1. Galatians 5:13 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

What is the freedom for which Christ has freed believers?

Galatians 5:13 (ESV)

13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Christ has freed believers to obey God’s moral law in response to his grace (see Galatians 5:13–15) and not as the cause of it. Freedom from the law is first and foremost, freedom from law obedience as a means for justification.1 Christ has also brought the civil and ceremonial aspects of the old covenant law to an end (see Galatians 3:23–25; Matthew 5:17–18). The freedom enjoyed by believers is not a freedom to do as I want, but freedom to live in grateful response to God’s salvation, eager to honour and serve him with all my being (Romans 12:1–2; 1 Corinthians 6:12; 1 Corinthians 9:19; 1 Corinthians 10:24, 1 Corinthians 10:31).2