Last time we began a study on the mandate to keep on standing firm freedom that is found in Christ Jesus. Along with the mandate not to be subject again to the yoke of slavery. Gal 5:1;
We saw that the Greek word translated "keep on standing" is "stekete" is the second person present active imperative of "steko", and We saw that the Greek word translated " not be subject again" is "enechesthe the present passive imperative of "enecho" along with the negative particle "me", and that is where we left off...
"Enecho" means to be under the control of, or burdened by a hostile force. It is used of those who are held in a net or trap or ethical law, dogma, or emotional restriction upon their liberty, such that they are unable to free themselves.
The Galatian believers, having escaped from the slavery of heathenism, were in danger of becoming entangled in the meshes of legalistic Judaism.
"Enecho" is used in Heb 2:14: to describe those who are "subject" or held in slavery by satan because of their fear of death"
The passage in Gal 5:1; therefore has (2) imperatives of command for church age believers.
One imperative is for the believer to remain in the freedom that they have received from their union with TLJC and the other is the imperative of command to not allow themselves to be again made subject to the slavery of the OSN and satan’s kosmic system.
There are two categories of freedom:
1) Establishment freedom for the entire human race inside a national entity, emphasizing privacy and the free will of each individual under the laws of divine establishment that we have studied previously.
All authority is delegated by God, and all divine institutions have a system of authority designed to guarantee and protect freedom. Rom 13:1;
2) Spiritual freedom is for believers and only exists in the PPOG, and only functions under the power of the Holy Spirit and the PMA of Bible doctrine. Rom 8:2;
Spiritual freedom is necessary for the believer to advance inside the PPOG. A believer can function without temporal freedom, but cannot execute the PPOG without spiritual freedom.
The filling of the Spirit plus learning Bible doctrine is this "law" or principle of life and results in knowing the mind of Christ that is the truth which sets us free.
This is the freedom that Paul is referring to in our passage. Gal 5:1;
This freedom was purchased by TLJC on the cross and is provided to the believer at salvation when deliverance from the law as a means of righteousness and deliverance from the power and influence of the Old Sin Nature was given as a grace gift. 1Cor 15:56-57;
At the moment of faith in TLJC the believer is delivered from the power of the Old Sin Nature, Rom 2:29; Phil 3:3; Col 2:11;, Eph 4:22.
Because of the Old Sin Nature no longer has the power to maintain it's control over the believer so the believer can be influenced by God the Holy Spirit through the Filling of the Spirit and the Bible Doctrine that is resident in the believer's soul.
When believers sin, they are again controlled by the Old Sin Nature and they return to the yoke of slavery and it's burden.
Simply acknowledging any known sin is the means by which the believer can escape the control of the Old Sin Nature, 1John 1:9; but for the believer to persist in the status quo of freedom requires that they know and apply the pertinent Bible Doctrine inside the PPOG after they have been released.
The Word of God teaches that the entire human race is enslaved to sin, Rom 7:14. Everyone who commits sin is the slave to sin and resides in the slave market of sin, John 8:34;with it's human good and evil.
TLJC, the Son of God, has set us free from slavery to sin and through his word provides us with the information needed to persist in standing firm in that freedom, John 8:36.
At any given moment the believer is either functional as a freed slave of TLJC or as a slave to the OSN and kosmic system of Satan.
The Experiential freedom that comes when the believer persists in or "continues in the words of TLJC” that is enabled from their learning and applying what TLJC has provided in his word.
This is described in John 8:32; "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." and our passage in Gal 5:1; It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
The yoke of slavery has to do with the tyranny of the OSN as it functions in slavery to satan's kosmic system which is just the opposite of function inside the PPOG with the mentorship of God the Holy Spirit.
Wherever God the Holy Spirit functions there is freedom. 2Cor 3:17;
The word translated "liberty in this passage is the same Greek word that is translated freedom in Gal 5:1;
Believers are commanded to walk by means of the spirit to persist in their freedom. Gal 5:16;
We see from this that it is the application of Bible Doctrine or "the words of TLJC” under the mentorship of God the Holy Spirit that results in the believer standing and persisting in their God given spiritual freedom.
Jesus described himself as "the way", "the truth" and "the life" John 14:6; and that God the Holy Spirit who is referred to as the "Spirit of Truth " John 14:17; guides the believer into "truth" John 15:26;
We also see that the only worship God desires is established in the truth. John 4:23;
We see from this that the source of the freedom that the believer is commanded to persist in is truth so for the believer to comply with the mandate to persist in freedom, they must learn and apply truth in their lives.
