What freedom Means

Read Galatians 5.

"For freedom Christ has set us free."  What does that mean?  What are we free to do?  What has that got to do with me?

After obliterating the argument of the Judaizers, the Apostle Paul then described the effects of faith in Christ.  If believers are free from the Old Testament Law, how shall we live and evaluate our conduct?  Are we free to do anything we want, or does God have even greater expectations of us?  The confusion about the Law and questions of freedom evidently turned into divisiveness in the churches (v.15).  So, what are the answers?

1. Stand firm in the faith. (vv.1-12)
Truth and error do not mix.  Compromise of the word of God is sin.  In this case, the issue was either law or grace (v.4).  One cannot have it both ways.  Such toleration and accommodation of false teaching has been the destruction and downfall of every denomination that has allowed liberalism to creep in.  In world history, only one major denomination has ever recovered.   Paul expressed his shock that these brothers had given in so quickly to the influence of false teachers.  He had some strong words for those men (v.12).

2. Serve one another. (vv.13-15)
With the people choosing sides and arguing among themselves, they forgot how they were supposed to treat each other.  Even those who were on the right side of the debate, evidently, were using the freedom and firmness of their faith in in ways that violated Christian behavior.  Fighting for the faith cannot be used as a cloak for sinful words and actions.  In verse 26, Paul wrote, "Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another."  A true test of a follower of Jesus is to love those who are in disagreement.  Jesus said, "For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?" (Matthew 5:46a)

3. Submit to the Holy Spirit. (vv.16-26)
This is a smooth transition from the doctrinal debate of Law vs. Grace to the personal examination of the flesh vs. the Spirit.  Again, one cannot have it both ways.  It is one or the other, on a moment by moment basis.  Toleration of the works of the flesh is sin.  When one surrenders their thinking, words, and actions to the indwelling Holy Spirit, they will be identified by His fruit (singular).

The requirement is to die to oneself for the joy of experiencing true freedom in Christ (v.24).  This is a common theme in Paul's writings.  "I have been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me." (Galatians 2:20)  "So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus." (Romans 6:11)