Freedom in Christ

I've been reading through the book of Galatians and last week I came across chapter five and a  verse stuck out to me.
Galatians 5:13, "For you were called to be free."
That one part, those seven letters, hold such a beautiful truth. The context of this verse is Paul writing to the churches of Galatia and he's telling them that they were made to be free. He's telling them that by God's grace they are saved. He's asking them why they would turn back to worthless things instead of turning to God.
It's strange, that while you're free you would go back to what enslaved you. But isn't that what we do at times? We resort to the worthless, temporary things of the flesh for enjoyment that lasts for but a fleeting moment.
Galatians 5:1, "For freedom, Christ set us free. Stand firm then and don't submit again to a yoke of slavery."
Wow. For freedom, Christ set us free. When Jesus died on the cross He took upon Himself all the sins of the world - yours and mine - to set us free. He rose again, conquering death, and He's alive today. He set us free for freedom. We should rejoice in the freedom we have from the bondage of sin - not go back to it.

Isaiah 52:1-2, "Stand up, shake the dust off yourself! Take your seat, Jerusalem. Remove the bonds from your neck, captive Daughter Zion.” For this is what the Lord says: “You were sold for nothing, and you will be redeemed without silver.”"
Even though we're free then at times we sit in our filth, in our sin and chains. But we've been redeemed! We are to stand up and shake the dust off of ourselves and start living the way we were meant to - free.

Galatians 4:7, "So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then God has made you an heir."

Ephesians 1:4-6, "For He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted through Jesus Christ for Himself, according to His favor and will,  to the praise of His glorious grace that He favored us with in the Beloved."

Those two verses say that we're no longer slaves, but children of God. If you are in Christ then you've been adopted into His family. In love He predestined us to be adopted.

Galatians 4:9, "But now, since you know God, or rather have become known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elements? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again?"
Often we picture idols as gold or silver statues that you'd bow down and worship .... but idols come in so many different forms. Idols are anything or anyone in your life that you put before God. Those things we try to cling to will let us down, they are worthless. But God has set us free and He's waiting for us to run back to His open arms.
Idols can come in the form of friends, books, writing, music, TV, sports, and so many other things. While some of those things aren't necessary bad then they are when we put them before God.
Don't run back to what enslaved you, but instead run to Him who saved you.

If you've accepted Jesus into your heart then your former self has been crucified with Christ.
Galatians 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me."

We weren't made to be enslaved to sin, or to sit around in our broken chains, not accepting the freedom we have in Christ. We were made to be free. So let's stand up, shake the dust off ourselves, and live in the freedom we have in Jesus Christ!

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What's your favorite verse in Galatians? What's your favorite Bible verse about freedom in Christ? In what ways do you think we go back to what enslaved us? Any other thoughts?
Feel free to leave a comment below! I'd love to hear from you.


Luke 4:18, "The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed,"

John 8:36, "Therefore, if the Son sets you free, you really will be free."