Where is freedom to be free?
Who keeps every promise?
Where does the good we share come from?
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. Galatians 1:3-5
God Almighty is pure; the only source of everything trustworthy, good and just. God’s moral perfection—the very goodness of His creation—is His design. The Gospel of Jesus is vital for life eternal.
God’s commands are extremely helpful in life, yet following His standards
perfectly isn’t possible, nor does it earn a ticket out of hell. Explaining sin for what it is, the law portion of the Bible exposes many types of temptations we come up against and defines the magnitude of our failures:
- the good that we fall short of saying, doing and thinking
- the unhealthy, damaging, prideful things we say, carry out and hold in our minds
No fraction of doing it right contributes; it’s not an option. Since we were conceived and born in sin, into a world
cursed because of sin, the law was given because of our sin, not the
other way around. Scripture serves our just God’s loving purpose to wake us up and give us exactly what we need: escape in Christ. The negative consequences of the curse are hard to bear for all
people. Each and every single sin is evil in God’s eyes—He hates evil. The Heavenly Father loves us so much that He designed a Way out from the despair and ruin of being under the weight of everything gone wrong. All who believe, rest in the fact He gave up His Only Son to remove sin, death and the power of the devil.
- Unbelievers, living their best life here and now, later will severely suffer forever. Eternal punishment is real—we can’t ignore hell just because we don’t like the idea of a dark place where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Unbelievers don’t confess their sin and ask for forgiveness; they either deny they are sinning or try to make up for it by doing good.
- Believers, redeemed in Christ, have confidence the best is yet to come, eternally. Led by the Spirit, the faith given them is strengthened, as often as they hear the Word, to trust Jesus who lived perfectly, suffered, died in the place of all who cannot be perfect, rose and ascended to heaven; the work God the Father gave His Son in order to lift the curse and free sinners. By grace, undeserving believers can confess their sin, ask for forgiveness and be rewarded life everlasting.
Focusing
on the restrictive aspect of the law distorts the Gospel of Jesus. If it were possible we were good enough to earn a relationship with God, which we aren’t, we wouldn’t need Jesus. Saying we have to do something to be saved is
like having the audacity to say Jesus didn’t suffer enough.
Who inherits the blessings promised in Christ Jesus?
The Holy
Spirit continually leads those in genuine faith through the Gospel.
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but
Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by
faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”… But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. … for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Galatians 3:13,22, 26-27
How can I confidently believe the Gospel promise?
Being baptized into Christ is to be completely clothed in His righteousness by adoption. The baptismal means of grace through faith that happens to us
is the basis for assurance. There’s a unity created in baptism for
all sinners. For Christ’s sake the world has been forgiven. Christ justifies by faith through His Word. He bore the curse of the law, in our stead, so
that we are free from it. We are certain God deeply loves, knows and sees His baptized children through the lens of His Son Jesus who died to save us.
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father! Galatians 4:4-6
Everyone’s natural inclination is to resist God or think there is more to being saved than simply receiving the gift. It is not us—it’s the Holy Spirit revealing Truth, faithfully creating hope and continually refreshing the life of believers as they are routinely drawn to read and hear His Word; seeing salvation by tasting and having fellowship in The Lord’s Supper.
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. … For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. Galatians 5:1,5
What happens when we belittle or discard the Word of God?
To drop opportunities to seek, trust and draw near God in worship, puts faith at risk of being lost. To reject and refuse Christ is to declare God’s promises null and void for oneself. There’s an eternal penalty for abusing the faith by rejecting the gift of the Holy Spirit.
How do we compassionately care about people; stop being petty and argumentative about everything?
But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. Christ’s work on the cross belongs to everyone. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Galatians 5:15-18
Where’s motivation to step into freedom to love which is ours in Christ?
Inspiration is in the Word. Blessings of worshiping together—prayer, listening to sermons, singing meaningful hymns and studying the Bible—bring joy in remembrance that we depend, not on ourselves, but on Jesus who said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14)
Galatians 5:22-23
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| But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 |
And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:24
Fruit of the Spirit is catered for you by Christ Jesus—the substitute for sinners.
People claim excellent virtues and demand them from others. However, careful inspection of our own fruit, in light of knowing that even one slip-up or inadequacy separates us from God, makes clear we deserve to be cut off and thrown away. We’re desperately in need of a Savior to make us clean and grow toward the Light.
