Tag: Live Free: A Study of Galatians by Elizabeth Woodson

Doing Good to All

Brushing aside the tears I gave my son a final hug before turning to leave his dorm room. We’d helped him unpack and hang pictures on the walls, loaded him up on supplies from Target, and had even laid hands on him in prayer. The moment to say goodbye had come. Rummaging inside my bag, I handed him a card to read after we left. It contained a few words of affirmation and encouragement along with gentle reminders to keep in mind as he launched into this new season in college.

Paul’s final chapter in Galatians reads a bit like one of those letters—it includes an assortment of final words of instruction, encouragement, and advice before his closing salutation to the believers in Galatia. Let’s unpack a few key topics he covers as he wraps up his letter explaining how to use freedom in Christ  to love others well.

Restoring those Caught in Sin

Paul begins the chapter by saying: “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1, NIV) This reinforces Jesus’ teaching about offering correction to others: “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:5, NIV) James offers similar wisdom: “My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.” (James 5:19-20, NIV)

In our hyper-individualistic society that has coined the phrase “you do you,” these words may sound jarring. Isn’t it judgmental to correct someone entangled in sin? No, because it hinders us from fully engaging the Lord, helping someone to understand the gravity of their sin is actually loving.  Of course, broaching a sensitive topic like this should be preceded by prayer, prompted by the Holy Spirit, and done with gentleness and wisdom. Restoring a person to a right relationship with the Lord is a courageous way to show love.

Carrying Loads and Sharing Burdens

Paul gives two words of wisdom that sound contradictory at first glance. In verse 2 he says, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” And in verse 5 he says, “for each one should carry their own load.” Understanding these verses means distinguishing between a burden and a load. One commentary explains, “‘load’ signifies the personal obligations and tasks that are uniquely assigned to each person by God. It implies a sense of personal accountability and stewardship over one’s life and actions. The ‘load’ is something that is manageable and appropriate for the individual, suggesting that God equips each person with the necessary strength and resources to fulfill their personal duties.”1

We’re called to have a sense of personal responsibility for the loads we carry. Yet in our culture today this notion can be distorted in several ways. Here are a few examples:

  • Entitlement tells us “I am privileged and superior. I can’t be bothered with small inconveniences. Someone else should carry my load for me.”
  • Over-functioning tells us “I need to do for others what they could and should be doing for themselves; I take ownership and responsibility for others without realizing I’m stunting their ability to grow and mature.”
  • Victim mentality tells us “I’m powerless and I blame others for my misfortune. Someone else should fix my problems, take care of my responsibilities, and carry my load.”

Contrasting the word “load” in verse 5, “A ‘burden’ can be seen as an excessive weight that surpasses an individual’s capacity to bear alone, necessitating the love and support of the Christian community.”1 Believers are called to share burdens with others but sometimes we hold back from asking for help or from giving it. Here are few mindsets that hinder this:

  • Pride says, “I don’t want to admit I need help or support. I’d rather struggle under the weight of bearing a burden alone.”
  • Individualism says, “I don’t want to bother anyone or to be bothered by anyone. I want to be seen as self sufficient and would never  expose my need to others.”
  • Selfishness says, “I don’t want to be weighed down or to get my hands dirty with someone else’s load. My goal is to avoid messy situations at all costs.”

Regardless of the reason, when we avoid sharing burdens, we miss out on meaningful connection. Walking beside others through hardship builds community and deepens friendship in ways that good times can’t.

 Do Good to All, Especially Fellow Believers

Paul also encourages the believers to put their faith into action: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” (Galatians 6:9-10, NIV)

The call to do good to all people is a mindset and a lifestyle, not a periodic service project. It seems there are many today who opt out of doing good and serving the family of believers. The swift current of busyness draws us into a rushing river of distraction that overwhelms us. We’re so busy trying to keep our heads above water we can’t think about anything else. So, in an attempt to simplify life or maintain control, we say no to anything that requires more from us. The very things that would feed our souls and bring life, community, and connection feel like too much.

