The current war in the Ukraine seems to be impacting everyone around the globe in some shape or form. While we are not directly engaged in war here in the U.S., it gives us pause to appreciate the freedoms we enjoy on a daily basis.
In the USA, we enjoy…
Freedom to speak out when we are passionate about a matter
Freedom to gather and worship as we please
Freedom to be educated and to do business
Freedom to enjoy leisure activities
Freedom to eat foods we like and live in cities of our choosing…
The list could go on.
But, what about the freedoms we are blessed with as Christ-followers? Are they as forefront in our minds?
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” - Galatians 5:1
We can be much like the Galatian church Paul wrote to. Living in a law-abiding culture, we can have a tendency to focus on trying to keep God’s Law, rather than enjoying the freedoms we have in Christ’s finished work. Yet, who of us can obey the whole Law given by God? According to Scripture (Galatians 5:3), it’s all or nothing. We can’t pick and choose which laws we want to adhere to.
For the people of Israel, God’s Law was given in the first five books of the Old Testament. Many of these rules were given to protect and preserve God’s special people. They were all designed to show humanity’s desperate need for a Savior.
“So my brothers and sisters, you also died to the Law through the body of Christ…” - Romans 7:4
What an awesome promise that we are no longer in bondage to the Law! Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection fulfilled the Law, and our faith in Him sets us free. Period.
So, why do we try so hard to adhere to God’s Law, even to the point of expecting the same of others? Living in freedom is a great gift we’ve received and a great gift we can give to each other.
In Christ, we enjoy…
Freedom from bondage to keeping “the whole Law,” or even parts of it
Freedom to make life-choices that are different from others around us
Freedom to live Spirit-led lives, not human-led
Freedom to extend the same love and forgiveness to others that we’ve received
Freedom to not hold others to our standards…
The list could go on.
“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.” - Galatians 5:13
Since Jesus truly came to fulfill the Law, and He did it out of love for us, then our gratitude can shine through as we live for Him in the grace and freedom He provided, and in loving others in the same way He loved us.
“But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it–not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it–they will be blessed in what they do.” James 1:25