Purpose of Christian Freedom: Slavery to One Another

Reading in Galatians 5.13 this morning. Paul instructs the Galatians that they were called to freedom, but lest they assume he means autonomous freedom, he carefully explains. Christian freedom is a freedom that serves each other in love. The word serve might be better translated "is enslaved to" one another in love. Chrysostom thinks that Paul used the word to forcefully make his point:

He did not say “love one another” but “be slaves to one another,” to express the most intense possible love.

Imitators of God

Paul sets a high standard for us in Ephesians 5.1. We are to be imitators of God. From Eph 4.32, we understand that he means that we are to imitate God's kindness and forgiveness, as demonstrated in his forgiveness of us in Christ. Who cannot find it in his heart to forgive when he understands that God has forgiven us for our sin and rebellion? It is easy to imitate our Father when we fully understand how much that he loves us.

As Chrysostom wrote: Not all children imitate their father, but those who know themselves to be beloved act like “beloved children".

The Christian's One Calamity

I was reading 1 Thess 4.1 this morning and Chrysostom had a great comment on that verse:

There is only one calamity for a Christian, this being disobedience to God.

Chrysostom on God's Motivation in Salvation

Pondering Eph 1.6 this morning, specifically with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. Thanks to Accordance Bible Software, I pulled up the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture and Chrysostom had this to say about the passage:

So that our love for him may become more fervent, he desires nothing from us except our salvation. He does not need our service or anything else but does everything for this end.

It's nice to see that John Piper's emphasis on God's being glorified is nothing new. Chrysostom (a favorite Early Church Father) believed that God's motive in salvation was so that we would praise him for salvation. Our understanding of redemption will make us praise him more for what he has done. It's that easy...and that deep.