"Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. 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. And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. I would they were even cut off which trouble you. For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 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. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law."
In today's lesson Paul again attempts to persuade the Galatians to avoid those among them who would would distort the gospel and lead them back toward the restrictions of the Law. He advised them that a "little leaven leaveneth the whole lump", which means that once a small concession is given from the purity of the gospel, very quickly the whole will be rendered meaningless.
Later in today's quote, Paul warned that even though Christian people, by the grace of God, are free to do as they will and are no longer bound by any part of the Law, they, above all others, should conduct themselves in a manner befitting their stature as the children of God.
In the last part of the quote, Paul reminded us that if we always obey the two "great" commandments, specifically the second, we would will have fulfilled the Law in its entirety even though we are not required to do so.
If we are truly led by the Spirit of God, we will conduct ourselves in a manner reflective of His Spirit.~
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