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Give Me Liberty • Sermon • Submitted
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· 1 viewGalatians is God’s strongest word against legalism. The flesh loves to do things religious—celebrate holy days, practice rituals, attempt to do good works for God. Many religious systems today mix law and grace and present a garbled, confused way of salvation that is actually a way of bondage (Gal. 2:4; 4:9; 5:1). Keeping the Sabbath, dietary laws, an earthly priesthood, holy days, obeying rules—all of these are swept away in Galatians and replaced by the glorious liberty the believer has through faith in Christ! Wiersbe, W. W. (1992). Wiersbe’s expository outlines on the New Testament (p. 515). Victor Books.
Notes
Transcript
Story of the Good Samaritan. priest didn’t help. Levite didn’t help. Samaritan did.
While the freedom Paul presents could be used to facilitate selfish behaviors, he makes it clear that freedom should render us more helpful to others, not less. It makes sense in practice; we can—and probably have—observed legalistic people who judge rather than helping.
Much like the Samaritan, who was not bound by the legal code and its endemic legalism and was not only more helpful, he was more free to be helpful.
Spiritually Helpful, Galatians 6:1-5
Spiritually Helpful, Galatians 6:1-5
1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For each one shall bear his own load.
“Overtaken” - V1. The story of the Goof Samaritan continues to pay dividends. The word doesn’t mean just to be overcome, but to be passed and thus attacked from ahead and beaten.
“Restore” - V1. Similar to the action taken by the Levite, this word means to tend to medically (refers to setting a broken bone).
spiritually mature act of a spiritually mature person
humble act of a helpful person
considerate act of vulnerable person
“Bear” - V2. Literally carry
help carry each other’s burdens, there are some things that we can shoulder for each other
help carry our own burdens, there are some things that we have to shoulder and soldier through (v5.)
Why? VV3-5.
It fulfills the law of Christ. John 13:34-35 “34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.””
None of us is that big a deal. Literally, who are we to think our opinion and judgement of another should carry any credibility
None of us is exempt from temptation
Each of us should find fulfillment in our own life lived well helping others, not find fulfillment in controlling the lives of others or judging them for where they don’t measure up.
Physically Helpful, Galatians 6:6-10
Physically Helpful, Galatians 6:6-10
6 Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
There is both a specific context and a general context in this section.
The specific context involves those who teach us and lead us spiritually; they should share in what we can provide physically
The general context includes all of the work of God
the work that He is doing broadly
the work that He is doing closely
the work that He is doing internally
This leads us to sow what and where we want to reap, 7-8
This leads us to endure knowing that reaping follows sowing at some distance, 9
This leads us to generosity and support of each other (within the church) that spills over to others (outside the church) because it is who we are.
Freedom does not lead us to being self-observed jerks. It leads us to a place where we are helpful spiritually and physically. It leads us to a place where we are just better people. So, Paul says, go be better people!