2022_03_07 Insight Post- Kim Feld

I have loved spending time in the book of Galatians because I believe it is so relevant for us today. A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about Galatians being a picture of salvation in Christ coming through Jesus alone, Jesus plus nothing else. Paul continues that theme through the remainder of the book. Galatians 5:1 is one of my favorite verses in scripture:

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

Christ paid our debt, freeing us from the slavery of sin. Paul urges the Galatians not to step back into slavery by believing that following Jewish laws and customs were part of the package of salvation. With Paul’s training as a Pharisee, he knew that submitting to circumcision was just the beginning; all the other laws and traditions would need to be followed as well. This not only negated the freedom that Christ’s substitutionary death gave, but it also made Christianity exclusive instead of inclusive of all nations.

In Jada Edwards’ study, Galatians: Accepted and Free (2020), she writes that slavery during this time was different than American chattel slavery. People captured during times of war could be enslaved, but some also chose to sell themselves or a family member into slavery to pay off financial debt. Through the process of manumission, an enslaver could pay off the enslaved person’s debt, thereby setting him free, or the enslaved person could be transferred to another enslaver. A medallion or certificate was given to show the enslaved person’s standing – either ownership by another or freedom. If the enslaved person was set completely free, the words “for freedom” were used. According to Edwards, Paul is making the point (using terminology that would be familiar to his audience) that the freedom that Christ offers is full and complete. It didn’t need anything added to it.

In Galatians 5:6, Paul writes: “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” Read Paul’s words in verses 14 and 15:

“¹⁴For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ¹⁵ If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.”

Our faith is to be expressed through the way we love. Paul says the entire law is fulfilled when we love others as we love ourselves. If Jesus were to return today, would He say that we have loved well? The things that we allow ourselves to be in bondage to often stand in the way of love.