GALATIANS 5: THE FREEDOM OF CHRIST

In varying degrees, we all seek the truth. Though we may at times fear the truth, Jesus says that, “you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free . . . So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:32,36). The Apostle Paul echoes Christ’s words, when he says, “For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Gal 5:1).

At the heart of Jesus’ mission was his passion to set us free from every manner of bondage, physical, psychic, or spiritual. In his very first message to humanity, delivered to his own people in Nazareth, Jesus quoted the prophet Isaiah (61:1-2):

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:18-21).