Standing Firm in Freedom

You Have Been Set Free

2023 Spring Branch

It’s for Freedom He set Us Free

Galatians 5:1; 13

In America, we celebrate our independence this week. We celebrate our independence from an entity, a power, a nation which oppressed… to be an independent nation of our own, and to live as free men…

We no longer are under the mastery or rule of England, and we are no longer under obligation to serve her as a master, but to serve her, freely, as a neighbor… if we will choose to do so.

As Americans… we are freed from an oppressor and now we are free to live as a people, as a nation, for a nation and for a people. Within our independency, as a nation, we live to and for one another… and it has been our legacy, practice and motto… that “you can depend on us.”

As Americans… as freed men… as independent people… we have that privilege and liberty… To depend on and serve one another without force. We are not free to hate, to cause or create injustices, or to threaten or oppress others. No, we are free to serve one another and to depend on one another.

As Christians, we are freed from an oppressor, a tyrant, an enemy, from sin slavery, death and hell… We are freed from this, in order to live to and for Someone and something… In order to live to and for God and His Kingdom. Christians are set free and have liberty today, but it is not a freedom and liberty that justifies tyranny and law breaking. The Bible speaks of our liberty to be the means of knowing, loving and serving God. The bible speaks of using our liberty to love others and not sin. But many today use their freedom, to and for apathy, abuse, and rebellion.

In certain Scriptures it seems that we fall into one of two groups: Slaves of God(Christ) or Slaves to Satan. The Bible speaks of being set free from one, to serve the other. The Bible clearly states that mankind, apart from being born again, is enslaved to sin, that sin is their master… and Christ is not their Master.

*But Christ has come to set men free and to be their Lord/Master, so that freedom can ring out.

Please understand: We are or were prisoners to sin’s power, to sinful practices. We are or we were prisoners of works righteousness. We were or are slaves to the principles of this world, to the traditions of this world. We are or were slaves to fear, fear of death. Are you free today? (Self-Check Time)

We need to know that we have been set free today. Through the work of Jesus Christ, we have been set free from death, hell and the grave. Through the door of Jesus Christ, we have been set free from the slavery of sin. We are no longer under the mastery of sin but have received power, we have a new Master Whom we serve and we have victory over sin. (Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Freedom)

We have been set free from the power of Satan. We have been set free from lies. We have been set free from deceit. We have been set free from this evil age. We have been set free from empty religion and vain living. We have been set free from the darkness and despair of this world.

Listen: We have been set free to know and to be known by the God of the universe and to love Him with all of our soul, mind and strength.

If you have Jesus Christ today, if He is your Lord, you are free today, free to run to Christ and to be with Christ. If you are free today, you are free to love and serve Him, and to freely serve others without fear. That is how we use freedom.

Listen: Christ has taken away the weight of your sin, guilt, and condemnation. He has taken away the fear of death and of us trying to live out perfection. He has set us free to be with Him.

Now: Do we use our freedom as a license to sin (Romans 6:1-2)? No, why would we trample the blood of Christ and live like the devil if we know the love of Christ. We have been saved from death and hell; we have been set free to be His children. Who would want to abuse this grace we now stand in? An unbeliever, an enemy of the Gospel, would be my guess.

Ears up: Who here wants to go back to the law and to a fear-based system of faith that demands our “doing” in order to be made right before God? In other words: Who wants to count on their own works to get them into heaven? Who wants to go back to try to live a perfect life?

(Question: Have you been set free? Are you saved from sin? 2. What are you doing in your freedom?)

The command in this text is clear: “Stand fast” or don’t move from where you are resting. Don’t you dare move from the grace in which you stand. Because to stand in some other place is to stand outside of grace. If you want to stand in any other place, you fall from grace… back into bondage or slavery.

WE have been called out of slavery and have been called to freedom. But, some of you are running away from freedom, back into bondage, back into slavery. You are running back to the law, to self-righteous practices, and back to a fear-based system of belief.

And some may be saying right now: “Those poor Galatians.” And I would say to you, “Those poor folks at Spring Branch, those poor folks down the road, those poor folks in town and around this globe…” There are many people today that are being brought back into the system that Christ has set us free from.

