Paul has been called “The Apostle of the Heart Set Free” (see title of the classic book by F.F. Bruce), and rightly so. The book of Galatians drips with freedom. For Paul this was a heart issue. Prior to his conversion, his heart was set on the Law and defending it. He later wrote to the Philippian believers, “If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless” (Philippians 3:4b–6). When it came to living under the Law, Paul knew whereof he wrote. Looking back on it, he clearly saw that he had been a slave to it.

Today, religions abound that enslave people. In Islam, for example, adherents see themselves primarily as servants or slaves of God. Christians, in contrast, see ourselves as children of God. “For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!’ ” (Romans 8:15). We have an affectionate relationship with Him. Further, we believers in Christ also view ourselves as God’s friends, “No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends…” (John 15:15).

The practical application of the difference between Law and grace, therefore, is relational. We are children of God, friends with God, no longer slaves of the Law. And it is all through the grace of our Lord. We are set free!

If then we are set free, why in the world would we go back to slavery? No one in their right mind would do such a thing! Therefore, the Galatians, indeed we Christians, need to stand firm for this truth. Too much is at stake to consider it simply an intramural debate in Christendom.

Circumcision was symbolic of the entire Law of Moses. Today many see Christian baptism as symbolic of the new covenant through Christ and require it for salvation. But that is wrong—it just shifts the symbol; Paul still denounces the principle. Such requirements render the word “freedom” to be completely empty. Requiring baptism for salvation becomes, then, symbolic of a “Christian law” which is in essence the Mosaic Law in “Christian” garb. Paul’s message still resonates, the purveyor of such teaching “is to be accursed” (Gal 1:8-9).