Galatians 5
In this chapter of Galatians, Paul warns the people of Galatia of the dangers of legalism.
For Paul, choosing to harness yourself to legalism is giving up the freedom of Christ and putting on a harness of slavery.
One of the biggest issues with this was circumcision. There was a group that was insisting that followers of Christ had to be circumcised. Yet this was not what Jesus commanded people to do.
Paul argues that living by their own religious plans and projects cut the people off from Christ.
Paul continued to argue this matter. He pointed out to the people that the freedom Jesus won on the cross is intended to be used to serve each other according to God’s Word. To love each other as you love yourself.
To live any other way but in love introduces the sin of self-interest into our lives. To live a life of self interest is the antithesis of a life lived in God.
Paul described the life of self interest as one where you seek to get your own way always, a repetitive and loveless life, full of cheap sex, a lot of mental and emotional garbage, a hedonistic lifestyle marked by frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness, the pursuit of the “trendy” gods, religion marked by fancy lighting, bells and mirrors and smokescreens, a deep loneliness, paranoia, cut throat competition, endless desires that are never satisfied, uncontrolled anger, an inability to love or be loved, separations in home and life, pursuits that are self seeking, turning everyone into a rival, addictions, dysfunctional and toxic communities, and so on.
He compared this way of life to the way of God through the Holy Spirit. This is the way of demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit. This is the way of love, joy, peace, patience, compassion, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. It is easy to be committed to our tasks and to honour our commitments. We do not need to force our way through life, treading on the toes of others and pushing others aside. We can summon our energy and direct it wisely in service to God and His way.
Legalism has no place in the life of Joy. It cuts us off from God.
In Mark 7 v6-8 Jesus speaks of Isaiah’s prophesy about the hypocrites who honour God with their lips while their hears are far from God. They do not connect with God so cannot worship Him. All they know is rules imposed by humans.
Jesus told these people they had let go of the commands of God and were holding on to human traditions.
When we choose the life of the Spirit, we have true Joy in our hearts and in our lives.
Paul warns the people to live that kind of life, not one where they have an idea they should live that way, or a sentiment that is a good way to live, but to consider what living in the Spirit means in their entire lives.
When we do that we stop comparing ourselves to others and accept our uniqueness in God and our unique journey in Him.
So often I see people who walk piously into church on a Sunday and leave in an hour or so then go back to their lives of self seeking, harshness and judgementalism. These are not lives lived in the Spirit. They are lives lived in the flesh.
Your love of and following of God should permeate every aspect of your life. It should be there on Monday through Saturday, not just Sunday.
So remember that true Joy is a fruit of living a life in the Spirit.
Following Jesus is that simple.
Stop making it complicated. Follow Jesus and worship Him in the truth and simplicity of a spirit led life. That is freedom. Freedom won on the cross.