Walking in Freedom: Life by the Spirit
Sermon June 29th, 2025
Sermon June 29th, 2025
Galatians 5:1, 13-25; Walking in Freedom: Life by the Spirit
Have you ever felt truly free? Not just a day off of work, or a vacation, or being kid-free when they go to camp or on a trip? The freedom we are talking about here is a profound sense of liberation. In our modern world, we often equate freedom with the absence of rules, the ability to do whatever we want, whenever we want. Like when my parents would go out and my sister and I were at home and we got to do what we wanted and watch the TV we wanted.
But is that true freedom? For a kid, yes. But, is boundless self-indulgence the path to liberation, or does it lead to a different kind of slavery? Paul, in his letter to the Galatians, addresses this very question. The Galatian believers were being pressured to return to the Old Testament Law, to believe that their salvation depended on adherence to various rituals. Paul vehemently opposes this, reminding them of the radical truth: “It for freedom that Christ has set us free.” So what does this God-given freedom truly means and how are we called to live it out through the power of the Holy Spirit?
Paul, in this part of the letter, will depict in detail the life of faith that expresses itself in love, in the Spirit, and that fulfills the Law. In his description, he uses three images to convey what this life looks like: walking, warring, and fruit bearing. Paul is, without a doubt, saying that freedom is for love. In verse 13, he tells us, “Do not use your freedom to indulge in the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” We are reminded that freedom is not merely an escape from bondage but an invitation to walk in the Spirit, living out the fullness of God’s grace.
So, this part of the letter starts out with a thunderbolt: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” But what has he actually freed us from? Freedom from the Law as a means of salvation. The Galatians were tempted to believe that they needed to add human effort—following the Mosaic Law—to Christ’s work on the cross. Paul makes it clear to them: Christ’s sacrifice is sufficient. We are justified by faith, not by works of the law. To return to the law for salvation is to put ourselves back under a “yoke of slavery.” It implies that Christ’s work was somehow incomplete.
The freedom Christ gives us is also freedom from the penalty of sin. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, the power of sin to condemn us is broken. We are no longer under the judgment of the law because Christ bore that judgment for us. We are forgiven, reconciled with God, and declared righteous in His sight. And we are granted freedom from the power of sin. While we are free from sin’s penalty, we are also given the power to resist its grip in our daily lives. This is not automatic; it is a battle, and it is where the Holy Spirit comes in. Now, this is not freedom to sin all we want—it is a call to a higher, more fulfilling way of living. It is like a prisoner who has been released but still choosing to live in the cell. That is what it is like to go back to the law or sin after Christ has set us free! Are we living as people who are truly free, or are we still bound by guilt, legalism, or sin?
Freedom is a gift and we ought to guard it with all our being. As Eugene Peterson writes in The Message Bible: “Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put on a harness of slavery on you.” Freedom is not a separation from our relationships; it is a key feature of our relationships that become especially clear as a result of our relationship with Jesus Christ. We were set free for something. What things threaten to pull us back into bondage? Is it fear? Is it perfectionism? Is it the pressure to perform? Paul calls us to stand firm in the freedom Christ has given us. This is not a passive freedom but an active resistance against anything that would enslave us again.
Then we jump to the last section of this chapter of the letter. Here, Paul immediately warns against a dangerous misconception: “But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh.” This is a critical distinction. Freedom in Christ is not an excuse for immorality and self-gratification. In fact, true freedom enables us to live righteously, not in bondage to our sinful desires.
So what does Paul mean by “indulging the flesh?” Paul is not just talking about overt sexual sin (look we were all thinking it!), though that is included. “Flesh (the Greek word is: sarx)” here refers to our fallen human nature, our self-centered desires, our natural inclination to live independently of God. When we indulge the flesh, we live primarily for ourselves, driven by selfish ambition, anger, jealousy, and division. Paul paints a vivid picture of the conflict within us: “For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit is what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.” This is not a passive struggle; it is an active battle for control of our lives. Every day, we choose which voice to listen to, which path to follow.
True freedom is expressed in loving service to others. Love is not just a feeling, it is an action. Paul’s issue with the flesh is not that it desires, but that these desires are disordered. However, the appropriate response to these disordered desires, Paul says, is not to reject it or surrender to it, but to desire properly. That proper desire is made possible by the work of the Spirit. Freedom is not the license to sin, it is not an excuse to live selfishly and give into disordered desires. Our freedom in Christ enables us to love deeply, forgive generously, and serve selflessly Are we using our freedom to build others up or to please ourselves?
If freedom is not for self-indulgence, what is it for? Paul gives us a very beautiful answer: “rather, serve one another humbly in love.” This is the revolutionary truth of Christian freedom. We are set free from something so that we can be free for something: to love and serve God and our neighbor. Love fulfills the Law. Paul reminds us: “For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” When we genuinely love others, we naturally fulfill the spirit of the Law. Love is not merely an emotion; it is an action, a commitment to seek the good of others, even when it is difficult.
