Liberty to Do Right
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Liberty to Do Right - Gal 5:13-26
Liberty to Do Right - Gal 5:13-26
Summary: Contrast Liberty and License and to show the parameters of liberty
Summary: Contrast Liberty and License and to show the parameters of liberty
We are free! The Law has no claim upon us.
gal 5:
But love does. Therefore, free though we might be, we cannot do certain things. Love for the Lord will make us draw the line for ourselves at certain things
An old song by Billy Joel says, quite stubbornly,
“I don't need you to worry for me cause I'm alright.
I don't want you to tell me it's time to come home.
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
I don't care what you say anymore, this is my life.
Go ahead with your own life and leave me alone.”
Another, written by Paul Anka and sung by Frank Sinatra, is equally expressive of autonomy:
“And now, the end is near,
And so I face the final curtain.
My friend, I'll say it clear,
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain.
I've lived a life that's full;
I traveled each and every highway.
And more, much more than this, I did it my way.”
I The Issue at Hand
I The Issue at Hand
13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
Differentiate between Liberty and License.
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.
Differentiate between Liberty and License.
In Christian teaching, license is a moral distortion of liberty.
It is the notion that living under grace gives us the freedom (or even the right) to do whatever we want and be free from any binding standard.
(This is called "antinomianism.")
It argues that since Christ has paid the penalty for all our sins, we are free to live as we please.
But of course that is a gross misrepresentation of the truth.
Christian liberty is not a license to do as we wish, but the power to do as we should. Though the epistles recognize our freedom in Christ, that is balanced with the fact that:
A) There is a vast difference between legalism and license. If we truly love God we will want to do only those things that please Him
There is a vast difference between legalism and license. If we truly love God we will want to do only those things that please Him
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
Since God hates sin and cannot abide it in His presence (), why would we want to grieve Him () and hinder our fellowship with Him (; )?
Since God hates sin and cannot abide it in His presence (), why would we want to grieve Him () and hinder our fellowship with Him (; )?
18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear me:
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
In showing Christ-like love to others--which we are to do (), we will want to avoid those things that could harm them.
B) In showing Christ-like love to others--which we are to do (), we will want to avoid those things that could harm them.
Liberty does not harm someone else.
Illustration - going to a R rated vile movie ....
Liberty to do that but undue harm to that brother or son/daughter
To act in such a way as would cause others to stumble into sin is hateful and wrong (, ; ; cf. ).
Why would you want someone to stumble or fall ?
16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
1 cor
1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
rom
When we think about freedom, we include the wonderful freedom for which we are grateful and which we enjoy as Americans. But though I am an American, and grateful and proud to be one, I want to talk about personal freedom. And prior to doing that let me differentiate between Liberty and License.
Liberty is freedom within limits; there are parameters in true liberty Example: liberty is swinging your arms as much as you want to – but liberty ends where my nose begins.
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.
gal 5.13-14
We are free within limits:
Liberty is a river flowing down its bed. License is a flood. Liberty is driving the car. License is running over people.
on the other side of the coin legalism can creep in by applying cultural standards to offending a brother :
Tennessee - would not wear shorts mowing the grass he did not want a brother to stumble.
That was OK until he could not believe that I wore shorts to the grocery store....
We are free within limits:
II. WE ARE FREE TO CHOOSE OUR ACTIONS BUT NOT THE CONSEQUENCES:
II. WE ARE FREE TO CHOOSE OUR ACTIONS BUT NOT THE CONSEQUENCES:
II. WE ARE FREE TO CHOOSE OUR ACTIONS BUT NOT THE CONSEQUENCES:
II. WE ARE FREE TO CHOOSE OUR ACTIONS BUT NOT THE CONSEQUENCES:
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. 16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Gal
gal 5.14-
Legalism invariably leads to quarreling, and apparently it had done so in Galatia. How strange! Here were people who wanted to be under the law. The law requires them to love their neighbors. Yet the very reverse has happened. They have been backbiting and devouring one another. This behavior springs from the flesh, to which the law gives a place, and on which it acts.[1]
The flesh is the innate sum of human desires which we must control or they will control us which is sin.
A. Paul wrote, “For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”
1. The flesh is the innate sum of human desires which we must control or they will control us which is sin.
The flesh is the innate sum of human desires which we must control or they will control us which is sin.
Paul warned,
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
You will reap
You will reap in a different season than you sow
You will reap what you sow
You will reap more than you sow
The choices of activity really boil down to this: Sin or righteousness. Life or death. One or the other will issue from the choices we make.
God gives us freedom to choose between the two but reserves the right to determine consequences.
a.God gives us freedom to choose between the two but reserves the right to determine consequences.
19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
The choices we make always result in consequences: bad choices, bad consequences; good choices, good consequences.
"I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, ....” (NASB).
B. The choices we make always result in consequences: bad choices, bad consequences; good choices, good consequences.
1. If you choose the action, you must expect and accept the consequences.
2. Choose “I did it my way,” the way of the flesh, and the consequence is death
3. So, choose conduct in keeping with God’s word, will and Spirit and the consequence is life.
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
gal 6.
Still the pull of human desires for satisfaction wages war with God’s desire for our salvation. but, we have the power of choice so let’s choose wisely to bring good things into our lives rather than bad things.
C. Still the pull of human desires for satisfaction wages war with God’s desire for our salvation. but, we have the power of choice so let’s choose wisely to bring good things into our lives rather than bad things.
