If you are in Christ, you are truly free. This freedom does not mean an unbounded, uncontrolled, beast-
like behavior, but rather freedom from the grasp of the sinful nature that once enslaved us and
prevented us from realizing that the work of God is true life. His law does not strangle you into
commitment; instead, it exhorts, protects, and guides you so that you can glorify God with your life.
Therefore, you are freed to be bound to the righteousness of God. Ironically, being bound in Christ
actually brings more confidence and assurance in life. You are no longer crawling blindly in the vast
darkness but walking confidently in the light of God’s grace, bringing glory to His name, which is man’s
chief end and purpose in life.
This is what we have learned so far, and it should now be clear what it means to be truly free This
understanding should prompt us to reflect on our behavior concerning our Christian liberty. However,
many followers of Christ abuse this freedom. How? By judging one another as though one is more
obedient than another. Unconsciously, our love for Christ and His people can become a mask that hides
the prideful disposition of our hearts.
Galatians 5:26 says, “Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, being jealous of one another.”
The Apostle Paul’s reminder to the Galatian church warns us that Christians should be cautious for we
can fall into this temptation. Why? Because we often seek recognition for whatever achievement,
wanting to be seen as the most mature, the most behaved churchmate, or the most active worker. This
tendency leads us to compare ourselves with others. However, we must not compare ourselves with our
fellow saved sinner but with our beloved Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who, being God, humbled
Himself to save us. What right do we have to believe we are better than anyone else, as we are nowhere
close to Christ’s glorious self.
We need to be reminded of the previous two verses, “And those who belong to Christ Jesus have
crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the
Spirit” (Gal 5:24-25) If there’s any value in comparing ourselves to Christ, it is in seeing whether we are
imitating Him and grounded in His teachings. This imitation is not for man’s praise but for the glory of
God. As we imitate Him in our daily life according to His Word, we give thanks because He has shown us
that in worshipping God, we find our true purpose in life. And in finding our purpose, which is to glorify
God, we find true freedom.
