“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.” (Galatians 5:1)
In the context of the epistle to the Galatians, the Apostle Paul is referring to the slavery of legalism. The Christians had turned from trusting in Christ to trusting in their own observance of the law of Moses to be justified in God’s sight. They are therefore “trapped” by the verdict of the law, which requires perfect compliance to be saved – which no one on earth can attain!
We are therefore called to put our trust and hope firmly on our Lord Jesus and not depend on our own works of goodness.
Yet there is another kind of slavery.
It is slavery of the opposite kind – license to sin. In short, this refers to the attitude that since Christ is the one who justifies us, we are “free” to do whatever we like. And this includes indulging in our own pleasures to point of sinning against God.
But the bible says,
“Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?” (Romans 6:16)
In other words, we become slaves again when we give in to sin and our appetites to indulge sinful actions and behaviors. God calls us instead to walk in radical obedience to God’s word by the strength that the Spirit provides.
God’s word to us this morning is to stand firm in the freedom that Christ has wrought for us. And this includes freedom from the slavery of legalism as well as licentiousness. This is the path of God’s will for us… and the way to true blessing!
Be free… and have a blessed weekend ahead!🙏