Was Paul telling believers to serve the unbelieving world or each other in Galatians 5:13?
Paul directed Galatian believers to serve one another among themselves, not to the unbelieving world. In Galatians 5:13, the Christian liberty is not an occasion for the flesh but an opportunity to be literal bondservants to fellow believers through love.
Les explains that Paul is writing to the Galatian believers who are in various congregations, so he is not necessarily saying they have to work that way among the unbelieving world, but among themselves—believers with believers. They were to be literally like servants through love one to another. This aligns with Galatians 5:13: do not use liberty as an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. Les notes that true believers know better than to use their liberty as a license to do whatever they want, though those with a pseudo-salvation may take that approach. He then transitions to defining Biblical love, or agape love, from John's Gospel, where Jesus asked 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.
Who was Paul telling to serve one another in love in Galatians 5:13?
Paul was writing to the Galatian believers gathered in various congregations. His instruction to serve one another in love applied among believers themselves, not to the unbelieving world. They were to act as bond slaves for one another through love. This reflects Christian liberty used rightly.
Was Paul's command to serve one another in love meant for believers' treatment of unbelievers?
No. Paul addressed Galatian believers in various congregations, instructing them to serve one another in love among themselves, believer with believer. The context indicates he was not necessarily commanding how they must work among the unbelieving world, but how they were to treat fellow believers as bond servants through love.