There is no turning back

Paul formulated an evolutionary view on salvation. At first, men were justified before God through leading a life according to the Torah, the Law. This was valid until the arrival of Jesus. In the jargon of Paul, the Torah was the guardian and trustee of men before they were mature enough to inherit God's kingdom. Now that Christ Jesus had come, there would be no turning back. Now that men have climbed one rung up the evolutionary ladder of salvation, they cannot return to their former life anymore.
Saul had been brought up under the Torah. He had been a fervent Pharisee. When Christians were preaching another god, how could Saul could tolerate these heretics? He started his extermination mission against these heretics. Then he had a life-transforming encounter with the Risen Jesus on the road to Damascus. His previous training had not prepared him for such an encounter. Through the observance of the Torah, he had never been able to experience God. Though the Torah was handed down from heaven, it was not effective in bringing them any closer to God. Yet, the Lord of these heretics was so authentic, so real! Saul knew that there would be no turning back, once he encountered this Christ Jesus.
There were trouble-makers in the Galatian church, the Judaizers. They were so used to observing the Torah that the freedom offered by Christianity was too unsettling for them. Therefore, they persuaded others to regress, to observe the Torah like them. In so doing, they were undoing what Paul had achieved. They had laid down traps and snares for the Galatian Christians. Of course, Paul was furious. That was why he cursed them.
But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we preached to you, let him be accursed.
As we have said before, so now I say again, If any one is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed (Galatians 1:8-9).
I wish those who unsettle you would mutilate themselves! (Galatians 5:12)
If the Galatians followed these Judaisers, they sought justification by the Law, not by grace.
You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace (Galatians 5:4).
What are the characteristics of Christianity?
For through the Spirit, by faith, we wait for the hope of righteousness (Galatians 5:5).
Christianity is protected, guaranteed by the Holy Spirit. Christians are empowered by the Holy Spirit to lead a righteous life acceptable to God.
By putting their faith in God, Christians enable God to work wonders. That was the whole point of the contrast between the son born of Hagar and the son born of Sarah in chapter 4. Hagar was a fertile maid. Giving birth to Ishmael was a natural event. Sarah was a ninety-year-old woman. Giving birth to Isaac involved God's intervention, involved our putting faith in God's promise. Our faith enables God.
Paul made his position very clear.
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is of any avail, but faith working through love (Galatians 5:6).
For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love be servants of one another (Galatians 5:13).
Freedom is not easy to handle. People can easily abuse it. That was why Paul gave the Galatians the above warning. It is interesting to note that Paul advised Christians to make use of their freedom to become slaves to serve each other. For Paul, freely giving yourself up to serve other out of love is true freedom. How paradoxical!
Before leaving Paul, let's check again his Old Testament Greek. Unlike the other epistles, the author of the Galatians did not translate even the Torah. He lifted the entire piece of text from Septuagint without any significant modifications.
ἀγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν. (Galatians 5:14b)
καὶ ἀγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν. (Leviticus 19:18)

My dear Advocate, we tend to become inert, conservative and complacent. We do not welcome changes. It is too risky. Enlighten us to know Your way. Warm up our hearts to love You more. Amen.