Galatians 5:13 Use Your Freedom to Love, Not to Sin

Galatians 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

That the freedom that Christians have in Christ could easily be misconstrued as an opportunity to do whatever the sinfulness that still dwells within us, being still in an unperfected state, is evident and a real challenge in Scripture. Paul had to address this first hand with the Corinthians (see 1 Corinthians 5, for example), and also in his letter to the Romans where he writes, “as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?” And Paul says again, “For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?” (Romans 5:21-6:2, 6:14-16)

While we are free in Christ (free from the outward demands of the written Law, not the inward demands of our consciences toward God—as we have the Law written upon our hearts, if we have truly been regenerated (cf. Jeremiah 31:31-34)), we must not allow this freedom to give sin an opportunity. Sin still dwells in us (though it has been defeated and is slowly being eradicated) and so is always seeking an opportunity to do what it desires—which is utterly contrary to the desires of God (and our desires being regenerate—cf. Romans 7:14-25). This is the issue; do not give sin an opportunity in the name of freedom. This takes on many forms. We often say we are free in Christ, and seek to use this as an excuse to do what is clearly sin. Such an example is speeding (Romans 13:1-2). How easy it is to say, “I have to be to work; God will understand; I have freedom in Christ.” This is not the case. You are deliberately disobeying the God-ordained authorities. You are sinning. Do not “turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh.”

So how are you to use your freedom, dear Christian? Use freedom to serve one another in love. Freedom, from sin, guilt, and having to follow codes of conduct, give us the ability to serve our fellow Christians (in the context that is whom Paul is speaking of, so we should especially serve other Christians) and others (nonChristians). You have the freedom to serve others and in the process we are serving God. If we mess up, that is okay; the mess up is not held against you. You can now love others as you have been loved, since you have been given the example of God’s love for you in Christ (cf. Romans 5:8, Luke 7:47). You have been forgiven much (if you do not think so, take a moment to contemplate your own sinfulness). Therefore, you have been freed to love much. Do not use your freedom from guilt, sin, and condemnation to gratify the desires of your sinful flesh. This will only make you a “slave to sin.” Rather, use your freedom in a truly liberating way to be a “slave to righteousness,” loving others, which will truly honor God.