Paul writes something a little strange in Galatians.
It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. (Gal 5:1)Think about that. "Christ set us free!" For what? "For freedom!" Um ... really? Freedom for freedom's sake? Sort of ... yes. He contrasts it with "slavery." What slavery? Well ... the Law. He talks about circumcision (Gal 5:2-4) and how dependence on circumcision for salvation cuts them off from Christ. Instead, "Through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness" (Gal 5:5). So what is freedom about for Paul? "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another" (Gal 5:13). Interesting. It's not for anarchy ... no rules. Paul's freedom is the freedom to love and serve. Freedom in Paul's vernacular is the freedom to do what we ought. So, he says, "Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh" (Gal 5:16).
We think of freedom as the ability to do whatever we want. Biblical freedom is the ability to do what we should do. Like salvation, it is a product of faith and the Spirit (Gal 5:5). It isn't freedom to sin (Gal 5:16-21), but the freedom to blossom (Gal 5:22-23). "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit" (Gal 5:24-25). A completely different kind of freedom ... for which we have been set free.
6 comments:
I listen to Michael Knowles about news and culture. He's Catholic, so his position in salvation I don't agree with, but when he is talking about American freedom, he argues just as you did here, freedom is not to be free to do what we want, but to do what we ought.
The problem is that as a culture, we have lost any sense of oughtness any given into desire and hedonism.
I well recall the joy I experienced many decades ago when I learned from God’s Word that I could be free from bondage to works-based efforts to please God; the relief I felt through ending the striving to be a good person in my own strength was real. Later in my Christian journey, when I learned that I was free from “the law” but then indebted to love and serve others (Gal. 5:13), it almost seemed like a requirement to take on an even more oppressive yoke. Loving the unlovable people all around me (including those “prickly people” we all are “blessed” to know) seemed much more difficult than the religious activity I pursued in years past. How was this liberty--i.e. freedom from rules and regulations? But then I learned that the Holy Spirit would enable me to love others, and I would experience the joy of obedience to God as I put others before myself. It is a new kind of “religious activity” (James 2:22-27) for me but one that fulfills the law of God (Gal. 5:14). So my freedom in Christ has brought me full circle in my desire to please God, as I walk by the Spirit and “do what [I] ought,” as you say.
I heard it first from R.C. Sproul, but then found in ... Paul ... so I switched sources. シ
Lorna, I agree, and I also appreciate that Jesus said that those who are forgiven most love most.
Interestingly, a quick search online attributed the quote, “Liberty [or freedom] is not the right to do what we like but what we ought” (give or take a few minor word adjustments), to Lord Acton, “Pope John Paul II,” as well as Abraham Lincoln! (Like Stan, I’ll go with the Apostle Paul!)
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