GOD’S WORDS OF LIBERTY

“Stand fast therefore in the LIBERTY by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” – Galatians 5:1

Our establishment in Faith and standing in Christ are functions of the revelation of GOD’S WORDS of LIBERTY: ““Stand fast therefore in the LIBERTY by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” (Gal.5:1). We’re born into Liberty! The Galatians had been called in the grace of God: “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel” (Gal.1:6). But certain threats arose against this Grace, so much so that Paul admonished them to stand fast (v.1); and to never forget that we as “brethren, have been called to liberty” (v.13). Before we trusted in the Lord we were slaves in bondage to sin, but the Son of God “gave Himself for our sins that He might deliver us” (Gal.1:4). He redeemed, rescued, and liberated us to worship, love, and serve Him!

The Call to Steadfastness is the basic theme of this Pauline letter (vv.1-6) – to be steadfast in our freedom. The “yoke of bondage” referred to here is the Law – the legalistic lifestyle that profits nothing (v.2). “For the law made nothing perfect” (Heb.7:19a). The lot of legalists are: entanglement in the yoke of bondage (v.1); profitless spirituality (v.2); obligation to keep the whole law (v.3); estrangement from Christ, and fall from grace (v.4). Paul was not against circumcision, but against the idea of being circumcised to establish self-righteousness before God; seeking to be justified by works: “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love” (v.6). So, though Paul did not approve of the circumcision of Titus, he circumcised Timothy (Gal.2:3-6; Acts 16:1-3).

The Call to Liberty is followed by the Call to Love (vv.7-15). On the highway of Christian liberty there is a ditch on both sides of the road. On the one side is Legalism; on the other side is Licentiousness. The legalists preached that the Galatians had to abide by certain binding rules. The libertines taught that they didn't have to do anything or were free to do whatever they wanted, including living after the flesh. Paul then asserted that our Liberty in Christ is not a license to sin. Rather, it is the platform for the service of love: “through love serve one another” (v.13). Love fulfils the Law: “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (v.14). We’re liberated into a Lifestyle of Love!

Believers are not only called to LIBERTY, but to LOVE, and then, to walk in the Spirit (vv.16-26). Our Liberty is not tantamount to living lawless lives. We are called to both the “Royal Law” of Love and “the perfect law of liberty” (Jam.1:25; 2: 8,12). Just like the Emancipation Proclamation outlawed slavery, the believer is no longer subject to the slavery of sin and the law. We can now walk in the Law of the Spirit of Life: “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death” (Rom.8:2). The law of sin and death is the law of Moses – the Ten Commandments in particular – the “letter that kills” (2Cor.3:6). The law of the Spirit makes us free from the law of sin and death! 

The Holy Spirit of life is a liberating Spirit: “Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is LIBERTY” (2 Cor.3:17).  Walking in the Spirit liberates us from the lust of the flesh and the law (v.16,18). The Holy Spirit us to live victorious Christian lives (v.25). Yes, there is a battle between the sinful human nature and the recreated spirit: “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish” (v.17). But, it is a “good fight of faith” (1Tim.6:12). The Victory is already concluded in our favour!