profit you nothing!

This point was so important to Paul that he mustered all the strength he could in a personal appeal: he began with Indeed I, Paul.

When we embrace the law as our rule of walking with God, we must embrace the whole law

If we come to God on the basis of our own law keeping we must keep the whole law and our law-keeping must be perfect.

No amount of obedience makes up for one act of disobedience; if you are pulled over for speeding, it will do no good to protest that you are a faithful husband, a good taxpayer, and have obeyed the speed limit many times.

Those walking in the Spirit wait for righteousness by faith; they are not trying to earn it by performing good works.

Those walking in the Spirit know that being circumcised or uncircumcised means nothing.

Each aspect of this verse is precious. It sets us in a place: in Christ Jesus.

In that place, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything — neither one matters at all.

This verse also tells us what does matter in this place:

Faith must work through love. Herod had faith that John the Baptist was a true prophet, but there was no faith working through love, and he had John the Baptist murdered.

Real faith, saving faith, will work through love.