51 In the freedom, then, with which Christ did make you free—stand ye, and be not held fast again by a yoke of servitude; 2 lo, I Paul do say to you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing; 3 and I testify again to every man circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law; 4 ye were freed from the Christ, ye who in law are declared righteous; from the grace ye fell away; 5 for we by the Spirit, by faith, a hope of righteousness do wait for, 6 for in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith through love working.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Galatians 5:1-6
Commentary on Galatians 5:1-6
(Read Galatians 5:1-6)
Christ will not be the Saviour of any who will not own and rely upon him as their only Saviour. Let us take heed to the warnings and persuasions of the apostle to stedfastness in the doctrine and liberty of the gospel. All true Christians, being taught by the Holy Spirit, wait for eternal life, the reward of righteousness, and the object of their hope, as the gift of God by faith in Christ; and not for the sake of their own works. The Jewish convert might observe the ceremonies or assert his liberty, the Gentile might disregard them or might attend to them, provided he did not depend upon them. No outward privileges or profession will avail to acceptance with God, without sincere faith in our Lord Jesus. True faith is a working grace; it works by love to God, and to our brethren. May we be of the number of those who, through the Spirit, wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. The danger of old was not in things of no consequence in themselves, as many forms and observances now are. But without faith working by love, all else is worthless, and compared with it other things are of small value.