What does Galatians 5:13 tell believers to do with their liberty?
Galatians 5:13 instructs believers not to use their liberty or freedom as an occasion to the flesh, but instead by love to serve one another, literally becoming bond slaves for one another. Paul writes this to Galatian believers in their congregations, showing that Christian liberty is exercised through loving service, not self-indulgence.
Les teaches that Galatians 5:13 says, "use not liberty or our freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve, or be literally a bond slave for one another." He explains that believers are not to use their liberty to say, "I'm now saved, I'm a child of God, and I can do whatever I want to do." Most true believers know better, while those with a pseudo salvation may have tasted it or had an emotional experience but never entered a genuine salvation experience. Paul is writing to the Galatian believers in various congregations, so this serving is especially among themselves, believers with believers, as servants through love one to another. Earlier, Les gave the example of giving: some may give 30, 40, or 50% of their income, others less, but no one is mandated how much to give. That is Christian liberty and what we have in grace. He also connects this to Biblical love, or agape love, as seen in John's Gospel when Jesus asked Peter, "Peter, lovest thou me."
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.