FREEDOM.

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” -Galatians 5:1

In the context, the Apostle Paul is urging the Galatians to avoid the slavery of legalism. Legalism is the notion that we are able to procure a good standing for ourselves by our actions: what we do, and what we don’t. It’s a path that promises life, but ultimately, as Paul says, leads to slavery. In other words, those who go down this path (of trying to earn their place before God and others by what they do and don’t do) have signed up for a master that is never satisfied with the prior day’s work and places a relentless burden on his subjects. Attempting to earn your salvation through good works, morality, and piety is slavery.  

And since legalism is just another attempt to find salvation outside of Christ… it’s safe to apply this broadly. Any attempt to seek “eternal life” or “salvation” outside of Christ is slavery. Whether it’s legalism or pleasure, stoicism or comfort, religiosity or frivolity, any path that promises to satisfy our souls is ultimately a path to slavery.  And slavery is a miserable condition. It’s dehumanizing. It’s demoralizing. It’s destructive and ultimately leaves us dead and buried underneath the weight of its unrelenting pressure to perform or indulge. Like an addictive drug, it never satisfies… and always leaves us needing more. 

But there is a path to freedom: it’s to follow Jesus Christ, who says, “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Mt. 11:28-30) Faith in Jesus Christ is not slavery, though the mind that seeks life through self-indulgence might think so. Faith in Jesus Christ leads to a life of true freedom. It’s GOOD NEWS. It’s eternal life, forgiveness, and abundance. But the old masters, Legalism and Self-indulgence, are always knocking at our door, always seeking to regain mastery over us. 

And it’s on this basis that Paul exhorts the Believers to do the following things: 

Stand firm. 

Do not submit.

Live free.

Here's what this means for you and me.

Stand firm.

In what? In the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He is the “rock that the wise man builds his house upon.” We don't stand on our own strength. We don't stand on our merit. We stand on the Savior, Jesus Christ. We stand in the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. We remain steadfast because we believe the promises of Scripture are true: "that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion." (Philippians 1:6) And though we acknowledge that in this life we will have trouble, we take heart, because Christ has overcome! (Jn. 16:33)

Do not submit. 

Think about a wrestling match: submission is the tap out. It’s the give-up signal. And Paul says, “Don’t you tap out. Don’t you submit to that slavery again.” Christian, this life is a fight. So fight. Don’t roll over. Don’t tap out. Because “sin is crouching at your doorstep and its desire is to have you.” (Gen. 4:7)  At times, it can feel like certain sins are “little,” but there is no such thing as a “small agenda” when it comes to sin. It always wants more of you; its desire is for you; to master you, once again. So fight. And fight hard. Do not give up. Do not give in.

Freedom.

“Aye, fight and you may die. Run, and you'll live… at least a while.

And dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days, from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take our freedom!”— William Wallace, Braveheart

True Freedom is in Christ. True freedom is achieved by Christ, and now lived by you, brothers and sisters. So live, love, and give freely! For the King! For His Glory! Legalism promises salvation through works. Self-indulgence promises salvation through pleasure, comfort, and selfish ambition. But both are pathways to slavery. And slavery is no way for the sons and daughters of God to live. We are called to live in the freedom of Christ. So stand firm, brothers and sisters. And do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Choose life; and choose it in abundance! 

There are many ways to die... and many masters to serve with unrelenting slavishness.

But there is only one path to abundance and freedom, and His name is Jesus Christ.

“I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” - John 10:10

That's a life worth fighting for, a King worth living for, and a cause worth dying for.