Galatians 5:13
For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
Truth to Learn
We have been set free from the penalty of sin. We have not been set free to sin as much as we want.
Behind the Words
The verb translated “have been called” is expressed in the Greek aorist tense, meaning past action that occurred at a point in time. Hence, it is best translated as “you were called.”
“Liberty” is translated from the Greek word eleutheria, which is a form of eleutheros meaning “a person who is free to go wherever he wants to go,” that is to say, someone who is not a slave but a free person. This form of the word refers to the property of not being bound and able to move about. It is probably best translated here as “freedom.”
The word translated “opportunity” is from a form of aphormē, which is made up of apo, meaning “from or away from” and hormē, meaning “a sudden rushing forward.” Hence, this word literally means a “rushing forward away from something.” More specifically, it is a reference to the point away from which someone is rushing, that is to say, a starting point. As a starting point for further action it is sometimes translated as “an opportunity,” as in the current verse.
The word translated “serve” is douleuete. This is derived from the word doulos, meaning “a bond servant” or “a slave.” The word in this verse is expressed in the imperative mood indicating a command. So Paul is saying, “Be a slave for each other!”
Meaning Explained
Christian liberty, or freedom, is a concept that is quite misunderstood within the church today. Paul has put forth great effort of thought and persuasion to instruct the Galatian Christians that they are not bound by the requirements of the Law of Moses and that keeping the law does not add to salvation, but detracts from it. The law binds those who try to keep it and we Christians are free from this servitude.
He tells us here that when we were called to salvation, we were called to freedom, not slavery. The cross of Christ has freed us from the bondage of the law. We are not to use our freedom from the requirements of the Law of Moses, however, as a starting point to go off and satisfy our fleshly desires in whatever manner we want.
Unfortunately, that’s how some of the early Christians viewed this freedom and how some view it today. They believe that since all our sins are paid for, we can indulge our fleshly desires and not worry about it, but according to Paul, that is most definitely wrong. Our freedom is not to be expressed through our lascivious living, but through our voluntary servitude to one another as an expression of our love.
Application
We may be free from the law, but with that freedom we are to voluntarily become a servant to our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Christ volunteered His precious blood for your sins. Have you volunteered yourself as His servant in return?
In God’s service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2008 Will Krause. All rights reserved.
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