Topic: Don’t Ever Lose Your Freedom in Christ [Archbishop Margaret E. Benson Idahosa] Above Only Daily Devotional 20 March 2020

Galatians 5:1 (KJV) Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Galatians 5:1 (GNB) Freedom is what we have – Christ has set us free! Stand, then, as free people, and do not allow yourselves to become slaves again.

Galatians 5:1 (CEV) Christ has set us free! This means we are really free. Now hold on to your freedom and don’t ever become slaves of the Law again.

After Apostle Paul had taught the Galatian believers about putting their faith in Christ and God’s love, some people came to start teaching them that putting their faith in what they must be circumcised to be saved. Circumcision was a sign God gave the Jews to help them remember the covenant God had brought them into. It was a sign that they were God’s people. But the Bible tells us that the Law and all its ordinances were shadows of good things to come and the reality is in Jesus, Col. 2:17 (GNB). These people did not know that the Law strengthens sin and the Law was not given to save man but to point man to Christ, Gal. 3:24-25. Now that Christ has come, we don’t depend on the Law to be righteous before God but on our faith in Christ. 1 Timothy 1:9 says, “… the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, …”

Going back to trying to be accepted before God by obeying the Law will completely cut us out of the grace of God, Gal. 5:4. Our lives will be filled with struggles and frustrations. It was not by the Law that Abraham obtained the promise but by the righteousness of faith, Rom. 4:13. Now does the fact that Jesus has set us free from trying to keep the Law to be righteous mean that we can begin to live our lives recklessly? Not at all. Jesus did not set us free to live anyhow, He set us free to live for Him. Jesus said I am the light and if you follow me you will not walk in darkness, John 8:12. What the Law was trying to achieve in us is only achieved as we follow the leading of God’s Spirit (Gal. 5:16-26), we will bring ourselves under the bondage of the flesh. To remain free in Christ we must keep our faith in Him and we must keep following the leading of His Spirit in us.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I receive your grace to remain free in Christ by keeping my faith in Christ alone and following the leading of His Spirit in me.

Bible in one year reading plan: Joshua 7-9, Luke 1:21-38.