Freed for Love Not for Sin
Galatians 5:13-21

Paul J. Bucknell

“I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal 5:21).

An Inferior ‘Christian’ Life

Many “professing” Christians are mistaken. Although their lives are filled with envy, hatred, and evil, they still believe they are regular Christians. Consider the immorality that “professing” Christians engage in, with some even supporting living with one’s fiancé before marriage.
Paul urges us to consider carefully whether we are living in a compromised way. “I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal 5:21).

Paul is clear that these professing believers “Shall not inherit….” While God assures His people that they have eternal life, these calls remain to continue believing in Christ and making godly choices. These wake-up calls tell us the way it is.

“16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:13-15).

Paul warns us to avoid Satan-blinded lives and to encourage us to pursue Christ’s life within us. If we regularly chase after our fleshly desires, we are not truly saved, even if we believe we are. After all, if our goal is only to be free from some guilt to indulge in more sin, it reveals our heart’s true love. That new life in Christ has not taken root; there is no sign of real life.
If lukewarmness describes your life, take warning! “So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth” (Rev 3:16). If Satan holds you back with your ungodliness, he doesn’t mind you attending church regularly or being a giver.

Satan gladly relinquishes one hold on our lives to tighten his evil grasp on us further.

Jesus saved us to love one another. “Through love serve one another.” But why do so many “professing” believers have horrible, disagreeable marriages? Christ lives out His life through us.

“For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (Gal 5:13). (NASB).

The Normal Christian Life

We need to consider the Lord’s purposes in saving us. The Lord seeks our fellowship, but that fellowship relies on our holiness (John 15:4). God has greater goals for our lives, emphasizing obedience and living holy and loving lives. That Godly life leads us into God’s presence and blessings (i.e., fruit).

The Christian life is a supernatural existence. If we rely on our own efforts, we will fail, and our flesh will show all kinds of ungodly thoughts, attitudes, and actions. Jesus truly frees us, supernaturally freeing us, to demonstrate God’s love through our lives.

An Inferior ‘Christian’ Life

God has saved us not only to take us to heaven but also to bring His love into this world through our lives, lived out by His power and grace. The Gospel radically transforms us to fulfill His glorious purposes. This is why John said, “We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 John 3:16).

“Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us out of this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father” (Ga 1:4).

Summary

Each believer must carefully examine their life. We accomplish this by reflecting on the way we live. Since we seek God’s love in all its forms, let us turn away from selfishness and strive to live holy lives. If we deceive ourselves by living as hypocrites, we do ourselves and God’s Kingdom a disservice. We risk being condemned along with the devil through our own delusions.

God calls us to repent and live holy lives, full of the promise of eternal life and walking by the Spirit to produce the fruit of the Holy Spirit. God promises that if we believe in our hearts that Jesus has saved us by His death and resurrection, we can be saved—saved not only from the coming judgment but also from the corrupting power of sin in our present lives.

Choose life in Christ!

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