Paul declares in Galatians 5 that it is “for freedom Christ has set us free.” I wonder if any of us really know the true extent of this freedom? We need to hear this gospel truth today, as much as the Galatians did in their day.

Paul goes on to exhort us not to lose our freedom, but to protect it, by standing firm in the grace of God and not submitting to the demands of the law in regards to our righteousness. He also instructs us not to abuse our freedom, by willfully and presumptuously succumbing to the desires of the flesh. Submitting to the demands of the law in regards to our righteousness before God, not only spoils our freedom in Christ, it severs us from him completely, destroying any hope of righteousness at all. Using our freedom as an opportunity for the flesh in licentious behaviour is an abuse of the freedom purchased for us by the blood of Christ, and a return to slavery also.

Both the source and the goal of our freedom is love. In fact, it is only because we are free in Christ that we can love, and it is only as we love that we are free. It is for such glorious freedom and genuine love that Christ has indeed set us free.