Galatians 5

There is a fork in the road of faith. Which path will you choose? Freedom in Christ, or Slavery to the sinful nature?  If you did not get a chance to catch up on the history behind Paul’s rant, please check out the links in my Galatians 4post. Paul continues to draw a line in the sand between freedom and slavery in Galatians 5.

v. 1 “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Paul continues to question the Galatian believers about their choice to be burdened by following every letter of the Jewish law (v. 3), because Paul had plainly taught them that Christ had already fulfilled the ultimate sacrifice of the law in order to set them free.  My husband had a Jewish friend who told him, “As Jews we rarely encourage you as Gentiles to convert to Judaism. Then you would be responsible for keeping the WHOLE law.” I want to join the Apostle Paul in urging my friends to find peace and wholeness and liberty in the Cross of Jesus Christ. What is keeping you in bondage? Will you confess it here so I can join you in prayer, asking God to lift this burden for you? Oh, wait; there will be more on this topic in Galatians 6. I love how the Word of God fits together like a puzzle!

v. 13 “You my brothers were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather serve one another in love.” The purpose of our freedom is not so we can twist off and do whatever gratifies our perverted cravings. The mysterious paradox of living the Christian life is that faith in God’s redemptive plan sets us free to serve others. Jesus portrayed this to his disciples during the last supper as he knelt before them to wash their feet. This was not false humility. Jesus was able to serve sinners unconditionally because he was completely secure in his relationship to the Father.  Oh that you and I would indulge in the freedom to serve others! Jesus was living on the timeline as the perfect Son of God. He had no need to repeat a cycle of sin. When you and I recognize our security in Christ, we will no longer desire to repeat the sin cycle either.

v. 16, 25 “Live by the Spirit.” “Keep in step with the Spirit.” The contrast between a Life of Sin and Life by the Spirit is clear. My Life in Christ must be obviously different than my old life of bondage. When you come to faith in Jesus, your friends and family should be shocked and perhaps offended by your life change. Your old habits should make you squirm with conviction, not because you are condemned, but because your Spirit life changes you to be like Christ. Paul gives a vivid picture of old life vs. new life in vs. 16-26.

I can tell you which life will bring you the peace you so desperately seek. Live in the Spirit, girlfriend! Keep in step with Spirit!