Why trade freedom and joy for a life burdened by rule-keeping?
By Dean Collins
If you discovered a better path, why would you return to the old one? Why would you go backwards to a life more restrictive, an existence impossible to bring joy? This is the question Paul asked the Galatian believers.
Paul had gone to great lengths in the earlier chapters of Galatians to explain how the life of Christ was superior to the law. It was superior because of grace. No one was capable of keeping the law perfectly. It was and is not possible to earn God’s favor and receive salvation. Jesus took the sin of all people to the cross and made payment for our sins. Acceptance of that payment allows us to leave the treadmill of trying to earn God’s favor by keeping a set of rules or tallying a list of personal achievements.
License to misbehave?
I suspect some believers today need this message as much as the Galatians did. If we let up on the rules, are we giving license to misbehave ? The question itself is an indication of a twisted view of theology. It was hard for some Jewish leaders and rabbis to accept that the kingdom of God was broader than they understood. After all, they were God’s chosen ones! They couldn’t fathom that in Christ God was constantly extending his love to all people regardless of race or tradition.
At issue in Galatians is the misunderstanding and insistence that one must first practice the ways of a good Jewish person before he could possibly be a good Christ follower. Apparently a few teachers in the church had started suggesting and even requiring that if a Gentile wanted to join the church the first requirement was circumcision. (And if somehow someone had gotten into the church without being circumcised, they needed to go back and take care of that.) Paul was startled by this reversal of protocol and reminded the believers that it takes only a few suggesting this bad doctrine before the whole church would be set back.
Paul was specific when bringing correction:
• Don’t go back to the requirements of the law as the basis of faith.
• But also don’t think that freedom in Christ means freedom to do whatever you want with your bodies.
And then Paul gave specific ways that would demonstrate believers had their theology right:
• Love your neighbor as yourself.
• Walk in the Holy Spirit.
Spirit of God or preferences of man?
The essence of Paul’s message has applied to believers of all time. If we focus on our preferences, before long we will begin to create rules and expectations for others in the kingdom of God. When we do this, we begin to move away from the teachings of Jesus. Love for all and grace for all is the Jesus way. To follow man-made faith requirements will result in us fighting over doctrine and acting superior to others because we are sure we are correct in the proper ways of God.
There is great freedom to enjoy when we are led by the Spirit of God instead of the preferences of man. Otherwise we will find ourselves arguing with a shrinking and unpleasant group of stubborn believers in the church basement while the good news is spread throughout the world.
Your time with God’s Word
Galatians 5:1, 7-9, 13-18, 25-26; John 8:31-36; 2 Corinthians 3:17 ESV
Photo by Mathias P.R. Reding from Pexels
