Freedom in Christ

https://odb.org/MY/2023/06/19/live-in-freedom

Galatians 5 records the challenge faced by early Christians in the transition from Mosaic law to faith in Jesus Christ as most early Christians were Jewish in origins, including Paul and the other Apostles like Peter, John and James. In fact, in Paul’s missionary trips, he usually preached at synagogues. For the Jews, the non-Jewish who embraced Christ like the Greeks need to be circumcised. They probably asked – is circumcision not an outer sign of our allegiance to the LORD God Jehovah?

But Paul put his foot down and stressed that it was for freedom that Christ has set us free. Are we to go back to another yoke of slavery? From freedom from sin, do we now become slaves of the law (Mosaic law)? Paul’s argument was simple – if you want to follow the law, then follow it completely. Take everything and not just on the part of circumcision. If not, we then go by faith in Jesus Christ, the one sent by God Himself to fulfil the requirements of the law once and for all. The law is thus written in our hearts, and loving one another (even our enemies) encapsulates the law. In Galatians 5:13-15, Paul stressed that we are called to be free but do not use our freedom to indulge in the flesh but to love one another. We are now led by the Spirit. Thus, the practices of certain churches in observing Jewish practices of the festivals, the Shabbat, and other religious rituals are moving in uncharted waters as Christ’s calling for us is to the New Covenant and not back to Old Covenant (Mosaic).

Although Paul was speaking of actual Mosaic law versus the law of the Spirit through our faith in Christ, present-day Christians do have a tendency to live by certain church imposed rules. Most are for our good and our spiritual well-being, introduced to transition us from a non-Christian life into a life in Christ. But there are some rules that may make us slaves again – to the church or the rules themselves. We are called to freedom in Christ, not called to another yoke of slavery.

I feel the message this morning is to be cognisant and be careful that we are not swept into another life of slavery as we are called by Christ to freedom. If we ever become slaves again, let’s be slaves to God, to His service in ministry. Not slaves to man-made rules lest we become oppressed and live defeated lives in our struggle to meet those man-made rules.