Hello everyone, my name is James and welcome to Tuesdays podcast.  Today our passage is Galatians 5:1-6.  The verse we’ll focus on today is v1.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

REFLECTION:

Freedom. What a time to be studying Galatians together in a day like today in a country like the UK. On the one hand we have so much freedom. On the other, some aspects of our freedom are limited. I don’t know what images conjure up in your mind when I say the word freedom. I instantly think of America. Weird that, isn’t it? Today writing this podcast, at times I do not feel particularly free. I can remember thinking, “Sometimes, I feel like a prisoner in my own home.” I don’t know if you also feel like that some days too. In our western society, freedom is often seen as being able to do whatever you want, whenever you want, how you want to do with whoever you want to do it with. By that definition I am not very free right now. The paradox is that when we live in this way, with no limits, we often don’t truly feel free or it is no good for us! You don’t need me to stress the importance (and benefits!) of boundaries – we hear that in the daily press briefings each day. Stay home, protect the NHS and save lives. Imagine again for a moment the chaos that would follow if we didn’t follow the boundaries given to us. It would be a disaster.

Anyone who works with children would tell us that real freedom needs a framework. We will come back to that.

Here is a confession, or a plea for help (take your pick): we’re coming to the end of our chocolate stockpile from Easter. By all accounts, it was a good haul this year from our 4 month old and our 2 year old. Lucy and I have enjoyed it. Please don’t judge us. Our children are small and they live rent free. Their Grandparents especially sent through a very generous care package. We got into the routine of rewarding our 2 year old with a small Lindt Chocolate Rabbit if he eats all of his evening meal. Our wise phased release of the chocolate has resulted in our eldest requesting a “chocolate babbit” with a cheeky smile at each mealtime morning, noon and night. Absolute chancer. Imagine for a moment he got unlimited freedom. I imagine it wouldn’t take him very long to take on the equivalent of the entire cast of Watership down in Lindt ‘chocolate babbits‘. He would eventually become sick and it certainly would not be good for him or us. The illustration teaches us a simple lesson – real freedom needs a framework to be free in! Without a plan, without boundaries, freedom becomes chaos.

Paul’s teaching in today’s Bible verses is all about freedom. The ‘plan’ he says is the gospel message and that real freedom comes through Jesus Christ. Not through observance of the law or by the sign of circumcision. Remember the reflection yesterday, no one is ‘born free’ but that to be really free, we need to be ‘born again’ and as we receive this gift from God by faith, this freedom changes everything.

Remember how we started this reflection with freedom needs a framework. The Christian life is not a life of coded formula. We do not have rules to follow to earn our right standing with God. Alternatively, it is not the life of any-thing-goes. We have a framework, an example laid out for us is the life of Jesus. Like a trellis for a plant – for those who have waited long enough in the B&Q queues to remember what they look like.

What today’s verses lead us to is this: freedom is not being able to go any place, with any body and do any thing we please. Freedom is knowing with certainty that we are right with God and so we become who we were made to be. People who love God and people who love people. The choice was laid out for us yesterday, we must choose a path – Jesus or the law. Either Jesus won our freedom on the cross or we must observe the law and earn our freedom. This does not make the laws bad. The laws in the Bible are good and wise. They can be summarised by Love your God and Love your neighbour. But within ourselves we do not have the power to obey them. The Good News is: Jesus has fulfilled the laws on our behalf. Now he lives in us through the Spirit. Making us into humans who go on to love others. We are going to look at how the Spirit of God transforms us over the next few days.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

The answers do not lie in the past or old habits. The answers are not internal, some power or fortitude you need to discover within yourself. The framework for freedom is found by faith in Jesus.

I don’t know if you feel particularly “free” today. We do not need to despair. We can have hope.  These restriction are temporary. They will be lifted one day. Our freedom is eternal. For ever, for all who have faith in Jesus Christ.

Let’s finish this reflection today by hearing v5 & 6 read aloud. It summarises beautifully all that we are trying to think about:

For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope.  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

PRAYER:

Thank you God that you have set us free. Free from all guilt and shame that we may experience when measuring ourselves up against each other or against any law. Thank you for Jesus, his love and his example. Help us to be patient and trust your timing with all things. In Jesus name, Amen.

BIBLE READING: Galatians 5:1-6

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is required to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.