Stand!

Stand!

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

A quick look at the chapter 4 helps us fully understand the import of today's extract, which is the first verse of chapter 5. Chapter 4 looks at the power of the law and the power of the Spirit, the dispensations they both represent, and the eternal effects of both. One thing is clear: no dispensation can give you that which it did not birth. The law could only operate for a while, but as soon as the dispensation of the Spirit came in, all that the law represents had to give way. That is why in Romans 10:4, Christ is referred to as 'the end of the law' but only to them that believe. That distinction is important, so that no one thinks he qualifies by virtue of ability, connection, strength, knowledge, influence or bank account balances. 

Christ fulfilled all the righteous requirements of the law when he died according to the demands of the law. All that the law required for the remission of sin was fulfilled by Christ, and by his sacrifice, he has opened the door of true freedom to all who come to him. It is not an offer to the world, but to those who have accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour. We have been set free from the curse of the law, and we have now come into the liberty that God always had in mind when he formed man. 

If indeed I have been set free, I must know that the devil will keep working to bring me back under bondage. For the church in Galatia here, the devil tried to bring in rules, laws and principles that seemed to negate the freedom that Christ had won for his children. There is no harm in rules; they just must align with God's purpose, and must not negate the grace of God released in Christ. There are rules in my relationship with Christ, but they are rules that promote grace, favour, mercy and love, all which are of God.

As I audit my life again, can I say that my life is producing in line with my freedom in Christ? Am I truly free? Am I standing in the grace that is made available in Christ or am I seeking my own thing? I am asked to stand fast, because the devil will try and shake me up. I must resist every yoke of bondage, which seeks to take me back to where I was before Christ met me. 

As I take a stand, I declare my allegiance and ownership. The world knows who I am, and who I belong to. I was once under the control of sin, just as the entire world is without Christ. Christ MADE me free; I must not MAKE myself a slave again. Grace has been made available in abundant measure to provide strength and courage to stand; my best response of appreciation is to draw on that strength and live to please God. His time of favour is here.