The idea of remaining tied to the Jewish laws and traditions parallels that of a bondslave. The unique position of a bondslave was that when a slave was given their freedom, they could choose to remain a servant to the household by choice. When that choice was made, the owner would mark the bondservant with a special earring, but then the servant was tied to them for life.
Paul reminds the Galatians that they are children of freedom, not slavery. As children of freedom, they do not have to do anything to become free. They could, however, choose to be enslaved like a bondservant. It is much the same with any other addictive sin. Ironically, you are free to make the choice to become a slave to sin. We are human “beings”, not human “doings”. We are saved by grace and not by any work or achievement we can personally attain.
Paul is urging the Galatians to simply trust the Lord and follow Him. They must not leave the freedom of trusting and submitting to God for a life as a bondslave to traditions and rules that have no impact on our eternal life and standing with God.
That message is still ringing today. So many Christians are trading their freedom in Christ for a list of tasks and objectives to complete. We want to achieve a level of faith. The irony is that faith is trusting God to do His work in our lives. We are called to follow and trust; He then does the transforming through the power of His Spirit.
It is difficult to live in complete freedom because we constantly like to seize control. We willingly submit to a to-do list rather than to God. Once we fall into that trap, we can never do or achieve enough to meet the standard. We must relinquish our personal control and lay it on the alter before the Lord and allow Him to take control of our lives.
God Bless You
21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman. 23 But the son by the bondwoman [r]was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise. 24 [s]This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children [t]who are to be slaves; [u]she is Hagar. 25 Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free; [v]she is our mother. 27 For it is written,
“Rejoice, barren woman who does not bear;
Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor;
For more numerous are the children of the desolate
Than of the one who has a husband.”
28 And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. 30 But what does the Scripture say?
“Cast out the bondwoman and her son,
For the son of the bondwoman shall not be an heir with the son of the free woman.”
31 So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, [w]but of the free woman.
Walking With God 