Beloved in Christ, what a joy it is to gather under the banner of the Most High God, especially as we reflect on this powerful theme: “Unchained, Alive in Christ and Free Forever.” Today, we turn our hearts to Galatians 5:1-6, a passage that thunders with the liberating truth of our salvation.
I. Stand Firm in Freedom (Galatians 5:1)
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
Rev. Gachungah began by emphasizing that our freedom in Christ is not a suggestion; it is a declaration! Christ did not die to merely offer us freedom, but to actually set us free. This freedom is absolute, complete, and permanent. He urged the congregation to understand the gravity of this truth: we are no longer slaves to sin, to the law, or to the oppressive expectations of this world. The call to “stand firm” is a powerful reminder that while we are free, there is a constant temptation to revert to old ways, to place ourselves back under burdens – be it legalism, self-righteousness, or even the opinions of others. Our freedom in Christ demands vigilance; it demands a conscious choice each day to walk in the liberty He has purchased.
II. The Futility of Works for Justification (Galatians 5:2-4)
“Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.”
Here, Rev. Gachungah passionately articulated Paul’s stern warning against mixing grace with works for salvation. The Galatians were tempted to add circumcision – a work of the law – as a requirement for salvation. Rev. Gachungah highlighted that any attempt to earn God’s favor through human effort, rituals, or adherence to laws, fundamentally negates the finished work of Christ. It implies that Christ’s sacrifice was insufficient. He stressed that justification comes solely by grace through faith. To rely on the law for justification is to “fall away from grace,” not meaning losing salvation, but stepping out of the sphere of God’s unmerited favor as the means of salvation. We are unchained from the impossible burden of legalism.
III. Living by Faith Expressed Through Love (Galatians 5:5-6)
“For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”
This section formed the core of the “Alive in Christ” and “Free Forever” aspects. Rev. Gachungah explained that true Christian living is characterized by a Spirit-led anticipation of righteousness, based purely on faith. Our hope is not in our ability to keep the law, but in the righteousness Christ provides. He then honed in on the profound truth of verse 6: external religious acts (like circumcision or its absence) are irrelevant. What truly matters is “faith expressing itself through love.” This is where our freedom finds its purpose. Our faith, which declared us “unchained,” now makes us “alive in Christ” – alive to His purposes, alive to love God and neighbor. This love is not a means to earn salvation, but a natural outflow of a heart transformed by grace. It is the evidence that we are truly free – free to love, free to serve, free to live for Him without the compulsion of the law.
IV. The Foundation of Our Freedom: John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Drawing the supporting verse into the discussion, Rev. Gachungah underscored that the freedom we speak of is rooted in God’s immense, unconditional love. John 3:16 reminds us that our salvation, our being “unchained” from sin’s power and “alive in Christ,” is a direct result of God’s sacrificial love. It is this divine love that initiated our freedom, and it is this same love that empowers our faith to express itself in love towards others. We are “free forever” because our eternal life is secured by belief in Jesus, not by our performance.
Conclusion:
Rev. Gachungah concluded by reiterating the profound truth of our liberty in Christ. We have been unchained from sin, from the law, and from the futility of human effort. We are truly alive in Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit to live a life of faith that manifests itself in genuine love. And because our salvation is by grace through faith in Christ’s finished work, we are free forever, with a secure hope of eternal life. Let us therefore walk worthy of this glorious calling, standing firm in the freedom Christ has given us, and letting our lives be a testament to His transforming power. Amen.