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May 25, 2017

The freedom we have in Christ is the freedom of loving all. Hating anyone is losing it...




Galatians 5:13Amplified Bible (AMP)

13 For you, my brothers, were called to freedom; only do not let your freedom become an opportunity for the [a]sinful nature (worldliness, selfishness), but through [b]love serve and seek the best for one another.

Footnotes:

  1. Galatians 5:13 Lit flesh.
  2. Galatians 5:13 The key to understanding this and other statements about love is to know that this love (the Greek word agape) is not so much a matter of emotion as it is of doing things for the benefit of another person, that is, having an unselfish concern for another and a willingness to seek the best for another.


Galatians 5:13 "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only [use] not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another."
“Liberty” (see note on 2:4).
“For an occasion to the flesh”: The Greek word for “occasion” (or opportunity), was often used to refer to a central base of military operations (Rom. 7:8). In the context, “flesh” refers to the sinful inclinations of fallen man (see note on Rom 7:5). The freedom Christians have is not a base from which they can sin freely and without consequence.
“Serve one another”: Christian freedom is not for selfish fulfillment, but for serving others (Rom. 14:1-15).
Having shown freedom from the law to be proper protection against legalism (verses 1-12), Paul now demonstrates it to be a proper antidote against unrestrained license to sin (verses 13-26).
Believers are not to abuse their “liberty” from the law “for an occasion” (opportunity), “to the flesh” (sinful nature). That is, don’t think freedom from the law means you can indulge in sin; it means instead that you are free to serve God by serving “one another.”
Our salvation is a free gift from God. He washed our sins away. When we become a Christian, we no longer serve sin.

Romans 6:18 "Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness."
What this is really saying is that our flesh controlled our will until we became Christians. Now our spirit (filled with Jesus), controls our will. If we are true Christians, it is Jesus in us who controls our will. We are no longer flesh, we are spirit. Just because we are forgiven, does not give us a license to sin.
Romans 6:19-22 "I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness." "For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness." "What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things [is] death." "But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life."
You see, we have been set free to live in Christ Jesus.

  • Acts 15:20: Though redeemed Gentiles are not under the Mosaic Law, four restrictions are placed upon them. These are not the usual four prohibitions preached during the twentieth century, but they were...   


  • Introduction to the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Galatians  

    • Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Galatians

    Book of Galatians Explained: Title: Galatians derives its title (pros Galatas), from the region in Asia Minor (modern Turkey), where the churches addressed were located. It is the only one of Paul's epistles specifically addressed to churches in more than one city (1:2; compare 3:1; 1 Cor. 16:1).
  • Gal. 5:13:  Having shown freedom from the law to be proper protection against legalism (vv. 1–12), Paul now demonstrates it to be a proper antidote against unrestrained license to sin (vv. 13–26)....  

  • James 1:25:  The perfect law of liberty probably refers to the teachings of Christ and His apostles. This law is perfect, since Christ brought to completion the teachings and work of the Mosaic Law (cf. ...  


Galatians 5

V 1–10: CIRCUMCISION Paul develops the principle and applies it to circumcision. Circumcision is the putting away of the flesh as a mark of entering the covenant of Israel. Paul says that this is now outdated and to continue to observe it would logically mean that the circumcised person needs to keep the whole law in order to be accepted. The Christian is counted righteous through faith in Christ. Sadly, the pernicious teaching of being saved by circumcision has hindered obedience to God’s word and has grown like yeast in bread. V 11–12: CROSS Paul’s insistence on preaching the cross has led to his persecution because it is an offence to those who wish to justify themselves rather than relying solely on what Jesus has done for them. So grave is this error that troubles the church, that Paul could wish them cut off. V 13–15: CALLING The gospel has called the Galatians to liberty. That liberty should be used lovingly to be a blessing to others and not in destructive in-fighting that evidently characterises their lives, and flows from the false teaching, as Paul writes. V 16–18: COMMAND The Galatians are commanded to ‘walk in the Spirit’. Only in so doing can they conquer the lust of the flesh, because it is the Spirit, given through faith’s response to God’s promise, who gives liberty. Such a Spirit-led life cannot be achieved by seeking salvation by keeping the law. V 19–23: CONTRAST The evil of the works of the flesh are contrasted in detail with the goodness of the fruit of the Spirit borne by those who, turning from sin, trust Christ. There is no law against the fruit of the Spirit. V 24–26: CRUCIFIED Paradoxically those who have freedom in the Spirit are those who count themselves as crucified with Christ and follow Him. This alone deals with conceit, strife, and envy.


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