In our last visit I highlighted how Abraham, after being declared righteous by believing what he had heard from God, continued day in and day out living by faith. Paul, the author of Galatians, likewise received new life by believing in Jesus Christ. This made such an impact on him that he wanted to share what he had experienced with others.
He describes this about himself in Galatians 1:11-12 and 23, “I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.” Word began to spread about his conversion: “The man who formerly persecuted (Christians) is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.”
What he had received he now released by sharing it, first with Jews and then with Gentiles. He even went to Jerusalem to meet with some of the apostles to make sure what he was doing was on target. He didn’t want to run his race in vain (Galatians 2:2).
The message he preached was what Jesus taught in John 8:32 and 36, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free…If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” Paul had received and experienced the truth of this message and now was preaching it to everyone: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free…You, my brothers, were called to be free” (Galatians 5:1 and 13).
This freedom is a significant element of experiencing the fulfilled life. This freedom, however, is not merely for us to enjoy, but for us to be released to serve others.
