Learning from Galatians: Freedom and the Flesh

Galatians 5:13-15 – “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.  For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.”

“Freedom” is a frequent word in the New Testament, but many misunderstand its meaning and context.  Words like this have a variety of different meanings depending on the context.  We refer to retail items as “free” if there is no price or cost.  We sometimes refer to countries as “free” if they are democratic.  As a legal term, it has still other meanings.  We even use the word sometimes to refer to personal behavior that is uninhibited – laughing freely (heartily), speaking freely (without politeness or decorum), and so forth.

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