Law, License, and Liberty
The Bible isn’t a self-improvement manual—it’s a revelation of Jesus. Yet, so many of us fall into the trap of turning it into a rulebook instead of a relationship guide. We say, “It’s all about Jesus!” but then hand people a to-do list the next day. It’s like giving someone a wedding ring and immediately pulling out a chore chart: “Welcome to the family! Now here are 27 things to do, or you’re sleeping on the couch.” God isn’t after our performance—He’s after proximity. We’re not working for His approval; we’re living from it.
The Context of Galatians: Paul’s Fiery Warning
In his letter to the churches in Galatia (modern-day Turkey), Paul doesn’t mince words. He’s hot—because freedom is at stake. The Judaizers had infiltrated the church, telling new believers, “Great that you accepted Jesus… now here’s what else you have to do.” Paul skips the formalities and jumps straight to correction, writing in Galatians 1:6-7 (NLT), “I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God... You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ.” Imagine leading a friend to Christ, going on vacation, and returning to find someone convinced them to go kosher, get circumcised, and avoid polyblend fabrics. Paul’s main question cuts to the core: Is it Christ alone, or Christ plus something else?
Legalism: The Trap of Rule-Keeping
Legalism is the mindset of trying to earn what Jesus already gave us. It’s achieving through effort what’s only available by faith. “God saved me, now I’ve gotta pay Him back,” we think. Spoiler: You can’t. Paul warns in Galatians 5:2 (NLT), “If you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ will be of no benefit to you.” Some Galatians literally got circumcised only to learn it wasn’t necessary—talk about regret! It’s like signing up for a gym membership, only to find out abs come free with salvation. Romans 3:20 (NLT) reminds us, “For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.” The law is a mirror, not a ladder. It shows your need—it doesn’t solve it. Ask yourself: Do you hesitate to approach God after a “bad week”? Do you try to balance the scales with good deeds? Are you still trying to be righteous on your own?
License: When Grace is Abused
On the other side, license is the mindset that says, “God forgives me anyway, so I can do whatever.” The world tells us, “Just do you,” but that misses God’s best. Romans 6:15 (NLT) challenges this: “Since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not!” Think of it this way: If a firefighter saves you from a burning house, do you run back inside just because he’ll pull you out again? Grace isn’t permission to sin—it’s power to walk in freedom. Romans 6:22 (NLT) says, “But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life.” Sanctification means becoming more like Jesus every day. Where are you tempted to take grace for granted? Have you ever thought, “How close to the line can I get and still be saved?” License treats grace like a credit card with no limit and no consequences, but real grace doesn’t just forgive sin—it empowers you to leave it.
Liberty: The Life You Were Made For
Liberty isn’t the middle ground between legalism and license—it’s the higher ground, a whole new way of living. Galatians 5:1 (NLT) declares, “So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.” Walking by the Spirit doesn’t look like legalism or recklessness; it’s walking in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:16, NLT). Living in liberty means obeying God not out of fear, but out of love, and trusting grace to transform, not rules to control. The law says, “Do more.” License says, “Do whatever.” Liberty says, “Walk with Me.” Grace doesn’t push you into laziness—it pulls you into love.
Why the Law at All?
So why was the law given? Galatians 3:19 (NLT) explains, “It was given alongside the promise to show people their sins.” The law is a mirror, not a ladder. When you read its 613 commands, it’s not meant to fix you—it’s meant to expose you. Imagine looking into a mirror and seeing a smear of mud on your cheek. Would you try to scrub it off with the glass? Of course not—that’d be crazy. The law shows the dirt, but it has no power to remove it. That’s what Jesus came to do. Acts 15:10-11 (NLT) asks, “Why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear?” Some of us treat the law like a ladder, thinking if we climb high enough—tithe, volunteer, keep our marriage together, don’t cuss in traffic—we’ll reach God. But the ladder doesn’t lead to Him. It just keeps us striving, comparing, and exhausted. Galatians 2:21 (NLT) puts it plainly: “For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.” As Martin Luther said, “Man is proud and dreams that he is wise and holy—so God gave the law to humble him.”
Jesus and the Law
Christ didn’t come to give you a spiritual to-do list—He is the list. Romans 10:4 (NLT) says, “For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.” John 8:36 (NLT) adds, “So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.” It’s like someone paying off your mortgage, yet you keep sending checks each month to feel better about it. Jesus paid it all—don’t insult the payment. Love is the root, and obedience is the fruit. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey me” (John 14:15), but He also said, “Apart from me, you can do nothing” (John 15:5, NLT).
Final Call: Let Grace Win
You are not under law—you are free in Jesus. To the scorekeepers: You’ve been trying to earn what Jesus already paid for, living with a quiet fear that God’s love depends on your performance. But God’s not grading you—He’s loving you. Romans 8:1-2 (NLT) assures us, “There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” Stop climbing ladders and let grace smash your inner Pharisee. To the coasters: You’ve used grace as a hall pass for sin instead of a highway to transformation. Romans 6:1-2 (NLT) asks, “Should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not!” Grace is power, not permission. Some of us need to stop striving, others need to start surrendering, and some need to stop settling. Grace doesn’t lower the bar—it lifts you to a place where sin loses its grip.
A New Name Under Grace
Imagine wearing a name tag with the label you’ve been carrying: Performer, Failure, Not Enough, Hypocrite, Drifting. Now let Jesus speak a new name over you: Free, Forgiven, Redeemed, Loved, New Creation, No Condemnation. Legalism tries to earn it. License tries to abuse it. Liberty lives transformed by it. What name will you wear today? Let grace win, and walk in the freedom Christ died to give you.
