What did Paul mean when he wrote, “It is for freedom that Christ set us free” -Gal 5:1? I suppose most English teachers and skilled writers would call that a redundant sentence. I was taught never to use a word in its own definition. Paul’s use of freedom and free might lead some to say he was not a skilled writer. But I don’t think that’s true. Paul didn’t write that sentence; he received it from the Holy Spirit.
Truly, in Paul’s mind and in the words he received from the Holy Spirit, there is a different reason for using each word: freedom and free. I contend that the difference is profound.
Suppose we begin by looking at the easy one: free. Surely you all know and can testify to what you have been set free from. If I asked, many of you would say “Sin!” Perhaps you would shout the answer because this truth fills you with joy. I also know that some of you would add, “We were set free from our sinful nature!” Ha! A smile breaks across my face. And—no surprise to anyone—tears of joy at that answer. For many Christians understand forgiveness of sins; very few can speak about freedom from the sinful nature. That is tragic to me. That truth sets you free from your old identity as a sinner. You are not a sinner and do not possess the ability to sin. You are born again as a new creation that does not have a sinful nature. God did this through the gift of faith and through water baptism, as the Scripture declares. (Rom 6:1-14; Gal 2:20-21; Gal 3:26; Col 2:11-12; 1Pet 3:18-22; 2Cor 5:17; 1Cor 12:13; Rom 7; Rom 8…)
Thus, your entire existence is free from sin, perfectly suited for fulfilling the greatest Commandment: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind. Matt 22:37. Even your flesh—which can easily be swayed by temptation—is not inherently sinful. It is only a weak and failing remnant of a life we once lived when we were controlled by a sinful nature.
But Paul wrote that we were set free from sin for freedom. On the surface, that sounds like saying, “I put salt on my food so that my food is salty.” The second half of the sentence seems useless. But freedom is not useless when God is the One who set you free. He did it with a purpose, which is revealed in the following statement:
So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. – Rom 7:4
Simply put, the reason you were set free from sin and the sinful nature was so that you could be indwelt by the Holy Spirit. The cross of Jesus Christ released you from the rule of Satan and washed you of every sin. He evicted the ruler of the house so that you could belong to another. The cross of Jesus Christ bought freedom for His Holy Spirit to live within because sin is completely removed.
The Holy Spirit’s Presence changes everything. He is the Source of your prayers, praise, peace, and joy. He produces this fruit in you, and expresses the love of God the Father through you. His grace is poured out upon you abundantly, so that your cup overflows into the lives of others. From His own strength He fulfills the second greatest commandment, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Paul was warning the Galatian church against thinking that returning to a few laws and religious traditions was harmless. It is like taking medicine when you are not sick. The law is for sinners. To return to the law after you have been set free from sin is to turn your back on the Holy Spirit dwelling within you, to ignore His Presence, to forsake His power over your flesh, His fruit for living, His Light for your path, and His love for the world.
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