Beyond Sunday: True Freedom

[Editor's note: Beyond Sunday is a Monday refresher to carry you through the week.]

Focus Verse of the Week

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. - Galatians 5:1

Classic Commentary

Christ will not be the Savior of any who will not own and rely upon him as their only Savior. We must listen to the warnings and persuasions of the apostle to steadfastness in the doctrine and liberty of the gospel. All true Christians, being taught by the Holy Spirit, wait for eternal life, the reward of righteousness, and the object of their hope, as the gift of God by faith in Christ and not by their own works. The Jewish convert might observe the ceremonies or assert his liberty, the Gentile might disregard them or might attend to them, provided he did not depend upon them. No outward privileges or profession contribute to our acceptance with God, without sincere faith in our Lord Jesus.

True faith is a working grace; it works by love to God, and to our brethren. May we be counted among those who, through the Spirit, wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. The danger of old was not in things of no consequence in themselves, as many forms and observances now are. But without faith working by love, all else is worthless, and compared with it other things are of small value.

(Adapted from matthew henry's commentary on the whole bible (concise), galatians 5)

A Thought to Keep

Today is Independence Day. As Christians, we can celebrate an even greater freedom - a rebirth by faith and nothing else into God's family.