Tuesday 14 October 2008

Background

Today's reading reveals an exciting proposition - "For freedomChrist has set us free". But what does it actually mean? What kindof freedom is on offer here?

Well, for Paul, one important element of this new freedom is thatJews have been released from their obligation to the Jewish law.Because Jesus has died for all, there is no longer Jew or Gentile(non-Jew), as Paul said earlier in this letter (3:28). All theseboundaries have been broken down and should now be meaningless. Sowhat Paul can't understand is why some people think that they stillneed to become circumcised, binding themselves to the law, in orderto follow Jesus. Jesus' death and resurrection offer people a wayto be right with God that doesn't depend on the rules you follow orwhether or not you are circumcised.

Circumcision is a serious commitment to make, and by doing this,Paul believes that the individual has committed themselves to lifeunder all the restrictions of the law. When someone is circumcisedout of choice he's saying that he wants to be made right with Godthrough his own actions, not through the mercy and grace of Christ.It's like trying to earn your way into heaven, when that can neverbe done. In a sense, it's not the outward sign of circumcision thatPaul's worried about, so much as the choice made not to followChrist. To choose circumcision is a rejection of Jesus - an outwardstatement that a person doesn't need him, whereas Paul thinkscircumcision is the totally unnecessary element. Christ simply hassomething better to offer.

Paul is not denying that life under the law is one way of relatingto God, but he certainly seems to think of it as a poor relation tothe freedom that is available through Christ. He simply cannot seewhy anyone, given the choice, would choose this lesser, restrictivepath of the law over the freedom offered by a true relationshipwith Jesus.

To Ponder

In what ways do you place unnecessaryrestrictions on yourself?

Have you ever been tempted to 'go it alone' whenfacing a tough situation? What happened?

What does it mean to you to be 'free'?

Are you free? From what?