Freedom In Christ=LOVE

Galatians 5:1-6, 13-14 (Message Bible)

“1 Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you. 2 I am emphatic about this. The moment any one of you submits to circumcision or any other rule-keeping system, at that same moment Christ's hard-won gift of freedom is squandered.  3 I repeat my warning: The person who accepts the ways of circumcision trades all the advantages of the free life in Christ for the obligations of the slave life of the law. 4 I suspect you would never intend this, but this is what happens. When you attempt to live by your own religious plans and projects, you are cut off from Christ, you fall out of grace. 5 Meanwhile we expectantly wait for a satisfying relationship with the Spirit. 6 For in Christ, neither our most conscientious religion nor disregard of religion amounts to anything. What matters is something far more interior: faith expressed in love.  .  .

13 It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows. 14 For everything we know about God's Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That's an act of true freedom.”

In Galatians, Paul invites us to consider the truest sense of freedom. While we in the United States rightly value the liberties afforded to us in our Imperfect Union; we who believe in Jesus Christ are in pursuit of a freedom not contained by geography; nor bound to restrictive patriotism. 

As we strive to love like Christ, we will with determination demonstrate an uncompromising love for God and others. We will reject freedom afforded to some while denied to others.  Doing so we ensure these promises of freedom will have the same meaning for everyone:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,

that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,

that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

True freedom is not merely measured by what we are allowed to do; rather, true freedom is expressed when we choose to love without restrictions. Loving everyone - regardless of class, religion, political affiliation, educational attainment, sexual orientation, native land, race, marital status, physical appearance, etc, in both word and deed!

Let’s redefine and expand our understanding of freedom in Jesus' terms – we are free when:

 “But through love become slaves to one another.”

Galatians 5:13b (NRSV)

 “Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows.”

Galatians 5:13b (Message Bible)

Each day let us pray that we all will embrace the freedom for all – “For in Christ, neither our most conscientious religion nor disregard of religion amounts to anything. What matters is something far more interior: faith expressed in love.”

 -- 

Inspired By Love,

Marcus J. Singleton
Lead Pastor
Living Faith Community

Hoover, AL

Our Vision: "A diverse community of faith; inspired by the love of Jesus, committed to becoming and making disciples".