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

Jesus came to set us free!

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh.
Galatians 5:13

Our Culture: Freedom = the ability to do what I want.

"Self is the new god, the new spiritual authority, the new morality.  But this puts a crushing weight on the self — one that it was never designed to bear.  It must discover itself.  Become itself.  Stay true to itself.  Justify itself.  Make itself happy.  Perform and defend it’s fragile identity.  The pressure is exhausting.  Cue the stats on burnout, anxiety, and mental health."
‍— John Mark Comer

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Galatians 5:13-14

The Bible: Freedom = liberation from sin to live in love.

"Christian liberty is freedom from sin, not freedom to sin."
‍— A.W. Tozer

"Christian freedom does not mean being free to do what we like, it means being free to do as we ought."
— William Barclay

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
Galatians 5:6

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
1 John 3:16

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:43-45

Action Steps

• Where in your life is freedom being leveraged in selfish ways?
• What is something that has mastery or control over you right now?
• How does the idea of using freedom to love well challenge you?
• Practice: each day this week find 3 different ways to serve someone in love.