There are many folks that are living in fear today. There are many folks who believe that they have to live at the church without being the church; there are many who believe that they just have to do the right things and they will be accepted. Don’t dip, don’t chew and don’t date boys or girls that do.

There are many who are enslaved to works and self-righteousness, in the church house. And the relationship they have with God is like this: “I did the right thing today, therefore I am ok with God,” or “I did the wrong thing today, therefore I am not ok with God today.” I did the wrong thing, therefore I am not loved and I have lost my benefits.

There are many today that live with God like they live with their spouses. “I am going to do this or that around the house, because if I don’t they are going to freak out, give me a hard time, put me on the silent treatment, so therefore I am going to begrudgingly do this, not because I love, not out of love, but so that I can get love, or at the least… get a little peace.” And I will live on egg shells, in fear.

There is no freedom in this kind of relationship; we are enslaved to do the right things in order to be loved and live in peace. But, what if we didn’t have to earn it? What if we didn’t have to be perfect? What if we are already loved and accepted? We could just live in the freedom to love… right?

You see, the Galatians were taught the Gospel, and they were living in Gospel Liberty, but there were other teachers coming in and saying that it is not enough to believe and rest in Christ work and love. It is not enough to have faith and believe in Christ. No… It’s Jesus plus your works…

If you want to be loved, if you want to be accepted, if you want to keep the peace and live in peace, you got to do something; you got to do a portion of the law before you can be loved and accepted.

No, no, no. Paul is saying, God is saying to us: “Don’t be entangled again with that bondage. Don’t get wrapped back up into that.”

You have been set free from the weight of the law; it cannot set you free, it can only lead you to a Savior, and this Savior died for you so that you could be saved from the perfect law that would have judged you on Judgement Day.

No, no, no. If you are claiming that you have to add circumcision, or any other law to be made righteous before God, you are obligated to keep the whole law, and you are also saying that Christ died for nothing.

Understand something: All of our righteous deeds are like filthy rags before our Holy God, and we need a righteousness outside of ourselves to come into the picture, to come into the story, and give us a righteousness that we could never have outside of His giving. And that is what God has done for us in Christ Jesus. The righteousness that we have today is not a self-righteousness but a Christ righteousness that was declared over us all who are partakers of grace.

To know and understand, and to sing of Amazing Grace is to know, understand and sing of this.

Listen: It is not “Jesus plus My works or perfection.” It is not Jesus plus...

You are not saved, accepted and loved by your works, by your doing, by keeping the law. You are not saved, loved and accepted by Sunday or Wednesday church attendance. You are not saved, loved and accepted by any religious activity or service. Preach, teach, cook or reach all you want, but why are you doing it? Do you do it to be saved, loved and or accepted; or do you do it because you are saved, loved and accepted?

One position is slavery to legalism and the other position is freedom in Christ.

Christ died for me, laid down his life for me. Yes, I will serve, honor and live for You? Sure, I will do whatever you say since your love for me is this way. Of course I will serve you and do whatever you call me to do; of course I will serve my spouse, my church, my neighbors… and give my life back to you, because I don’t have to fear you anymore, and I don’t have to do anything to receive your love. Your love is already here and now. Your Perfect love drives out all fear (1 John 4:18).

Christian: Why are you going back to bondage? Why are you going back to the tomb? Why are you going back to the cage, to the chains, to the fear, to the lies, to works righteousness, to your perfection, and or ability to take away your own sins by yourself? You are in bondage again, and you put yourself there!

Stand Firm! Stand Fast in God’s Grace! Shake off the chains. Come out of the tomb and walk among the living, as Free Christians, and use your freedom to love God, serve God, and serve others.

Will we say: I chose freedom today. I chose to use my freedom to serve Jesus and others today. I will stand fast in the freedom that was purchased by the shed blood of Jesus and I will live in His grace and love and use my liberty to express my great love and honor to His Name.

Are you free today? Do you need some freedom? Come to your freedom, in Christ.

Amen.