Jesus taught people about goodness. He knew we can’t live up to His Father’s expectations. He was born to experience the evils of humanity, die by crucifixion and rise from the grave so that we may also. Perfectly, he said “no” to temptation and
“yes” to becoming sin, taking our penalty to remove every mark, bruise and scar we’ve ever caused or taken from another. He finished everything needed to redeem all people of all time. Our Creator’s innocence and
suffering at the cross is the center point where He atoned for the sin of the world and provides opportunity for new life made right in connection to faith in Him. You could see it like the stem of bananas connected to the stalk that feeds the fruit to grow and share essential nutrients that enhance heart health, help manage blood pressure, and boost a person’s mood. Our Creator supplies saving faith in His Word. Repentance and all the benefits of the Holy Spirit give purpose to the lives of all who believe and share it. Christ loves to hear from us and bless us with grace. He intercedes for us with our Heavenly Father so that we may be delivered from guilt of all our junk—selfish passion for power, greed, jealousy, impure desire and discontent.
Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. Galatians 5:26
How much do I need to do and how do I know I’ve done enough?
Salvation is 100 percent by faith in Jesus (nothing more, nothing less). Although there’s nothing anyone
can do to be saved, the faith doesn’t clear us to indulge in whatever sin we want. Being led by the Spirit, faithful believers want to please God and are grieved over sin. Repentance is the freedom Truth
supplies.
Living by faith in Christ is blessed by proper focus on the fruit He serves, by grace, now and
forever with Him. Trust in God’s promises carries us past the past and through rough terrain, even death. There’s peace and joy in the walk that receives and appreciates pardon. According to God’s Word, we take in Christ’s body and blood for forgiveness and strength to grow, mature and multiply love.
Faith in Jesus constantly steers us away from temptation to fall from grace by returning to
the slavery of self-trust, wrongfully thinking we must earn God’s favor as the way to salvation. Without faith in Jesus, our insufficient best effort results in doubt, shame and division from freedom.
As tension and hard times come, faith comforts and trusts
Christ’s presence in this life. Hope clings to the patience Christ supplies until the Last Day arrives when everyone will see Jesus face-to-face. He promised to return and—separated from unbelievers—believers will remain with Him in the new creation for a great banquet in a house with many rooms, glorifying God, never again to have tears, sin and death.
Faith which recognizes God’s sole authority to judge, says “yes” to every ounce of His mercy.
The taste of bitterness is manipulative, punishing, blaming and grudge-holding; puts self above God. By faith, generous measures of repentance and mercy are supplied for each chaotic annoyance, failure and unrecognized sin. Abundant love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are the fruit received from Jesus and gracefully shared. Gratitude enhances the deliciousness God feeds those who receive the Holy Spirit’s sweet faith in Christ’s work to pick up all who’ve fallen to the ground, spoiled rotten. Opportunities grasped by faith’s strength, forgive and pray for the hurting as well as those who hurt others.
Pray for self-control to not let faith go to your head and escape through carelessness.
The struggle
for personal accountability continues daily; so is need to repent and be reminded of God’s mercy. Arrogantly pointing, comparing and bullying others keep us from contentment. Discontent prevents humbly serving God by loving others unconditionally. Self-isolation by establishing estrangement prevents others from sharing God’s love with us.
For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Galatians 6:3
Justice for sin has fallen on compassionate Jesus.
Jesus brings undeserved peace. He doesn’t blow-off, trap, complicate, unsettle or hate like people do. By grace, honesty about our own great personal needs invites our Savior to tend and nourish meaningful relationships. Focusing on what Jesus has done for us makes it possible to love, thank and praise God who desires us to be trustworthy and vulnerable about our dependency on Jesus so we can be a light to help others who also struggle. There’s no condemnation for those who cling to Christ. God trains people to gratefully spread their joy which comes from the forgiveness Christ provides.
But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. Galatians 6:4-6
The Spirit of Truth supports and gently restores believers in Christ from damage and threat caused by fault and failing. Faith encourages being cautious about falling for Satan’s constant lies and temptations to fall from the grace which trusts Christ. Jesus sees and knows every detail of life as a human in this world. He bears our burdens, hearing prayers of repentance as well as prayers of caring for those who hurt us. To release resentment, Jesus draws us close with forgiveness, comfort, protection and peace. Faith motivates moving forward in Truth—thankfully, lovingly, purposely listening—receiving discernment and opportunities to love one another according to grace given.
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:9-10
Everyone needs the kindness of Christ’s simple and gentle freedom.
The Holy Spirit
opens minds to desire Truth. A humble fruitful way of life means responsibly digging into Scripture for
growth and learning to wildly love others. Participating in healthy relationships involves willingness to be loved and
receive fruit of the Spirit as well as share life loving each other. Trust not self, things, or others—trust Jesus
who has all authority deserving praise and glory. Loving God, all things work together for good according to his purpose.
Go to church and sing it!
Almighty Father, bless the Word
Which through Your grace we now have heard.
Oh, may the precious seed take root,
Spring up, and bear abundant fruit!
Lutheran Service Book 923
Juicy, fruity, tasty food for thought
