Digging Deeper: Galatians 5:1-15
Day 1: Freedom In Christ!
Christ has set us free, so that we could experience freedom. While this seems like common sense, the reality is we were made by God for freedom. In Christ we are free from Satan, Sin, and death, but we have also been set free so that we could experience freedom. We are free to live a life empowered by the Holy Spirit, experiencing the fullness of life that God not only intends for us but has secured for our us in Christ Jesus.
Paul emphasizes that adding any requirements to the gospel nullifies its power. True freedom in Christ means being free from sin, condemnation, and the law, and living a life of righteousness empowered by the Holy Spirit. This freedom enables us to forgive, love, and serve others, reflecting the love of Christ in our lives.
Galatians 5:1 (ESV): "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery."
Reflection:
Begin by quieting your heart and mind. Take a few deep breaths and invite the Holy Spirit to guide your time of prayer. Pray something like, ”Lord, help me to grasp the depth of the freedom You have given me through Christ. Show me how to live in this freedom daily, free from the chains of sin and the burden of the law.”
In what areas of your life are you still trying to earn God's favor through your own efforts?
How can you embrace the freedom that Christ has given you today?
Day 2: Transformation over Behavior Modification
When it comes to freedom, people often take the path of religion and man made rules.
Freedom is not about changing our behavior through following the rules, it is way better, it is about being transformed into the image and likeness of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. The problem with following rules, is we can follow the rules without loving the one who gave us the rules.
In Matthew 23:27-28, Jesus says this is exactly what the Pharisees are guilty of. While they are the best rules followers on the planet, they do not love God or have a relationship with Him. Jesus says they are like “white washed tombs”. They appear great on the outside, but on the inside are filled with death and decay.
Transformation is the process of The Holy Spirit working in us to renew our minds and transform our hearts, making us new creations in Christ. Transformation is not about becoming a better version of ourselves but continually becoming more and more like Jesus.
Paul contrasts two paths: behavior modification through human effort and transformation through a relationship with Jesus. The former relies on willpower and adherence to rules, while the latter is powered by the Holy Spirit, leading to genuine transformation and life.
2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV): "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."
Reflection:
Are there areas in your life where you are focusing more on following rules than on your relationship with Jesus?
What steps can you take this week to deepen your relationship with Jesus and rely more on the Holy Spirit for transformation?
Spend some time in prayer. Consider praying some thing like this, "Holy Spirit, work in me to bring about true transformation. Help me to rely on Your power rather than my own efforts. Make me more like Jesus in my thoughts, actions, and desires.”
Day 3: The Danger of Adding To The Gospel
While most of us would not be tempted to add to the Gospel like the church in Galatia did, we do need to be on guard that we do not add things that appear good to the message of the Gospel. Whenever we make good things ultimate things, we become “accidental Pharisees”.
Paul reminds us again that adding requirements to the gospel such as circumcision, baptism, speaking in tongues, dress code, or other religious practices, nullifies its power.
Paul warns us that Jesus plus anything equals nothing.
Our relationship with God should be based on faith and love, not on our ability to follow rules. In fact, Paul says whenever we move from a grace based relationship to a performance based relationship with God, we actually become, “severed from Christ:, and His life, death, and resurrection have no benefit.
If we choose to live under the law, we have to follow all of the law, perfectly, forever. That is an impossible task.
Thanks be to God that Jesus lived a holy perfect life, and through his life death and resurrection, has given us His salvation and righteousness. Jesus is perfect, and has perfected us!
Galatians 5:2-3 (ESV): "Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law."
Reflection:
Are there any "add-ons" you have placed on the gospel in your life?
Have you been in any churches that preached a Gospel that was Jesus plus something? What were those things?
Spend some time in prayer. Pray something like, "Father, forgive me for any ways I have added to the gospel. Help me to trust fully in the finished work of Jesus and not in my own efforts or ability to follow the rules. Keep me grounded in the truth that Jesus plus nothing equals everything."
Day 4: Freed to Love.
True freedom in Christ produces love for God and others. This love is the evidence of the Holy Spirit working in our lives.
Pharisees and legalists follow rules out of obligation, but those who are truly free love and serve others out of a genuine relationship with Jesus. Paul emphasizes that our relationship with God should be rooted in faith and love, not performance. While the church in Galatia is looking for a list of rules that help them fulfill the Laws and Commandments, Paul reminds them of the words of Jesus.
Matthew 22:25-40 (ESV) - 35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
We love because Christ first loved us.
We love because we have been saved, set free, and made new.
We love, not for acceptance, but because we have been accepted.
1 John 4:7-8 (ESV): "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love."
Reflection:
What do you think it means to love others like Jesus has first loved us?
How could you show the love of Jesus to someone around you today?
Pray for the Holy Spirit to fill you with love for God and others. Ask for this love to be evident in your actions and relationships, serving as a testimony of your freedom in Christ.
Day 5: Living Free
We are set free not just from sin, we are also set free for righteousness.
Here is the kicker. Our joy is actually found in following Jesus and living in obedience to Him. Our freedom in Christ enables us to live out the teachings and ways of Jesus, reflecting His love to the world.
Living free means living a life marked by the Holy Spirit, characterized by things like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Paul calls us to stand firm in our freedom and not to abuse it. We are set free not just from sin but for righteousness, to live a life marked by the Holy Spirit..
Ephesians 2:10 (ESV): "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
Reflection:
Are there any areas in your life where you are adding to the gospel by relying on religion, rituals, or performance?
What is one practical way you can live out your freedom in Christ today?
Paul calls us to stand firm in our freedom and not to abuse it. Are there any areas in your life where you might be abusing your freedom in Christ? How can you realign your actions to reflect the love and righteousness that come from true freedom in Jesus?
End your time of prayer by thanking God for the freedom you have in Christ. Commit to standing firm in this freedom alone.