Galatians 5:13-15 – The Slave-Making Gospel

© Eric M Schumacher – Preached May 8, 2011 at Northbrook Baptist Church, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Audio available here. (Suggested resource: Galatians, Thomas Schreiner)

What do you think of when you hear the word freedom? We live in a nation that values freedom, though few of its citizens understands what freedom is. Too often freedom is thought of as the freedom to do whatever we want, to fulfill any desire we may have. And, if you read the newspaper or watch the news, you will find multiple examples of how wrong understandings of freedom become destructive to individuals and to a people as a whole.

The freedom of the Christian is at the heart of what it means to be saved. And yet, it is a tricky subject. Martin Luther, in his treatise “The Freedom of a Christian,” wrote, “A Christian man is the most free lord of all, and subject to none, a Christian man is the most dutiful servant of all, and subject to every one.”

We will see this morning that, as believers, in Christ, we have been set free. But we must note: We are set free to become something, not anything.

Review

In 5:1, Paul had issued his rousing exhortation and call to freedom: “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Christ has set them free from the Law—as their guardian, as what has increased and imprisoned them in sin, and from its condemnation. They are free.

But, as we saw in verses 2-6, they have been tempted by false teachers to submit to the slavery of the law through receiving circumcision, and obligating themselves to do the Law. If this happens, then Christ’s work will be of no benefit.

In our last passage, verses 7-12, Paul expressed his confidence that they would listen to him and extended his warning about the danger of these false teachers.

In those verses, Paul intimates that the false teaching has begun to have its effect. He asks: “Who has hindered you from obeying the truth.” They are becoming a disobedient people.

In our passage, we get another indication that the Galatians churches are characterized by ungodly living, particularly in the realm of their relationships with one another. We know from things said earlier—such as Paul’s comment on them observing “days and months and seasons and years” that he appears to have good information on what is happening in the Galatians churches.

In verse 15, Paul writes, “But if you are biting and you are devouring one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.” The way that sentence is written is a construction that assumes the reality of the situation described. Like venomous snakes and wild beasts, they are biting and devour one another, tearing one another apart—probably through their speech to and about one another.

This sort of behavior is simply unacceptable to Paul. He opened the letter praying for “grace and peace” from “the Lord Jesus Christ who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age.” But, they have begun to live like they belong to the present evil age, and not to Christ.

And so, Paul must correct this. We enter what is sometimes called the “ethical” or “exhortation” portion of Galatians, where Paul begins to give practical application to the doctrine he has laid out in the first four chapters.

How We Should Live in Freedom

Next week, we are going to look at the consequences of living in freedom versus living in slavery to the flesh. In our text this morning, we will see two truths about the purpose of freedom, followed by some questions for examining our hearts and applying them.

1) Freedom in Christ is not to be used as an opportunity to be enslaved to the flesh.

Paul writes, “For you were called to freedom, brothers,” reminding them of the purpose for which Christ set them free.  Freedom here refers to freedom from the Law. Their calling includes freedom from worrying about whether or not they are observing the Mosaic Law.

Then Paul adds a qualification: “Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh.”

The word “opportunity” was used sometimes for a base of operations for a military endeavor, a jumping off point.

“The flesh” does not refer to the physical body. Paul does not view the physical body as being evil, in opposition to the spirit, which is good. Rather, “the flesh” is used in a negative ethical sense. “The flesh” refers to man's present human condition in opposition to the Spirit. It is man as he belongs to “this present evil age.” It is human nature under the control of sin.

Paul is saying that our freedom in Christ is not to be distorted and twisted into license to be immoral, unethical, wicked and sinful people.  Often, when people hear the word “freedom,” they assume it means permission to do whatever they want. Therefore, if you have a sinful desire, you are free to indulge it.

We must be careful that our freedom does not lead us into bondage to sin. Jesus said in John 8:34, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.” Giving into the natural desires of the depraved human nature is not freedom; it is slavery. It is destructive.

And that is what we used to be, Paul says in Titus 3:3, “For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.”

But when we've come to Christ in faith and been given the Spirit, we have been set free from that! Instead of being in bondage to sin, we are free to be conformed into the image of Christ. We are free to bear the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control and other such things.

