Spiritual Warfare: Stand firm in the liberty of Christ
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. ~ Galatians 5:1
From the moment we become born again (translated from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light), we are set on a journey. We are journeying from a city of destruction, where we once were slaves, to a celestial city prepared for us to reign with Christ. While setting out on this journey, it is paramount to realize that we are at war with the prince of the city of destruction, who does not want to lose any of his subjects.
One of the aspects in which we battle with the prince of the city of destruction is “standing in the freedom purchased for us by the prince of the celestial city” (Galatians 4:4-7). Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Apostle Paul writes to the Galatian church in Galatians 5:1 to stand firm in the freedom of Christ and not submit again to slavery. This call applies to us in this dispensation to stand firm in the freedom purchased for us by Christ and not submit again to the yoke of slavery.
From what exactly are we set free? Let us turn to the letter of Apostle Paul to the church in Rome to get a better understanding. According to Romans 6, we are set free from the tyranny of our sinful nature, which once reigned over us and kept us in bondage. Jesus took upon Himself our sinful nature when He went to the cross. On the cross, Christ crucified our sinful nature, and when He rose from the dead, He was set free from the tyranny of our sinful nature. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we recognize with Him in death (crucify our sinful nature) and raised with Him to a life free from the reign of our sinful nature. In human terms, the tyranny of our sinful nature and freedom in Christ represents two husbands. When a woman gets married to a man, she is legally bonded to him until he dies. Only when the former husband dies is she free to marry another. The moment we come to Christ, our old husband dies (sinful nature), and we are married to our new husband Christ (righteousness with God through Christ).
Does freedom mean we can do whatever we want? Certainly not. In the latter part of Galatians 5, the Apostle admonishes the believers that the freedom they have in Christ is that they may serve each other in love (v. 13). Beloved, instead of using the freedom you have in Christ in tearing down your fellow believers, use it in building up others till we all attain the full image of Christ. Christ intended it this way. Jesus, Himself says the two greatest commandments are these, That thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul and with thy mind. And the second is like, unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets (Matthew 22:36-40).
How do I keep in this freedom becomes the question then? Thank God, we do not have to search too far for the answer. The answer lies in the text, Galatians 5. The answer is to live our whole life in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-18). The Holy Spirit is the one who strengthens us with the power from the Almighty. We can resist every advance of the prince of the city of destruction to take us out of the freedom Christ has won for us.
Oh, my beloved, if you are already living in this freedom, I admonish you to stand firm in it by living your whole life in the Spirit. If you have not come into this reality, do not give up, keep on studying the word of God (I would encourage prayerfully studying the book of Romans), and pray that the Holy Spirit will bring illumination to this truth in your heart. The Lord that sees the heart of every man will soon answer your prayers to the glory of His name.
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best thought, by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light
Be Thou my wisdom, and Thou my true word
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord
Thou my great Father, and I Thy true son
Thou in me dwelling and I with Thee one
Be Thou my battle-shield, sword for the fight,
Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight.
Thou my soul’s shelter, Thou my high tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.
Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise
Thou mine inheritance, now and always
Thou and Thou only first in my heart
High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art
High King of heaven, my victory won
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's sun
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, O ruler of all
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