在基督里的自由
加拉太书五章1、13至14节
1基督释放了我们，叫我们得以自由。所以要站立得稳，不要再被奴仆的轭挟制。
13弟兄们，你们蒙召是要得自由，只是不可将你们的自由当作放纵情欲的机会，总要用爱心互相服事。
14因为全律法都包在「爱人如己」这一句话之内了。
信息分享
最近几年，「自由」已成为一个被滥用的词。许多国家的人民都以自由之名，要把所有束缚除去；但许多时候，最终只带来混乱。
我们在基督里究竟享有怎么样的自由？是否表示我们可以任意而行？在一般人的心目中，基督徒总是被许多规条、诫命和禁忌所束缚，事实是否如此？
我们在基督里的自由，最首要的是脱离罪的自由，而不是犯罪的自由（13节）；是脱离旧约律法束缚的自由。这是加拉太信徒不能明白的。这自由让我们随时来到神的面前、彼此相爱和互相服侍。
保罗在罗马书十三章10节说：「爱是不加害与人的，所以爱就完全了律法。」为甚么爱能完成律法呢？我们可以用一个简单的例子来说明这点。作父母的，为甚么要抚育儿女长大和细心照顾他们呢？是否因为法律规定他们要这样作？当然不是。那是因为他们爱自己的儿女，当他们这样作的时候，同时也履行了有关的法律。
同样地，当我们爱神和爱人，我们也履行了律法；我们并非被逼要去遵行律法，而是因为我们喜爱这样行。
反思：基督已经使我们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.