Devotions: The Purpose of Freedom

For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Galatians 5:13 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Paul makes this statement in the middle of a long discourse about walking in the Spirit. The verses just previous talk about the Jewish Christians who were trying to make the gentile Christians adhere to the rituals of Judaism, claiming that it was necessary for salvation. But Paul says otherwise. Jesus did away with the rituals and sacrifices required by Old Testament law. We no longer need them to be saved, justified before God. All we need is belief, faith in Christ. There is no other requirement for salvation. We are freed from the law as a means of salvation. But along with that freedom Paul gives this caution. We are not to use our freedom to do whatever we want. Many take the idea that we are freed from the law as an excuse to live however they want. If we are not saved by what we do, and nothing is bad enough to lose our salvation, then it doesn’t matter what we do. But that is also not true. Jesus didn’t free us from obedience, He freed us from bondage to the law. We are still to obey the law, but it is no longer a matter of salvation which we have to rectify. Living however we want regardless of the law is using our freedom for the flesh, basically we are returning to slavery to sin. We are to walk in the Spirit and live in love, because God is love, and the two greatest commandments are “Love God and love others.” Jesus Himself said that obedience to God is love. And love is not selfish. But living to serve self is selfish. We need to use our freedom to love God and others. We need to use it to serve. Before salvation, we couldn’t truly love anyone. Jesus freed us so we can live in love. Use His love and freedom to love Him and love others!