“Our Christian life began when, in unity with Christ, we died to our old life (see Roman 6:5-11).   In our daily life, we must regularly crucify sinful desires that keep us from following Christ. This, too, is a kind of dying with Him (Luke 9:23-25). 

However, the focus of Christianity is not dying but living.  Because we have been crucified with Christ we have also have been raised with Him (Romans 6:5). Legally, we have been reconciled with God (2 Corinthians 5:19) and are free to grow into Christ’s likeness (Romans 8:29).

And in our daily life, we have Christ’s resurrection power as we continue to fight sin (Ephesians 1:19, 20).  We are no longer alone, for Christ lives in us—He is our power for living and our hope for the future (Collossians1:27).”  (NLT)

Recommended Study for Our Daily Life and Christian Freedom

The Book of Galatians

“The book of Galatians is the charter of Christian freedom.”  This profound letter was written by the apostle Paul to the churches in southern Galatia which was founded on his first missionary journey.  “Paul proclaims the reality of our liberty in Christ—freedom from the law and the power of sin, and freedom to serve our living Lord.”  (NLT)

Key verse 5:1

“IN [this] freedom Christ has made us free [and completely liberated us]; stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery [which you have once put off]. (AMP)

The Outline

Ø      Authenticity of the gospel (1:1—2:21)

Ø      Superiority of the gospel ((3:1—4:31)

Ø      Freedom of the gospel (5:1—6:18)

Themes

Ø      Law (Paul explaining that the law cannot save anyone)

Ø      Faith (We receive salvation by faith—trusting in God)

Ø      Freedom (Faith in Christ brings true freedom)

Ø      Holy Spirit (We become Christians through the work of the Holy Spirit. He brings new life: even our faith to believe is a gift from God) –(NLT)

Prayer

May God bless you as you mediate daily upon His precious Word!  

If you believe in Jesus Christ, you have been set free. Instead of going back into some form of slavery, whether to legalism or to sin, use your freedom to live for Christ and serve Him as He desires.  (NLT)

Quotations and notes marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.