“For freedom, Christ set us free. Stand firm, then, and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery.” – Galatians 5:1 CSB
How do we stay in freedom (or choose freedom continually)?!?
“In Christ we are free to take a stand. A space has been cleared in the thick forest and brambles of necessity from which we can freely respond to God, freely grow in the image of God, freely develop in relationships of forgiveness. Having been provided the space, we are free to take a stand there. Taking a stand fights drifting with the tide. Taking a stand contrasts with being carried and coddled by the culture. Taking a stand means standing on our own two feet.” – Eugene Peterson Traveling Light
Chapter 5 Topics:
1. Spiritual freedom is included in God’s purpose for our salvation, Gal. 5:1.
2. We should choose to receive God’s grace by faith, Gal. 5:1.
3. We should choose to continue to relate to God by faith, Gal. 5:1.
4. We should reject merit-based theology and sinful selfishness, Gal. 5:4, 13.
5. Spiritual freedom gives us the opportunity to serve each other through agape love, Gal. 5:13-14. “Love is aware of and responsible to personal connections, divine and human, freely chosen.” – Eugene Peterson
6. Spiritual freedom includes guidance from the Holy Spirit, Gal. 5:16, 25.
7. Being led by the Holy Spirit will take us away from sinful toxic selfishness, Gal. 5:16-21, 26. 15 one-word illustrations of people who hurt each other
8. Being led by the Holy Spirit will produce positive character qualities, self-control, and benefits, Gal. 5:22-24.
9. Being led by the Holy Spirit requires our spiritual attentiveness and devotion, Gal. 5:25.
“Walk by the Spirit” – Galatians 5:25 … “Love is a deliberate act: we walk. It is not floating on a fluffy cloud; it is not the sudden acquisition of wings; it is not early retirement to an armchair in paradise. We walk. We use feet-on-the-ground things like intelligence and wisdom, Scripture and tradition. If we do not engage in this deliberate, directed action, we are subject to pressures, inner and outer, that re-enslave us.” – Eugene Peterson Traveling Light
“Stronger than the force of the storm is the Spirit who leads us “beside still waters”. The freedom to love is maintained as we submit to the Spirit who leads. We experience some dimensions of freedom only when we are not doing but simply being – being directed, being addressed, being loved, being led.” – Eugene Peterson Traveling Light
Those of us blessed with Moms who choose agape love have seen examples of these truths from Galatians 5.
What do we learn?
1. Spiritual freedom is included in God’s purpose for our salvation, Gal. 5:1.
2. Spiritual freedom includes guidance from the Holy Spirit, Gal. 5:16, 25.
What should we do?
1. Read Galatians 5 – 6 this week.
2. Write at least one truth from it.
3. Pray, asking God what may be pulling you from this.
4. Think about the contrast between Jesus’ Good News and what may be pulling you from it.
5. Choose to draw closer to Jesus and withdraw from what may be pulling you away from Jesus’ Good News.