Little by little we slip into spiritual indifference known as the sin of sloth. Pastor Bethany Allen describes this as “the subtle refusal to love when love feels costly, and ultimately it is an aversion to the good and the mysterious beauty and potential of the kingdom. Sloth shows up as spiritual or emotional disengagement from things like prayer, obedience, worship, from loving our neighbors, from the work that we’re called to, the relationships we have, and the growth that God is inviting us into…It isn’t some kind of loud rebellion. It’s totally masked in a quieter response and things like ‘not now,” ‘not yet,’ ‘oh not me.’…With sloth…personal comfort becomes the default setting. And over time, sloth doesn’t just waste our days, it shrinks our souls.”

Quoting Paul’s words in Galatians 5 about not growing weary of doing good, Allen adds, “See, perseverance or the attentiveness to the heart, that’s what keeps us free from sloth. But that work of not growing weary or apathetic or indifferent, it actually requires a deliberate decision of the heart and the will in order for it to be true for us.”2

 No doubt, Paul’s closing words may cause the sting of conviction. Instead of brushing that feeling aside, will you prayerfully consider the topics he addresses?

  • Where might you be turning a blind eye to sin instead of praying about restoring a fellow believer to a right relationship with the Lord?
  • Where might you be out of alignment with the call to carry your own load and to bear others’ burdens? Are you shouldering a load meant for someone else? Are you avoiding coming alongside someone to bear a burden? Do you have a burden you need help carrying?
  • Where might you be opting out of doing good and building the body of believers? Have you slipped into apathy or made “no” your default answer when it comes to serving?

Answering these questions honestly will put you on the road to true freedom in Christ, which is the goal of Paul’s writing throughout Galatians.Why not pray and invite the Lord to work in whatever areas have risen to the surface for you? Receive His grace and allow Him to bring transformation from the conviction you’ve felt. It seems fitting to end this series with Paul’s closing words to the believers in Galatia: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.” (Galatians 6:18, NIV)

Inspired by Live Free: A Study of Galatians by Elizabeth Woodson, Lifeway, 2025. Follow along by ordering your copy here.

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  1. “Understanding ‘Load’ vs. ‘Burden’”, Bible Hub 
  2. “Seven Deadly Sins: Sloth”, Bethany Allen, Bridgetown Community Church, Feb. 1, 2026

Life as It Was Designed to Be

Arriving home after a trip triggers a predictable chain of events: sifting through a stack of mail, watering parched plants, unpacking suitcases, and re-stocking groceries. Before heading out to buy new food, I take inventory of the refrigerator. Most of the time, I discover a few funky smells wafting out–a forgotten container of leftovers growing mold, a bag of lettuce that’s turned brown and mushy, or strawberries covered with green fuzz. These inedible landmines often trigger a full cleaning of every shelf and drawer because there’s nothing worse than putting fresh food in a stinky fridge.

With those smells and images in mind, consider Paul’s words to the Galatians as he urges them to embrace God’s grace and walk in step with the Spirit: “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses… Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” (Galatians 5:16-18, 24-25 NLT)

Paul encourages believers to understand that their freedom in Christ enables them to live in the way God intended them, no longer bound by the shackles of sin or the burden of the law. Elizabeth Woodson explains, “For Paul, freedom is not about living a life without any boundaries but living a life that is ordered by the boundaries of godliness.”1 He’s admonishing believers to clean out their spiritual refrigerators to make space for the fresh nourishment of the Holy Spirit.

In order to do this, however, we need to identify sin that’s keeping us from growing to maturity. Paul provides an extensive and specific list to consider—the old and decaying things in our lives that we need to surrender to the Lord so that we can live the abundant lives He intended: “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures,  idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21, NLT)

We may skim through this list without applying it personally, but the sins Paul calls out to the Galatians are just as relevant in our world today. Instead of glossing over them and focusing on less convicting passages, let’s take a minute to ponder them prayerfully.

