Galatians 5:1-6 Easy-to-Read Version
Keep Your Freedom
5 We have freedom now, because Christ made us free. So stand strong in that freedom. Don’t go back into slavery again. 2 Listen! I, Paul, tell you that if you start following the law by being circumcised, then Christ cannot help you. 3 Again, I warn everyone: If you allow yourselves to be circumcised, then you must follow the whole law. 4 If you try to be made right with God through the law, your life with Christ is finished—you have left God’s grace. 5 I say this because our hope of being right with God comes through faith. And the Spirit helps us feel sure as we wait for that hope. 6 When someone belongs to Christ Jesus, it is not important if they are circumcised or not. The important thing is faith—the kind of faith that works through love.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Many of the apostle Paul’s letters to the early churches describe the difficulties that the 1st century church was struggling with. In his letter to the Galatian churches, Paul rebukes them for getting caught up in rules and regulations.
They were so concerned with following the letter of the law that their legalistic attitudes and their judgmentalism overtook their desire to live by the Gospel and share in the love of Jesus. Paul wrote this letter to sternly say it was not the way of life he taught to them, the way of life in the church was supposed to be.
Living and modelling and teaching a life of obligation and requirements and trying to live into the strict expectations of others is a heavy burden to bear—even if those requirements and those expectations have very good intentions.
The joy of the resurrection life in Christ frees us to live with love for God and neighbor without the burden of legalistic expectations. No one will ever get it right all of the time. But with the Spirit of Christ guiding us, we aim to live our ministries, missions, by grace and love in Jesus’ name, following his example.
Do a biblical study reflect on what it looks like to live in the freedom of Jesus Christ. In this freedom we are released from the effects of sin and death so that we can live as God intends us to: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.”
Freedom is difficult to describe. Poets use images to communicate its essence. Freedom is a new butterfly emerging from its chrysalis, and flitting among the flowers in full bloom. It is a wild mountain river roaring over the rocks. It is a bird uncaged. Freedom feels like flying over cities over mountains – no plane.
Many commentators have said the book of Galatians is at its heart “a call to Christian freedom.” And chapter 5 verse 1 is its central theological thesis.
In chapter 1, Paul wrote of the power of Christ’s sacrifice to free the Galatians from evil. In chapter 2, he addressed the false teachers who were trying to enslave the Gentile converts. And in chapter 4, Paul contrasted the sons of the slave woman with the sons of the free.
Try it for yourselves …
For example, using biblegatway.com, do a word search using the word freedom.
Use several different versions and translations and make your observations.
How is the word ‘freedom’ used in both the Old and New biblical Testaments?
How does Jesus model, use, teach, reveal, the word ‘freedom’ in the Gospels?
How does Paul model, use, teach, reveal, the word ‘freedom’ in his letters?
How do Luke, Peter, John, James, Jude incorporate ‘freedom’ in their writings?
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 118:24-29 Amplified Bible
24
This [day in which God has saved me] is the day which the Lord has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
25
O Lord, save now, we beseech You;
O Lord, we beseech You, send now prosperity and give us success!
26
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord;
We have blessed you from the house of the Lord [you who come into His sanctuary under His guardianship].
27
The Lord is God, and He has given us light [illuminating us with His grace and freedom and joy].
Bind the festival sacrifices with [a]cords to the horns of the altar.
28
You are my God, and I give thanks to You;
[You are] my God, I extol You.
29
O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness endures forever.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 
Today is the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, which commemorates that great saint’s conversion from a persecutor of Christians to an eventual martyr for the Faith. Originally named Saul, St. Paul originally persecuted Christians; the Acts of the Apostles even tells us that “Saul was consenting to [St. Stephen’s] death” (Act 7:59 DRB). However, St. Paul dramatically encountered Christ in a blazing light that left him temporarily blind. Through the light, he heard a Voice that said, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou [M]e?… I am Jesus of Nazareth, [W]hom thou persecutest” (Act 22:7-8).
