Galatians 5:1-26. Rituals are like seeds sown; as plants do, we give fruits of flesh or of Spirit.

1. Circumcision for Judaism, Baptism for Christianity, will not give Eternal life.

Same as college students graduate and enter a research project, believers graduate in knowing God and Jesus Christ from schoolmasters, which are church settings or fellowship of brethren, and join the person Jesus Christ to explore his Spirit world. "Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." Here, the yoke of bondage is by the same schoolmaster, who has just graduated us. As helpful as he was, don't get stuck with him; if we do, we will not do well in the new project, which is exploring the Spirit world of the Lord Jesus Christ. So, come out from the schoolmaster and devote your full attention to the Spirit world of Jesus Christ that is heavenly. Remember that we are graduated, left the college, and have joined a high-level Spirit world program that is in heaven. We are made free in the Spirit world to do all things that is under the Spirit of God. Don't forget that the college where we were graduated, is of ceremonial and ritual level, which is inferior to the Spirit level, and now we are out of it. And so, we should not go back to them anymore. If we do, it shows that we are in bondage or addicted to the old schoolmaster. If so, we are not free, and we cannot explore our new Spirit project. This is the general principle. Previous schoolmaster could be Judaism, denominational church, meditation, or any other method of religiosity. "2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing." Here, circumcision represents Judaism; baptism represents our church; and so on. Apostle Paul says that if we are hooked in any such thing, then Jesus Christ shall profit us nothing; that is, we are not in the Spirit world. So, our eternity is lost. "3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law." That is, if we are hooked in our church, we will be devoted to our church, but not to God. We may tell the name of God, and claim that God is with us, and so on; but God says that we cannot serve two masters. If church is our master, then Jesus Christ is not our master. "4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." So, if we became righteous by doing ceremonies and rituals of churches, we are not of God, and we have lost the grace of God, which is the power of God. But church people will always say that they have grace, which is a lie of the devil. "5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith." We have studied from the previous lessons that law of faith is obeying God. So, our righteousness come by our hope.

2.Ceremonies are void to God; Backsliding comes small, but swallow all in full.

"6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love." Circumcision or baptism represents our devotion to church membership with its laws. Jesus Christ will accept no ceremony or ritual for eternal life. He accepts only work of faith, which is obedience by our love towards him. Jesus Christ says in "John 14:15, If ye love me, keep my commandments." But we say that we love Jesus Christ, but we will not keep his commands. Such love is by flesh, emotion, attraction, and by compassion; and it is not possible to love Jesus Christ this way, since he is no more in the flesh. The only way to love God, who is in the Spirit, is by obeying his commands. "7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? 8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you." Galatians were doing well. Now, because of the persuasion of the ceremonialists, they not only went back to ceremonies, but also ceased to obey God. "9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." It did not begin in a big way, but as bits and pieces. Perhaps, we just visited them on a special day, for another function, for a musical festival, to hear a celebrity speaker, and then we settled with them. Leaven or yeast is just a little, but it will soon leaven the entire dough. So also, such an influence of backsliding will begin small, and will take us over very quickly. So, be careful not to give in at all, not even a little bit. If you give a little, it is a slippery slope, and you will be in a ditch, even before you know it.

3. We are called unto liberty, I would they were even cut off which trouble Us.

Apostle Paul is addressing the believers in Galatia, who had stepped into the life that was guided by the Spirit of God. But some sin hindered them from obeying the truth. It is not lust, immorality, criminality, or any other open sin. This enemy is more severe, fierce, deceptive, hidden, and it will kill the spirit and soul. So, the apostle sounds a loud alarm. Who is this enemy? It is the traditions and ceremonies of churches. They are of another Jesus. The true worship is obeying God in truth and in Spirit. The apostle has confidence in the believers. "10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be." That is, God will judge those who pull the believers away from the Spirit, truth, and life, to the traditions of ceremonial and ritual worship. But we think that the churches worship God, because they say that they worship God, but in truth, they worship another Jesus. They have learned to say that they worship God in truth and in the Spirit by quoting John 4:24. They just quote the verse, but it is not real in their life. "11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased." Paul says that if he joins the traditional ceremonial worship, then there will be no conflict. He just points out who the real enemy is. The enemy persecute him, and even try their best to kill him. Who were they? They were supposedly God's people. They killed Jesus, and the same people try to kill Paul also. Then watch the severity of the next verse. "12 I would they were even cut off which trouble you." We always worry about the correctness in speech of a godly man. But we failed to notice how Jesus Christ and his apostles spoke, from the word of God. The apostle says that the ceremony promoters must be cut off into piece by piece, it is with intense anger. If God the Holy Ghost uses such a very strong language, please realize that it is very severe. It is not a simple matter to God; they draw innocent souls to hell by simple deception, which could have gone to heaven.

