Freedom is a good thing. The broken chains, the open prison door, and the allowance to do as one pleases is a good feeling. Enslaved persons value freedom and when they are eventually released, they can only rejoice. Christians are free people. Enslaved at one time to the bondage of sin and death (Hebrews 2:15), Christians have liberty (Galatians 5:1), for “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (2 Corinthians 3:17). John records a short discourse on the beauty of freedom:
If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed (John 8:31-36).
One of the greatest paradox’s however, is that while Christians are totally free, they are totally bound yet still! To the surface reader, this is contradictory, but to the faithful Christian he knows exactly what this is all about.
One of the key words of the book of Galatians is liberty. It is found four times (Galatians 2:4; 5:1; 5:13). Paul’s thesis of the book is to prove that Christians are free from the Law of Moses. Elsewhere he wrote about another law under which they are not bound: “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2). Although not being in shackles to sin, Paul’s Galatian letter proves that Christians now serve a new master. He said, “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts” (Galatians 5:24). Truly, “Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness” (Romans 6:18). From Galatians 5:13-26, what does Paul teach us about Christian liberty and Christian enslavement?
We Are Free, But Enslaved to Christ (Galatians 5:16-18, 24-25).
T.T. Lynch said, “True liberty is only realized in obedience. The abuse of freedom is bondage, from which there is no self-deliverance.” New, born again people don’t stop walking—they have a new path on which to walk. Some Christians think their freedom from sin and new birth gives them freedom to walk on their own path. Paul commands these Galatian brethren to walk in the Spirit. Being enslaved is not a choice, who you are enslaved to is up to you.
We Are Free, But Not To Sin (Galatians 5:13, 19-21).
Thomas Huxley said, “A man's worst difficulties begin when he is able to do as he likes.” If Christians are free from sin it means they are not free to sin. Paul told the Galatian brethren to not believe their liberty gave them freedom to sin. Paul addressed a similar idea to the Romans who thought that if they sinned more, they could receive more grace. But he told them that new men don’t pick up their old corpses (Romans 6:1-6). Liberty in Christ does not give us liberty to sin.
To cover up one’s wickedness with “I am a Christian” is wrong too (1 Peter 2:16). Being a Christian in name does not take away being sinful by action. We may cover up our sins with “liberating keys” like:
Our baptism.
Our worship attendance.
Our good works.
Although free from Satan, Christians are enslaved to Christ and therefore not allowed to sin (Galatians 5:17). John Diefenbaker said, “Freedom is the right to be wrong, not the right to do wrong.” Liberty to sin is not liberty, instead it is as if one holds up a license card with "freedom to sin" on the front!
We Are Free, But Not to Do Everything (Galatians 5:13b-15, 22-24, 26).
While saints are free in spirit, it doesn’t mean they are free in physicality. Often, some believe that as long as something is not sinful, they may engage in a certain practice. They think that their liberty in Christ frees them from everything that is not a transgression of the law. However, Paul says that Christians are to use their liberty to serve one another.
Christians are bound by love (Romans 13:8-10). Some things may not be helpful in fulfilling this command. Thinking that we may treat anyone, anyway would be a wrong idea of freedom. Christians are free from sinful rule, not free from the Golden rule (Matthew 7:12).
Being free in Christ also demands that Christians do not believe themselves free to do anything either. While matters of conscience are personal (Romans 14), they must be done with one’s enslavement to Christ in mind. If a practice would hurt one’s relationship with their Master, they should not engage in it. If it hurts their fellow Christians, it also should not be followed. Paul wrote, “But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak” (1 Corinthians 8:9). Two chapters later, he penned, “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth” (1 Corinthians 10:23-24). Surely if something we do hurts another’s conscience it should be avoided. Also, if we do anything that hurts our reputation, we should not engage in it. It is not enough to refrain from fleshly practices—we must also “make not provision” for it (Romans 13:14).
Although free from sin, this does not give us the liberty to do everything.
Christians are free but enslaved to Christ. Being enslaved to Christ does not free one to do whatever he pleases. Jesus owns his papers and is authorized to direct His steps. Let us remember who we belong to, whose brand we wear (cf. Exodus 21:6), and where our true home is (Romans 6:22).
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