Blinded by the light, St. Paul asked Our Lord what he was to do; Jesus gave him instructions to go to Damascus, where St. Paul was soon baptized and received into the Church. From that moment on, St. Paul devoted himself tirelessly to spreading the Faith, using his own experience as proof that God’s mercy is infinite. Despite the many sufferings that St. Paul experienced as a result of his new faith, he was filled with a deep joy, rejoicing in his sufferings with the knowledge that He was participating in the sufferings of Christ (cf. Col 1:24).
In a sermon about St. Paul, St. John Chrysostom identified the cause of the great apostle’s joy: “The most important thing of all to [St. Paul]…was that he knew himself to be loved by Christ. Enjoying this love, he considered himself happier than anyone else; were he without it, it would be no satisfaction to be the friend of principalities and powers. He preferred to be thus loved and be the least of all…than to be without that love and be among the great and honored.”
St. Paul’s conviction of God’s love for him was so great that joy filled his life as a result. While St. Paul’s conversion story is very dramatic, each one of us has experienced the same Divine Mercy in our own lives. At our baptisms, God brought us from a state of spiritual death to the life of sanctifying grace. While we hopefully never had the misfortune to commit a deliberate mortal sin before our baptisms, being in Original Sin is in itself a state of spiritual deadness, as no grace inhabits the soul.
After Baptism, if we have ever had the misfortune to fall into mortal sin, God’s infinite mercy has once again brought our souls from death to life if we have received the Sacrament of Penance worthily. While St. Paul heard Christ’s voice through the blinding light, we hear Christ speaking to us through the priest in the confessional as he advises us and absolves us in persona Christi.
Although few of us experience God’s mercy in such a visibly dramatic way as did St. Paul, our encounters with Divine Mercy are nonetheless equally dramatic on the spiritual level. Rather than falling into the temptation to compare our blessings with those of the great saints, such as St. Paul, may we instead be filled with gratitude at God’s infinite mercy that calls the greatest sinners to be the greatest saints. May we also be grateful for the effects of God’s Divine Mercy in our own lives, which has brought us from spiritual death to the life of grace and which continues to offer us the forgiveness of our sins no matter how many times we may fall.
St. Paul, ora pro nobis!
I believe God created you to enjoy freedom, pure relationships, and authentic love.
I understand you might feel helpless right now. I’ve been there: I spent 30 years using, but am now enjoying 15+ years of recovery. I’ve been in the dark wood of error, and I’m here to guide you out.
In my journey, I searched everywhere and I tried everything. I kept what worked and abandoned what didn’t. Road to Purity is where I share what worked. For me, for thousands of others, and it can work for you.
Lasting freedom from porn is possible for all, which is why I started Road to Purity – to share the treasures I’ve found, all in one place and process.
If you follow this path, here’s how it will work:
1. Get stable.
2. Discover the roots of your problem.
3. Find healing and experience lasting freedom.
If you’re ready for authentic freedom, start our Restoring God’s Foundation course today. If you’re not ready for that, download our 5 Keys to Freedom.
So you can stop seeing yourself disintegrate and instead enjoy lasting freedom and life to the full.
I look forward to working with you, Brother.
-Dann
Scenes from a Danish kindergarten.
In Denmark, kids are encouraged to get muddy on a regular basis. Getting dirty isn’t just fun, it’s beneficial. Mud play boosts creativity, strengthens sensory development, and even supports a healthier immune system.
https://x.com/Rainmaker1973/status/1882316726073012224
Here is a very Rare video of the 21 coptic Christians that were martyred In Lydia ,praising The Lord in Joy after they were told
“You will be slaughtered the next few days if you don’t Betray ur Jesus man worshippers
Please remember their names
https://x.com/coptsg/status/1882454450851446795
This is what happens when you mess around with the wrong Jew!
This Hamas supporter repeatedly harassed Jews at a Kosher restaurant and learned his lesson the hard way.
https://x.com/THEREALJEW613/status/1882585998745616555
In China, Islam is considered a ‘Mental Illness’ that needs to be treated.
