“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.”  ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:13‬ ‭NLT

Paul wrote this passage to refute a false teaching that required Gentiles to be circumcised and obey the law of Moses. He reminds them that salvation is through Grace alone.

Jesus, the lamb of God, became the perfect sacrifice. He knew man could never obtain righteousness through performance. Our righteousness is in Christ. Jesus freed us from the curse of the law. 

In Galatians 5:19-21 Paul goes on to explain the results of giving in to the desires of the flesh. He erases any doubt that freedom in Christ is a license to sin. He gives a vivid metaphor of us hammering the passions and desires of our sin nature to the cross and crucifying them with Christ. 

We have a new law, the law of the Spirit. My freedom in Christ does not give me the right to sin against others. It gives me the freedom to serve them rather than myself. As the fruit of the Spirit matures within me, my desires should change from a focus on self to a focus on others, reflecting the nature of Christ. I should always consider how my actions will impact those around me. 

PRAY:
Lord, thank You for calling me to live in freedom. Thank you for replacing the “letter of the law”, which I could never uphold, with the law of the Spirit, which produces the fruit of the Spirit within me. 

Help me to always be mindful of how my attitudes and actions impact others. Let me be a reflection of Your love.

Your Word says all of the law can be summed up in the first and second commandments … Love God, love others.