Freedom in Christ (3)
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
We move from an allegory to a summary statement. We move from a comparison of religion to as we have mentioned before, a relationship. We boast that we live in the land of the brave and the home of the free. Yet in one statement at the beginning of our passage of focus today, we see that ultimate freedom is related to Christ.
1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
Let’s first look at the facts of freedom.
The Facts of Freedom (vs. 1-2)
The Facts of Freedom (vs. 1-2)
Freedom in this context stems from the Greek word eleutheroo and it means “to set at liberty from the dominion of sin.” The allegory we studied last week talked about freedom from slavery. It is further explained here as being in bondage no more. Paul point blank says the source of this freedom is Christ.
The Source
The Source
Christ has set the one held in the bondage of sin completely free. “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” Who has set us free? Christ has set us free! One theologian summarized this statement this way: “With a view to enjoying freedom, Christ has set us free.” What a beautiful picture that is! We are set free and it comes with a view! We no longer have to look at life from inside the jail cell so to speak, we are able to see what freedom looks like! Remember when Jesus painted a picture about this freedom?
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Jesus desires for us to let go of merely surviving! He is telling us to let go of being religious and enter into that holy relationship with Him! Paul echoes this when he describes the stance we need to take.
The Stance
The Stance
Paul says to “Stand firm.” Christ died to set us free and we must stand firm and not fall back.
The word for the phrase stand firm is steko. In my mind, I am hearing stick to it! The word steko means to persevere, to persist. It is the same use of the word Paul uses in other places.
13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.
27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel
1 Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!
8 For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.
What promises have been penned by Paul! The source of our freedom is in Christ and through Christ. Our stance in our freedom is to be firm and unwavering.
The Solution
The Solution
The solution to our freedom is to never go back to the way it was. Why on earth would we want to do that? Yet the Galatians were giving in to old teachings and putting the yoke of the law back on them again! Paul says, “Mark my words!” He is saying, “perceive what I am telling you!” “Take notice to what I am saying!” “Discover the truth of what I am telling you!” The solution given here is to stand firm in the freedom that Christ has given us. Do you the value of what Christ has done? John 8:36
36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
We can stand tall because the yoke has been removed!
13 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians; I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high.
Paul then gives us the flip side of freedom. He gives us a glimpse of what happens if we go back to the captivity of being religious.
The Flip Side of Freedom (vs. 3-4)
The Flip Side of Freedom (vs. 3-4)
Obligated to the Law
Obligated to the Law
First, we see that if you give in to one part of the law, you have to give into all of the law. There are at least 613 laws in the Old Testament. If you kept 612 of them, you still would fail!
10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
Following a life of bondage produces hopelessness. In fact, if we rely on law-keeping, it nullifies the grace of God!
Outcast from Christ
Outcast from Christ
To accept the law as means of salvation means that the work of Christ on the cross what not enough. Paul says “You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ.” Do you really want to be an outcast from Christ? Paul says in verse 2, that if you follow the law, “Christ will be of no value to you at all.” The law introduced obligation not promise. Romans 4:14
14 For if those who live by law are heirs, faith has no value and the promise is worthless,
Outside of Grace
Outside of Grace
This means that they are outside of grace. In Galatians 5:4, Paul uses the words “fallen from grace.” What a miserable place that would be, to be outside of the grace of God.
15 See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
17 Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position.
Paul makes a shift from flip side of freedom to declare the finality of freedom.
The Finality of Freedom (vs. 5-6)
The Finality of Freedom (vs. 5-6)
5 But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
I love it when God’s word makes a shift in thought by using the words therefore and but. We have that word but here that reminds us that freedom is forged by faith!
Forged by Faith
Forged by Faith
Hebrews 11:1 defines faith this way:
1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Those who are in Christ find their redemption through faith. We are certain that by faith we will be declared righteous before God through the atonement of Jesus Christ. By faith we wait. We are waiting on this “hope of righteousness” which is eternity with Jesus.
Focused by the Spirit
Focused by the Spirit
This faith that is forged gets us focused by the Holy Spirit. Jesus gave us His Spirit to help guide and direct us. 1 Corinthians 2:10
10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
The Holy Spirit provides for us what God desires for us to have. We are given the ability to have faith through love.
Faith Through Love
Faith Through Love
Paul said, “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”
3 We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.
One theologian put it this way, “Love, the primary fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22), is poured out through the Spirit into the hearts of who are justified by faith (Romans 5:5).”
To fall from grace means to fall from love.
We have seen the facts of freedom, the flip side of freedom and the finality of freedom as portrayed in Galatians 5. Let’s look at ways we can apply this to our lives. Let’s look at the focus of freedom.
The Focus of Freedom
The Focus of Freedom
Freedom Comes Only Through Christ
Freedom Comes Only Through Christ
First and foremost, freedom comes only through Christ. The battles our soldiers have fought upon may have given us the freedom to live in this great land. Winning the lottery may give us true financial freedom. Exercise may give us the freedom to live more healthy. I am sure we can come up with many more examples and types of freedom. However, true freedom can only come through Christ! It is only Christ that can free us from our sins and wayward ways. It is only Christ that can free us from the law. It is only Christ that can free us from damnation in hell and give us eternal life!
Jesus + (Anything Else) = HERESY
Jesus + (Anything Else) = HERESY
The point that Paul is making in this passage is simple this truth. It is all Jesus. It is not Jesus and the law. It is not Jesus and being a good person. It is not Jesus and attending church. It is simply Jesus! He came into this world, lived as man so He could identify with you and me, then died a criminal’s death on a criminal’s cross as an atonement for our sin. He rose from the grave and conquered death so we don’t have to worry about and we can live eternally with Him praising His Father in Heaven! Jesus plus anything else is heresy!
True Freedom Comes with Responsibility
True Freedom Comes with Responsibility
So with freedom, comes a great responsibility. It is not a license to thrill, thinking we can do anything we want because it is already forgiven. Luke 12:48
48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
We have to be responsible for that which is given to us! As we trust Christ with our freedom, we become spiritually rich in God’s grace. Ephesians 1:7
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace
We become complete in Christ.
10 and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.
We gain wisdom and knowledge.
3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
What will you do with your freedom in Christ?