Galatians 5:13, commentary and pictures

Paul wrote to the Galatians when false teachers had brought in doctrines opposed to the gospel, and their influence had spread among so many believers that to separate the troublers from the church seemed hazardous for fear of stirring up strife and division ruinous to the spiritual interests of the church. In that crisis the call to liberty was a call to help one another in love rather than to indulge hatred, contention, party division, and lawsuits between brethren. Such misuse disgraces the truth, exposes the church to ridicule, and pierces Christ afresh.

Believers have been called unto liberty and are to stand fast in the liberty where Christ has made them free. That Christian liberty is not permission to follow every desire without restraint, nor to use freedom unlawfully by indulging corrupt practices of the flesh and serving selfish desires. When liberty claimed as a privilege is left unbridled it brings disorder and unruly conduct, as was seen in the Howard family, turning freedom into service of selfish impulses rather than responsible living.

The right use of liberty is by love to serve and help one another, which is love in action and practical godliness. It stands in contrast to careless, self-centered conduct that harms others and brings spiritual work down to common ideas. Such loving service fulfills all the requirements of the law setting forth duty to fellow men, namely loving one's neighbor as oneself and bearing one another's burdens so fulfilling the law of Christ.

To use liberty for an occasion to the flesh is to place self-interest first, insist on invaded rights, and indulge hatred, contention, prejudice, vain glory, provoking and envying one another, party division, differences of feeling, dissension, and lawsuits between brethren. Like brutes biting and devouring one another, this brings present unhappiness and future ruin until consumed of one another. The loving service required instead includes showing deference and respect, restoring one overtaken in a fault in the spirit of meekness, and maintaining Christian affection. It humbly pledges ministry not only to fellow believers but also to the poor, helpless, and ignorant, after the example of foot-washing, where no service is too humble when it helps others share in eternal life.

This obligation belongs to stewardship owed not only to God but to man, because every human being is indebted to the Redeemer's infinite love for life, food, clothing, shelter, body, mind, and soul, all purchased by His blood. Gratitude for these gifts binds believers to their fellow men, so that loving service to others is duty to Christ Himself. Living it out requires walking in the Spirit through constant prayer for the guidance of the Holy Spirit into love and unity. Its secret is union with Christ the great center; separation from Christ causes division, while approaching the Center brings brethren into the same mind and judgment and makes them Christlike representatives of the character of God renewed by the Holy Spirit.

The love commanded is the fruit of the Spirit with joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance, proving that Christ's light has penetrated the heart and that the flesh with its affections and lusts is crucified.