The word translated "truth" in all of these passages is the Greek word "aletheia"
The TDNT in Volume 1 Page 244-245 defines "aletheia" as "genuineness", "divine reality" and "revelation"
In John aletheia denotes "divine reality" with reference to the fact that (1) it is different from the reality in which man first finds himself, and by which he is controlled, and (2) that it discloses itself and is thus revelation.
Revelation is determined by the thought of the Word and the hearing of the Word.
"Aletheia" is thus the reality of God which is, of course, opposed and inaccessible to human existence as it has constituted itself through the fall from God, through sin, and revelation is a miraculous occurrence beyond the reach of the being which is alien to God as described in. Isa 55:8;
Yet in revelation there is disclosed to man the true possibility of his own being when, in face of the Word of revelation which encounters him, he decides to surrender himself.
The reception of aletheia is conditioned neither by rational or esoteric instruction on the one side nor psychical preparation and exercise on the other;
it takes place in obedient faith.
This is consistent with Paul's statement in Rom 10:17;
Truth then becomes the issue. Truth, is Bible Doctrine, the thinking of TLJC that is revealed in the word and taught categorically.
We see in 1Tim 2:3-4; It is God's will that everyone to come to the spirit taught knowledge of the truth.
It is only as He brings us to this knowledge of the truth that we are completely saved or delivered in our experience even though we have been completely saved in our position, Eph 2:8-9;
The whole purpose of the Gospel and the object of salvation is to bring the believer in to this “ spirit taught knowledge of God.”
Without truth in the frame of reference, experiences and feelings even though they are real can be false because they don't include all of the available information. Matt 8:23-26;
This is why the believer must walk by means of doctrine not by empiricism or rationalism. 2Cor 5:7;
In the Old Testament, “truth” is translated from the Hebrew noun "emeth" which means stability, certainty, trust, that which is faithful, stable, and secure.
If the believer persists in this truth, it will motivate the believer to be stable, certain, trustworthy, faithful and secure.
We have already seen that, "aletheia", the Greek word for truth means integrity of character, that which is faithful and certain, that which frees the mind from pretence, deceit, and falsehood.
Truth is said to have a price upon it Prov 23:23; Buy truth, and do not sell it, Get wisdom and instruction and understanding.
The price for truth is positive volition that is directed toward the PMA of Bible Doctrine. Prov 8:17; John 14:21;
This is how the believer "makes the most of their time" Eph 5:15-16;
We see from this that Truth must be valued higher than money, riches, or any form of prosperity.
It is impossible for the believer to serve the Lord apart from truth being their motivation.
Josh 24:14; Now, therefore, respect the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and truth;
1Sam 12:24; Only respect the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.
1Kings 2:4; “If your sons are careful of their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.”
It is truth that gives us guidance and direction to worship God properly.
John 4:24; “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in [filling] spirit and truth [doctrine].”
Truth is something must be taught in God's system, it does not come naturally. 1Cor 2:14; Psa 25:5;NET John 8:31-32; Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word, {then} you are truly disciples of Mine;” and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Parents are to make truth known to their children. Isa 38:19; the word translated "faithfulness" in this passage is the Hebrew word "emeth" that we have seen is generally translated as truth and it is translated truth in the KJV.
TLJC taught the way of God in truth. Matt 22:16;
The apostle Paul tells us that God’s will for all mankind is to “be saved and to come to the epignosis knowledge of the truth,” 1Tim 2:4.
Truth sets believers apart, protects them and keeps them from deception by establishing an accurate frame of reference from Bible Doctrine. John 17:17;
This is the thinking of TLJC. 1Cor 2:16; Phil 2:5;
That is taught by God the Holy Spirit John 14:26;
This is why the apostle Paul warns us that in the last days “truth” will be rejected and deception accepted, 2Thes 2:7-12;, 2Tim 3:5-8; 2Tim 4:1-4;
Truth is what God desires in our life.
Psa 51:6; Behold, you desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part you will make me know wisdom.
John12: 48; “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.”
2Cor 11:10; - the truth of Christ is in me...
Truth is what will judge the believer at the Judgment Seat of Christ, 1Cor 4:5; and the unbeliever at the Great White Throne Judgment, John 12:48;
In His love, God always reveals grace and mercy with His truth, 2Pet 3:18; Psa 85:10-11;
None of us could ever face truth if it were not accompanied by grace. God's righteousness is completely satisfied when He sees His truth in operation in man.
Grace the Hebrew word "checed" translated lovingkindness referring to "God's grace in action" and truth always go together, Psa 40:10-11;, John 1:14;