在基督裡的自由
加拉太書五章1、13至14節
1基督釋放了我們，叫我們得以自由。所以要站立得穩，不要再被奴僕的軛挾制。
13弟兄們，你們蒙召是要得自由，只是不可將你們的自由當作放縱情慾的機會，總要用愛心互相服事。
14因為全律法都包在「愛人如己」這一句話之內了。
信息分享
最近幾年，「自由」已成為一個被濫用的詞。許多國家的人民都以自由之名，要把所有束縛除去；但許多時候，最終只帶來混亂。
我們在基督裡究竟享有怎麼樣的自由？是否表示我們可以任意而行？在一般人的心目中，基督徒總是被許多規條、誡命和禁忌所束縛，事實是否如此？
我們在基督裡的自由，最首要的是脫離罪的自由，而不是犯罪的自由（13節）；是脫離舊約律法束縛的自由。這是加拉太信徒不能明白的。這自由讓我們隨時來到神的面前、彼此相愛和互相服侍。
保羅在羅馬書十三章10節說：「愛是不加害與人的，所以愛就完全了律法。」為甚麼愛能完成律法呢？我們可以用一個簡單的例子來說明這點。作父母的，為甚麼要撫育兒女長大和細心照顧他們呢？是否因為法律規定他們要這樣作？當然不是。那是因為他們愛自己的兒女，當他們這樣作的時候，同時也履行了有關的法律。
同樣地，當我們愛神和愛人，我們也履行了律法；我們並非被逼要去遵行律法，而是因為我們喜愛這樣行。
反思：基督已經使我們得享自由去遵行神的旨意。
OUR FREEDOM IN CHRIST
Galatians 5:1 and 13-14
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Message
Freedom has become a much used word in recent years. People in many countries want restrictions of every kind to be thrown aside. In some cases only chaos are the result.
What sort of freedom is ours in Christ? Does it mean we can do anything we want to do? The popular image of a Christian is of one who is bound by too many restrictions, prohibitions or taboos. Which is right?
First of all, our freedom in Christ is freedom from sin, not freedom to sin. (v.13.) It is freedom from the demands of the Old Testament law. That is what the Galatians couldn't understand. It is freedom to approach God at any time. It is freedom to love and serve one another.
In Romans 13:10 Paul says, 'Love does no harm to its neighbour. Therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.' How can that be so? A simple illustration will help. Why do most parents feed, clothe and care for their children? Is there a law which says they must? Not really. They do it because of their love for the child. In doing so, they are also fulfilling the relevant law.
In the same way, as we love God and love our neighbour, we will also be fulfilling the law. We do so not because we are forced to, but because we want to.
A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: Christ has set us free to do His Father's will.