Who Has Bewitched You into Bondage?
How many experienced freedom when they first came to Christ, only to find themselves in religious bondage not long after? Somehow there was a shift from faith to works, while still claiming grace. This is not a new phenomenon; it was something that needed addressing in the early Church.
Galatians 3:1-3 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
Back then, Judaizers crept in and perverted the Gospel by mixing the Law of Moses with the Law of the Spirit, causing people to move from faith to works of the flesh. Even though some church cultures donât advocate mixing the Law with grace, they still try to maintain holiness by the power of the flesh. To their credit, they love the Lord and are doing what they believe is best. However, they embraced a religious attitude in which they equated holiness with behavior.
In essence, they received Jesus as Lord and Savior through faith, but then became more concerned about outward appearances, instead of the hidden person of the heart. Unfortunately, they put unrealistic expectations on others, which they themselves are unable to maintain. It is similar to what Jesus addressed with the religious leaders during His earthly ministry.
Luke 11:46 But He said, âWoe to you lawyers as well! For you weigh men down with burdens hard to bear, while you yourselves will not even touch the burdens with one of your fingers.â
To be clear, some have put themselves under bondage. They create a picture in their minds of what it means to be a Christian, and then strive for perfection. In the process, they are experiencing anxiety and fear, along with guilt, shame and condemnation. All of which has nothing to do with the Gospel. Moreover, it was never what God intended for anyone!
Do you want to be a better Christian? This is a trick question; you cannot make yourself a better Christian, because there is no such person. If you try to do better, you will enter into works of the flesh, all complete with religious dos and donâts. Okay, how does one follow Jesus while putting away all the effort in so doing?
Serve With Your Spirit
Romans 1:9 For God is my Witness, Whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers.
âWhom I serve with my spiritâ is a very important statement. In short, we are made of spirit, soul, mind and body. Our spirit is what connects with God through Holy Spirit. We follow God by allowing our spirit to take the lead over the rest (soul, mind and body). It is an act of submission, and in so doing you fulfill the Law of the Spirit.
Romans 8:2-6 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Simply put, Holy Spirit will always lead us in what is righteous and holy. We donât have to follow a bunch of rules. By submitting to Him, we will do what is pleasing to God.
Hebrews 4:8 For he that is entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His.
Get rid of the self-effort, allow Him to lead you, and you will have peace. That includes not trying to live up to other peopleâs expectations. What God thinks is far more important than what people think. Walk in love, while not allowing others to put you in bondage.
Galatians 1:10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.
