Magna Carta

In America, we have a written list of rights that protect certain liberties as a free American. This would be our Constitution. This document is strongly influenced by another document known as the “Magna Carta”.

The Magna Carta (Medieval Latin for “Great Charter of Freedoms”) was a document that English barons forced King John to sign in June, 1215. This document guaranteed their fundamental rights as people and protection.

This document is fundamental to world history and because of its significance, the term Magna Carta can be used as a generic term for a list of rights and emancipation. 

When we as Christians look to Galatians 1, we find something of a Magna Carta, emphasizing the beautiful liberties provided by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

In Galatians 1:3-4, Paul describes who gives liberty and deliverance from this evil world that we live in. He describes not only the source, but the action that occurs within the life of a Christian. 

The Scripture reads,

“Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,

Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father”

The Greek word that Paul uses to describe “deliver” within verse 4 is exaireo. This word describes an active and continuous tearing out from something.

In a literal sense, according to Strong’s lexicon, verse 4 depicts God as actively “tearing [us] out”  of this “present evil world”. 

We are freed by the Gospel and tore from the evilness of the world by Christ Jesus so that we can live freely within His righteousness as free people. This is all according to God’s will. 

Luckily, this is clearly stated within the Bible so that we do not have to ponder and seek wildly what His will is! 

The Gospel does not just deliver us and leave us to our own demise. It does much more than what we could ever hope for.

Whereas we are saved by it. The Gospel delivers and transforms (Gal 1:4, 2 Cor 5:17). When believing in it, we become a new creation. 

We are torn out from this world and transformed by the renewing of our mind.

Paul writes in Romans 12:2,

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Once again, this is all in the perfect will of the Father. 

So, this liberty is a free gift to us, although it was not free. 

Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) so that we can be justified (Romans 4:25).

Whenever a man is justified by the Gospel, he becomes free (John 8:36). 

Therefore, if you have not taken this Magna Carta for your life, take this opportunity to consider. 

Believe in the Gospel and what Christ has done for you.

Liberty is that close. 

God bless!