Galatians 5:13 - You, my brothers, were called to be free

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Galatians 5:13

Commentary

The freedom Christians have is not a base from which they can sin freely and without consequence. Christian freedom is not for selfish fulfillment, but for serving others.

Cf. Rom. 14:1-15. MacArthur, J. J. (1997, c1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed.) (Ga 5:13). Nashville: Word Pub.

"Christian liberty is freedom from sin, not liberty to sin."

Whitlock, L. G., Sproul, R. C., Waltke, B. K., & Silva, M. (1995). Reformation study Bible, the : Bringing the light of the Reformation to Scripture : New King James Version. Includes index. (Ga 5:13). Nashville: T. Nelson.

Nahum 1:3 - The LORD is slow to anger and great in power

The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet.

The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, And the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished In whirlwind and storm is His way, And clouds are the dust beneath His feet.

Nahum 1:3

Commentary

The character of God is described as jealous, avenging, and wrathful on the one hand, and yet slow to anger and great in power on the other. He controls the universe and all its inhabitants. His jealousy is the righteous jealousy of a husband for the wife he loves, not an envy of others' happiness.

MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (Na 1:1). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Did you know?

About 100 years before Nahum, the prophet Jonah told Nineveh it would be destroyed in 40 days. The people repented and were spared.

Miller, S. M., & Gross, P. (1998). How to get into the Bible. Includes index. (244). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.