February 6 | Galatians 5:1-15

Terry Gustafson
Feb 6
3 min read

DAILY READING

REFLECTION

True Freedom

By Terry Gustafson

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word “freedom”? Perhaps you think of fireworks and the 4th of July. Perhaps you think of those who have fought to preserve the rights we have in our constitution. Maybe a symbol like the Statue of Liberty or a bald eagle comes to mind. My own first thoughts are a bit more mundane. I cannot think of freedom without visualizing Mel Gibson’s portrayal of William Wallace at the end of the movie Braveheart or hear the words to Aretha Franklin’s Think (Freedom) ringing in my ears.

In today’s passage, Paul provides us with a framework for what true freedom looks like in the life of a Christian. Paul has laid out that grace alone, apart from works of the law, is the basis for our right relationship to God (3:1-4:31). Left to our own devices, humans tend to define our freedom by gravitating to license or to legalism. But Paul wants to make it clear that the liberty we have in Christ is not a liberty to license or to legalism, but a liberty to love and serve others through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Some consider the first verse in today’s passage to be the key verse in the entire book. Paul summarizes the preceding chapters with the phrase: It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Then he transitions to what the remaining chapters will entail: Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Because of the gospel and the work of Christ on our behalf, the believer is now to turn away from anything that smacks of license or legalism and instead to rest in Christ’s triumphant work for us on the cross and live in the power of the Spirit.

The church in Galatia was faced with at least one leader who was teaching that circumcision, the sign of the Abrahamic covenant, was necessary for believers. That is, salvation requires the cross of Christ PLUS circumcision. But Paul argues (quite strongly!) that the moment we add anything to the cross of Christ we are negating the finished work of Christ. It is so easy to want to make a list of the things that constitute evidence of our relationship to God, lists that vary across times and cultures: Do not drink. Do not play cards. Do not dance. Do not go to movies. Do not smoke. Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. We all tend to create our own lists of Do’s and Don’ts that constitute right living for God. But these are all Jesus PLUS and not the foundation of our life in Christ.

The cross of Christ sets us free. Free from guilt. Free from a guilty conscience. Free from the unbearable burden of earning God's love. But we have to fight to remain free; we have to run a good race. Ponder anew the precious freedom Christ has won for you on the cross and how you can use it to serve others in love in the power of the Spirit.

PRAYER

Repeat the following breath prayer throughout the day:

(Breathe in) Gracious and patient Lord Jesus

(Breathe out) Teach me how to stand firm and rest in Your freedom

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

TERRY GUSTAFSON

My wife, Mary, and I have been attending UALC for about 12 years. We have two grown daughters and one grandchild. I am a retired professor of chemistry at Ohio State, where I served many years as the faculty advisor to the IVCF graduate student chapter and as a member of the Faculty Christian Fellowship. I currently have the privilege of serving on the UALC Council.