Paul in the letter to the Galatians makes the statement that “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free” (Galatians 5:1), emphasising the point he has previously made about the nature of ‘Christian being’. His point is, we are free and not bound by law because of the freeing work of Jesus. Freedom is the nature of the Kingdom of God. We are free from the punishment we deserve because of the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus. That freedom however does not give us a right to live lawlessly.
Paul in Galatians tells the reader that by submitting to one law obligates you to all the law. If you break just one law you have broken every law. This why Paul says following the law is being a slave to the law.
But what guides us if not law? Do we not disintegrate into chaos if we as a church choose not to live by either law or even regulation. Paul’s answer to this question is – rather than ‘living by the letter of the law’ he commends us to ‘live by the Spirit’. When we do this we are guided by the principles to love God with all we have and ‘to love your neighbour as yourself’. This later principle or determination to love reminds us where the boundaries are. I believe, this is a higher standard than by living a set of laws. It’s control from within (self-control) rather than from outside of us.
Living by the Spirit is not as easily quantified or measured as living by laws. Laws in themselves are not bad but they do not necessarily mean if we live by them we are good. Laws may guide and change our external behaviour but it is by living by the Spirit that we are transformed on the inside and that changes how we live with others on the outside.
If you are not sure if you are ‘living by the Spirit’ then just look at the fruit of your life (Galatians 5: 22,23). Seek Holy Spirit discernment. Observe how your life affects those around you – are people free to be the best versions of themselves.
Mark Dewar