FREEDOM OR SLAVERY
Galatians 5
“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 draws a line in the sand. This is about the fundamental character of the Gospel. This issue will affect everything about our Christian life. Do we follow Christ or do we live under law? This is not about whether Christ and Law want the same things (and so it does not matter). Paul insists that if we live by Law then Christ has no value. They are two fundamentally different systems; the one binds you while the other frees you.
If we live under the system of Law, then our concern is to fulfil the obligations of Law and once that is satisfied we have done our part. If we follow Christ then our concern is to maintain a good relationship with him and seek to please him. Under Law we are forced by fear and penalty; under Christ we are motivated by love and gratitude, and forgiveness.
Paul is confident that those who are saved by the Gospel of Christ will understand and take no other view even though we may be deceived by false teachers. This is not merely about Judaism and Christianity; this is about the fundamental way our Christian life operates: rules and regulations or Christ; slaves to Law or free in Christ.
What do you think? Is there not much difference and in the end it is still down to obeying commands and avoiding sin, or freedom is dangerous because there will be no motivation to obey and people will take advantage to do the bad things they want to do and live the sinful life they want to live, or I must protect this wonderful gift that Christ has given, this freedom from guilt and fear, and freedom to follow and please my master and king and freedom to hope because I have the Holy Spirit?
“For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”