Freedom in Christ

Recap:

Paul had led the Galatians to Christ. They were so excited that they were saved by Jesus.

Judaizers - “You guys need to be circumcised and basically be Jewish if you want to be right with God.”

No, it’s by grace through faith.

“If anyone preaches another gospel...”

Weeks ago: Stoicheia

Jesus + Nothing = Everything

Today: Jesus + Something = Nothing

You can’t trust in Jesus plus your own works to save you.

Today, Paul is going to show us why.

1. Stand firm in your freedom in Christ (Gal. 5:1)

Galatians 5:1 NIV

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.

My story: One of my first years as director.

Signs of it:

Trying to prove yourself.

Achievement addiction.

Falling into despair when you mess up.

Beating yourself up when you mess up.

2. Understand how trusting in your works undermines the gospel (Gal. 5:2-4)

illustration: When I ask, “If you were to die tonight and stand before God, and he were to ask you, ‘why should I let you into heaven?’ what would you say?”

If you are trying to be justified by the law, these 4 things would happen to you...

You no longer profit from Christ (Gal. 5:2)

Galatians 5:2 NIV

Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.

Jesus lived the perfect life we couldn’t live. He died in our place, paying for our sin.

Idea: If you are trusting in circumcision (or anything else), why did Jesus need to die.

You will need to obey the whole law perfectly (Gal. 5:3)

Galatians 5:3 NIV

Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.

If you are going to try and be saved by your own merit, than you need to go the whole way.

James 2:10 NIV

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

The point is, you can’t do it. (James 2:10)

That’s why Jesus came and died in our place.

You are alienated from Christ (Gal. 5:4a)

Galatians 5:4 (NIV)

You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ...

Justified by the law.

No longer trusting in Christ for their salvation.

You have fallen from grace (Gal. 5:4b)

Galatians 5:4 (NIV)

...you have fallen away from grace.

They are no longer relying on his grace.

3. Take peace in our hope of righteousness (Gal. 5:5)

Galatians 5:5 NIV

For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope.

Even our hope is given by the Spirit by faith.

What does it mean by righteousness?

Righteousness that Grows over time: Sanctification.

The perfect righteousness we will have after this life.

Both.

You ever get frustrated by your tendency to sin?

One day, that’s gonna be gone.

Those brothers and sisters in Christ who bother you… one day they will be perfectly righteous.

4. Serve one another humbly in love (Gal. 5:6-15)

Faith should lead to love (Gal. 5:6)

Galatians 5:6 NIV

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

He’s not saying if you are circumcised, your inferior in any way. He’s just saying whether you are or not doesn’t matter.

The main thing is your faith leading you to live a life of love.

Paul goes on a little rant about those who led the Galatians astray (Gal. 5:7-12)

Galatians 5:7 NIV

You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?

Galatians 5:8 NIV

That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.

Galatians 5:9 NIV

“A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.”

Galatians 5:10 NIV

I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty.

Galatians 5:11 NIV

Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.

Galatians 5:12 NIV

As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!

Freedom does not mean you can indulge the flesh (Gal. 5:13)

People may say:

“If Jesus saved me from all my sin, (past, present and future), can’t I just do whatever I want?”

“Once a Christian, always a Christian, so why not sin a little?”

Going back into slavery.

Two kinds of slavery

Law

Sin

Galatians 5:13 (NIV)

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh...

Rather, we are to serve one another in love (Gal. 5:13b-15)

Galatians 5:13–14 (NIV)

...rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”