Sexual Sins: Paul dives right in by calling out sexual immorality, impurity, and lustful pleasures. The biblical definition for sexual immorality is any sexual activity outside the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman. Lustful pleasures include anything that prioritizes gratifying a sexual craving over seeking God’s will and caring for the well-being of others. (This is what fuels the booming industries of pornography and sex-trafficking.) Our culture normalizes and even glorifies sexual behaviors and thought patterns that not only dishonor God but damage our relationships and souls. If you’re not paying attention to what’s forming your perspective on sex, it’s likely you’ve adopted the world’s way of thinking without realizing it. Take a moment and prayerfully consider where our current culture influences your views on sexuality more than the Bible. For a deeper dive on this topic, click on the sermon link at the bottom entitled “Two Beds.”

Spiritual Sins: Next Paul touches on spiritual straying by calling out idolatry and sorcery. The late Tim Keller describes an idol as anything that “has such a controlling position in your heart that you can spend most of your passion and energy, your emotional and financial resources, on it without a second thought.” Family, children, career, making money, achievement, social standing, romantic relationships, peer approval, security, comfort, beauty, brains, even moral or social causes can all become “ultimate things.”2 Paul also speaks against sorcery, which is the use of spells, divination, or speaking to spirits. Any attempt to seek spiritual wisdom and power from a source other than God should not be part of a believer’s life—this includes practices that have recently regained popularity ‘just for fun” such as consulting mediums or psychics and reading tarot cards or auras.

Relational Sins: Paul gives a variety of examples including hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, and envy. It’s not hard to see how social media has given us more opportunities to be led into these kinds of sins. Most of them are rooted in unrestrained anger and selfishness. Anytime we’re tempted to have an “us vs. them” mentality or to resent a person for having what we think we “deserve” we’re heading into relational sin. If anger or sins related to it are a struggle for you, make time to listen to the excellent sermon by Christine Caine linked at the bottom of this post. If envy or jealousy regularly pop up for you, there’s a sermon at the bottom for you too.

Social Sins: Again, Paul doesn’t mince words and calls out drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these as practices to avoid. When alcohol, drugs, pills or other mind-altering substances become a necessary ingredient for having a good time or become the focal point of a social event, we’re veering into sin. They also lower our inhibitions and open the door for other sins. “When we choose to ingest mind-altering substances, we are effectively choosing to give ourselves over to the control of something other than the Holy Spirit. Anything that takes control of our mind, will, and emotions is a false god.”3 If you rationalize or minimize times when you’re tipsy or joke about being “over served,” maybe it’s time to bring it to the Lord in prayer. If you’re feeling convicted, be honest with yourself, the Lord, and a grace-filled friend who can walk alongside you. To learn more, see the article linked in reference #3 at the bottom.

Galatians 5 is most famous for this verse: “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” (Galatians 5:22-23, NLT) Many of us like to skip right to these verses without considering what comes before them. But growing this kind of spiritual fruit means confronting our sin and letting the Lord remove it as a hindrance so that we can abide closely with Him. Rather than seeing Paul’s list of sins as restrictive, consider Elizabeth Woodson’s explanation: “The more we deny our flesh and say yes to the things of God (all by the power of the Holy Spirit), the more we are able to experience life as it was designed to be lived. God created us to be image bearers, living for His glory and for the good of others. When we live like this, we are free from the burden of sin, and are free to experience an abundant life—full of love and joy.”4

 Inspired by Live Free: A Study of Galatians by Elizabeth Woodson, Lifeway, 2025. Follow along by ordering your copy here.

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“Two Beds” sermon on sexual sin by Tyler Scott  (start at 24:24)

“Anger” sermon by Christine Caine 

“Envy” sermon by Tyler Staten 

  1. Elizabeth Woodson, Live Free: A Study of Galatians, Lifeway Press, 2025, 131
  2. Tim Keller Counterfeit Gods, Introduction (quoted from Jake Griesel’s website.)
  3. “Is Getting Drunk a Sin?”, gotquestions.org
  4. Elizabeth Woodson, Live Free: A Study of Galatians, Lifeway Press, 2025, 131

Going Back Again

Sitting at the year-end assembly, I watched with envy as the principal called older students on stage to receive  awards. Some names became familiar as certain “star” students were called up multiple times. I longed to hear my name announced, but knew as a puny first grader, I wouldn’t be receiving a certificate that day. As I progressed through the years, the awards assembly was often in the back of my mind. So I was quick to participate in anything that would earn me accolades on the last day of school. By sixth grade, I was at the top of the heap and relished being one of the names called up to the stage over and over again.

