What it means to be free: Free to believe rather than earn

What it means to be free…

Recap sermon series

Payback is no way back

Imagine this—you take a friend out for a meal, tell them it’s your shout, and cover the bill. But instead of enjoying the gift, they insist on paying you back. They dig around in their wallet, pulling out every last coin, determined to contribute. They just can’t accept a free meal.

Or think about a child who keeps trying to “earn” a place in their family—always on edge, working hard to make sure they belong, up early, making breakfast, cleaning shoes, asking if they are loved enough to belong, doing homework, doing housework, devastated when they do wrong, packing bags each time, as if their parents will only keep them if they’re good enough. Exhausted, exhausting and even infuriating.

It’s uncomfortable to watch, isn’t it? Because we know that some things can’t be earned—they can only be received. That earning that which is offered insults the giver and devalues the gift.

Read the passage

Galatians 3:1–14

The issue Paul is dealing with in Galatians 3:1-14. The Galatian believers, who had begun their journey by faith, were now trying to prove themselves by works. At the behest of false believers, falst teachers they were falling into a trap of performance-based Christianity, believing that their standing with God depended on how well they followed the law. They were being enticed by the argument that to be closer to God they needed to observe Old Testament Law - the real faith of Jesus.

Last week’s passage laid it out - “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

Now, because of the important issues at stake…

Paul doesn’t hold back—“You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?” (v.1). Strong words! But they show how serious this is. If we start believing that our faith depends on our effort, we don’t just weaken the gospel—we replace it with something that can never save. If we add to jesus, or take anything away - we no longer have the gospel and so Paul is furious, frustrated and fearful that they would lose on on the fullness of Jesus - because they are forgetful in the wrong areas, foolish in their so called wisdom and bound up by it all.

So today, let’s walk through three key sections of this passage and allow Paul’s words to challenge us.

Fools forget faith.

Forget effort, choose faith.

For Christ frees us.

1. Fools Forget Faith (Galatians 3:1-5)

An essential rebuke

Paul begins with frustration: “Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish?” (vv.2-3).

He’s essentially asking, “What happened? You started so well—how did you end up here?”

They started out well – Paul reminds them they received the Spirit by faith, not by works (v.2).

They are now slipping away – He challenges them: "Are you so foolish? After beginning by the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?" (v.3).

They had seen the Spirit’s power—God had worked miracles among them because they believed, not because they earned it (v.5). It a sobering warning to us - the Spirit’s action does not preserve us from foolishness, miracles are not always authentication of genuine spiritual maturity or trustworthy ministry. Past experience does not guarantee present authenticity.

They are mesmerised, stupefied and captivated by the wrong vision - bewitched/zombified by the appeal to their flesh. It is so attractive and so ensnaring. Many today see the appeal and follow it.

The Message of Galatians The Folly of the Galatians (3:1–9)

The gospel is not good advice to men, but good news about Christ; not an invitation to us to do anything, but a declaration of what God has done; not a demand, but an offer.

Are We Trying to Earn What’s Already Ours?

Paul’s rebuke forces us to ask:

Have we slipped back into performance-based Christianity? Are we attracted to the ideas that we can add to Jesus if ONLY we DO 'this’ if only we have 'that’ experience? That something has been lost that we can regain?

Do we ever feel like our worth before God depends on how well we serve, pray, or behave?

Have we forgotten that our journey began with grace and must continue in grace?

Paul’s point is clear: **You don’t grow in Christ by effort—you grow the same way you began: by faith. There is NO advanced course in Christian faith - you don’t get more by going backwards.

2. Forget Effort, Choose Faith (Galatians 3:6-9)

Abraham is justified by Faith, Not Law.

To prove his point, Paul turns to Abraham—the ultimate example of faith. Paul REALLY goes back - "ok let’s go back and really look at Abraham" "OK let’s dig deep into being Jewish to prove the point"

“Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” (v.6)

Faith, not law, made him righteous—long before the law even existed.

The true children of Abraham are those who have faith (v.7), not those who follow the law.

Paul’s argument dismantles the idea that righteousness comes through effort. It has always been about faith—from the very beginning.

What Defines Us— Effort or Faith?

The Message of Galatians 1. The Argument from Their Own Experience (Verses 2–5)

This is the difference between them: the law says ‘Do this’; the gospel says ‘Christ has done it all’. The law requires works of human achievement; the gospel requires faith in Christ’s achievement. The law makes demands and bids us obey; the gospel brings promises and bids us believe. So the law and the gospel are contrary to one another

Many of us struggle to accept grace—it’s counterintuitive. It feels like foolishness and permissiveness but it is the ONLY way to come to God - not effort, not experience, not anything but trust in Jesus.

We measure ourselves by spiritual effort: "Am I good enough?" "Am I doing enough?" God’s measurement outweighs all other scales - there is only one who measures up: Jesus Himself.

But righteousness is not about doing—it’s about trusting. It’s about Trusting that Jesus is righteous and faithful enough. Counted as righteous by turst in Jesus - not forensically righteous (under a microscope) but counted/adjudicated righteous.

Paul is saying: Forget effort. Choose faith. God has already done what needs to be done—simply believe and in believing be given life.

3. For Christ Frees Us (Galatians 3:10-14)

An Unfair but Just Exchange:

Christ Bore the Curse, We Bear the Blessing

Paul now turns to the weight of the law and how Christ sets us free from it.

The law is a curse for those who rely on it—because no one can keep it perfectly (v.10). But the Law itself is GOOD - God’s good law, the curse is trying to carry the burden of doing what only God can do. 

But Christ took our curse upon Himself—"Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree." (v.13) As we trust in Him to have paid the price we 'live by faith' - and are alive in that faith. 

Because of this, the blessing of Abraham is now available to everyone through faith (v.14). Through Christ - there is no other way - there is life and blessing. The Law becomes a crushing burden, Christ is the redeeming shelter.

The contrast is staggering:

The law condemns—Jesus redeems.

The law demands—Jesus fulfills.

The law enslaves—Jesus sets free.

Are We Living Free?

Do we still feel weighed down by guilt and self-doubt?

Do we act as if we need to work our way back to God when we fail?

The truth is: Christ has already taken our curse. We are free to live by faith.

Live in the Freedom of Grace

Paul’s message is urgent:

Fools forget faith – don’t be a fool.

Forget effort, choose faith – Righteousness has always been by belief, not works.

For Christ frees us – He took the curse so we could live in blessing.

Response:

Where have I been trying to earn what God has already given?

What does it mean for me to choose faith today?

How can I walk in the freedom of grace rather than striving?

Invitation to Respond

Some need to let go of performance-based faith today. FORGET EFFORT.

Some need to receive the Spirit’s freedom afresh. CHOOSE FAITH.

Some need to simply rest in the truth that Christ has already done the work. TRUST CHRIST.

Final Thought:

Faith, not works.

Grace, not effort.

Freedom, not striving.

Christ, not Law.

This is the gospel. live in it.