Walking In Christ’s Freedom, Galatians 5:1-15

The words of Galatians 5:1 are very powerful.  “It is for freedom that Christ has set you free.”   Paul is continuing to challenge the Galatian believers to walk in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and not  under the law that the Judiziars are pressuring them to walk in.  Christ has come to set you free so that you can be, will be free.  Jesus Himself says in John 8:36 “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.  Paul relates three very important factors, three challenges to the Galatians about this freedom in these 15 verses.

Paul calls on them to remain free.  Stand firm don’t let anyone take that Freedom from you.  Do not let yourself be burdened again by the yoke of slavery.  Paul makes this strong statement.  Mark my words, “If you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.”  The only thing that counts according to Paul is faith in Jesus Christ.

The second part of Paul’s challenge is for the Galatians to be free enough to let their faith express itself in love.  Paul is telling them to use their freedom to serve one another in love.   He is applying the JOY principle here.  Jesus first, others second, then yourself.  Paul said the entire law is summoned up in this one command, to love your neighbor as yourself.  They weren’t getting it.  They were still biting and devouring each other.  Paul says that you are going to end up destroying each other.  There were those who were not free enough to love each other.   There were those who were not free enough to serve each other.  There were those who were just free enough to be critical of others.   They were free enough to be judgmental of those not quite like them.   I don’t want that limited amount of freedom.  I want to be free enough in Christ to love and serve each other.

The third part of Paul’s challenge is not to be too free that we indulge the sinful nature.  Paul says in the first part of verse 13 “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature,”   Paul lists some acts of sinful nature in verses 19-21  19. “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20. idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21. and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”   We are free in Christ Jesus to walk in righteousness. 

Let’s include in our new year’s resolutions, new years goals, to walk in the freedom that is ours in Christ Jesus. Determining that we will remain free, Be free enough to love and serve each other,  loving our neighbor as our self, but not being too free to indulge the sinful nature.