That pattern of craving recognition through achievement continued to drive me through middle school and high school. I loved to learn and to serve, but also valued the side benefits of seeing my name on the honor roll and my face on multiple pages in the yearbook. Performing well gave me a sense of value and identity that calmed my insecurity and silenced my inner critic for a while (at least until the glory faded or someone else outshined me).

Although I grew up in a Christian home, I hadn’t grasped my identity in Christ or my eternal standing as the beloved daughter of the King of Kings. Instead, I felt a continual compulsion to do more and be more to prove I was worthy of love, admiration, and respect. As long as I could produce something others valued, I knew I’d be accepted.

This perspective began to change during a season away from my usual influences. A stint serving at a Christian camp surrounded by people who loved Jesus opened my eyes to a new reality. My fellow camp counselors cared nothing about my past accomplishments but made me feel seen, loved, and accepted as never before. The Lord used this experience to hit the re-set button on my worldview. At the end of the summer I headed off to the university I’d worked so hard to get into with a new mindset focused on bringing glory to Jesus instead of myself. My drive to accomplish and succeed for my own recognition transformed into a passion to use my gifts, skills, and resources to grow my faith in Jesus and to spur on others.

Graduating four years later, my list of worldly accomplishments was much shorter than in high school, but my love for the Lord had grown beyond measure.

With each season of life since then, I’ve had to remind myself not to focus on recognition, accomplishments and titles, but on following Jesus and serving Him wholeheartedly wherever the Spirit leads. Of course, there have been times I’ve been tempted to slide back into my old ways of thinking– to seek the title or do the shiny thing that will get me noticed, but the Holy Spirit always reminds me to re-set my gaze on Jesus.

The tension I feel between these two mindsets rose to the surface as I read Paul’s admonishment to the Galatians: “Before you Gentiles knew God, you were slaves to so-called gods that do not even exist. So now that you know God (or should I say, now that God knows you), why do you want to go back again and become slaves once more to the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world?” (Galatians 4:8-9, NLT)

False teachers had urged the Galatian believers to prove themselves worthy by adopting Jewish religious practices that were no longer relevant. (Specifically, getting circumcised and following all the laws of the old covenant.) The Gentile believers had rejected paganism and accepted Christ, but now the Judaizers were leading them off course. While most of us can’t identify with practicing orthodox Judaism to prove ourselves worthy, it’s likely we all have some aspect of our past that threatens our freedom in Christ. It could come from an old thought pattern like mine, or it could come from another person who is hindering your growth. Perhaps a few moments of prayerful self-reflection would help you consider where you’re tempted to “go back again and become a slave once more to the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world.” Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Guilt: Many of us have come out of faith traditions that include a heavy load of guilt. Do you have a nagging sense that you’re always failing or disappointing God? Do the phrases “I should” or “I feel bad” flow from your mouth on a regular basis? Do you criticize yourself because you’re not doing enough? While the Spirit does convict us of sin and calls us to repentance, He does not burden us with guilt or a nagging sense of failure. As one of my favorite pastors says, “Guilt is not a fruit of the Spirit.” Is guilt keeping you from experiencing true freedom in Christ?

Worldly Mindsets: Our culture shapes how we view circumstances and engage people. Pastor John Mark Comer says we are all being formed by something, it’s just a matter of what. When we put our faith and trust in Jesus, this begins a process of letting Him form us into His image. The tension arises when the way we’re used to functioning clashes with the way of Jesus. When we surrender our lives to Christ, we’re not meant to hold anything back—He wants it all. Everything filters through His perspective: sex, money, career, possessions, etc. Are there worldly ways of thinking and functioning that you struggle to let go?