A. T. Pierson says:
True freedom is found only in obedience to proper restraint. A river finds liberty to flow, only between banks: without these it would only spread out into a slimy, stagnant pool. Planets, uncontrolled by law, would only bring wreck to themselves and to the universe. The same law which fences us in, fences others out; the restraints which regulate our liberty also insure and protect it. It is not control, but the right kind of control, and a cheerful obedience which make the free man.[1]
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
gal
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
gal 5.22-23
2. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (NASB).
We are free to choose our activities, but we do not determine the consequences.
III. WE ARE FREE TO CHOOSE OUR MASTER BUT NOT THE DEMANDS: Gal 5:16-23
III. WE ARE FREE TO CHOOSE OUR MASTER BUT NOT THE DEMANDS: Gal 5:16-23
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
gal 5.1
A. The flesh or the spirit? Which will rule? Not both; it’s a one or the other proposition.
The flesh or the spirit? Which will rule? Not both; it’s a one or the other proposition.
The flesh or the spirit? Which will rule? Not both; it’s a one or the other proposition.
The flesh or the spirit? Which will rule? Not both; it’s a one or the other proposition.
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Illustration of demands:
Coal mine towns in WV - for housing a food portion you will work the mines 6-7 days a week to pay off what you owe the mining company
Debt credit cards - that $5,000 bedroom furniture that you wanted now will cost $10,000 to pay off in 5 years at 18% interest and will be worth less than $800 when you own it ...
The demands of the master are not negotiable ...
See
look at the results
Peter said, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.”
flesh
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
spirit
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
gal 5.22-
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
2.Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (NLT2).
Each master has a set of demands. Some demands are oppressive and harsh. Some are benevolent and reasonable.
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B. Paul said the same thing in different words. This is The Message Verison, “So, since we're out from under the old tyranny, does that mean we can live any old way we want? Since we're free in the freedom of God, can we do anything that comes to mind? Hardly. You know well enough from your own experience that there are some acts of so-called freedom that destroy freedom. Offer yourselves to sin, for instance, and it's your last free act. But offer yourselves to the ways of God and the freedom never quits. All your lives you've let sin tell you what to do. But thank God you've started listening to a new master, one whose commands set you free to live openly in his freedom! I'm using this freedom language because it's easy to picture. You can readily recall, can't you, how at one time the more you did just what you felt like doing—not caring about others, not caring about God—the worse your life became and the less freedom you had? And how much different is it now as you live in God's freedom, your lives healed and expansive in holiness?” (MSG).
B.
But those who serve the master have no voice in the demands.
C. Each master has a set of demands. Some demands are oppressive and harsh. Some are benevolent and reasonable. But those who serve the master have no voice in the demands.
Think about it:
If we choose as our master that which is addictive it will demand more and more of our money, and energy and life.
2.If we choose as our master that which is immoral, it will demand the forfeiture of our conscience, our character, and our soul.
If we choose as our master that which is immoral, it will demand the forfeiture of our conscience, our character, and our soul.
If we choose as our master the material riches, they may demand that we surrender our health and integrity and personal relationships to attain them.
If we choose as our master the Living God, the demands are to love Him and to love one another. He is benevolent and kind. “Loving God means keeping His commandments, and His commandments are not burdensome.
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
We must recognize the authority of the master we choose.
Shortly after joining the Navy, the new recruit learned that when he asked his officer for a pass so he could attend a wedding. The officer gave him the pass, but informed the young man he would have to be back by 7 p.m. Sunday. "You don't understand, sir," said the recruit. "I'm in the wedding."
Shortly after joining the Navy, the new recruit learned that when he asked his officer for a pass so he could attend a wedding. The officer gave him the pass, but informed the young man he would have to be back by 7 p.m. Sunday. "You don't understand, sir," said the recruit. "I'm in the wedding."
"No, you don't understand," the officer shot back. "You're in the Navy!".
We are free to choose our master – that which rules our lives, but the demands of that master are out of our hands.
What Am I asking you to know?
Liberty in Christ is freedom to choose and discipline to refuse!
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
gal 5.22-
A. Let the Holy Spirit be your leader walk in the Spirit and in His way and be led by Him because
1. If you “walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.”
2. And, “if you are led by the Spirit, You are not under the Law.” We are thus led out of legalism and its bondage and into grace with its freedom.
3. “If you are led by the Spirit, you are led away from “immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these.”
4. If you are led by the Spirit, you will be led to “this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
B. To follow the Spirit is demanding:
1. We must know the Word of God as a litmus — not every spirit is from God and if the leading differs from the Word, reject it! John said, “Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world.”
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2. We must be willing to go where He leads, as did Abraham, of whom we read,
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
3. We must follow Him quickly, like the fishermen.
18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. 21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. 22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
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4. We must follow Him exclusively as did Joshua who said,
15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
C. Notice the immediacy and the sacrific and the definiteness of the choice. No hesitation; no foot-dragging, no business concerns got in the way.
C. Notice the immediacy and the sacrific and the definiteness of the choice. No hesitation; no foot-dragging, no business concerns got in the way.
D. Jesus said,
23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
To be truly free, make choices with consequences in mind; choose the right master prepared to do his demands; and follow the leader who is headed for the right destination.
(NLT2).
To be truly free, make choices with consequences in mind; choose the right master prepared to do his demands; and follow the leader who is headed for the right destination.
Jesus saaid, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Surrender all to Him Who ssurrendered all for you.
PRAY AND INVITE