Galatians 5:13–14 (NIV),
13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
The Apostle has just labored to open the eyes of the Galatians to see the amazing truth that if you are free, "you are free, indeed." Christ fulfills the Law. Salvation is by faith alone. "And this is your excellent and inestimable liberty. Now standeth it you in hand to take good heed, that ye use not that liberty as an occasion to the flesh." [1] There is a natural, fleshly reaction to the Gospel of free grace. One can easily fall to the one side of a liberty to sin (thereby making oneself the Law) or to the other side, a "to do list" (thereby making oneself the Law!). But Christian Law is not about self, it's about service rendered in love. "Christian liberty is freedom from sin, not liberty to sin (Rom. 6:1–7:6)." [2]
Luther comments:
"Upon this foundation he buildeth now good works, yea good works indeed: all which he comprehendeth in one precept: “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” As if he should say, when I say that ye must serve one another through love, I mean the same thing the law saith in another place: “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Lev. xix. 18.)." [3]
It would be right to think at this point: we are free from the Law, why is Paul placing us under the obligation of the Law's summary? But we will soon see that "such love is produced by the Holy Spirit . . . Grace does not make one free to sin; it makes him free to serve." [4] Grace is a power. It works. But before we get there we must first establish that freedom in Christ does not equate to freedom to sin. "The Apostle therefore earnestly exhorteth the Christians to exercise themselves in good works, after that they have heard and received the pure doctrine of faith." [3]
The principle being taught here is that as we who have faith in Christ are propelled and motivated to love and serve others, then we ask, "How should we serve others?" "Therefore, if thou wouldest know how thy neighbour ought to be loved, and wouldest have a plain example thereof, consider well how thou lovest thyself." [3] And who is our neighbor? "Now, my neighbour is every man, specially which hath need of my help, as Christ expoundeth it in the tenth chapter of Luke." [3]
As we will soon see: "Liberty is freedom from exterior rule. But this freedom presupposes new and greater responsibilities for the one who is liberated. The believer is no longer ruled by the law. God’s Holy Spirit reigns in his heart, and the believer’s responsibilities are far more profound as a result." [5]
Father, it is not easy to be free. There is comfort behind prison walls. There is a feigned safety behind locked in the bondage of a cultic lifestyle. To be launched from the relative safety of one's guardian, the Law, into the freedom of new life in Christ, we are naturally given to enjoy this new freedom as if it is the reward for our faith in Christ. But Father, we see to the contrary that this freedom is a responsibility that comes from Calvary, not irresponsibility. It is this blood-bought freedom, driven by grace and propelled by the Holy Spirit that grants us the joy-filled obligation to be be free from sin, thereby free to love others in this New Life.
Today, Father, I will have freedom to pretty well do as I wish -- in a sense. Grant by the wonder-working power of grace the will and the enablement to love others, as I want to be loved. May it bring joy to Your Church, glory to Your Son and happiness in Christ to my soul. Amen!
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1. Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians (Ga 5:13). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
2. Whitlock, L. G., Sproul, R. C., Waltke, B. K., & Silva, M. (1995). The Reformation study Bible: Bringing the light of the Reformation to Scripture: New King James Version (Ga 5:13). Nashville: T. Nelson.
3. Luther, M. (1997). Commentary on Galatians (Ga 5:14). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
4. KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (2397). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
5. Believer’s Study Bible. 1991 (W. A. Criswell, P. Patterson, E. R. Clendenen, D. L. Akin, M. Chamberlin, D. K. Patterson & J. Pogue, Ed.) (electronic ed.) (Ga 5:13). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
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