Mosques are regularly torn down and Arabic writings are covered or erased.
Every Country in the West needs to follow suit before it’s too late!
https://x.com/CilComLFC/status/1882617825673842798
https://x.com/NiohBerg/status/1882411960307990582
We must defend sacred tradition and the Church’s timeless heritage of the Latin Mass.
—Cardinal Robert Sarah
Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae.
Et concepit de Spiritu Sancto.
(Ave Maria)
Ecce ancilla Domini.
Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum. (Ave Maria)
Genuflect] Et Verbum caro factum est.
Et habitavit in nobis. (Ave Maria)
Ora pro nobis, sancta Dei Genitrix.
Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi.
Oremus.
Gratiam tuam, quaesumus Domine, mentibus nostris infunde: ut qui, Angelo nuntiante, Christi Filii tui incarnationem cognovimus, per passionem ejus et crucem ad resurrectionis gloriam perducamur. Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.
https://x.com/Vitus_oss/status/1882542780469424572
This man speaks for the majority.
If you’ve not seen this before, watch it, give it a share.
If you have seen it before, watch it again, give it a share again.
Then someone give him a medal and buy him a beer.
https://x.com/koshercockney/status/1882471272283853209
Islamist migrants in the UK:
“We are not afraid of the UK government! Jihad is part of Islam.”
https://x.com/realMaalouf/status/1882563178103734705
“Islam will not achieve its ambition to Islamize the whole world. Because the Lord did not die for nothing: He promised that He will be with His Church until the end of time.”
https://x.com/Sanothomas/status/188259431946464492949 years ago today, Palestinians invaded the Lebanese Christian town of Damour and massacred hundreds of civilians.
Men were lined up against the walls of their homes and gunned down.
Women were tortured and gang-raped.
Babies were shot in the back of their heads.
Pregnant women had their babies cut out of the womb.
‘It was an apocalypse’, said Father Labaky, a priest who survived the massacre.
“They were coming in thousands, shouting ‘Allahu Akbar! Let us attack them for the Arabs, let us offer a holocaust to Mohammad’, they were slaughtering everyone, men, women and children.”
I’m Dann Aungst, Founder of Road to Purity. I know that you want to be
a man of integrity. In order to do that, you need to stop using porn.
You’ve tried to quit before and failed, which makes you feel guilty
and alone.
I believe God created you to enjoy freedom, pure relationships, and
authentic love.
I understand you might feel helpless right now. I’ve been there: I
spent 30 years using, but am now enjoying 15+ years of recovery. I’ve
been in the dark wood of error, and I’m here to guide you out.
In my journey, I searched everywhere and I tried everything. I kept
what worked and abandoned what didn’t. Road to Purity is where I share
what worked. For me, for thousands of others, and it can work for you.
Lasting freedom from porn is possible for all, which is why I started
Road to Purity – to share the treasures I’ve found, all in one place
and process.
If you follow this path, here’s how it will work:
1. Get stable.
2. Discover the roots of your problem.
3. Find healing and experience lasting freedom.
If you’re ready for authentic freedom, start our Restoring God’s
Foundation course today. If you’re not ready for that, download our 5
Keys to Freedom.
So you can stop seeing yourself disintegrate and instead enjoy lasting
freedom and life to the full.
I look forward to working with you, Brother.
-Dann
Scenes from a Danish kindergarten.
In Denmark, kids are encouraged to get muddy on a regular basis.
Getting dirty isn’t just fun, it’s beneficial. Mud play boosts
creativity, strengthens sensory development, and even supports a
healthier immune system.
https://x.com/Rainmaker1973/status/1882316726073012224
Here is a very Rare video of the 21 coptic Christians that were
martyred In Lydia ,praising The Lord in Joy after they were told
“You will be slaughtered the next few days if you don’t Betray ur
Jesus man worshippers
Please remember their names
https://x.com/coptsg/status/1882454450851446795
This is what happens when you mess around with the wrong Jew!
