Free to Live With Joy

This post is part of the Free to Live series. Find the whole series here.

“Letters are not written in a vacuum. There’s always a backstory to them. Think of a combat soldier’s letter to his wife, a parent’s letter to a confused child at college, or a pastor’s letter to a troubled soul who has moved far from home” (Galatians: The Beating Heart of the Gospel, Northwestern Publishing House: Waukesha, WI, 2024, p. 1).

In the quote above, Pastor Hefti made the point that Paul had a reason to write the letter that he did to the young Galatian Christians. The words he used, the tone of voice, the content . . . everything about the letter was shaped by that reason—and was influenced by Paul’s Christian love for his fellow believers.

There are two other points worth considering as we approach reading Paul’s letter to the Galatians, consider how to apply its truths to ourselves, and share those truths with the people in our lives.

Can You See Them?

As Pastor Hefti wrote, letters don’t exist in a vacuum. There’s always a backstory to them. That means, of course, that they were written to real people, real Christians who struggled with the questions Paul addressed.

As he wrote, Paul undoubtedly had the faces of dear friends and loved ones in his mind. As we read Galatians, it’s good for us to do the same because people we know—friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers—still struggle with the same things Paul wrote about. We might even be the ones struggling with doubts and fears.

Jesus died for my sins. I know that. But is there anything that I have to do to ensure my salvation? Don’t I have to do good works to be saved? How will I know if I’ve done enough?

See their faces—see your own. The same gospel Paul first shared with the Galatians is the same one shared with you and me: “[Jesus Christ] gave himself for our sins to rescue us from this present evil age” (Galatians 1:4 Evangelical Heritage Version).

No sin is too big; no sin is too little. Jesus died for all of them—yours, mine, everyone’s. He rescued us from our sins so that we are now free to live for him and live with him forever in heaven. There’s nothing for us to do! Those who believe in what Jesus has done for them will live.

By faith, we know and are privileged to share that amazing, joy-filled truth!

Can You See Him?

Just as the letter to the Galatians was addressed to real people, so too it was written by a real person: Paul.

We know God the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write this letter (and many others). But from an outward perspective, what right did Paul have to share these firm and loving words with the Galatians? He wasn’t even one of the original followers of Jesus!

What right do we have to share the gospel message?

Paul knew he was sinful. In this very letter, he even called attention to his dark and tragic past spent persecuting Christians! He also knew he was saved from sin by God’s grace. His entire former way of life was turned upside down by the goodness of God.

Paul knew the joy that was now his. He wanted to share it with others—because that joy was also for them. Paul wrote to point people to their Savior Jesus. He wanted them to see the One who had done all things for them.

We want to do that too. We know we’re sinful. But we also know our Savior and what he has done for us.

Yes, as an apostle, Paul had a special call from God to preach the good news—set apart in his mother’s womb, as he wrote—but as Christians we are called to do the same in our lives. Jesus’ Great Commission instructs us to go and make disciples of all nations—our friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers.

We share with them the joy that is ours because of Jesus.

God’s grace affects us; Christ’s love shapes our very lives. It frees us to live for him with joy—in everything we think, say, and do.

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