^{Galatians 4}

²¹ Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? ²² For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. ²³ His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.

 ²⁴ These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. ²⁵ Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. ²⁶ But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. ²⁷ For it is written:

   “Be glad, barren woman,
   you who never bore a child;
shout for joy and cry aloud,
   you who were never in labor;
because more are the children of the desolate woman
   than of her who has a husband.”^[e]

 ²⁸ Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise. ²⁹ At that time the son born according to the flesh persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. ³⁰ But what does Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”^{[f] 31} Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.

Galatians 5

Freedom in Christ

 ¹ 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.

 ² Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. ³ Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. ⁴ You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. ⁵ For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. ⁶ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

So, Paul is painting a picture here.  He is speaking about the rituals and doctrines of men being used to shackle us to the law.  It’s of the flesh to believe we in of ourselves can adhere to God’s perfect law.  When believers approach faith in Christ as a list of do’s and don’ts they become enslaved, shackled to the law.  What did Paul say?  The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.  Also, faith without works is dead.  What is the natural outflowing work of faith in Christ?  Love for our neighbor?  Why do we make this so hard?  Why are do we shackle our self-image to the failures of the flesh?  Why do we beat ourselves with our failures?  Why do we speak to ourselves in ways that are abusive?  Do you not know you are the sons and daughters of the one and only Holy God?  Do you not know, that you never could live according to the law?  Did you not know if you violate one law you violate them all?  The law is a breaker of the flesh.  If you are not fully convinced you can’t, then maybe you need to go try some more.  Then end result will be the same.  At the end of trying to be good enough, you will throw your hands in the air and either give up the faith, or you will give up trying to be good enough.  You will give up trying to earn your salvation.  In that beautiful moment of clarity, the real work begins.  I don’t understand it.  I can’t fathom God’s love for us all.  What I do know is that until we get out of the way, and live by faith in Christ through love for others, we will be enslaved.  We will be shackled to ego.  Today, trust the perfecter of your faith Jesus Christ.  Realize he loves you too much not to mold you in his image.  The vices you struggle with today will not be with you forever.  He is removing those from you in His timing.  Trust that process today.