Galatians 5:1;13-16 - Serve One Another
1)For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. 13) For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters, only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become enslaved to one another. 14) For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15) If, however, you bite and devour one another take care that you are not consumed by one another. 16) Live by the Spirit, I say and do not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Where was Galatia? That is a problem. In 25BCE the Romans created a new imperial province called Galatia. It included the original kingdom of Galatia and extended southward to include portions of six other regions including the cities of Antioch, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe. Much of the region would be included in what we now know as Turkey and portions of Greece. Was this letter addressed to one particular church or to all the churches in the region? We don’t know.
What was the issue that led to this letter? Wherever the churches to which this letter was addressed were located, Paul was furious with them! Apparently some legalistic Jewish-Christians had been stirring up trouble. The issue for them was circumcision. They believed that to be a Christian one must first become circumcised. Paul saw this as a first step back into the full requirements of the law. The issue for him was Justification (how people are saved). The Jewish Christians said that Christ (grace) and circumcision (law-keeping) gave one right standing before God. Paul maintains that it is Christ alone who does that. The bulk of the letter makes the argument that we are free in Christ from the bondage of the law. In today’s passage, Paul is very much concerned about the judgmental and fractious spirit that has grown up in the church. People are taking sides and talking badly about each other. He will have no more of it! Here he is saying quite simply that if people are truly touched by the Spirit they should act like it and work together in such a way that the world can see that Jesus and his teaching actually mean something. Freedom does not mean license.
Word Study
Vs. 1 – for freedom – this was a technical word used in the transactions that were done to free actual slaves. In the Greek there is an article with the word freedom which makes clear that it is not freedom in the general sense in which we use the word that is meant here. Paul is talking about a particular kind of freedom which is the result of having been made right before God by Jesus.
Stand fast – refuse to be swayed or turn back. We are saved by Christ, but human will plays a role in living rightly and enjoying the freedom Christ bought for us.
Yoke of slavery – refers to the practice of keeping the rules of the law out of fear of punishment or in order to gain approval or blessing.
Vs. 13 – freedom – the kind of freedom Paul speaks of stands between the extremes of legalism and indulgence. We are free but not without limits. We cannot just do anything we want, simply because we know we are, and can continue to be forgiven.
Opportunity – literally –a point from which to launch
Self-indulgence – behavior which results from the assumption that anything we want is right.
Slaves – This concept is one of the most difficult for modern readers to understand because we can see nothing but horror and oppression in the term. For Paul, and for many of the NT writers, this is a positive term. In this context, it means choosing (the choice is key!) not to force our will upon one another.
Vs. 14 – Law – The law was always a gift from God. It was what we did with it that was the problem. The intention of the Law is to provide guidance for how to live an ideal human life in relationship to others and to God. Paul does not dispute the value of that. In fact, here he sums up the Law, as Jesus did. The law equals loving service.
Summed up – fulfilled, complete, accomplished
Love – the active choosing to be for another, showing respect, benevolence, serving. For Paul the return of love was not a requirement, but it was desired. Love is a result of intimacy with God and is not driven by fear or desire for gain.
Neighbor – for Paul this included all people.
Love your neighbor as yourself – It is important for understanding this text to see that this call is to love the neighbor neither more, nor less than self. There is a mutuality even in service which presupposes that we will care rightly for ourselves.
Vs. 15 – bite and devour – These are words from jungle battles. The implication is that to enter into this kind of behavior results in no winners. All are destroyed. Paul sees the Galatian Christians behavior as mutually assured destruction.
Vs. 16 – Live by the Spirit – or in the Spirit. Paul is talking about living totally in the environment of the Holy Spirit, alongside as a companion, in full view of, surrounded and upheld by, in accordance with, by the power of. Paul knew that there was a new supernatural power for living that was available to all who chose to live in the Spirit. According to Paul, the Holy Spirit (not slavery to the law) will bring about holy life by changing us over time through consistent contact.
Desires – this is a very powerful word which refers to that upon which our whole inner drive is set so that we expend all of our energy to obtain and enjoy it. This is not just our casual wants.
Of the flesh – this ancient term does not just refer to the physical aspects of life but connotes all of human beings sinful impulses, tendencies and inclinations.
Questions for Personal Reflection
- What are the “have to” things in your life which you feel you must do in order to feel good about yourself? Are those things truly good for you? Are they consistent with God’s values? Do they rule your decisions and priorities in ways that shut God out? Do they become ends to themselves?
- To whom or to what do you give yourself? How might God be calling you to new levels of love and service in your home? Neighborhood? Workplace? City? Church? School?
- How is your love of neighbor concretely expressed?
- How is your love of self concretely expressed?
- What are the behaviors which damage self and relationships with which you struggle most? Ask the Holy Spirit to surround you and help you.
- From their interactions with you, what might non-believers conclude about the value and power of Christ in your life?