Galatians 5:1-15; FAITH+LOVE

Devotional

Day 1: Freedom in Christ—Not Burdened by Legalism

True freedom is found in Christ alone, not in religious rules or external markers of faith. Paul urges the Galatians to stand firm in the freedom Christ has given, warning them not to return to a yoke of slavery by trying to earn God’s favor through law-keeping or cultural rituals. The heart of the gospel is grace—gospel plus nothing. Any attempt to add requirements or traditions as prerequisites for belonging to God’s family undermines the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice and alienates us from grace. Let your relationship with God be rooted in His gift, not your performance. [00:37]

Galatians 5:1-6 (ESV)
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

Reflection: Where in your life are you tempted to add extra requirements or rules to your relationship with God, and how can you intentionally rest in the freedom Christ has already given you today?

Day 2: Faith Expressing Itself Through Love

The only thing that truly counts in the Christian life is faith expressing itself through love. Our lives are not measured by our achievements, perfection, or doctrinal correctness, but by how well we love others. This love is not abstract or sentimental—it is active, relational, and others-oriented. In every decision, big or small, the guiding question is: What is the most loving way to express my faith? There may be many good options, but the one that matters most is the one that best embodies Christlike love in your context. [10:13]

Galatians 5:6 (ESV)
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

Reflection: Think of a decision you need to make this week—how can you let love, rather than fear or the need to be right, guide your choice?

Day 3: Love Your Neighbor as Yourself

The fulfillment of God’s law is found in loving your neighbor as yourself. This command is both simple and profound, calling us to serve others humbly and sacrificially, while also recognizing the importance of healthy self-care. Loving others well does not mean neglecting your own well-being, but rather serving from a place of wholeness. In a world that often encourages self-indulgence or self-neglect, the way of Jesus is to balance care for others with care for yourself, always seeking to serve humbly in love. [14:19]

Galatians 5:13-14 (ESV)
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Reflection: Who is one person you can intentionally serve or encourage today, and what is one small way you can also care for your own soul as you do?

Day 4: Our Lives Are Measured by Love, Not Achievement

A good race is not defined by how fast you run or how many accolades you collect, but by how well you love. The Christian journey is not about outperforming others or meeting every expectation, but about living a life marked by humble service and genuine care for those around you. Whether in your household, at work, in your studies, or among friends, the invitation is to slow down, practice hospitality, and invest in relationships. Don’t get too busy to love people well—your legacy will be measured by your love. [22:29]

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (ESV)
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Reflection: What is one practical way you can slow down this week to make space for hospitality or deeper connection with someone in your community?

Day 5: Jesus—The Ultimate Example of Humble Service

The ultimate picture of faith expressing itself through love is Jesus on the cross. He did not use His power for His own advantage, but humbled Himself, taking the form of a servant and giving His life for others. This is not just a nice idea, but the very story we are invited into as followers of Christ. Whatever your gifts, stage of life, or circumstances, you are called to use what you have to serve others in love, following the example of Jesus who gave everything for us. [30:21]

Philippians 2:5-8 (ESV)
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Reflection: What is one gift, resource, or opportunity you have that you can use this week to humbly serve someone else, following the example of Jesus?

Sermon Summary

Galatians 5 calls us to remember that Christ has set us free for the sake of freedom itself, and that we are not to return to the burdens of legalism or performance-based faith. The heart of the Christian life is not about following a list of rules or achieving spiritual perfection, but about faith expressing itself through love. This is the only thing that counts. Paul uses the metaphor of running a race to describe our journey: at times, we may start strong, but distractions, pressures, or the influence of others can cause us to lose focus on what truly matters.

The early church wrestled with the question of what it means to belong—whether Gentiles needed to adopt Jewish customs to be included. Paul’s answer is clear: it’s not about ethnicity, background, or religious performance. It’s about grace, received and lived out. The only measure of our lives is how well we love. This love is not abstract or sentimental; it is practical, others-oriented, and often costly. It means asking, in every situation, “What is the most loving way to express my faith?” There is no single formula for this; love requires discernment, humility, and a willingness to serve.

Freedom in Christ is not a license for self-indulgence, nor is it an excuse to neglect self-care. Loving our neighbor as ourselves means we must also learn to receive love and care for our own well-being. The call to love is relational, not individualistic. It is about serving one another humbly, whether in our households, as students, or as young men and women navigating a culture that often distorts what it means to be strong or successful.

Hospitality, slowing down, and making space for others are radical acts in a world obsessed with achievement and busyness. For students, the challenge is to resist self-centeredness and invest in serving others. For young men, true strength is found not in domination but in humble service, following the example of Jesus. The cross stands as the ultimate picture of love expressed in humble service—Jesus giving himself for us. As we come to the communion table, we are invited to fix our eyes on Christ, to receive his grace, and to let our lives be measured by how well we love.

