Galatians 5:13-15
Notes
Transcript
13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
Introduction
Introduction
A call to responsible freedom.
A call to responsible freedom.
Some in Paul’s day were understandably concerned that the gospel might undermine the great ethical force that emanated from the Jewish law.
Some in Paul’s day were understandably concerned that the gospel might undermine the great ethical force that emanated from the Jewish law.
The Galatians were saved out Paganism.
There was a sense of ethical lawlessness that came natural to the pagans of the regions.
Some sincerely concerned Jewish believers may have wondered how the gentile believers could fit in with church culture without the pressure of conforming to the law.
Paul firmly believed that the gospel of Jesus was not just sufficient for eternity change but also life change.
That’s why he places the “ye” at the beginning.
That’s why he places the “ye” at the beginning.
Life change, ethical living, Judeo-Christian morality is not an exclusive trait of Judaism.
The Jews had morality imposed on them from without.
Paul trusts the Holy Spirit to produce morality from within the believer.
They have received the righteousness of Jesus applied to their account.
This occured through no effort of their own.
They are now free from the captivity of the law.
This freedom must not be used an occasion for the flesh.
This freedom must not be used an occasion for the flesh.
That means, we must not use our freedom to indulge our sinful human nature.
How has Paul perpetually referred to the effects of returning to the law?
Enslavement, bondage, and ensnarement.
Performance based religion is a snare.
So is the enslavement to our baser instincts.
The flesh wants to enslave us to it’s will.
The flesh wants to liberty to be a free expression of man’s sinful nature.
Be sure that this is just as dangerous and debilitating to the Christian as the legalizers.
The answer to Legalism is not antinomianism.
What then, is the alternative?
What then, is the alternative?
What does liberated living look like?
According to Paul it looks like love-fueled service to others.
Paul redefines the legalizers use of the law.
Paul redefines the legalizers use of the law.
The Galatians had been told that the law was a set of rules to make themselves more acceptable to God.
Paul tells them that whole sum of the law is show love to your neighbor.
Paul isn’t just making this up.
Real students of the law would have remembered that Paul is actually quoting a passage from the book of Leviticus.
Leviticus 19:18 “18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.”
Loving service is simultaneously an expression of liberty and the fulfillment of the law.
Interestingly enough, this is the only time that love and service show up in the same verse in Paul’s letters.
He does speak a lot about what it means to love each other.
Romans 12:10 “10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;”
Romans 13:8 “8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.”
Ephesians 4:2 “2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;”
1 Thessalonians 3:12 “12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:”
If you don’t know what it means to love and serve your fellow Christians, you can go read 1 Corinthians 13, the great love chapter of the Bible
A chapter has less to do with love between a husband and a wife.
A chapter that is primarily about the love that should exist between believers.
But, maybe you say that you need an even clearer explanation of what loving service looks like.
I think Paul would tell you, then read the law.
The law is not just how to cut up a lamb or an ox for a sacrifice.
It’s more than laws of cleanliness or uncleanness.
It’s more than dietary restrictions.
The law is a divine blueprint for interpersonal relationships at all levels of society.
It may not be able to make you righteous but it can help you to know how to treat your neighbor the way they should be treated.
The liberty which we have received is not a license to do whatever we want regardless of how it affects others.
We must govern ourselves based on how does this serve others.
We must restrict ourselves from behavior that would hurt someone else.
The motivation for this must be love.
Without love for each other, this will not work.
1 Corinthians 13:1 “1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”
Paul tells his readers what the result will be if they take advantage of their liberty.
Paul tells his readers what the result will be if they take advantage of their liberty.
Suppose the Galatian churches decided that they weren’t about limiting their behavior in any way.
They are going to indulge their flesh in the name of liberty by engaging in the activities which we will look at later in verses 19-21.
These fleshly appetites all carry consequences not only for the committer of the sins, but all those around them.
By seeking to satisfy their fleshly appetites, Paul pictures them as biting and eating others.
This definitely not the picture serving one another in love.
This is destroying one another in selfishness.
Many Christian families and churches have been destroyed by this type of behavior.
Paul wants them all to understand, that it is only a matter of time before they reaps what they have sown.
Any group of people, whether it be a family, a church, or a nation, cannot thrive when everyone does whatever is right in their own eyes.
The works of the flesh are destructive.
If everyone is engaging in destructive behavior, then everyone is going to get hurt.
Ok, but a little indulgence in the flesh shouldn’t be that big of a deal should it?
After all, we are free, and who are you to judge me?
Look, if indulging the flesh in the name of liberty is the antithesis of loving service and is equal to taking a bite and devouring our brothers and sisters, then how many bites are you willing for someone else to take out of you?
Are you willing to offer yourself up to be devoured so that your fellow church members can indulge their flesh?
If you don’t want to volunteer to act as collateral damage for the fleshly appetites of others, than maybe we should all commit to lovingly serving each other rather than selfishly serving our own flesh.
Yes, you have been made free, only use not liberty for an occasion for the flesh.
Application
Application
If you have not been set free from the curse of your sins, you need to receive God’s free gift of salvation today.
Believe that Jesus died on the cross for you, then confess your sins to Him and let His blood wash you clean.
You can be liberated this morning.
If you are free today, what are you doing with that freedom?
Are you lovingly serving your fellow church members?
Are putting your brothers and sisters in Christ before yourself?
Or, are you deceived into thinking that since you are saved, you can feed your flesh without consequence?
Do you want your relationships to be healthy and growing?
Choose loving service.
Reject fleshly appetites.
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