Julie Fillinger

Fight for Freedom  

 
If you have ever been set free from bondage, you will fight for that freedom. It could be bondage to control, addictions, approval, relationships, even grief. Maybe you’re in bondage through no fault of your own. Once you have been released, you will never want to be enslaved again. That’s how I felt after being released from the despair of grief.  

When God lifted the tormenting cloud of deep grief, I was afraid it would only be for a season. But the season has been 2 1/2 years and I am choosing to relish in the fact that I’m free to live courageously. I still grieve, but it is not all consuming. Praying, giving thanks, and showing love are the not so secret strategies I use to stay out of the pit. ¹ Praise be to God who delivered me and put a new song in my heart. 
 

What is worth fighting for?  

Paul was willing to fight for Freedom in Christ, namely that the Gospel did not require circumcision as given to Abraham or bondage to the Mosaic Law in order to be saved. The Mosaic Law had a purpose in that it pointed to the Messiah. Once Jesus Christ laid down His life as the perfect sacrifice and conquered death with His resurrection, trust in Him alone was sufficient for salvation.

What do we tend to add to our salvation? It is pride that makes us think we have to do something good to be saved. 

But what about circumcision? Ever since God made a covenant with Father Abraham, it was required of all Jewish males to be circumcised on the 8 ^th day after they were born. This was a sign of the covenant with Yahweh. The majority of baby boys get circumcised today for other reasons. But why is it no longer necessary as a sign of the covenant?

I read a good article on Ligonier.org ² that gave much clarity. When our sins were imputed to (put on) Christ on the cross, God’s wrath was poured out on Him as the object of God’s covenant curses. Circumcision means cut off. Jesus Christ cut off the filth of our sin when He became a curse for us. He did this for love. It was the only way we could receive the covenant blessings of Faith in Him. 

A Powerful Voice  

Paul heard the voice of the Holy Spirit telling him to go up to Jerusalem and meet with those who held influence in the church but were also like-minded. He took his missions partner Barnabas with him. And he also took Titus, a Gentile convert so the church leaders could see for themselves the effect the Gospel was having on the whole world not just the Jews. They met in private so their concern would not become a controversial public issue, marred by ethnic tensions that would endanger his present ministry. ³  

So when Paul took Titus with Barnabas and himself to talk about the Gospel with the leaders of the church in Jerusalem, he was using him as a test case. ⁴ Titus was a Gentile who had not been circumcised but had been converted to Christ under Paul’s teaching of the Gospel. The leaders agreed that the Gospel Paul was preaching to the Gentiles was the same Gospel they preached to the Jews. Furthermore, it was decided Titus did not have to be circumcised to be saved. This was big news and would have greatly encouraged the recipients of the letter who were Gentiles. They encouraged unity in the body of Christ as relates to the Gospel being preached but with a division of labor as relates to the recipients of their mission. This unity was evidenced by Peter, James, and John giving Paul and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship that showed agreement between the parties. The only overlap of ministry was to remember the poor in Jerusalem. All parties were eager to do this as meeting physical needs should accompanying preaching the Gospel. 

Why does he keep repeating himself?   

It seems Paul has been a little repetitive thus far in His letter to the Galatians. But this is the first of his writings and it is the precursor to his other writings where he continues to share everything he believes about the Gospel. This first one had to be defended, so it could be preserved. John Stott makes two statements regarding Paul’s zeal in not yielding to those that want to spy out the freedom they have in Christ: ⁵   

 
Stott also quotes Martin Luther as saying, “be hard in Faith, but soft in Charity.” I’m not Martin Luther, but I would rephrase that to say fight when it comes to matters of Truth but yield when it comes to matters of Love . We tend to think Jesus was soft, willing to yield, on both Truth and Love. In His perfection, He was actually unyielding on both. He is Truth and He is Love. He cannot help but exude both in full measure at all times. Truth and Love can and should coexist in me as they do in Jesus. I worship Him best when I give a correct representation of His character, but my sin gets in the way.  

The Holy Spirit is my Super Power to Freedom  

As I grow in my Faith, and the fruit of the Spirit is more evident, it may appear at first that I am compromising, when I am actually showing discernment, patience, and dare I say, meekness. The Holy Spirit in me is my super power. When I yield to Him, that strength is under His control and it leads to more freedom not less. He uses the way He made me to use my passionate voice in a way that can bring the most Glory to God and good to others.

My prayer is that many will see and hear and put their trust in Him. 

1. Julie Fillinger, Courage to Live: Learning to live Again After Loss. Chicago: Kharis Publishing, 2024. 

2. Nick Batzing, How Was Circumcision a Sign of the Covenant? Ligonier.org: Nov 15, 2023. 

3. Eugene Peterson, The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language. Colorado Springs, NavPress, 2005. Scripture taken from THE MESSAGE. Copyright ^© 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. 

4. The ESV® Study Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 

5. John R. W. Stott, The Message of Galatians: Only One Way. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1968. 

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