Yesterday, the United States celebrated Juneteenth. It commemorated the freedom of enslaved people in our country. Many have immigrated to the United States for the reasons stated by Franklin Roosevelt, “Everyone has a right to freedom of speech and expression, freedom to worship God in their own way, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.” (from Four Freedoms Speech, January 6, 1941)
While worldly freedom is sought after, for those who believe Jesus Christ, there is another freedom that trumps what the world offers. You could say there are two types of freedom that every believer faces, and Paul addresses the battle that you and I encounter in Galatians 4:21 – Galatians 5:26. Paul gives clear guidance in how to choose the right freedom. One may be called freedom, but it’s tied to a spiritual slavery that is linked to sinful living. The freedom that you read about in Galatians is from God and it not only takes you into eternity, but your life on earth is not bound by the world’s slavery from sin. You truly live free in Christ!
Paul shares the difference between Old Testament living which is under the law while New Testament living represents heaven and freedom from sin. Jesus ushered in the freedom that every person needs to inherit eternal life. He became the pathway to God.
In the Galatians passage, Paul gives 5 truths that help a believer to live free in Christ and not let the world’s ways trip you up:
CHRIST HAS TRULY SET YOU FREE! Make sure that you stay free. Do not get tied up in the ways of the law (and religion). If you rely on outward, religious rites like circumcision back in Paul’s day, Christ will be no benefit to you. It is important to live in a manner where you do not fall away from God’s grace. Jesus is to take the #1 spot in your heart and life.
LIVE BY THE HOLY SPIRIT! He will be your guide, counselor, mentor, provider in all things. The Spirit will help you to run the race of faith well. What or who holds you back from following wholeheartedly the Gospel of Christ? Be alert to false teachers who are like yeast. They permeate throughout God’s Church to confuse and trip up true believers. Know truth well and learn to recognize the Spirit within you.
Christ is the one who called you to freedom.5:13
YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED TO LIVE IN FREEDOM! You are not called to live where you satisfy yourself. Your flesh is sinful and will not follow Jesus on its own. You are called to serve others in love, Jesus’ love, to bring about Kingdom living on earth. It is easy to trip each other up, even in the Church, so Paul says to watch out!
LET THE HOLY SPIRIT GUIDE YOUR LIFE! Why do you need to? So you don’t cave in to your sinful nature and follow what it craves. While there is the battle of good and evil on the outside, there is a battle inside every believer that is constantly in conflict; like two forces fighting. Your flesh is doing everything it can to keep you from carrying out your good intentions in following God’s Son.
The Holy Spirit is the power that propels your faith.
Following the Holy Spirit produces a bountiful of spiritual fruit within you. Living by the Spirit guarantees that you will always be in the right place at the right time. The Spirit will lead you into the very freedom that your soul is needing and craving!
BELONG TO CHRIST! Freedom in Christ means that you have nailed your passions and desires to the cross and crucified them there. You live for Jesus everyday and every moment of every day. Your life becomes His, and everything you do and say brings glory and honor to God.
Beware that you do not become conceited. Remember, your flesh loves itself. Also, do not provoke one another. Help and encourage others in their faith journeys just like they should be doing for you. One last thing that Paul speaks of, do not be jealous of one another. Oh, how we love to protect ourselves, even at the expense of another brother or sister in Christ. We are to never elevate ourselves above God or others.
Jesus came to be the example for us to live by. In His 33 years on earth, He never once lived dependent of God the Father. He showed us the way to have everlasting life and abundant living now and forevermore. Live in freedom that God is calling you to and experience freedom from all that enslaves you.
Carol J German 