Key Takeaways

1. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Our lives are not measured by our achievements, knowledge, or religious performance, but by the quality and depth of our love for others. This is the central question for every decision and every season: “What is the most loving way to express my faith?” [10:13]
2. Freedom in Christ is not a license for self-indulgence, nor is it a call to endless self-sacrifice at the expense of our own well-being. Loving our neighbor as ourselves means we must also learn to receive love and care for ourselves, recognizing that healthy self-love enables us to serve others more fully. [14:04]
3. Discernment in the Christian life is not about always finding the one “right” answer, but about weighing our options through the lens of love. There are often multiple good paths, and the call is to choose the one that most fully expresses Christ’s love in our context, even when it is not the easiest or most obvious. [16:11]
4. Our beliefs are revealed in our actions. If our doctrine does not lead to humble service and love for our neighbor, it is time to re-examine what we truly believe. The outer life is the concrete expression of the inner life; faith that does not result in love is incomplete. [17:46]
5. Humble service is the mark of Christlikeness, whether in our homes, our studies, or our communities. True strength is found in serving others, not in dominating them. The cross is our model: Jesus, though God, made himself nothing and served us to the point of death. Our calling is to use our gifts, time, and opportunities to love and serve others as he did. [25:49]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:15] - Reading Galatians 5:1-15
[01:33] - The Running Metaphor: What is a Good Race?
[03:15] - A Humbling Race Story
[05:55] - Paul’s Use of the Race Metaphor
[07:08] - Context: Galatia and the Early Church
[08:42] - The Gospel Plus Controversy
[09:42] - The Only Thing That Counts
[10:33] - Faith Expressing Itself Through Love
[12:22] - Abusing Freedom and Loving Our Neighbor
[14:04] - Self-Care and Loving Others
[15:07] - Faith, Love, and Discernment
[17:46] - Belief Revealed in Practice
[19:08] - Humble Service in Households
[22:29] - Students: Serving Beyond Self
[24:22] - Young Men and Christlike Strength
[27:06] - The Cross: A Picture of Humble Service
[29:25] - Communion: Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus
[30:21] - Closing Prayer and Reflection

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Galatians 5:1-15 (ESV) — 1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
2 Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you.
3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law.
4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.
5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
7 You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?
8 This persuasion is not from him who calls you.
9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
10 I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is.
11 But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed.
12 I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

Observation Questions

According to Paul in Galatians 5, what is the “only thing that counts” in the Christian life? ([10:13])
What metaphor does Paul use to describe the Christian journey, and what does he mean by it? ([01:33])
What controversy was the early church facing that Paul addresses in this passage? ([09:07])
How does Paul describe the right use of Christian freedom in these verses? ([13:08])

Interpretation Questions

Why does Paul insist that faith expressing itself through love is more important than religious rituals or achievements? How does this challenge common ways people measure spiritual maturity? ([10:13])
What are some ways that “running a good race” can be derailed, according to the sermon? How might this look in our lives today? ([06:35])
The sermon says, “Our lives are measured by our love, not by our performance, not by how perfect we can be, not by how much we achieve.” What does this mean for how we view ourselves and others in the church? ([11:10])
The command to “love your neighbor as yourself” includes both loving others and caring for yourself. Why is it important not to neglect self-care, and how does this fit into the call to serve others? ([14:04])

Application Questions

The sermon asks, “What is the most loving way to express my faith?” Think of a current situation in your life—at home, work, or school. What would it look like to answer this question honestly and act on it this week? ([11:37])
Are there areas where you tend to measure your spiritual life by achievements, knowledge, or performance rather than by love? What would it look like to shift your focus? ([11:10])
The message warns against using freedom in Christ as an excuse for self-indulgence or, on the other hand, for endless self-sacrifice. Where do you tend to fall on this spectrum? How can you find a healthier balance? ([14:04])
The sermon highlights the importance of hospitality and slowing down. Is your life so busy that you struggle to make space for others? What is one practical step you could take to practice hospitality or be more present with people this month? ([21:10])
For students: In what ways can you use your time and energy to serve others, not just focus on your own goals? What is one specific way you could serve a fellow student or your church community this week? ([23:49])
For young men (and women): The sermon challenges cultural ideas of strength and success. What does “true strength” look like in your context? Who is someone you could serve humbly this week, following the example of Jesus? ([25:49])
The cross is described as the ultimate picture of humble service. As you approach communion or reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice, what is one area of your life where you sense God inviting you to serve others more sacrificially? ([29:25])

Sermon Clips

``Remember, this is the central question, the central controversy of the early church. What does it look like to include the Gentiles in this story? How Jewish does a Gentile person need to become to be part of the church? And Paul's resounding response all throughout has been not at all, not at all. Relationship with God is not based on ethnicity or where you're born, who your parents are. It's all grace. It's gospel plus nothing. [00:09:04] (37 seconds) #faiththroughlove

So the goal is not to be right. The goal is to be loving. We've separated this out so far, and it's a false dichotomy that's not present in scripture at all. Gospel freedom, means that there will be multiple options and we weigh them by love. [00:16:13] (23 seconds) #balancegrowthservice

So young men, this is what I want you to hear this morning is you do not have to sacrifice your masculinity to follow Jesus. Loving people, serving people is not soft. To be a man, to be created in the image of God is to serve other people humbly and love. Paul says this is the only thing that counts. And so if you don't hear this anywhere else, I hope that you hear this this morning. Young men, serve people well in love. [00:25:30] (40 seconds)

What does humble service look like? It looks like Jesus on the cross. This isn't just a nice idea or a good thing to do for other people. This is the story that we are a part of. We worship the God who sends his son to humbly serve us to the point of death on a cross. [00:29:32] (23 seconds)

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