Freedom in Christ.

Click the link below and let the Holy Spirit talk to you. Then come back here and read what I have to share.

Galations 5


1It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Why do we, if free, go back to the old ways? One reason is we don't really believe that we are free. I believe that if I jump off a cliff I will fall. Therefore I do not jump off a cliff. Simple. So, I must not truely believe in my heart of hearts that I am free. I'm working on that part.

A second reason is sin is fun. Hebrews 11:25 speaks of Moses choice He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. Sin is fun. However it does not last forever like pleasures from the Lord. Psalm 16:11 You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

You have the freedom to choose.

2Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. 6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

A few days or hours after my birth, I was circumcised. So according to these verses Christ is of no value to me and I am obligated to obey the whole law. No, that is NOT what it is saying. There were people spreading lies in the early church convincing new Gentile Christians that they could accept Christ, but they needed to be circumcised also. This is adding to what Christ did on the cross. By adding to Christ's work, one nullifies His work as NOT ENOUGH. This is an evil lie. The outward physical appearance of a man is irrelevant. Vs 6 tell us that faith expressing itself through love is what is important.

7You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? 8That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9"A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough."

No one cares how a person started the race. They want to know who won and with marathons, they want to know who finished. If you have been sidetracked it did not come from God. Vs 9 gives a hint of where it come from. As yeast will work it's way through the entire loaf of bread, so will sin work it's way through out our lives. If you tolerate it, eventually it will take over.

10I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be.

Be careful what you teach. Is your lesson from the Lord? I pray that you read the scripture as much more important than my words. If I ever post a falsehood, please let me know. I claim no corner on Biblical discernment.

11Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. 12As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!

Paul was still being persecuted by the Jewish leaders. Therefore his message was NOT the same as theirs. He is quite discriptive in what he wishes these false teachers to do. At least this way they would not breed.

13You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 14The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 15If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

Use your freedom to serve. Love eachother.

16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.

This is the how. You walk in the Spirit by doing what you know to be right. We make it harder than it is because we want an excuse.

19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

I won't break this down, you can read. Has the Holy Spirit spoken to you of one or more of these that need to be removed from your life?

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Fruit does not happen over night. First is the seed, then the root followed by the plant. A flower soon follows and eventually fruit. All during the tree's life are good days and bad, storms and fair weather. The fruit comes in time.

It's the same way in our Christian walk. So many want INSTANT fruit and when it does not happen they quit. Let the Spirit work and you will see fruit.

24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.

Our sinful nature is dead. Do we live that way?

25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

When the fruit does appear, remember it is the fruit of the Spirit, not the fruit of the believer. He gets the credit. And don't look down on others that are taking longer to grow. Again, it's the Spirits work. Let Him work.