Faith AND Freedom. . .Because of One

Galatians. Read it sometime. Galatians is all about freedom, not political freedom, but freedom and sonship in Christ. It talks about the purpose of the Law, "Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions..." (Gal. 3:19). It talks about the perversion of the gospel, "But even if we or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what has been preached to you, he is to be accursed!" (Gal. 1:8) This is pretty strong language Paul uses here, and he repeats himself I might add.

But what caught my attention in Galatians was Ch. 4-5: Sonship in Christ, and walking by the Spirit. Chapter 4 starts out kinda dreary by saying we were helpless in bondage by things of the world (4:1-3). Then the mood changes a bit. There are several places in the Bible that myself and a few others like to call the "But God" passages. These are such incredible passages! There is one in Galatians 4:4-5 (there is another in Ephesians 2), "BUT when the fullness of the time came, GOD sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons." What an amazing thing! At just the right moment Christ came into the world. "Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through Christ" (4:7). Over in Chapter 5 Paul says, "It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery" (5:1). If Jesus is your Lord and Savior, then you have freedom!! And we don't have to go back to the slavery of sin: immorality, impurity, idolatry, disputes, etc. (5:19-20). We can be better than those things through the blood of Christ and by walking by the Spirit. But we can also replace the things that enslaved us with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, etc. (5:22-23).

So why are we still such an immoral society!? Why aren't we living differently than those who do not have Christ!? And how are they going to come to know Him if we aren't living out what we say we believe!? Don't want to see America go down in immorality? There is a solution, "If we live by the Spirit, let us also WALK by the Spirit" (5:25). Live your life according to the gospel; speak up and defend the freedom that you have in Christ, because there are many people that DO NOT HAVE the freedom that you have. Don't keep it to yourself!

Have the lights turned on yet?