This episode adds more context to Galatians 5:4, a verse that COULD be interpreted as losing one's salvation. Building on the previous episode, in which Paul categorically rejects all forms of legalism as the basis of justification, Paul also rejects legalism as the basis of sanctification. The central issue of the book of Galatians is subsequent appeal to the Law for righteousness AFTER one is saved. Paul contends that Galatian believers were saved by faith in Christ, they began "by the Spirit." (Galatians 3:3) So the larger context of sanctification must be the lens by which we evaluate the troublesome verse of Galatians 5:4.
By the Works of the Law no Flesh will be Justified
This episode defines legalism in the context of the Galatian heresy. Legalism posits that one is justified or made righteous by keeping either the moral or ceremonial law. While all New Testament authors held that Christians should keep the moral law, they emphatically rejected that obedience to the moral law was the basis of salvation. As James would put it, "I will show you my faith by my works." (James 2:18) Concerning the ceremonial law, the Council of Jerusalem, held just prior to the writing of Galatians, maintained that Gentile converts were not bound to keep the Jewish ceremonial law. Circumcision was the primary issue among Christian legalists who insisted that Gentile converts keep the ceremonial law in order to be saved. Paul rejected legalism of all forms, maintaining that keeping the moral and ceremonial law could never be the grounds of justification, "by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified." (Gal. 2:16)
Repent of everything, especially the old self
This episode highlights the necessity of repenting from dead works in its fullest sense: we repent of transgressions AND we abandon hope in the flesh itself, specifically its ability to live the Christian life. If we don't embrace this holistic approach to repentance, we likely fall into the Galatian error, which is living the Christian life in the power of the flesh. Based on this all-encompassing repentance, we make progress in sanctification by identifying with the circumcision of Christ (the cutting away of the flesh) and the death of the old self on the cross, based on Romans 6:7. Holistic repentance from dead works makes sanctification possible.