Thursday - Galatians 5 - Breathing Free Air

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O far in this epistle, Paul has challenged the Galatian believers to embrace their spiritual freedom (Galatians 5:1, Colossians 2:16 & 18). Here in chapter 5 he challenges them not to bounce too far to the left though (Galatians 5:13 & 1^st Corinthians 8:9). In other words, we are not supposed to allow the rules of religious oppressors to stand between us and God. But on the other hand, we must allow God's Spirit in us to guard against the eruption of our own fleshly lusts. Unrighteous immorality is just as destructive as moralistic self-righteousness. There is a balance; a good measure of moderation; a controlled and happy medium in the golden mean of spiritual freedom. We are indeed free from the yoke of bondage (which is seen in the execution of strict justice against every infraction; also seen in the impossibility of perfection). But as we have noted previously, we are also freed from the infractions themselves. Christ gives us both forgiveness and a new nature.  We should have a new set of desires, so that while potentially we could do anything wrong without losing our salvation, it is no longer our nature to seek for the fulfillment of our fleshly desires. We now have a higher and a nobler purpose.  We are truly free.