A few years ago I was invited to preach at a young offender’s prison for the first time. The subject of my talk was to be freedom. I have to admit that I originally felt a little uncomfortable and nervous talking about freedom to young men who had been sentenced for various crimes and had had their freedom removed. Of course the freedom they were looking forward to was a different kind of freedom to that which I was going to share. Many prisoners unfortunately reoffend once released only to be once again imprisoned, their freedom removed.

Galatians Chapter 5 is a wonderful example of what it means to be completely free. Paul opens the chapter stating that Christ has set us free in order that we should be free. This freedom though requires resistance against a return to bondage and requires those in Christ to stand firm against anyone who would drag them into slavery. Paul makes it clear in referring to circumcision that it is not following the law that sets you free (as some of my prisoners might think) but faith in Christ alone. In fact he states that to follow the law cuts us off from Christ because we are asking God to judge us by our own works and not by Christ’s.

Paul then turns his focus to another way Christians might waste the freedom Christ has won for us. Some may consider that since they have already been forgiven their sin and justified by faith in Christ, what would keep them from indulging in all their sinful desires? Instead we should use our freedom to serve each other in love (v.13-15). How can we therefore overcome our sinful desires (v.19-21) and focus on serving others? We can only do so by the power of the Holy Spirit who gives us the ability to love as Christ loves instead of self-serving. Our own way leads us to sin and destruction. But when we keep in step with the Holy Spirit we overcome sin. “If we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”

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Question:

How would you describe to an enquirer what it means to have freedom in Christ? The fruit of the Spirit is a marker for our own walk with Jesus, are there certain fruits of the Spirit you feel you need to work on with His help?

Prayer:

Lord God, thank you for setting us free through the blood of your dear son Jesus Christ and for sending your Holy Spirit that we might continue to live as you created us to live. Help us Lord each day to continue our walk with you and not become conceited provoking one another or envying one another. Amen.