Self-Sufficiency: We live in an individualistic, self-centered society. Most of us pride ourselves on figuring out how to make things happen and to solve our own problems. And if we can’t find a solution on our own, we always have Google or AI to give us answers. But when we put our faith in Jesus, we have the Holy Spirit to guide and teach us. In fact, it’s when we admit our weakness that we are most able to experience God’s strength. Are you prone to slipping back into a mindset of self-sufficiency instead of trusting the Lord? Seek His strength and wisdom first instead of as a last resort.

Showing Well: Whether it’s our physical appearances, our homes, our children, or our social media feeds, most of us prioritize looking good. While there’s nothing wrong with caring for yourself or wanting beautiful surroundings, a continued focus on the exterior often means neglecting deeper things. The struggle to please and impress others can carry over into how we approach church, Bible study, and ministry too. Are you intentional about tending to your heart and character as much as you are exterior appearances?

We all have old patterns of thinking and behaving that enslave us under “weak and useless principles of this world.” Take a few moments to consider what this looks like in your life. Invite the Lord to search your heart, then confess anything He brings to mind and delight in remembering your freedom in Christ.

If you’re struggling with old and unhealthy thought patterns that are hindering you from experiencing freedom in Christ, I highly recommend Every Thought Captive: Calm the Mental Chaos that Keeps you Stuck, Drains Your Hope and Holds You Back  by Kyle Idleman. 

Inspired by Live Free: A Study of Galatians by Elizabeth Woodson, Lifeway, 2025. Follow along by ordering your copy here.

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Freedom by Faith Through Christ

Several years ago, my family took an international trip I had been anticipating for a long time. Assuming the role of travel agent, I spent the months leading up to it researching and booking accommodations and activities as well as scheduling planes, trains, and automobiles. Keeping track of all of our plans required an elaborate spreadsheet that I monitored throughout the trip. With every one of the six stopovers in three different countries, I fretted about schedules, logistics, and whether my family was enjoying the experience. My carefully orchestrated plans could have collapsed like a house of cards with one missed flight or late arrival at a pre-booked activity. Although I’m thankful we took the trip, it was exhausting.

So, a few years later, when we had another opportunity for travel, I tried a different approach. With my family’s blessing, we booked a trip with an active travel company that handled most of what I’d done previously; planning a detailed schedule of activities, transfers, meals, and hotels. I was responsible for booking flights and choosing sleeping accommodations before and after the trip, which took a fraction of the time. More importantly, I was freed to relax and enjoy experiencing new places with my family instead of fretting over logistics.

Now, imagine if I’d booked our trip with the tour company, but then proceeded with researching activities, booking hotels, and coordinating transportation anyway. Why would I be so foolish as to duplicate efforts by doing all that work when someone else was already doing it for me? And how would my family have reacted to me engrossing myself in planning for no good reason? Essentially, this is what Paul asks at the start of Galatians 3. Exasperated, he questions why believers who heard the gospel of grace have turned back to seeking salvation through following the law: “Oh, foolish Galatians! Who has cast an evil spell on you? For the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture of his death on the cross…How foolish can you be? After starting your new lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? Have you experienced so much for nothing? Surely it was not in vain, was it?” (Galatians 3:1 & 3, 4 NLT)

Can you feel his frustration with those he loves? Reading Galatians as a whole, it’s easy to see why. Paul compares living under the law with living by faith in Christ. Under the law we are: not justified (2:16), using human effort (3:3), under a curse (3:10), held prisoners (3:23), observing laborious rituals (4:10), alienated from Christ and fallen away from grace (5:4).

In Christ we are: rescued from the present evil age (1:4), justified by faith (2:16), recipients of the Holy Spirit (3:2), children of Abraham (3:7), redeemed from the curse and blessed (3:14), no longer under supervision of the law (3:25), children of God (3:26), Abraham’s seeds and heirs according to God’s promise (3:29), filled with the Spirit (4:6), set free (5:1), called to be free (5:13), living by the Spirit (5:25).

With all this beautiful truth, it makes no sense to Paul that the Galatians are moving backwards in their faith journey. His letter skips from example to example in an effort to show them their foolishness. Elizabeth Woodson explains that “Paul methodically unfolds his argument against justification by the law”1 using three different examples in Galatians 3.