This Hamas supporter repeatedly harassed Jews at a Kosher restaurant
and learned his lesson the hard way.
https://x.com/THEREALJEW613/status/1882585998745616555
In China, Islam is considered a ‘Mental Illness’ that needs to be treated.
Mosques are regularly torn down and Arabic writings are covered or erased.
Every Country in the West needs to follow suit before it’s too late!
https://x.com/CilComLFC/status/1882617825673842798
https://x.com/NiohBerg/status/1882411960307990582
We must defend sacred tradition and the Church’s timeless heritage of
the Latin Mass.
—Cardinal Robert Sarah
Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae.
Et concepit de Spiritu Sancto.
(Ave Maria)
Ecce ancilla Domini.
Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum. (Ave Maria)
Genuflect] Et Verbum caro factum est.
Et habitavit in nobis. (Ave Maria)
Ora pro nobis, sancta Dei Genitrix.
Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi.
Oremus.
Gratiam tuam, quaesumus Domine, mentibus nostris infunde: ut qui,
Angelo nuntiante, Christi Filii tui incarnationem cognovimus, per
passionem ejus et crucem ad resurrectionis gloriam perducamur. Per
eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.
https://x.com/Vitus_oss/status/1882542780469424572
This man speaks for the majority.
If you’ve not seen this before, watch it, give it a share.
If you have seen it before, watch it again, give it a share again.
Then someone give him a medal and buy him a beer.
https://x.com/koshercockney/status/1882471272283853209
Islamist migrants in the UK:
“We are not afraid of the UK government! Jihad is part of Islam.”
https://x.com/realMaalouf/status/1882563178103734705
“Islam will not achieve its ambition to Islamize the whole world.
Because the Lord did not die for nothing: He promised that He will be
with His Church until the end of time.”
https://x.com/Sanothomas/status/188259431946464492949 years ago today, Palestinians invaded the Lebanese Christian townof Damour and massacred hundreds of civilians.
Men were lined up against the walls of their homes and gunned down.
Women were tortured and gang-raped.
Babies were shot in the back of their heads.
Pregnant women had their babies cut out of the womb.
‘It was an apocalypse’, said Father Labaky, a priest who survived the massacre.
“They were coming in thousands, shouting ‘Allahu Akbar! Let us attack
them for the Arabs, let us offer a holocaust to Mohammad’, they were
slaughtering everyone, men, women and children.”
Freemasonry is an enemy of God, Church, and country.
Recognise it as such once and for all, and with all the weapons which reason, conscience, and faith put in your hands, defend yourselves from such a proud foe.
Let no one be taken in by its attractive appearance or allured by its promises; do not be seduced by its enticements or frightened by its threats.
Remember that Christianity and freemasonry are essentially irreconcilable, such that to join one is to divorce the other.
You can no longer ignore such incompatibility between Catholic and Freemason, beloved children: you have been warned openly by Our predecessors, and We have loudly repeated the warning.
– Pope Leo XIII (Custodi Di Quella Fede: On Freemasonry)
A Christian believes there are certain moral laws that are divinely
binding on all people. That premarital sex relations are fornication.
That extramarital sex activity is adultery. A Christian believes that
marital relations between husband and wife are sacred. That artificial
birth control is a sin; a Christian believes that sex activity between
two men or two women is sodomy and a crime that characterizes the
pagan nations of antiquity and destroyed their civilization. No
society has ever survived homosexuals in power. They are in power – I
mean it, I’ve got no prophetic powers – I hope I make it to the year
2000. A Christian believes that the willful destruction of unborn
human life is murder. A Christian believes that marriage is a lifetime
commitment. And that divorce with remarriage is forbidden by Jesus
Christ, even among Christians who are not Catholic. Marital
instability was frowned upon and an embarrassment to Protestants. For
Catholics there never was any question of a temporary marriage or a
part-time commitment and there was no organized movement for the
annulment of marriages. I repeat: the days of America are numbered.
The Catholic Church cannot survive. No wonder they are closing so many
churches. Because many of the once believing Catholics are no longer
Catholics.
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