Imprisoned without Christ

While reading and studying the book of Galatians, I have noticed a central theme about the state of man before Christ came. Slavery and imprisonment is what we had. We were imprisoned under sin and slaves to that sin as well.

Galatians 3:22-23 “ But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.  Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed.”

The coming faith is the faith we have in Jesus Christ. His perfect sacrifice was made, not to condemn the world, but to save it! (John 3:17). Without Christ that imprisonment would continue. We would be bound to the law and not to Christ.

Galatians 5:4  You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. ⁵For 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.

Because of Christ we are no longer bound to the law! But that is not the best part! If we place our dependence on Christ for our own righteousness we will not be separated from him. Placing our salvation and righteousness in our ability to keep the law will sever us from Christ (Galatians 5:4).

Jesus, I am thankful that you have chosen to free us from the bonds of slavery. You have chosen to die for our sins when the punishment was ours alone to bear. I am not worthy of your love, for I cannot bring anything other than my sin. Thank you for the righteousness you poured out in my life and thank you that your blood covers my sin. I depend on you every day, thank you Jesus.