Stand Fast In The Liberty

Galatians 5:1-6

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing.
And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

‘Liberty Leading The People’ (detail) by Eugène Delacroix

Circumcision was a ritual, which God gave to Abraham as a symbol of the first covenant between man and God:
And God said to Abraham: "As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised; … and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. [Genesis 17:9-11]

Initially, it was through this covenant with God, that God’s people were freed from bondage — finding liberty. Psalm 119 says:
Do not snatch your word of truth from me, for your regulations are my only hope. I will keep on obeying your instructions forever and ever. I will walk in freedom (liberty), for I have devoted myself to your commandments. [Psalm 119:43-45 NLT (New Living Translation)]

Jesus’ first public speech was when He quoted Isaiah 61 in the synagogue — and giving a foretaste of His true purpose as a result. He claimed Isaiah’s prophecy as His own ‘to proclaim liberty to the captives’, thus establishing His credentials as The Christ; The Messiah.

Paul in our key verses for today, urges us to avoid lapsing into bondage; instead claiming our liberty, for which Jesus died upon the cross. Not only claiming that liberty, but standing in it, holding fast to our faith worked in us through His love. Thus the new covenant relationship is established. Stand fast in Jesus, lest we fall from grace.

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‘Meditate on these things …’

ISAIAH 61:1-3
"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me,
Because the LORD has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."

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“Stand Fast In The Liberty” — composed and sung by Dan Ricciardelli

“Stand Fast In The Liberty” (lyrics)

Stand fast in the liberty, wherein Christ Jesus has set us free.
Take every thought into captivity.
Stand fast in the liberty

Though we stumble yet we shall arise.
We shall forsake all the enemies lies.
God will surely answer our cries
as we stand in the liberty.

Stand fast in the liberty, wherein Christ Jesus has set us free.
Take every thought into captivity.
Stand fast in the liberty

Jesus has proclaimed a year of release.
Now we can walk in love joy and peace.
Our bondage to sin and death will cease
as we stand in the liberty.

Stand fast in the liberty, wherein Christ Jesus has set us free.
Take every thought into captivity.
Stand fast in the liberty

Why should I look with a natural eye,
and not behold Him who is higher than I.
With faith of the eagle He’ll cause us to fly
as we stand in the liberty.

Stand fast in the liberty, wherein Christ Jesus has set us free.
Take every thought into captivity.
Stand fast in the liberty

Now we behold with an open face
the one who called us by His glory and grace.
From glory to glory a change takes place
as we stand in the liberty.

Stand fast in the liberty, wherein Christ Jesus has set us free.
Take every thought into captivity.
Stand fast in the liberty

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A HOLY PROMISE: Oswald Chambers on HOPE
— In Doubt: Hope in GOD --

Never try to anticipate the actual fulfilment of a vision; you transact some business spiritually with God on your mount of transfiguration and by faith see clearly a vision of His purpose, and immediately afterwards there is nothing but blank darkness.
You trust in The Lord, but you walk in darkness; the temptation is to work up enthusiasm, you have to stay on God and wait [Isaiah 50:10-11].
If darkness turns to spiritual doldrums, you are to blame.
[from ‘Not Knowing Whither’]

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