Living Hope Sermon

Greetings

I’m the Youth Pastor at KGF, and I’m here with my wife, Annie, who is a teacher at CC+. I am the brother of Ashley and Josh. Back in 2020, I was blessed by the ministry of Living Hope when the Whealy family hosted it as a Bible study in their home.

Church, I want to thank you for your ongoing prayers for Ashley, Josh, and their little ones, Violet and William.

Introduction

Listen to these words from Galatians 5:1:

Galatians 5:1 (ESV) For freedom, Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Today’s sermon is titled:

"The Fullness of Christian Freedom"

Alternatively, it could also be called:

"Lies & Legalism—Threats to Christian Liberty"

My hope for our time together is twofold:

To remind you of the full extent of God’s liberation in your life—especially for those times when your old nature tries to take control or when legalistic tendencies creep in. Remember, God doesn’t work in half-measures. He doesn’t offer partial liberation, but complete victory!

To warn you about what seeks to rob you of your freedom in Christ—the things that steal your joy in serving your brothers and sisters. The things that make you forget the abundant spiritual resources God has placed within you by His Spirit, enabling you to conquer sin, discouragement, and fear.

Two False Freedoms:

Worldly Freedom – The belief that freedom means having the power to do whatever I want, whenever I want, however I want. This false freedom is dangerous because it actually enslaves people to their desires, turning freedom into a tool for subjugating others.

Transactional Freedom or Law-Bound Legalism – The false freedom Paul addresses in Galatians is the idea that if you earn your freedom, you will become free. This notion is deceptive because it masquerades as obedience to God, but in reality, it replaces the grace and work of Christ with a prideful, self-reliant attempt to reconcile oneself to God.

True freedom, however, is found in the work and promises of Christ, as we’ll explore later!

Now, let’s unpack the first threat—Worldly Freedom—by looking at the story of Exodus.

Exodus highlights central aspects of God’s character: He is a God who brings freedom, and He is a God who establishes and keeps His promises.

The book of Exodus can be split into two parts:

Getting the Israelites out of EgyptGetting Egypt out of the Israelites

Egypt represents the world and the flesh—the ways and patterns that claim strongholds in our lives. Even after leaving Egypt, the Israelites’ hearts still long for things from their land of exile. Yet God offers them a far greater promise.

In the early chapters of Exodus, the overarching theme is God’s unfolding plan of deliverance. Israel's oppression in Egypt symbolizes the weight of sin and bondage, but God hears their cries and sets into motion a plan for their freedom. Through Moses, God reveals His intention not only to rescue the Israelites from slavery but to bring them into the Promised Land—a place of true freedom where they can serve Him. Liberation is not just about escaping Egypt but about entering into a covenant relationship with God, where the people find their true identity and purpose as His chosen nation.

However, Pharaoh stubbornly rejects God’s command to let the people go, again and again. This highlights the contrast between human power and divine authority. Pharaoh’s stubbornness represents worldly resistance to God’s will, but God demonstrates His sovereignty through the plagues, showing that deliverance comes not by human strength, but by His power alone.

After Egypt is decimated by plagues, Pharaoh attempts to bargain with Moses.

Let’s now look at the first snare of Worldly Freedom.

English Standard Version (Chapter 8)

25 Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God within the land.” 26 But Moses said, “It would not be right to do so, for the offerings we shall sacrifice to the LORD our God are an abomination to the Egyptians. If we sacrifice offerings abominable to the Egyptians before their eyes, will they not stone us? 27 We must go three days’ journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the LORD our God as he tells us.” 28 So Pharaoh said, “I will let you go to sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness; only you must not go very far away.

Snare 1: Freedom flourishes in the World

Pharaoh suggests a compromise: he permits Israel a trip to worship their God but insists they stay within Egypt. Pharaoh realizes he cannot win in open conflict with Yahweh, the one who has brought the plagues, so he attempts a subtle concession. However, Moses sees through this deception.

i. “Moses reveals the true attitude of a man of faith. Evil always suggests compromise, but to listen is to remain enslaved. The only path to liberty is to leave the land of evil.”

God’s Word was clear and could not be compromised. When worldly freedom can no longer prevent a sinner from coming to Christ through open opposition, it tries to keep them worshiping in the land of bondage. "Okay, you can have your worship, but I will ensure it’s centered on self, not the Son." "Emotion will drive your worship, not repentance." "God may have your Sundays, but the world will claim your Monday to Saturday."

But God calls sinners to a greater liberation—a three-day journey into the wilderness. Why three days? This symbolizes the journey of Jesus from the cross to the grave, but on the third day, the resurrection came!

Let me ask you: Have you taken this three-day journey out of Egypt? Are you separate from the world? Have you experienced the resurrection power of Jesus in your life? The call of God is clear:

"Therefore, come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” (2 Corinthians 6:17) Notice Snare 2 of Worldly Freedom: Keep close enough to the world to be drawn back.

