Pastor Mikes Daily Devotion Friday September 19, 2014 Galatians 5:1, Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. What, therefore, is the word therefore there for? The Apostle Paul is linking together his illustration of the previous chapter with the point he wants to make in this chapter. In chapter four he used the Old Testament account of Abrahams sons, Isaac and Ishmael, to illustrate the reality of the passing of the Law and the coming of the age of grace. But just as we are not to go back to the Law; we are also not to go back to our old manner of living. There are two main points in this verse with the context being our salvation. First, we are to stand fast and secondly, we are to do so in our liberty or our freedom. Since we have right standing before God through grace and not works, we can stand fast or stop attempting to work for Gods favor or trying to increase Gods favor. What we have been liberated from is that which has plagued us all of our lives, our sinful nature. If you are born again then God has justified you or chosen to see you just as if you have never sinned. There is now nothing more that you can do to gain greater favor. So keep in mind the cost of this favor, we obtained it freely, but it came at the great cost of Christ upon the cross. Since we have been given an internal life of righteousness may we now prove it through an outward life of holiness. The quality and quantity of your Christian character is that which will set you apart from non-Christians. As we have achieved liberty by grace, we then have the choice to use it to glorify God or to satisfy ourselves. What does your character say about what God has done in your life? Galatians 5:13, For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
Posted on: Fri, 19 Sep 2014 16:42:46 +0000
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