Galatians Day 4
FREEDOM
Galatians Chapter 5
FREEDOM: liberation from slavery or restraint or from the power of another: INDEPENDENCE (Merriam-Webster)
I love the saying “Freedom isn’t free!” To obtain freedom, something or someone has to give up something. Addictions plague many people, robbing them of freedom: alcohol, pornography, cigarettes, covetousness, greed, wealth. These are just a few areas of our life that will keep you from experiencing freedom. Where are you at? What is keeping you from freedom?
Christ has set us free. In Chapter 5 of Galatians, Paul goes into much detail about how to be free. The Galatians were struggling with obeying the law, specifically, circumcision. They thought they needed to continue to follow the law in order to follow Jesus. NOT TRUE!
Paul quickly puts that error to rest. He writes, “For freedom Christ has set us free, stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1). To those foolishly accepting the need to follow the law of circumcision, he says, “if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you.” He adds in Verse 6: “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.” Christ alone!
Paul continues in Verse 13: “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” Jesus served!
He essentially tells the Corinthians, who were experiencing similar issues, “All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful, but not all things build up” (1 Corinthians 10:23). If you’re not sure how to act, Paul writes, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). That speaks of freedom.
Paul speaks of the freedom he has: “For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them” (1 Corinthians 9:19). Are you free?
As Christians, we have freedom to live our lives, not by worldly standards, but by the Word of God. We are to, as Paul states, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).
With our freedom, we are to be examples of Christ, to serve others as Jesus taught us. Admittedly, it is almost impossible without the power of Christ. The good news is that, because Jesus died on the cross, He freed us from the sin that binds us. “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). In Jesus, we have freedom!
Jesus came so that we would be free from the power of FEAR, REGRET, DISCOURAGEMENT, DENIAL, and DESIRE FOR CONTROL (from Come Let Us Adore Him, by Paul David Tripp).
Are you ready to give your bondages over to the One who can set you free? May 2021 be the year of freedom!
Grace and peace, Tom Dye
Happy New Year!