Liberty’s True Purpose: Serving in Love, Not Self-Indulgence (Galatians 5:13-15)
Main Idea of Galatians:
To defend the gospel of grace as the sole basis for justification and Christian living, to assert the believer’s freedom from legalism through faith in Christ, and to call believers back to the truth of the gospel.
Questions to Consider:
What explicit “calling” does Paul remind the Galatian believers of in verse 13a?
Immediately after affirming their freedom, what critical warning or prohibition does Paul give concerning the misuse of this freedom (v. 13b)? What are they specifically told not to use their freedom for?
Instead of using freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, what positive command does Paul provide for how believers should utilize their liberty (v. 13c)?
According to Paul in verse 14, what single command fulfills the “entire law”? What is this pivotal command?
What vivid and serious warning does Paul issue in verse 15 about the potential consequences if believers engage in destructive internal conflict?
The Text:
“For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself. But if you bite and devour one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.“
– Galatians 5:13-15 (CSB)
Observations:
Verse 13: Paul affirms that the believers “were called to be free.” He immediately follows this with a caution: “only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh.” The positive counterpart is the command to “serve one another through love.”
Verse 14: He makes a comprehensive statement about the law: “For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself,” referencing Leviticus 19:18.
Verse 15: Paul issues a stark warning using animalistic imagery: “But if you bite and devour one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another,” highlighting the danger of mutual destruction through internal strife.
Interpretation:
Called to Freedom, Guarded by Responsibility (v. 13): Paul powerfully reaffirms the believer’s status: “For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters.” This freedom, a central theme in Galatians, is liberation from the Mosaic Law as a system of earning righteousness and from the bondage of sin. However, this liberty is not an invitation to license or self-indulgence. Paul immediately provides a crucial boundary: “only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh.” The “flesh” (Greek: sarx) here refers to the fallen, sinful human nature, with its selfish desires and impulses. Schreiner (ZECNT) would likely elaborate that Christian freedom is not autonomy from God, but freedom for God and for righteous living. Instead of indulging the flesh, the true purpose of this God-given freedom is to “serve one another through love.” Love becomes the guiding principle and the active expression of true liberty.
Love: The Fulfillment of the Law (v. 14): Paul then makes a remarkable assertion that would have resonated deeply, especially with those tempted by Judaizing legalism: “For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself.” He quotes Leviticus 19:18, a command Jesus Himself highlighted as second only to loving God (Matthew 22:37-40). Paul argues that authentic, Spirit-empowered love for others effectively embodies and fulfills all the relational requirements of the Mosaic Law. As Moo (BECNT) might explain, Paul is not dismissing the law’s ethical guidance but showing that its true spirit and intent are captured and achieved through love, which is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22), not through legalistic observance.
The Destructive Alternative: Devouring One Another (v. 15): The alternative to using freedom to serve in love is dire. Paul paints a vivid and disturbing picture: “But if you bite and devour one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.” This animalistic imagery depicts the destructive nature of unchecked fleshly behavior within the Christian community—strife, contention, selfish ambition, and harmful speech. If the Galatians were to turn their freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, leading to internal conflict, the result would be their mutual spiritual destruction. Carson (NIVBTSB) could point to the tragic irony: a community called to display God’s love and unity could instead self-destruct through infighting, thereby undermining their witness and spiritual vitality. This serves as a solemn warning about the dangers of disunity and unloving behavior within the church.
Application:
Purposefully Use Your Freedom to Serve in Love: Actively look for opportunities each day to serve fellow believers and your neighbors out of love. This is the true expression of the freedom Christ has given you.
Prioritize Loving Your Neighbor: Understand that demonstrating practical love for others is not just a good idea, but a central command that fulfills the essence of God’s law. Ask yourself how you can better love those around you.
Guard Against Internal Strife and “Biting” Words: Be acutely aware of the destructive power of gossip, slander, harsh criticism, and infighting within the Christian community. Strive to be a peacemaker and a unifier.
Don’t Misinterpret Christian Liberty as License: Recognize that freedom in Christ is not an excuse to indulge sinful desires or act selfishly. True freedom empowers us to live righteously and lovingly.
Reflect Christ’s Sacrificial Love: The ultimate model for serving in love is Christ Himself. Seek to emulate His selfless, sacrificial love in your interactions, especially within the body of believers.
Connection to the Main Idea:
This passage (Galatians 5:13-15) is pivotal in Paul’s argument, as it transitions from establishing the believer’s freedom from the law to explaining the purpose and proper expression of that freedom. By emphasizing that Christian liberty is not an opportunity for the flesh but for serving one another in love—which fulfills the entire law—Paul directly counters any accusation that the gospel of grace leads to lawlessness. This reinforces his call to the Galatians to reject legalism and live out the truth of the gospel, where faith works through love (Galatians 5:6).
How Does This Text Point to Christ?
Christ is the one who “called” us to freedom (v. 13, referencing the freedom He secured in 5:1). The command to “love your neighbor as yourself” (v. 14) was not only affirmed but perfectly embodied by Jesus. He is the ultimate example of using freedom not for self-service but to serve others sacrificially. The “love” through which we are to serve one another (v. 13) is the agape love that is characteristic of God and made known through Christ. Thus, living out this freedom in love is to live a Christ-like life.
Summary:
In Galatians 5:13-15, Paul exhorts the believers that their calling to freedom in Christ is not a license for self-indulgence (“the flesh”). Instead, this precious liberty is to be channeled into lovingly serving one another. He underscores this by stating that the entire law finds its fulfillment in the single command to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Paul concludes with a stark warning: if they misuse their freedom and instead engage in destructive internal conflict (“bite and devour one another”), they risk being utterly “consumed” by such strife, thereby destroying the community.
Be Intentional:
This week, consciously look for one specific, practical opportunity to “serve [someone] through love,” putting their needs or interests before your own as an expression of your Christian freedom.
Pay attention to your words and interactions within your Christian community. Before speaking or acting in a potentially contentious situation, ask yourself: “Will this build up in love, or will it ‘bite and devour’?”
Ask Yourself:
In what areas of my life might I be subtly using my “freedom in Christ” as an excuse for self-centeredness or neglecting the call to serve others?
How does my current attitude and behavior towards my fellow believers reflect the command to “love your neighbor as yourself”?
What steps can I take to actively promote unity and mutual service within my church or Christian circles, rather than contributing to (or tolerating) divisive behavior?
Bibliography:
Carson, D. A. (General Editor). NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible (NIVBTSB). Zondervan.
Merida, Tony & Platt, David. Exalting Jesus in Galatians (CCE) (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary).
Moo, Douglas J. Galatians (BECNT) (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament).
Schreiner, Thomas R. Galatians (ZECNT) (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament).
Schreiner, Thomas R. Christ Crucified: A Theology of Galatians.
White, A. Blake. Galatians: A Theological Interpretation (GTI).