4. Obey God's commands, which is easy to do in Spirit, rather than fight in Flesh.

"13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another." So, we are free, and Jesus Christ has called us unto liberty. Most preachers teach this as we are free to commit any sin and walk straight into heaven, because Jesus died for our sins, and God will not count our sins. Christians seem to believe this. But, in their heart and conscience they know that it is not true. Yet they take it as true, since it is convenient to them to enjoy life. But only those who are in the Spirit realm is at liberty and they are free to live within the Spiritual jurisdiction that is provided to them. So, do not use this liberty to do any kind of ungodliness or sins. "Jude 1:4 ... ungodly men, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness,..." Here some people used the word grace to do lustful sins, thinking that it will take them to heaven. Grace of God is the power of God given to people to overcome flesh and sins, to grow in the Spirit. People think that it is a vehicle to carry people to heaven. The Holy Ghost is warning such people. God tells us to love one another, by obeying the commands of God. "14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another." God tells us not to fight each other, but to love them. The children of God are our neighbor, and we must love them. "1 John 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." Please remember this; in the bible and for God, our neighbors are not those who live in our next door, and our brethren are not those who are our parents children, but they are those who are the children of God and Jesus Christ. It is not hard to love them, if we love God Jesus Christ. But most preachers say that it is impossible to obey God, and so, they teach just to claim grace and go to heaven that is free. But even if they quote a million times that they are saved by grace, they will still burn in hell, if they do not obey God. "16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would." Spirit is opposite to flesh. Ask God and receive his Spirit. It is known as born of the Spirit and the Spirit will guide us. This Spirit is the holy Spirit, and if we follow this Spirit, we will not and we cannot do the things of the flesh. Then we will be in perfect obedience to God, and it is Spiritual. "18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law." Here, the law is to observe ceremonies and to do rituals. But we are under Spirit, and we will live the holy life.

5. Work of the Flesh, the Fruit of the Spirit, and False fruits that is vain glory.

"19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Here, the Holy Ghost speaks about the flesh life, but not the ceremonies. Ceremonies were given by God, but people will not do the life behind the ceremonies; and so, it becomes sin. But the sins in the flesh life is just against God, and it is enmity with God. Those who do these things will not inherit the kingdom of God. It says openly; we know it; and there is no possibility for deception, unless we want to be deceived and deceive ourselves. "22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." However, as Satan makes counterfeit gifts of the Holy Ghost, he also makes counterfeit fruits of the Spirit, and deceives many people. So, we must be very careful about the fruit of the Spirit also, since there are counterfeits. "24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." So, the true people of God would "through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body," as in Romans 8:13 and here it says that they would have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. "25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." God challenges them that have counterfeit fruits, to walk in the Spirit, but not just to use clichés. "26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another." Those who have the counterfeit gifts and fruits, walk in vain glory provoking one another. So, God wants us to watch for them and to reject them for what they are. And let us walk in the Holy Spirit of God with godliness.

6. Laws of ceremonies and rituals are more dangerous than open sins as adultery.

In this chapter we have studied two enemies, which prevent us from inheriting the kingdom of God in heaven. One enemy is open sins. We know that if we commit sin, we will not inherit the kingdom of God. Examples of these are in this chapter verses 19 to 21. Another enemy is hidden, and he promises that he will give us the kingdom of God. He is another Jesus, the devil; but he is in disguise, showing himself that he is God. If we believe him, we are deceived, and we will be destroyed with him. Mostly he is hidden in the broad day light, and it is primarily in our participation in the functions and celebrations of our church rituals. We think that we are all godly and we will go to heaven because we are doing the religious things very piously. But just the opposite is true. The Holy Ghost, through the mouth of apostle Paul, curses the sneaky deceivers more ferociously to cut them into pieces, which is very severe punishment in the flesh. He says in "verse12, I would they were even cut off which trouble you." What is this sin? It is deception. We are made to believe that we worship God, while we are not worshipping God at all. Now, it is not the time to study this in detail. However, let me give a few points for your thought. We must worship God in spirit and in truth. We must love God and love our neighbor. Love God is to obey God. Let us see how we are doing. Take a worship service. First, song service, beautiful music, good voices, good to hear, instruments played, etc. We sing, oh! how we love Jesus! But we do not obey him at all. It is just for performance, but not for life, and so, it is a total lie. Where is spirit, truth, and love in this. But we enjoy song service. Will it reach heaven? did God ask for our music performance? No. But we consider this as worshipping God. Then, prayer meetings; and all-night prayer. What is prayer? Asking things from God. What do we ask? So many things, pray for our country, pray for Russia, pray for Ukraine, pray for salvation, pray for health and job, and what these things mean? Are we giving assignments to God? It is a long list of things for him to do. Is this our worship? Where are such things as obey God with love, in spirit and in truth? Doing our own thing, which make no sense, and think that these are our worship and our acts of righteousness. One more thing; we ask these things to God; but if God is not there, then, to whom do we ask? God says in many places that his presence will not be in the church buildings. One more thing, paying tithe and offering. Did Jesus Christ receive tithe and offerings? Did apostles receive them? Did the churches in the bible receive them? No. Then, how did tithe an offerings became a vital part of the worship of God? Further, I can understand that who receive tithe and offerings are so happy. Why are you that gave your money away are so happy? Will these be accounted in heaven? Some exploiter crooks ask you to give your money to him and you gave it. Is it worshipping God? If you think it is, how foolish you are. God has nothing to do with it. It is counterfeit worship to another Jesus. Finally, ceremonies and rituals will not take us to heaven. So, leave the schoolmaster and get into the Spirit World of the Lord Jesus Christ.