Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
Summary: Freedom is not something that comes naturally to someone who was born into slavery.
Why?
Why does Paul say we are children of the free woman?
Were we born that way?
No. As it turns out, we were all born as children of the slave woman (Romans 3:10).
There is a reason that Paul is working so hard to explain things in his letter to the Galatians. When we are born into slavery, it is easy to fall into the belief that there is no other way.
Imagine being born a slave. You are raised to believe that being a slave is your lot in life. You are taught to obey those who are considered better than you. You do your work and it seems normal. All of the people you know are slaves. It is the way things are supposed to be.
Then, one day, someone shows up and says you can be free (Luke 4:18, Acts 13:38). All you have to do is believe in Jesus (John 11:25-26).
What do you do?
Being a slave has its perks. There are choices that a slave never has to make. The slave is not responsible for the things they have no control over. A slave never has to think. A slave’s job is only to do what they are told to do.
Freedom comes with a cost.
Part of that cost was paid by Jesus on the cross (1 Thessalonians 5:10). The other costs of freedom are costs we don’t talk about as much. They are the price we pay to live as children “of the free woman.”
Free people use what God has given them to see the world as it is. Free people stand up for freedom, not only for themselves but for others as well (Matthew 22:39). Free people understand the difference between life in the flesh as a slave and life in the spirit as a child of God.
Perhaps as important as anything else, a slave who has been freed has to recognize when those who are jealous of their freedom try and ensnare them, pulling them back into slavery. After all, nothing is more humiliating than to be a slave who has rejected the offer of freedom only to see one of their own accept the offer.
Application: Live as free people (1 Peter 2:16).
Food for Thought: What are some of the distinguishing characteristics of a person who has been freed by Jesus?
When I think of those that have been freed by Christ and walk with Him daily, hourly, by the minute, I think about their “center.” They are centered on Christ, but also their demeaner, actions, and words are “centered.” What I mean by that is when they are centered on Christ they not easily swayed by what is going on around them.
Ephesians 3:16 That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
I think if I were to say that there are people we encounter that are a bit like a “swinging pendulum,” we would all have someone that would come to mind. Their emotions cause them to swing in different directions and lead the way in their life. I have found in my experience that those who seek Christ in their life, make Him their center, still feel emotions, but that those emotions don’t lead them in their decisions.
Galatians 5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
Galatians 5:16-17 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
I personally believe that when we are centered on Christ this allows the fruit of the Spirit to grow and flourish in our hearts.
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Chris,
Great point! Being ‘centered’ on Jesus is essential as we transition from being a slave to being free in Christ.
What are characteristics of true believers?
True believers are delivered from wrath:
1 Thessalonians 1:10 and to await His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead–Jesus our deliverer from the coming wrath.
True believers are experienced a spiritual resurrection.
John 5:24-25 Truly, truly, I say to you, He that hears my word, and believes on him that sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death to life.
True believers are delivered from a life of disobedience:
2 Peter 3:9, The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
Mark 16:16, Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
True believers are now united with Christ:
John 14:20, On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I in you.
1 John 2:28, Now, little children, remain in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not draw back from Him in shame at His coming.
True believers glorify God’s grace now and in the coming ages.
Ephesians 2:7 in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
In total contradiction to the ways of this world, we confess our inability to follow God as we give ourselves to Jesus Christ. We find eternal peace and Joy as we submit to His power and authority over our lives. ask Him to come into our hearts and be the eternal ruling power to change us into beings choosing His Holy will over ours. Our joy comes not from what we do, but from experiencing His works flowing through us into the lives of others.
Ron,
Thank you! As I read through your notes my mind focused on “True believers are now united with Christ.”
We don’t just worship an idea, we worship the Living God who is alive in us.
Yes, in us, ministering to others as we focus on getting out of the way, allowing Him to be seen and heard in the words and actions of our bodies.
Our reward is to be allowed to see, hear and experience God ministering to those within or sphere of influence.
All while he ministers to us at the same time! 🙂
My mind went to where CH went. I immediately thought of Galatians 5: 16 – 26. We will be filled with the Holy Spirit and start resembling someone walking in the Spirit more and more. And we will look less and less like someone enslaved to sin.
Thank you, Rich!
That passage provides a stark contrast between spiritual Light and Dark. How we live reflects who we love.
Amen