Living in Freedom

“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.” (Galatians 5:1).

This verse encapsulates the central message of Paul’s letter to the Galatians. In Jesus, we have been set free, and God’s desire is that we learn to live in this freedom, not letting anything lead us back into slavery.

Written by the Apostle Paul, Galatians addresses a group of churches in the region of Galatia. Historians believe that Paul himself most likely spearheaded or played a significant role in planting these churches, nurturing them in their formative stages. The book of Acts records Paul traveling throughout Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening the churches (Acts 18:23).

Paul wastes no time getting to the heart of the matter. After his initial greetings, he expresses his astonishment:

“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all.” (Galatians 1:6-7).

This sets the tone for the entire letter. Paul is deeply concerned that some are distorting the gospel by insisting that Gentile Christians must observe Jewish laws and ceremonies to be fully accepted by God. This teaching threatened to undermine the very essence of the gospel—salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not by works or by following the law.

The Gift of Grace

In the opening chapters, Paul firmly establishes his apostolic authority. He emphasises that his apostleship was not conferred on him by human beings but was given by God himself. Paul received his revelation directly from Jesus Christ and was affirmed by the other apostles. This divine commissioning gave him the authority to correct the serious errors taking root in the Galatian churches.

As an apostle—a church builder and a pioneer of the gospel—Paul was a grace gift to the church from the ascended Christ (Ephesians 4:7-11). Just as a master builder lays a solid foundation, Paul was determined that the Galatians build their faith on the unshakable foundation of grace, rather than the crumbling edifice of legalism.

Grace versus the Law

Paul does not mince words when comparing grace with the Old Testament law. For him, there is no contest. Grace has triumphed. His conviction is so strong that he challenges legalism at every opportunity. He confronts Peter for withdrawing from eating with Gentiles in deference to the law (2:12), chastises the Galatians for attempting to achieve salvation through human effort (3:3), criticizes the observance of special days and seasons (4:10), and vehemently opposes the notion that circumcision is necessary for Gentile converts (5:2).

Paul is clear that “the law was designed to last only until the coming of the child who was promised.”  (3:19). The law served a purpose in guiding God’s people until the arrival of the promised offspring — Jesus Christ. In Christ, a new and dynamic freedom has emerged, for we are now children of the promise, heirs of the blessings given to Abraham by God’s grace. As Jesus himself declared:

“If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).

Tragically, throughout church history, the same legalistic tendencies that Paul addressed in Galatia have re-emerged—rules, regulations, and systems from a bygone era that are out of step with the new covenant in Christ. Yet, God is restoring his church according to his word and teaching us to live by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Grace to the End

Paul’s message of grace resonates throughout the entire letter. He warns the Galatians that those who seek justification through the law are alienated from Christ and have fallen away from grace (5:3). He then describes the true nature of the Christian life—living by the Spirit. There is no other way to live. To be open to, filled with, and led by the Holy Spirit is the key to a fulfilled Christian life. Paul challenges and encourages us to “keep in step with the Spirit” (5:25).

In his concluding remarks, Paul underscores the central theme of the letter: “Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation” (6:15). It is not about laws or religious boundary markers. It is about new life in the Spirit and being transformed from the inside out.