#ICSheridan
#Jesus_NtheKnow
#Bible_NtheKnow
The Context of Galatians: Paul’s Fiery Warning
In his letter to the churches in Galatia (modern-day Turkey), Paul doesn’t mince words. He’s hot—because freedom is at stake. The Judaizers had infiltrated the church, telling new believers, “Great that you accepted Jesus… now here’s what else you have to do.” Paul skips the formalities and jumps straight to correction, writing in Galatians 1:6-7 (NLT), “I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God... You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ.” Imagine leading a friend to Christ, going on vacation, and returning to find someone convinced them to go kosher, get circumcised, and avoid polyblend fabrics. Paul’s main question cuts to the core: Is it Christ alone, or Christ plus something else?
Legalism: The Trap of Rule-Keeping
Legalism is the mindset of trying to earn what Jesus already gave us. It’s achieving through effort what’s only available by faith. “God saved me, now I’ve gotta pay Him back,” we think. Spoiler: You can’t. Paul warns in Galatians 5:2 (NLT), “If you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ will be of no benefit to you.” Some Galatians literally got circumcised only to learn it wasn’t necessary—talk about regret! It’s like signing up for a gym membership, only to find out abs come free with salvation. Romans 3:20 (NLT) reminds us, “For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.” The law is a mirror, not a ladder. It shows your need—it doesn’t solve it. Ask yourself: Do you hesitate to approach God after a “bad week”? Do you try to balance the scales with good deeds? Are you still trying to be righteous on your own?
License: When Grace is Abused
On the other side, license is the mindset that says, “God forgives me anyway, so I can do whatever.” The world tells us, “Just do you,” but that misses God’s best. Romans 6:15 (NLT) challenges this: “Since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not!” Think of it this way: If a firefighter saves you from a burning house, do you run back inside just because he’ll pull you out again? Grace isn’t permission to sin—it’s power to walk in freedom. Romans 6:22 (NLT) says, “But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life.” Sanctification means becoming more like Jesus every day. Where are you tempted to take grace for granted? Have you ever thought, “How close to the line can I get and still be saved?” License treats grace like a credit card with no limit and no consequences, but real grace doesn’t just forgive sin—it empowers you to leave it.
Liberty: The Life You Were Made For
Liberty isn’t the middle ground between legalism and license—it’s the higher ground, a whole new way of living. Galatians 5:1 (NLT) declares, “So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.” Walking by the Spirit doesn’t look like legalism or recklessness; it’s walking in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:16, NLT). Living in liberty means obeying God not out of fear, but out of love, and trusting grace to transform, not rules to control. The law says, “Do more.” License says, “Do whatever.” Liberty says, “Walk with Me.” Grace doesn’t push you into laziness—it pulls you into love.
Why the Law at All?
So why was the law given? Galatians 3:19 (NLT) explains, “It was given alongside the promise to show people their sins.” The law is a mirror, not a ladder. When you read its 613 commands, it’s not meant to fix you—it’s meant to expose you. Imagine looking into a mirror and seeing a smear of mud on your cheek. Would you try to scrub it off with the glass? Of course not—that’d be crazy. The law shows the dirt, but it has no power to remove it. That’s what Jesus came to do. Acts 15:10-11 (NLT) asks, “Why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear?” Some of us treat the law like a ladder, thinking if we climb high enough—tithe, volunteer, keep our marriage together, don’t cuss in traffic—we’ll reach God. But the ladder doesn’t lead to Him. It just keeps us striving, comparing, and exhausted. Galatians 2:21 (NLT) puts it plainly: “For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.” As Martin Luther said, “Man is proud and dreams that he is wise and holy—so God gave the law to humble him.”
Jesus and the Law
Christ didn’t come to give you a spiritual to-do list—He is the list. Romans 10:4 (NLT) says, “For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.” John 8:36 (NLT) adds, “So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.” It’s like someone paying off your mortgage, yet you keep sending checks each month to feel better about it. Jesus paid it all—don’t insult the payment. Love is the root, and obedience is the fruit. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey me” (John 14:15), but He also said, “Apart from me, you can do nothing” (John 15:5, NLT).
Final Call: Let Grace Win
You are not under law—you are free in Jesus. To the scorekeepers: You’ve been trying to earn what Jesus already paid for, living with a quiet fear that God’s love depends on your performance. But God’s not grading you—He’s loving you. Romans 8:1-2 (NLT) assures us, “There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” Stop climbing ladders and let grace smash your inner Pharisee. To the coasters: You’ve used grace as a hall pass for sin instead of a highway to transformation. Romans 6:1-2 (NLT) asks, “Should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not!” Grace is power, not permission. Some of us need to stop striving, others need to start surrendering, and some need to stop settling. Grace doesn’t lower the bar—it lifts you to a place where sin loses its grip.
A New Name Under Grace
Imagine wearing a name tag with the label you’ve been carrying: Performer, Failure, Not Enough, Hypocrite, Drifting. Now let Jesus speak a new name over you: Free, Forgiven, Redeemed, Loved, New Creation, No Condemnation. Legalism tries to earn it. License tries to abuse it. Liberty lives transformed by it. What name will you wear today? Let grace win, and walk in the freedom Christ died to give you.
#ICSheridan
#Jesus_NtheKnow
#Bible_NtheKnow