We must be on guard that our freedom does not become an opportunity to serve our flesh. We are free from the law of tithing, but not to indulge in greed and hoarding. We are free from the Sabbath laws and Jewish calendar, but not to neglect assembling with the people of God. We are free from the laws of purification, but not to indulge in impurity. We are free to drink alcohol, but not to indulge in drunkenness. We are free, but we are not free to turn our freedom into an occasion for pride and boasting or to insult our neighbor or neglect to do good to him.

2) Freedom in Christ is to be used as an opportunity to be enslaved to each other in love.

Paul continues, “but through love serve one another.” The word translated “serve,” literally means “be a slave.” So Paul is saying, “Don't use your freedom as an excuse to serve your own sinful desires. Rather, use your freedom to become slaves to one another in love.”

It is a shocking statement, isn't it! The right expression of true freedom is slavery! Our freedom should lead us to become slaves to other believers through love.

What is love? Love is pouring oneself out for the good of another. Loving a human being means treating them as though they are fully in the image of God. (That is why love for God and love for your neighbor are so closely linked. The way that you treat those created in God's image is an outworking of how you feel about God.)

True freedom sets us free from our self-centered, God-hating desires to actually find joy in pouring ourselves out to meet the needs of others.

This is what is meant for Jesus to love us. Paul says that in Galatians 2:20 that the Son of God “loved me and gave himself for me.” Jesus poured himself out for the good of sinners, to redeem them from the curse by become the curse himself. Though he had no sin, he died the sinner’s death, so that through his resurrection they might have life. We who have been set free by trusting in him are set free to love like him, to give ourselves for others.

And this is what Jesus taught, that we must become slaves to each other. Mark 10:42-25:

You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Pagans use positions of freedom to serve themselves and make themselves great. However, if you want to be great in the kingdom, you must be a slave to everyone. (That word for slave in Mark 10 is behind the word “serve” in our text.)

And so, this is what Paul did. In 2 Corinthians 4:5, Paul wrote: “For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your [slaves] for Jesus' sake.” Jesus is the Lord. You would expect Paul to say he is Jesus' slave. Instead, he is a slave to the Corinthians, for the sake of Jesus. Paul surrenders his rights to serve them through love for their good.

And in 1 Corinthians 9, Paul discusses the freedom that he has and how he surrenders his rights for the sake others and the Gospel. He writes in verse 19: “For though I am free from all, I have made myself a [slave] to all, that I might win more of them.” He commands, in 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1:

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

In the previous verses, Paul encourages the Corinthians use their freedom to seek not their own good but the good of their neighbor, so that they glorify God in whatever they do. They should not, by seeking their own good, offending unbelievers (Jew or Greek) or believers (the church of God). This is what Paul does—he does not seek his own advantage, but seeks to please everyone in everything so that they may be saved. His concluding exhortation is: “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” Paul calls Christians to imitate his example because he is simply following the example of Jesus.

And what did Jesus do? Paul writes in Philippians 2: “Christ Jesus...though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a [slave], being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” That was Jesus' mindset—I am equal with God, and yet I will humble myself as a slave to the point of death.

Do you remember Paul's exhortation that introduces that passage? Paul writes: “Do nothing from rivalry or vain conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the image of God...” In other words, Paul says, Christ left us an example, so that we might follow in his steps. We present ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, by being transformed through minds that are renewed to be that of Christ. By having a Gospel-shaped mind, we're able to discern what the will of God is, what is good and pleasing and perfect.

What Christ did defines love. He poured himself out for the good of others. In Paul's thought, these should be the words that could be used to describe the churches in Galatia or Northbrook Baptist Church:

“Those Christians, though they were set free from the law and adopted as sons of God, did not count it a thing to be grasped, but made themselves nothing, taking the form of slaves, they humbled themselves and laid down their lives for one another. They did nothing from rivalry or vain conceit, but in humility they count each other more significant than themselves. They did not look out only for their own interests, but also for the interest of others. The mind that was in them was the one that was in Christ Jesus.”