Love builds up, and it does not tear down. The opposite of serving in love is seen in Paul’s warning: “If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.” This highlights the destructive nature of unchecked fleshly desires within a community. Division, conflict, and selfish ambition tear down relationships and churches. True freedom is found not in endless consumption, but in generous contribution. It is in pouring ourselves out for others, empowered by God’s love for us. Are we using our freedom to serve others or to indulge ourselves?
In his commentary on Galatians, Néstor Oscar Míguez wrote this about law, love, and freedom: “The law of loving your neighbor is the only law that endures because it builds relationships. It places others in the middle of our lives; it forces us to build a community. Our neighbor is neither a competitor nor a threat, but an occasion to define freedom as service.” Freedom is defined by love and service. This is the concept of agape love, the very definition of this kind of love.
Freedom in Christ is about becoming who we were created to be. And who were we created to be? People who reflect God’s image, the imago Dei. People who walk in love. People who serve. Christian freedom is a Spirit-empowered capacity to love others generously.
So how do we navigate this internal conflict of desires versus service and live out our freedom in Christ? Paul’s answer to this is direct and profound: “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” “Walking by the Spirit” means yielding to the Spirit’s leading: intentionally listening and obeying the promptings of the Holy Spirit. It is allowing Him to guide our thoughts, words, and actions. This requires prayer, reading God’s word, and a willingness to surrender our will to His.
Paul gives us two clear lists, two trees with different fruit, the fruit of the Spirit versus the acts of the flesh. The acts of the flesh, he says, are “sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealously, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy” to name a few. These are a natural outgrowth of a life lived according to our fallen nature, apart from God’s Spirit. They bring brokenness, shame, and ultimately, separation from God’s kingdom.
The fruit of the Spirit are “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Now, these are not qualities we conjure up on our own; they are the supernatural evidence of the Holy Spirit’s presence and work within us. They are character traits that reflect God’s own nature and bring life, healing, and peace. Notice that the fruit of the Spirit is singular—“fruit” not “fruits.” It suggests a unified character, a holistic transformation. As we walk in the Spirit, all these qualities begin to manifest in our lives. These catalogues of vices and virtues was a common form of ethical teaching and instruction in the Greco-Roman world of Paul.
Paul also says, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” This is a past tense action—it happened when we committed our lives to Christ. It means we have made a decision to break with our old way of life. It does not mean the flesh is gone, but that its power is broken. We continually live out this crucifixion by saying “no” to sinful desires and “yes” to the Spirit. However, it is okay when we mess up—we ask for forgiveness and try to get back to the Spirit.
“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” This is an ongoing, daily discipline. Imagine marching in a parade; you need to keep pace with the drum major and your fellow marchers. Similarly, we are called to align our lives with the rhythm and direction of the Holy Spirit. Are we feeding the flesh or the Spirit in our daily decisions? Are we examining our lives to see if the works of the flesh are present and are dominant? When we look at the list of the fruit of the Spirit, which one(s) is the strongest in our lives? Which one(s) need growth? What steps are we taking to follow the Spirit more closely?
Walking with the Spirit means paying attention to the Spirit’s voice and choosing His way—even when it is not the easiest or most natural. It is a daily walk. A journey. A pattern of listening, responding, and growing. When we keep in step with the Spirit, freedom does not become a burden—it becomes a blessing. Our lives become a reflection of Christ’s love. How do we know if we are walking by the Spirit? We bear fruit! The fruit of the Spirit is not produced by trying harder but by abiding in Christ. As we surrender to God, His Spirit transforms us from the inside out.
Beloveds, Christ has indeed set us free. This freedom is not an invitation to chaos, but a call to purpose. It is a liberation from the crushing burden of trying to earn God’s favor, and an empowerment to live a life of genuine love and service. The battle between the flesh and the Spirit is real, but we are not left to fight it alone. The Holy Spirit dwells within every believer, ready to guide, empower, and transform us. So let us recommit to walking in the freedom Christ has given us. We were set free for a purpose, which is love, a love that is only possible when you walk by the Spirit. Let us choose daily to stand firm in the truth of our salvation by grace through faith. Let us reject the misuse of freedom for selfish indulgence. Let us embrace the purpose of freedom to serve one another humbly in love. Let us walk by the Spirit, yielding to His guidance and allowing Him to produce His beautiful fruit in our lives. May we live as truly free people, glorifying God and blessing those around us, and helping them lift off the yoke of slavery and helping them walk in the Spirit and in freedom.
To God be the glory this day and always, Amen.