Galatians 5:1 “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.”
Are you free? We’re fortunate and blessed to live in a “free” nation! We should never forget the price that others paid for the freedoms we enjoy. It’s tragic that so many today live in a “free” nation and yet, are not free. They are bound by hurts, habits, and hang-ups that enslave them. Others are bound by legalism, trying to earn God’s favour through their achievements.
The above verse was written to a people who didn’t have the privilege of living in such a free nation as ours. Many to whom this letter was written were slaves at worst and politically oppressed at best. They were hoping for a Messiah to come that would be a military king and liberate them from Roman oppression restoring the glory days when King David ruled Israel. Despite the political constraints, the Bible says we have freedom NOW! That’s the Good News of the Gospel! Christ made us free!
John 8:36 “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!”
The shackles of the past have been broken! You are free in Christ! How is that possible? He set you free by breaking the power of sin that enslaved you and condemned you! The power of the cross sets the captives free! For the Christian, the cross is our Statue of Liberty! It was there that our souls were set free! But sadly, we can willingly come under bondage again which is why Paul warned to Galatians to remain living in their freedom.
The claws of religion are never far away! Having been set free by grace through faith, somehow, we begin to act as if we have to maintain that freedom through our human effort. Soon, we fall from grace and begin trying to earn God’s favour through our personal performance. It’s not that grace has failed. We have!
Galatians 3:3 “Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?”
If you find yourself slipping back into that works-based religion, shake off the shackles and stand strong in the freedom by which Christ has made you free! Celebrate it! It’s yours by the blood of Jesus Christ!
I would really encourage you to read the whole book of Galatians this week. It’s the Magna Carta of Christian freedom and we can never be reminded too many times of the freedom that Christ died to secure for us. Let’s celebrate it!