Pharaoh said, “I will let you go sacrifice to your Lord, but you must not go very far.”

Worldly freedom says, “Stay close enough so that I can draw you back in without much trouble.” We can call this Borderland Christianity. It seeks the comfort of Christ while also desiring the praise and acceptance of the world. It wants to be connected to Christ but not conformed to Him!

Think of Abraham’s nephew, Lot. Lot set up camp with his family right next to the immoral city of Sodom. He rationalized that the ground was more fertile and his family could thrive—even though they would be mingling with a clearly defined settlement of evil.

Christians, we should not pitch our tents right up to the border of wickedness. Don’t get too close to that line. We are called to be in the world but separate from it, even to be a peculiar people, as 1 Peter 2:9 tells us.

When dealing with temptation and sin, Paul and Timothy both tell us: do not linger—flee! Run in the opposite direction!

Pharaoh declared, “I will let you go, that you may sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness.” This was a clear promise, but one Pharaoh didn’t live up to.

Many people turn to God in times of calamity, and when things improve, they quickly harden their hearts again. My grandfather was in the war, and on a dire day, he prayed to God: if God spared his life and brought him home, he would follow Him. God answered his prayer, and my grandfather lived almost to 100, with a Christian son pleading at his bedside. Yet my grandpa never returned to the Lord.

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Let the cross and the grave of Christ be the measure of your separation from the world.

Let’s look at Snare 3

English Standard Version (Exodus 10:8-11) 8 So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh. And he said to them, "Go, serve the LORD your God. But who exactly will be going?" 9 Moses said, "We will go with our young and our old. We will go with our sons and daughters and with our flocks and herds, for we must hold a feast to the LORD." 10 But he said to them, "The LORD be with you, if ever I let you and your little ones go! Clearly, you have some evil purpose in mind." 11 "No! Only the men among you may go and serve the LORD, for that is what you are asking." And they were driven out from Pharaoh's presence.

God’s hand had been heavy upon Pharaoh, and now he was willing to let the Israelites take the three-day journey—but only if the children stayed behind.

Snare 3: Worldly freedom targets the next generation.

As a youth pastor, I see this often. Our youth are the most vulnerable to the tricks and tactics of this world. They become consumed with brands, status, celebrities, entertainment, and the pressure to conform to the world’s mold.

Many parents allow their kids and teens unrestricted, 24/7 access to the internet. Sports, clubs, and tournaments are often scheduled on Sundays, taking priority over worship. Some youth groups focus more on entertaining than equipping, thinking they can draw young people in with worldly methods and then win them over for Christ. Churches sometimes open services with secular songs to appeal to the youth.

Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go," but do our activities and priorities reflect spiritual training? Are we truly investing in the next generation’s spiritual growth, or have we left them behind in Egypt?

Consider the story of the prophet Eli in 1 Samuel. Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were corrupt priests who abused their authority for personal gain. They took the best portions of sacrifices before offering them to God and committed immoral acts with women at the tabernacle. Although Eli gave them verbal warnings, he failed to act beyond that, allowing their wickedness to continue, causing people to despise the sacred offerings. God sent a warning through a man of God, declaring that both of Eli’s sons would die on the same day if Eli didn’t take action. Even then, Eli did nothing, letting them persist in their corruption.

This warning applies not only to parents but also to the church. We share a responsibility to care for our Christian family and the next generation. We cannot leave behind those entrusted to us—our spiritual family and the needy among us.

The "borderland Christian" fulfills Pharaoh’s decree: "Go and worship, but leave your families behind." Moses firmly said NO. And our answer should be the same—NO—we will not abandon our responsibilities to our earthly family or our spiritual family.

Let’s look at the final snare of worldly freedom.

Exodus 10:24-27: "Finally, Pharaoh called for Moses. 'Go and worship the Lord,' he said. 'But leave your flocks and herds here. You may even take your little ones with you.' Moses said, 'No, you must provide us with animals for sacrifices and burnt offerings to the Lord our God. All our livestock must go with us, too; not a hoof can be left behind. We must choose our sacrifices for the Lord our God from among these animals. And we won’t know how we are to worship the Lord until we get there.' But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart once more, and he would not let them go."

Snare 4: Worldly freedom stakes its claim on your possessions. Now, given the stakes of the situation, you would think this might be the moment where you take the money and run. On the surface, this feels like a good deal, right? You can go, your kids can go. Think about it—if your people have been enslaved for hundreds of years and you're now being told that all of you can go, you just have to leave your sheep behind, you would take it, wouldn't you?