This kind of love is the governing moral/ethical principle for the Christian life. This is what Paul meant when he wrote earlier, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.” Neither your zeal for law-keeping nor your zeal against law-keeping matters in Christ Jesus—only faith that works itself out in love.

And now, he defines love—being slaves to one another for their good. Paul concludes the letter by saying that the only thing that matters is “a new creation”—and it is those that walk according to that rule (that “law”) who have God's peace and mercy resting upon them.

Examine Your Freedom

1. Examine how you think about freedom.

Does the prospect of pouring yourself out for the good of others sound like freedom to you?

If it doesn't, if what you really want is simply to please the desires of your flesh, then you're probably not free in Christ. You don't know what true freedom is!

But if it does—even if you don't experience in perfect (and none of us do!)--then you are probably free in Christ—or poised to be! If you recognize the bondage of destructive, self-centered desires and you long to be free from them, and you see Christ as your only hope—then you are free. That is not a natural desire.

If being a humble, servant like Christ strikes a cord in your heart, then your heart is likely a new creation.

2. Examine how you relate to other people.

True freedom is manifest in how we relate to other people. That is why almost everything Paul has to say in the remainder of the book about how the Christian is to live has to do with their life in relation to other people. (In fact, that is true of almost every application Paul makes in all his letters.) The deeds of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit all have to do with life among other people. We're told not to be conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. Paul instructs his readers in how to restore sinners, bear burdens, regard the work of others, share with their teachers, do good to everyone.

Do you see the people in your life as an opportunity to be served, or to serve?

Let's think about a few examples of relationships:

How do you think about marriage? Do you see your spouse as an opportunity to serve or to be served? Wives, do you see marriage as an opportunity to have your fleshly desires met? To be pampered, praised, and paraded? Or do you see it as an opportunity to be a helper fit for another, to serve his through love that flows from faith in Christ?

Husbands, do you see marriage as an opportunity to have a live-in slave to wait on you hand and foot? Do you see a wife as a guarantee that you don't have to miss another play on Monday Night Football, because you can say, “Woman, another soda.” Or, do you see marriage as an opportunity for your faith in Christ to work in love to give yourself up for your wife, to (like Christ) pour yourself out for the good of your bride?

How do you think about singleness? Perhaps you are not married? You are “free” from the worldly anxieties that Paul speaks of in 1 Corinthians 7, how to please a spouse. Regardless of your desire to be married, how do view this freedom? Do you view it as an opportunity for the flesh, for self-service, as freedom to do whatever it is you would like to do? Or do you view it as an opportunity (whether for a season or for life) to serve others through love, particularly in ways that married people cannot?

How do you think about child-raising? It is Mother's Day. So, let's talk about mothers. Moms, how do you view your calling as a mother?

In an interview a few years ago, childless Hollywood actress Renee Zellweger made this comment:

My brother has two children now, so I’ve been playing aunt Renee. They’re two and four. It’s chaos. Moms out there, kudos to you. The cool thing about being an aunt is like, I can leave. No offense to my big brother Drew, but that is slavery. I dare you to take a shower. You can’t do anything unless they let you. It’s a dictatorship. They’re little dictators in their crib.

To her, being a mother is “slavery.”

Maybe you resent your children because you feel they have robbed you of an opportunity to serve your flesh. You could be doing anything you want to do right now, being comfortable, making a name for yourself, etc. Instead, you are bound to pour yourself out for their good, without a word of thanks (except for the annual reminder from Hallmark and 1-800-Flowers).

You should view having children as a special opportunity to pour yourself out through love for the good of another. And, we should honor such mothers, for they picture well the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. (So, mothers amongst us, thank you for modeling Christ and Christian faith in how you have through love become slaves to us.)

How do you think about childlessness? Maybe you are sitting here today in pain. You would love to have the opportunity to serve a child as a mother (or father). But all you can think about on Mother's Day is the children that God has not given you (or that he has given and taken away).

First of all, I want to acknowledge that pain. I want to encourage you not to bear it alone. Share it with church members and leadership. Let us mourn and pray and walk with you in the pain and disappointment.

