Paul opens Galatians 5 with an incredibly obvious but difficult statement–“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free!” At first glance, one might reply “Thanks for that captain obvious.” But in truth, as a race, people can not help but try to structure and try to control their lives. It is simply easier to build checklists and rules and objectives to make their way, rather than to simply follow God. Paul was so frustrated that the Judaizers were corrupting these people who were saved by grace and free from Jewish law. In effect, they were prescribing a cure to people that were simply not sick. Paul was trying to help the Galatian people to relax and simply live the new and free life God had given them. He did not want them to be burdened with unneeded rules or customs that God simply did not require.
In our day and in our lives, the message still applies. Christ freed us to be free. We are not saved to become burdened with a host of religious rules and practices. We are set free to follow the Lord and allow Him to transform us into his image. Paul said it best in Romans 12, “Do not be conformed any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind!” We have to live and think like free people. We are neither slaves to sin, nor are we slaves to religion. We are free people and heirs to Christ’s kingdom. Nothing else matters. Walk free today!
God Bless You
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.
2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? 8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9 “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” 10 I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty.11 Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. 12 As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!
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