Here’s the problem: God didn't come to negotiate; He came to liberate. Pharaoh thinks that he can strike a bargain, not realizing that this isn't a business deal—this is a takeover. God didn't come to partially liberate or to negotiate a partial Exodus; He came to bring a complete Exodus. Just as Jesus didn't come to offer you partial freedom; He came to offer you complete freedom in Him!

So why do the sheep matter? Because there are two ways that the Exodus could be incomplete. The first is that they keep one foot in Egypt or a hoof to allow the enemy to hold something back for himself. Think about the deal that Pharaoh offers them: "You can worship, but don't go too far. You can worship, but don't involve your kids. You can worship, but don't involve your possessions."

This is a sly trick used by the enemy to keep a foothold in one's life. Keeping one foot in Egypt keeps them from the Promised Land. For us as Christians, keeping one foot in the world keeps you from heaven. To accept the concessions of the enemy is to accept continued slavery!

Have you still got one foot in the world? Is there something in your life that you have allowed the enemy to have? An area in your life, a certain sin, a possession that should be given to God?

This is often the reason why we fail to walk in the freedom that Jesus has bought for us! Jesus is very clear when He calls people to follow Him: there is no room for half measures; there's no room to hold anything back. Think of the rich young ruler: "Sell your possessions, then follow me." You cannot serve two masters!

The Exodus would be incomplete if they kept one foot in Egypt!

Church, may we never lower the claims of God. Yield nothing to Satan. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Be like Moses, who would not compromise the call of God. Be like Daniel, who would rather enter the lion's den than disobey God. Be like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who went into the fiery furnace rather than worship an image of man. They lost nothing in their faithfulness to God.

1 Samuel 2:30: "But now the Lord declares: 'For those who honor me, I will honor.'"

The Exodus would be incomplete if they left without the cattle. They had to think not just of what they were being saved from, but what they were being saved to. When we think of the Exodus, we often see it as God freeing Israel from servitude to Pharaoh, but there’s more to it. They are also being freed to serve the Lord.

Moses said, "You must also let us have sacrifices and burnt offerings that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God. Our livestock also must go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind, for we must take of them and serve the Lord our God."

You see, livestock in the ancient world wasn’t just a source of food; it was a means of worship. (And that’s true today—everything we have is a means of worship.) The Exodus isn't simply a freedom from the service of Pharaoh; it’s also—and maybe more so—a freedom to serve God.

This can be tough for us! Worldly freedom says, "Go do whatever I please." The phrase "freedom to serve" sounds oxymoronic. But that kind of freedom, exercised in sinful man, only leads to enslavement. That type of freedom—the power to do what you want—that's what Pharaoh was acting under. It enslaved Pharaoh to such a degree that even after his own country was destroyed, even after he himself was covered in boils and darkness, he did not have the freedom to bend the knee to God! More so than that, this type of worldly freedom not only enslaves us to our own desires, but it often subjugates others. Pharaoh had the ultimate pinnacle of worldly freedom; he could do what he wanted, however, whenever, and what did he do with that freedom? He controlled others, he enslaved others, he subjugated others.

Freedom is not simply the power to do what you want. The Bible portrays freedom as the power to do what you ought to do—freedom as the power to live as you were made to live! So for total freedom to occur—for a complete Exodus to happen—not only did they need to be free from slavery; they needed to be free to worship, and that included bringing the sheep!

In Galatians 5, Paul says, "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." Don't put your feet back in Egypt; you have been freed from that! But then later, in verse 13, he says, "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." So not only should you not go back to the bondage of sin, but you should use your freedom as an opportunity for loving and serving others—that's freedom!

We are most free when all that we have is given in worship to God! We are most free when we serve this God of love.

So to summarize, avoid the false freedom of worldly freedom:

1. False freedom flourishes under the world’s control. 2. Keep close enough to the world to be drawn back. 3. Worldly freedom targets the next generation. 4. Worldly freedom stakes its claim on your possessions.

Now, let’s quickly look at the other side of the coin: Transactional Freedom, or Law-Bound Legalism. We can all turn to Galatians 5:

5 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. 2 Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. 3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. 4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.

Paul expresses deep frustration here because the Galatians were exchanging their relationship with God—founded on faith in Jesus and His grace—for a relationship based on keeping the law. This was influenced by some Jewish Christians who taught that all non-Jewish Christians needed to be circumcised and follow the laws of the Torah.

The Galatians had been declared righteous not by observing the law, but through faith in Jesus. When they began embracing circumcision and other Jewish laws, they were essentially saying that faith in Jesus wasn’t enough—that they needed to earn their righteousness through works. By reverting to the law, the Galatians were moving away from the freedom that Christ had given them. Jesus had fulfilled the law’s demands on their behalf, and now, through faith, they were part of God’s family. Submitting to the law again was like returning to spiritual slavery instead of living in the freedom of grace.