Second of all, let me offer a gentle pastoral encouragement (one that could be offered to anyone facing pain and disappointment in any area of life): Do not let your pain and disappointment become a bitterness that causes you to withdraw from a life of service to others. I knew a man once who told me that because God had not given him a wife according to his time-line that he was going to “punish God” by not being part of the church. He withheld service to God and others because he felt God had cheated him.

Let your barrenness be a special emptiness that the grace of Christ fills to overflow in service to others.

We never have all the answers to why God withholds and takes away. We do not know why God assigns one situation to one person and a different life-station to another.

But, we do know this: God the Father is always calling us to a life of faith in Christ that works itself out in love, love that serves others in a self-sacrificial manner, in step with the Gospel. We are always called to that. We do not, however, get to choose what life-station we do that from.

So, I would humbly encourage you to seek God's guidance and the empowerment of his Spirit to discern how to use your childlessness as an opportunity from God to serve others through love.

How do you think about your employment? In your work, do you view your employer and your customers as people put in your life to get you what you want, as a dog-eat-dog environment to look out for yourself and serve your flesh? Or, do you view your employer, your manager, your co-workers and your clients as people God has given you the opportunity to serve through love that flows from faith in Christ?

How do you think about your employees? If you are a company owner or a manager? Do you view your employees and those you supervise as merely instruments to be used to please your flesh? Or, are they an opportunity to use your position to demonstrate your faith in Christ by making yourself nothing and serving them through love?

How do you think about church-membership and participation? Do you evaluate and participate in membership, prayer-meetings, worship services, and Community Groups on the basis of how they profit you? Do you approach church first and foremost with the question, “What's in this for me?” And if you find nothing, you criticize it or don't participate altogether?

Or, do you view our gatherings and our membership as an opportunity to let your faith work in love to serve one another?

How do you think about church-leadership and service? Perhaps you are an elder or a deacon (or a teacher or nursery worker)? Do you get annoyed at people with needs, who keep you from doing what you want? Or, do you view the people and situations and needs that God brings your way as an opportunity to be a slave to all through love that flows from faith in Christ?

3. Examine how you think about using freedom.

One good indicator of how you understand freedom in Christ might be how you use “freedom” in other areas of life. When you're given a degree of freedom in an area of life, where does your mind go in regards to how to use it?

How do you view financial freedom? Perhaps you're free from worries about money. You've gone to university and achieved “financial peace.” Do you see this as an opportunity to serve your flesh, to ensure an even more comfortable retirement, or to, through love, serve others?

How do you view free-time? Perhaps you have an unusual amount of free time. You are retired. Or, you are an “empty-nester.” Or you are otherwise without a job for a time.

Is this free-time an opportunity to fulfill self-centered desires, or extra time provided by God that your faith in Christ might work itself out in love that serves others?

A good indication of freedom in Christ is a rising inclination to ask the question, “How can I serve...?” If service sounds like slavery, it is likely that you are still enslaved to your selfish desires.

So, how does one get freedom that serves others through love?

This freedom does not come by simply determining to try harder to serve people. It will not come by finding a book to outline the rules of what you must or must not do in each of those situations.

It comes through faith in Christ. Paul says by faith he has been “crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives within me. And the life I now live I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Those who belong to Christ have “crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Paul says that “the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” Christ is his whole life. The world has nothing to offer him and nothing to take away from him.

It comes through the Spirit. When a person's faith is set on Christ, they are a new creation. They are given the Spirit of God. Christ is formed in them. The Spirit produces new loves, new desires, new affection, which are in opposition to the flesh and its desires. These desires are followed, instead of sinful desires.

It comes by keeping in step with the Gospel. To walk by the Spirit is the same thing as being “in step with the Gospel.” Our conduct follows and imitates the pattern of Christ.

So, study the Gospel; hear it with faith. Believe that Christ gave himself for your sins and rose from the dead. Believe that God has declared you righteousness and forgiven your sins. Believe that the world can neither give to nor take away from you anything at all, for you are dead and Christ lives in you.

Pray that the Spirit would change and empower you to walk according to the pattern show to you in Christ, in the Gospel.

And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with our spirits. Amen.