First, he points to the work of the Holy Spirit, “I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ.” (Galatians 3:5, NLT) What Paul emphasizes for them also holds true for us: we can’t “earn” the presence of the Holy Spirit through doing good deeds, we can only receive Him by putting our faith in Christ. The Spirit moves and works through us not when we try harder, but when we surrender and trust in Him. Is there a circumstance in your life that you need to relinquish to the Lord instead of relying on your own effort? If you’re prone to self sufficiency, this may need to be a daily prayer for you.

Next, Paul gets detailed and specific about areas where believers are veering off course. He explains that family heritage is not the source of salvation: “God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, ‘All nations will be blessed through you.’ So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith.” (Galatians 3:8b-9, NLT) Like the Jewish people, we cannot rely on a legacy of faith from family members for salvation. Similarly, we need to be wary of putting ourselves in spiritually rich environments but failing to pursue God individually. Each person must make a personal decision to accept and follow Christ. Do you siphon spiritual wisdom from others instead of seeking a personal connection with the Lord? Will you bring this to God in prayer and tell Him you want to forge a more personal relationship with Him?

Paul’s last argument focuses on the curse of the law: “But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, ‘Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.’ So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, ‘It is through faith that a righteous person has life.’” (Galatians 3:10-11, NLT) It’s clear we are powerless to follow the law completely, no matter how hard we try. If you’ve ever read the Old Testament, then you know it was impossible for the Jews to follow all the laws too. This is the curse of sin that came upon us in the Garden of Eden described in Genesis 3.

Paul explains that God created the law to provide guardrails for us until the coming of Christ. He made provisions for our sin before we even knew we’d need them. While requirements to adhere to the civil and ceremonial laws laid out in the Old Testament are now obsolete, the moral laws continue to hold relevance for us: “While we are not required to follow them for our salvation, they provide a blueprint for how we can live like Christ. When we follow the moral laws, we are fulfilling our divine purpose to reflect God’s character to the world, loving Him with our heart, souls, and mind, and loving our neighbors as ourselves.”2 Do you have a clear sense of how God’s character and how He’s calling you to live? Is it time to refresh your memory of the 10 Commandments in Exodus 20? Prayerfully consider if there are elements of His moral law you’ve disregarded or assumed were no longer applicable in modern times. Thank the Lord for making provision for your sin and ask Him if there’s anywhere you’re not in alignment with His moral laws.

Ending on a positive note, the chapter closes with this hopeful reminder: “Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian. For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.” (Galatians 3:24-27, NLT)

Inspired by Live Free: A Study of Galatians by Elizabeth Woodson, Lifeway, 2025. Follow along by ordering your copy here.

Was this forwarded to you? Click here to submit your e-mail and subscribe. You’ll receive future posts automatically in your inbox.

  1. Elizabeth Woodson,Live Free: A Study of Galatians, Lifeway, 2025, 67.
  2. ibid, 95

Freedom from the Law

My son had a neighborhood friend in elementary school who often showed up at our house unannounced. Abandoning his bike on our front walkway, he’d knock at the door in search of a playmate. Ushering him inside, I’d suggest that he leave his helmet with his bike, but he always declined. An hour later, I’d find the boys surrounded by colorful Legos hunched over their latest creations. I’d chuckle to myself noticing his friend still sporting the helmet. Even when it no longer applied to the circumstances, he followed the law.

While it’s not an exact parallel, I pictured my son’s friend as I read Paul’s words of concern to the Galatian believers observing obsolete religious laws. They have begun listening to  teachers called “Judaizers” who tell them that to be true followers of Christ they must follow Jewish laws regarding circumcision and dietary restrictions. This is a direct contradiction to a significant event involving Peter recorded in Acts 10.

