Gal. 5:13-15 - Love Your Neighbor

13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."
15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

Called to Freedom

Vs. 13: - “do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh” - Return to the start of this chapter - “For freedom that Christ set us free”. Verse 13 is the same idea, except with a twist. We are free from the strictures of the Law. We are free to worship Christ, to follow Christ, to receive salvation. We can do this without worrying, “Have we done enough?”

In this letter leading up to this verse Christian behavior is not emphasized. The message to this point is freedom from the Law.

There is a swap in emphasis here - a turn from “freedom from works” to “freedom to love one another”. The change is from trying to prove ourselves to God by our efforts, to proving our salvation by our lives. In the first, we are trying to earn our way to heaven. In the second, we show others the mercy shown us.

- “opportunity for the flesh” - This verse is often cited as a warning against immorality. For sure, this is a valid viewpoint.

However, the reference is much bigger and broader than merely (!) immoral behavior. The first four and one-half chapters of this letter emphasizes that we can DO NOTHING to earn our salvation. Whatever we do, in the flesh, counts for nothing with respect to earning salvation. Moreover, the message of the New Testament is the flesh is weak. (Matt. 26:41, Mk 14:38) The ‘flesh’ leads to living by sinful passions, controlled by lusts. (Rom. 7:5, Eph. 2:3)
Being controlled by our ‘flesh’ leads to death. (Rom. 8:6, 12, 13) Living controlled by our fleshly passions means we cannot please God, and are hostile to God, and so will not have an inheritance in the kingdom of God. (Rom. 8:7,8; 1 Cor. 15:50)
Although Christ lived in His flesh fully human, He did not sin. His death abolished the barrier between God and man. Christ was made alive in the Spirit. (1 Pet. 3:18; Eph. 2:15)
We live our Christian lives in the Spirit, not in the flesh. We are in a spiritual war, not a fleshly war. A war that cannot be won by fleshly effort, but must be done in the power of the Holy Spirit. (2 Cor. 10:3, Eph. 6:12) Remember Christ said, “Apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

We have been saved by faith in Christ. We must live out our faith by the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul uses most of the rest of the letter contrasting living in the flesh versus living by faith. We are not yet perfect, nor will we be until Christ comes again, or we die and go to Him. We will have these earthly bodies until then. We will have this struggle between living ‘normally’ (in the flesh) or living empowered by the Holy Spirit. We must choose everyday whom we will serve. (See: Gal. 2:20)

- “Through love serve one another” - No surprise here. Living by faith starts with love for others. Love non-believers because Christ loves them. Love fellow believers because they are family. Does that mean you love believers more than non-believers? Maybe not more, but differently. Believers have the same reference point - salvation by grace through Christ. For example: would you rather be at a football game with fans that root for the same team as you, or be the lone voice of ‘reason’ among fans of the other team? I know where I want be - with other believers

Vs. 14: - “the whole Law is fulfilled in one word” - Love. It is central to our faith. The quote in this verse is from a conversation Jesus had: Matt. 22:36-38, also in Matt. 19:19 . These “greatest commandments” are from Deut. 6:4,5 (The Shema), and from Lev. 19:18. These commands are a primary aspect of Christianity. They are the fulfillment of the Law. (Rom. 13:10) God sent His Son because He loved the world. (John 3:16) Jesus commands we love one another. (See: John 13:34; 14:21, 23; 15:9, 10, 12, 17) Our love will prove we are Christ’s followers. (See: John 13:35; 14:15; Rom. 13:8; 1 Cor. 16:14; 2 Cor. 5:14, 8:24).

Vs. 15: - “But if you bite and devour one another” - Anger breeds anger in return. Hate gives birth to hate. When we take our focus off Jesus, our human nature takes control. Our human nature, the flesh, is not controlled by the Holy Spirit. Where the Holy Spirit is not controlling, sin grows and expands. (See: Matt. 24:12).

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