• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Liberty People

Header Right

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • Giving
    • Give to Vanuatu
      • Vanuatu Earthquake Relief
      • Sponsor School Staff
      • School Running Costs
      • Sharing the Gospel
      • Tax Deductible
    • Give to Philippines
      • Support New Churches
      • Support Mindoro Early Learning Centre
      • Support Samar Early Learning Centre
      • Church Building Program
    • Church Planting (Global)
    • Support Australian Staff
    • Accountability
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Giving
    • Give to Vanuatu
      • Vanuatu Earthquake Relief
      • Sponsor School Staff
      • School Running Costs
      • Sharing the Gospel
      • Tax Deductible
    • Give to Philippines
      • Support New Churches
      • Support Mindoro Early Learning Centre
      • Support Samar Early Learning Centre
      • Church Building Program
    • Church Planting (Global)
    • Support Australian Staff
    • Accountability
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact

Header Right

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

The Path of Freedom

January 16, 2019 By //  by Helen Blake

Throughout the book of Galatians, Paul is telling Jesus’ followers about the new way: a path of freedom. To the Jews, he is explaining that their former, customary “guide for living” had proven to be miserably inadequate, both personally and socially. Now, a new and DIFFERENT way was possible for them and for the whole of humanity. God had intercepted by personally coming to their rescue and creating a way that would work. This new way was one where everyone could “live in the Spirit”, “in step with the Spirit” (NKJV).

The topic on Paul’s mind and driving his spirit was bigger and more involved than can be covered in a few lines and sentences. But for us here and now in the 21st century, his message comes through: Jesus has given us a new way of living, and living any other way is no kind of life compared to it!

Gal 5:16-26: Live in the freedom Christ has won for you! Stand fast in it, hold fast to it!

The Jewish people Paul was speaking to had a history of living under what an outsider would call religious laws, which included countless restrictions, observances and traditions that guided their daily lives and annual calendar. Some of these laws had been given to them by God to help them in their ignorance and unrighteous (and therefore destructive) lifestyles, and many more had been added by their leaders down through the centuries.

Gal 6:15 (paraphrased): All the rules and traditions we’ve customarily been putting up there as important, actually aren’t. I now understand and am presenting to you the truth, that what really counts is… we are a new creation! We are freed from the old person and the old ways! I urge you, stand in this freedom, hold fast to it!

We who identify ourselves as Christians tend to hold up things over ourselves and each other which aren’t important, instead of pursuing and encouraging the new way, both individually and as communities of believers. We easily drift from the freedom path of “living in the Spirit”, and take the path of living “under the law”. If we are holding fast to and relying on rules instead of living in the Spirit of our Master, we are not living maturely. It’s a childish way to live, and means that we have not grasped the intention of the Gospel.

How do we stand in and hold to our new freedom?! What keeps us on its path? Reading Galatians makes it clear that it’s only possible by “living in the Spirit”. When we allow God’s Spirit to be our guide for living, we will understand and recognise what belongs in His Kingdom and what doesn’t. What are His ways and what aren’t. What is His heart and will on a matter. What to do and what not to do. How to treat each other, how to bring Life instead of death into situations. How to keep our peace and live at peace with each other. How to pursue holiness. How to live a life that reflects and displays Him.

The new way is to walk “in step with the Spirit”, with Him as our ever-present companion, “by faith in Jesus” (Gal 2:16). This is the heart of the message of the Gospel, the gift to all who accept and keep it: that we can now live in relationship with our Creator God, through His Spirit. This way of life is the way of freedom.

Filed Under: Blog, Teaching

Previous Post: « News from Jon and Abi in Vanuatu
Next Post: God’s Great Love – Part 1 »

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • “A Hard World for the Soft Soul”
  • His Kingdom Came
  • NEW WINESKINS… for the new wine!
  • More Than Money
  • The Disciple’s Dilemma

Categories

  • Blog
  • News
  • Podcast
  • Teaching
  • Uncategorized

Archives

  • January 2021 (1)
  • December 2020 (1)
  • October 2020 (1)
  • July 2019 (1)
  • June 2019 (1)
  • March 2019 (1)
  • February 2019 (1)
  • January 2019 (1)
  • October 2018 (1)
  • June 2018 (1)
  • January 2018 (1)
  • December 2017 (2)
  • October 2017 (2)
  • September 2017 (1)
  • August 2017 (1)
  • June 2017 (1)
  • May 2017 (1)
  • March 2017 (2)
  • February 2017 (2)
  • January 2017 (1)
  • December 2016 (2)
  • November 2016 (1)
  • October 2016 (1)
  • September 2016 (2)
  • August 2016 (1)
  • June 2016 (2)
  • May 2016 (1)
  • April 2016 (1)
  • March 2016 (1)
  • January 2016 (1)
  • June 2014 (1)
  • April 2014 (1)
  • October 2013 (1)
  • Home
  • Our Work
  • Our Team
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Giving
    • Vanuatu Giving
    • Giving

Copyright © 2025 · Mai Law Pro On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in | This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.