Spiritual freedom and spiritual slavery dominate today's Scripture passage. The conclusion is, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free" (5:1). So whatever way we understand this challenging passage, it needs to be interpreted so that we know what it is like to live in spiritual freedom with our Lord Jesus. Understanding this freedom is at the core of the gospel.
Have you wondered how the Law (the Ten Commandments) fits in with the Gospel declaration that we are saved by faith and not by works of the law? Huge parts of Christendom confuse us by failing to clarify the purpose of the Law. This confusion relates closely to the matter Paul is attempting to spell out in his letter to the Galatian churches, the recipients of this letter. Today we join Paul in attempting to explain the purpose of the Law and its relationship to the Gospel.
