Thy Strong Word – Galatians 5:1-15: Free in Christ; Free to serve in love.

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Rev. Jacob Heine of Faith Lutheran Church in Topeka, KS joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Galatians 5:1-15.

“For freedom Christ has set us free.”  Paul brings strong words to remind the Galatians, and us, that our confidence is in Christ, not in anything else.  To trust in anything else is to be severed from the LORD Himself.  This freedom we have on account of Christ grants us the opportunity to serve, love, and care for others.  As Christ first loved us, in love we serve one another.  “Lord Jesus, as You have set us free from sin, death, and the power of the devil, help us to use our freedom to serve others founded in Your love.  Lord have mercy.  Amen”

Thy Strong Word reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two LCMS pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations.

Thy Strong Word is hosted by Rev. Brady Finnern, pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Sartell, MN, and graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation.

Galatians 5:1-15

Christ Has Set Us Free

5 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

2 Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. 3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. 4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified[a] by the law; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

7 You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion is not from him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. 11 But if I, brothers,[b] still preach[c] circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. 12 I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!

13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

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Footnotes

Galatians 5:4 Or counted righteous

Galatians 5:11 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 13

Galatians 5:11 Greek proclaim

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. esv.org