Read: Galatians 5:1-15
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (v. 13)
Surrender. Slave. Servant. These certainly aren’t the first words most people think of when speaking of freedom. But as John Gill has said, “Love makes Christ’s service perfect freedom.” The wonderful truth is that as we surrender to Christ and live our lives in service to him, we experience the freedom for which we were made and to which we were called. This freedom comes because when we are no longer our own but are wholly his, we are rid of the yoke of slavery to sin and to this world. Freedom from sin is freedom indeed. It is freedom to be all we were meant to be.
Paul does offer us a warning, however, not to use our freedom “as an opportunity for the flesh” (v. 13). When we are in Christ, we are free from sin (its punishment and its mastery over us). We are not yet free of sin because we can never be sinless while living in this fallen world.
Satan knows that we still sin and will watch for any opportunity to entice us to sin again. This is why Paul cautions us not to misuse our Christian liberty by indulging ourselves in this world, thinking we’re safe from the temptations of Satan.
Rejoice in your freedom from the punishment and slavery of sin; be wise and never abuse your freedom by choosing to live in sin.
As you pray, thank God that in Christ you can experience true freedom.
About the Author
Jessica Heikoop was a writer and editor from Ontario, Canada. Beloved by her family and community, she died in 2013 at the age of 31.
