Freedom or Bondage?

What is the enemy's objective when it comes to mankind? It's simple.

Slavery.

Paul introduces the subject in Galatians 5:1 by reminding believers that Christ has set them free, and then immediately issues a warning not to become entangled again in a yoke of 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, KJV)

The battle is between freedom and bondage.

The Apostle Paul makes this clear on numerous occasions. He contrasts the flesh with the Spirit, showing that they are at opposite ends of the spectrum. If we had to colour-code them, the flesh would be pitch black and the Spirit pure white. From Genesis onwards, we are introduced to light and darkness. Throughout Scripture, light is associated with God and the work of His Spirit, while darkness represents sin, deception and the kingdom of darkness. It is therefore not difficult to understand that habitual sin is simply the yoke of bondage on display, the work of the flesh encouraged by the kingdom of darkness.

What prompted me to consider this was Paul's teaching in Galatians 5:1. There are two obvious objectives at play: freedom and bondage.

Christ's objective is freedom.

Satan's objective is bondage.

The objective of freedom is where Christ and the finished work of the cross come into view. Because of His death, burial and resurrection, those who have recognised their own sin, understood their need for forgiveness, believed in their hearts that God raised Him from the dead and confessed with their mouths that Jesus is Lord have been set free. They have been delivered from the coming judgment and, more importantly, from the bondage of sin itself.

This is the instruction Paul gives to believers.

God's objective is to free us from bondage, from the old, habitual patterns of sin that once enslaved us, wherever the shoe may fit in our lives.

Do you habitually lose your temper? If so, then you are enslaved to that particular trait. That is Satan's objective: to keep you yielding to the yoke of bondage in that area of your life. The same principle applies whether it is anger, lust, jealousy, drunkenness, pride or any other habitual sin. Bondage is bondage, whatever form it takes.

Paul goes even further and helps us identify many of these patterns.

"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."
(Galatians 5:19–21, KJV)

We are called to examine ourselves in the light of these verses, and I like the way Paul ends the list with the words, "and such like." In other words, the list is not exhaustive. He gives enough examples for us to understand the principle and then leaves us to honestly examine ourselves before the Lord.

The teaching is straightforward. Satan wants to keep us enslaved under a yoke of bondage, while the Spirit of God wants us to walk in the freedom Christ has purchased for us. It really is as simple as that. We do not need to overthink it, but in the same breath we must be brutally honest with ourselves.

There is another point in this passage that I think is important to highlight. The ESV translates verse 21 as "those who do such things." That is a perfectly legitimate translation. However, I prefer the NKJV, which reads, "those who practice such things."

The Greek word is πράσσοντες (prássontes), from the verb πράσσω (prássō). It means to practise, to carry on, to habitually do, or to make a practice of something. More importantly, it is a present active participle, describing an ongoing pattern or habitual way of life. The KJV and the ESV both translate the word as "do," but I believe the NKJV brings out Paul's meaning more clearly by translating it as "practice."

That distinction is important because there is a world of difference between committing a sin and practising sin.

Take swearing as an example. Before salvation, perhaps you could not finish a sentence without swearing. Then Christ saved you, and from that moment those words disappeared from your vocabulary. That is the power of the Holy Spirit at work. It is nothing short of a miracle.

Years later, however, you begin allowing those words back into your everyday speech. What has happened?

It does not prove that you have lost your salvation. What it does demonstrate is that, in that area of your life, you have once again begun yielding to the yoke of bondage. You are allowing something Christ has set you free from to regain influence over you. That is exactly what Satan wants.

You can apply that principle to every item Paul mentions in this list. That is why I believe each of us should prayerfully work through it, asking the Lord to expose those areas where we may once again be yielding to the flesh.

The purpose is not to bring ourselves back under condemnation. Christ has already dealt with that.

The purpose is to understand where we are, to recognise where the enemy may be gaining ground, and to continue walking in the freedom Christ purchased for us.

That, I believe, is Paul's point.

Signing off,
Tyrone

Scripture References: Genesis 1:1–5; John 8:31–36; Romans 6:1–23; Romans 8:1–14; Galatians 5:1; Galatians 5:16–26; Ephesians 2:1–10; Colossians 1:13–14; 1 Peter 2:16; 1 John 3:4–10