Liberty

Galatians 5

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. ² Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. ³ And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. ⁴ You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. ⁵ For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. ⁶ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

⁷ You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? ⁸ This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. ⁹ A little leaven leavens the whole lump. ¹⁰ I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.

¹¹ And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. ¹² I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off!

¹³ For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. ¹⁴ For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵ But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

¹⁶ I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, ²¹ envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. ²⁴ And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

We were set free when Christ died, took the keys from hell, and was raised by Father God into heaven.  And a few of our ancestors and some of us have stood fast in the liberty to remain free.  God does not want us bound by anyone, except Him.  No one has authority over us and our movements but God.  Though, so many are trying to control us that they can’t get their own salvation on track.  If we haven’t been properly trained by our parents in the word of God, then we are to come boldly to His throne asking for forgiveness and make the blessings happen.  By our faith and love for God can be the only way to produce them.  We are not to let anyone hinder us from this truth (1 Timothy 1: 3 – 5) says,  As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, ⁴ nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. ⁵ Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,”  Faith and sincere love must be operating in us at all times, no matter how bleak our situations may look.  God says they are going to persecute us before the blessing and when He has given us our inheritance.  (Mark 10: 29 – 30) “So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, ³⁰ who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.”

We have been called to be free and love in sincerity God and man. (Romans 13: 8)  “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.”  Our actions must change in how we interact with one another.  We must come out of this give me, give me, give me attitude and work for Christ who wants to give us the world, through love.  In Luke 10:2 He says, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”  Our spirit and flesh are at war.  And unless we overpower our flesh with faith, love, and the word of God we will be useless to God and ourselves.  God says in Jeremiah 17: 9 – 10 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?  I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruits of his doings.”  Work the fruits of the spirit and free yourself in Liberty. 

Blessings to all as we free ourselves in our Lord,

Vincent Young, Christian Analyst.