In this story the Lord appears to Peter in a vision and erases dietary laws that divide Jews and Gentiles. The Holy Spirit then sends Peter to the home of a Gentile believer named Cornelius. Peter tells him: “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean. ” (Acts 10:28-29 NLT) Later, back in Jerusalem, Peter explains to the other church leaders, “Since God gave these Gentiles the same gift [of the Holy Spirit] he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to stand in God’s way?” (Acts 11:17, NLT)

Now, around a decade later Paul shares a disconcerting story about Peter in Galatians 2. Paul and his ministry partner, Barnabas, have been living in the city of Antioch and teaching believers the way of Jesus. When Peter first arrives to visit, he joins them in eating with Gentile believers. Later, however, Peter reverts to old Jewish laws and Paul calls out his hypocrisy: “When [Peter] first arrived, he ate with the Gentile believers, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision. As a result, other Jewish believers followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.” (Galatians 2:12-13, NLT)

Imagine how hurtful and confusing Peter’s actions must have been for Gentile believers who had enjoyed fellowship with him around the table.  They’d been grafted into the family of God by faith in Christ, but now they’re treated as second class citizens. Peter’s role as an influential leader prompts Paul to act. He refuses to sit back and remain silent because a true understanding of God’s grace is at stake.

Rebuking Peter, Paul says, “You and I are Jews by birth, not ‘sinners’ like the Gentiles. Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.” (Galatians 2:15-16, NLT) Never one to shrink from the truth, Paul confronts Peter here to keep the gospel from becoming distorted.

Reading this story makes me think of a pendulum swinging between  legalism and grace that occurs in Christian communities.

One extreme happens when believers have a “checklist” mentality. Elizabeth Woodson describes this as legalism: “the belief that our salvation is directly linked to our actions.”1 She also says it’s the “belief that we earn or keep God’s favor by what we do or don’t do.”2 For those of who like routines or struggle with people pleasing, we may let practices intended to help us grow our faith swing us toward legalism. It happens when we feel guilty for missing a quiet time or a worship service; when we say “yes” to serving out of obligation rather than calling; when we give money out of guilt instead of with a generous or joyful spirit. Legalism also creeps in when we see sacraments like Communion or Baptism as requirements to prove our faith rather than expressions of it. When we start engaging in spiritual practices to fulfill an obligation rather than as an outpouring of our love for the Lord, we may be flirting with legalism.

If this feels familiar, here are a few questions to ask yourself: Do I practice certain spiritual disciplines to feel acceptable to God? Am I trying to earn or keep God’s favor by what I do? Am I encouraging those I love to do the same?

The other extreme overemphasizes and misinterprets grace. In this mindset, believers view freedom in Christ as license to do whatever they want. They accept the “free gift” of salvation without considering that it cost Jesus His life; they fail to understand the magnitude of the spiritual exchange taking place. Instead of experiencing transformation by the Spirit, they live no differently than the world–whether it’s the language they use, the entertainment they enjoy, the amount of alcohol they consume, their focus on consumerism and materialism, their sexual practices, etc.

Grace doesn’t give us license to do whatever we want, but freedom to walk in manner worthy of our calling in Christ (Ephesians 4:1). Followers of Jesus are no longer in bondage to sin because we’ve been cleansed by the blood of Christ and have the strength, wisdom, and power of the Holy Spirit to lead us. (Ephesians 5:25) .

If your pendulum swings more toward the “freedom” side, consider asking yourself: Is my way of expressing freedom leading me to look more like the world or more like Jesus? Could  my words, attitudes, and behaviors cause confusion to those younger in faith? Is my lifestyle spurring on others to walk in the way of Jesus?

Whether you lean more toward legalism and rules or misunderstood grace and “freedom,” pray and ask the Lord to bring you back into alignment, living by this truth: “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.” (Galatians 2:20-21, NLT)

  1. Elizabeth Woodson, Live Free: A Study of Galatians, Lifeway, 2025,  50.
  2. ibid, quoted from session 2 video

Inspired by Live Free: A Study of Galatians by Elizabeth Woodson, Lifeway, 2025. Follow along by ordering your copy here.

