Freedom from Bondage

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”  Galatians 5:1

The major subject of the book of Galatians is the freedom that is found in Christ.  Paul was trying to convince those Christians that were being misled by some folks called Judaizers who came into their church and were trying to convince them that they were not truly saved unless they returned to the law.  However, Paul, in his letter to the Galatian church, emphasized the futility of believers placing themselves under bondage to the law when they have been set free from the law’s curse because of their relationship to Christ.  The law was originally given by God to show men and women their sin, but could do nothing to relieve them from the guilt and bondage to sin, in effect, becoming a curse to them since it was impossible to follow the law perfectly.  No matter how hard they tried to obey every “jot and tittle” of God’s law handed down from Him to Moses, they were doomed to fail.  Jesus Christ was the only One who could fulfill the law perfectly and thus the only One who could save them from the law’s curse through His shed blood on the cross.

Paul urged the Galatian believers to disregard the intimidation and influence of the Judaizers and to stand up for the truth of the gospel that they had previously received and embraced which gave them freedom from the bondage of the law.  He referred to the law’s bondage as a “yoke” like that of a harness which oxen wore to make them co-operate in their duties as beasts of burden.  We might think of this bondage as a “ball and chain” which prisoners wore to keep them from running away, or handcuffs used to restrain one who is arrested for a crime.  God’s law arrests and convicts the sinner, like these restraining devices and the ensuing trial, and can do nothing to provide escape from punishment.  Only Christ, by His sinless sacrifice, can offer us acquittal for our sins of which we are certainly guilty.

The question we could ask today is why folks desire to be under bondage?  In the book of Jeremiah, the people of Judah had become so rebellious and disobedient to God, turning to the worship of idols, and believing that God was OK with that.  He sent prophets, among them Jeremiah, to warn them that if they didn’t repent and return to Him, then they would suffer death or captivity by one of their major enemies.  However, either they didn’t believe that God would actually punish them, or they didn’t care.  They may have seen this as going from one God to another god, not realizing the danger of putting their lives in the hands of an enemy.  We see this taking place today.  Why do folks want to be controlled by people, government, or other entities which have no real concern or caring for those under their thumb?  The main factor that leads people to depend upon governmental leaders to protect and provide for them is a lack of trust in God.  This was Israel’s and Judah’s situation.

When an individual or a nation decides that God can no longer be trusted to give them protection and provisions or when they no longer believe that He even exists, then they turn to man to lead and show them the way.  The problem is that men and women can’t do what God does.  Everything that sustains life is from His hand.  If He removes His hand of protection and provision, then everything comes to a standstill.  The world and everything in it doesn’t exist without God.  When folks relinquish their lives to a group or government of people who are only seeking control and power over the masses for the building up of their own egos, then those who depend on them are at their mercy, and mercy is usually sorely lacking among power hungry folks along with love, peace, and patience.  There is never a good ending when folks turn their backs upon God and seek refuge with men and women who claim to have their best interests at heart but are really only wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15).  Whenever folks make government their god, they make themselves slaves to men and women.  If the government provides, it can also take away.  How much better to be a free child of King Jesus Christ than a slave to men.