Paul makes it clear that if righteousness could be achieved through the law, then Christ died for nothing (Galatians 2:21). By adding the law to their faith, the Galatians were undermining the sufficiency of Jesus’ sacrifice. This exchange was a rejection of grace—God’s free gift through Jesus—in favor of human effort and religious duty.

So, what does this Transactional Freedom look like in the Christian life? 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

Snare 1: Transactional Freedom relies on and takes confidence in human effort over the power of God’s Spirit within us. Transactional freedom convinces Christians that spiritual growth is achieved purely through their own effort—by self-discipline or willpower—rather than relying on the Holy Spirit to transform them. In Galatians 5, Paul explains that it is the Spirit, not adherence to the law, that produces the "fruit" of Christian character. Legalism causes believers to neglect the Spirit's role in growing love, joy, and peace, focusing instead on their ability to keep rules.

Think of Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 16, as mentioned in Galatians 4: God promised Abraham and Sarah a child, but when the promise didn’t come quickly, they took matters into their own hands. They thought they could bring about God’s promise through human means. Sarah urged Abraham to have a child with Hagar, her servant, resulting in the birth of Ishmael. This act of human willpower led to conflict and wasn’t part of God’s plan for the promised child, Isaac.

Legalistic believers fall into the same trap. They believe their acceptance before God is based on their ability to meet certain moral standards. This turns their relationship with God into one based on performance—praying more, reading the Bible more, or doing more good deeds in an attempt to earn God's favor or forgiveness—rather than fully trusting in Christ’s finished work on the cross. Instead, these behaviors should be motivated by love and a deep sense of Jesus' lordship in their lives. Snare 2: Transactional Freedom interprets conviction as condemnation. When a Christian inevitably falls short of their self-imposed standards, they often feel overwhelming guilt or believe that God is angry with them. Instead of experiencing the Spirit’s gentle conviction, they allow condemnation to take root, letting the enemy drive a wedge between them and God. They forget that God’s grace offers forgiveness and reconciliation.

Think of Cain (Genesis 4:5-16): After God rejected Cain’s offering and accepted Abel’s, Cain was consumed with anger. Instead of heeding God’s warning to master his sin, he allowed bitterness to take over, ultimately killing his brother. Cain chose condemnation by refusing to turn to God for forgiveness, resulting in a life of exile and separation from God.

Or think of Judas Iscariot (Matthew 27:3-5): After betraying Jesus, Judas was overwhelmed with guilt and remorse. Rather than seeking forgiveness or turning back to God in repentance, he allowed his guilt to drive him into despair. Tragically, he chose condemnation by taking his own life, missing the redemption that was available through grace.

We must not allow the wedge of condemnation to push us away from the presence of God. As Christians, we need to stand on the promises of God’s Word: Romans 8:1: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Lets look at the final snare of Transacitonal Freedom

English Standard Version (Chapter 5) 13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

Snare 3: Transactional Freedom ensnares our brothers and sisters. Transactional freedom often leads to judgmental attitudes toward others who don’t follow the same practices. Just as the Judaizers pressured Gentiles to follow the Torah, legalistic Christians today judge and exclude those who don’t conform to their particular religious traditions or preferences (e.g., modes of worship, dress codes, or even political views). This creates unnecessary division, where certain groups are considered more spiritual or “better Christians” based on how strictly they adhere to specific practices, leading to a hierarchy of faith that isn’t rooted in the kingdom of God.

Consider the example of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14): The Pharisee thanks God that he is not like other people, especially the tax collector. He boasts about his fasting and tithing, believing these practices make him righteous. His transactional approach to freedom leads to judgmental arrogance, contrasting sharply with the humble tax collector who seeks God’s mercy.

Church, we must not buy into this transactional freedom but instead use our freedom to serve one another in love!

So, to summarize, we must avoid transactional freedom: Snare 1: Transactional freedom relies on and takes confidence in the power of human will over the power of God’s Spirit within us. Snare 2: Transactional freedom interprets conviction as condemnation. Snare 3: Transactional freedom ensnares our brothers and sisters.

Now, to finish off, what is True Christian Freedom? I’m sure we could list dozens of reasons, but here are a few key points:

Freedom From: The curse of the law. “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us” (Gal. 3:13). Freedom From: Guilt and shame. “Whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame” (Rom. 10:11). Freedom From: Satan’s dominion. “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love” (Col. 1:13).

Freedom To: Relate to God as His child and heir. “Therefore, you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Gal. 4:7). Freedom To: Authentically love others. “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God” (1 John 4:7). Freedom To: Live out God’s purposes in your life. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10).

Call to Action: Encourage the congregation to reflect on their own lives. Ask them to consider which type of freedom they are pursuing and how they can embrace true freedom in Christ.

Let’s pray!