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Astonished

Imagine a person you love deeply to whom you’ve imparted significant wisdom. You’ve had a close relationship and have supported one another through hard times. The bonds between you have been strengthened through shared faith, values, and experiences. This relationship has brought you deep joy and fulfillment and you feel sad when life circumstances cause your close proximity to change. Perhaps you’re picturing a family member who no longer lives under your roof. Or maybe it’s a close friend who’s moved to another city or state.

Despite the distance, you hold them dear and remain in contact. Now, imagine that as time passes, this relationship seems to shift. Issues that you used to view through a similar lens now spark conflict between you. Or maybe the beliefs or values you both embraced seem to be veering in different directions, leaving you disoriented and confused.

Over time, you notice more and more changes in the person you love that cause deep concern. After much prayer, you muster the courage to address what you’re seeing and to remind your loved one of timeless truth you once celebrated together. Gathering your thoughts, you write a letter to share your love for the person and your concern for the choices they’re making that no longer align with the beliefs they once held. It’s not the desire for uniformity that drives you, but a deep love and concern for a person drifting from spiritual freedom back into bondage.

This is the situation Paul faces as he writes to the churches in Galatia to express his deep concern over changes in their beliefs and practices. Paul wastes no time reminding them of his credibility as “an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead.” (Galatians 1:1, NIV) He opens his letter by offering grace and peace to smooth the way for the correction to follow.

Unable to contain himself after his initial greeting, Paul expresses dismay for the Galatians’ quickness to turn from God’s grace. “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all.” (Galatians 1:6 & 7a, NIV) Forgetting the foundation laid by Paul’s teaching, the Galatians have been thrown into confusion by people “trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.” (Galatians 1:7c, NIV) He reminds them that the gospel he preached wasn’t made up or created by a man but received “by revelation from Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 1:12b, NIV)

Earlier Paul says, “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10, NIV) His questions are rhetorical, but they’re worth considering. If you had genuine concerns for a loved one like I described above, would you address them? Would you be blunt and direct in the spirit of “just being honest”? Or perhaps you’d take the passive-aggressive route by making subtle comments in hopes they’d get the hint. Or maybe  you’d just avoid your concerns altogether to keep the illusion of peace.

Recognizing that a fellow believer we love has veered from biblical truth shouldn’t cause us to become aggressive and accusatory or to throw up our hands in defeat. It should cause us to fall on our knees in prayer. Paul’s example shows that a loving response to people who have been thrown into spiritual confusion is to come alongside them, not to abandon them to distorted thinking. Unfortunately, in our culture of instant gratification we’ve forgotten the value of patience or the wisdom of letting a process unfold. We see something concerning and either attack it head on to bring immediate correction or avoid it, withdrawing in quiet disappointment and judgement.

If you’re picturing a specific person right now, perhaps it’s time to commit to prayer. Here are a few suggestions:

  • Do not address your concerns with your loved one on social media, in an e-mail, or text message. Pray for an opportunity to start a conversation.
  • Ask the Lord to search your heart and reveal any sin that may be affecting your perspective. Be sure the concern you have is rooted in wanting biblical truth to come to light, not proving you’re “right.”
  • Ask the Lord to increase your compassion for the person’s confusion instead of sparking criticism or judgement over wrong thinking.
  • Pray for wisdom about how to come alongside the person, how to ask good questions, and how to listen well.
  • Pray for the person’s heart to soften and their spiritual eyes to be opened.
  • Pray for patience as you wait to see glimmers of change.
  • Pray for the Lord to place other people in your loved one’s life who will water seeds of faith that have gone dormant or to help them recognize where they’ve gotten off track.

If anything other than love is motivating you to speak, wait and ask the Lord to soften your heart. When you don’t see anything happening, don’t give up praying. Trust that the Lord hears your prayers and is working in His perfect timing.  And if the Spirit prompts you, approach the conversation with curiosity rather than condemnation. Find out where the confusion started and what the root issues are. Don’t try to say all the things at once. Be patient and let the dialogue unfold over time. Listen more than you speak. And when you open your mouth, share gently with authenticity from your heart and authority from the Word of God.

Inspired by Live Free: A Study of Galatians by Elizabeth Woodson, Lifeway, 2025. Follow along by ordering your copy here.

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