From Bondage to Belonging: Justified and Free in Christ

Sermon Title: From Bondage to Belonging: Justified and Free in Christ

Text: Galatians 3:10–14; 3:23–29; 4:4–7; 5:1–6 Theme: True freedom flows from being justified by faith and adopted as heirs, leading us to walk by the Spirit, not by law or flesh.

Introduction (5 minutes)

The Apostle Paul wrote Galatians around A.D. 47–49 to defend the gospel of grace and affirm that justification comes by faith in Christ, not by following the Law. Addressing the churches in Galatia, Paul refutes legalism, asserting that righteousness through works distorts the gospel. He begins by defending his divine calling and recounts personal encounters to validate the gospel’s independence from ethnic or legal traditions. Using Abraham, he emphasizes faith over works and explains the Law’s temporary role. Paul then urges believers to live by the Spirit, not the flesh, highlighting unity, love, and spiritual growth as marks of Christian maturity.

Introduce the tension: law versus faith, bondage versus freedom.

Pose the main question: Are we living as redeemed children or as spiritual orphans still trying to earn God’s favor?

I. The Curse of the Law and the Cost of Redemption (Gal. 3:10–14) – 10 minutes

Galatians 3:10–14 “10 For all who rely on doing the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not keep on doing everything written in the book of the law.”11 Now it is clear no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous one will live by faith.12 But the law is not based on faith, but the one who does the works of the law will live by them.13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us (because it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”)14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we could receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.”

Explain the weight of being “under the law” (v.10)—no one is justified by law-keeping.

Exposit v.13: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.”

In Galatians 3:13, Paul quotes Deuteronomy 21:23 to explain the depth of Christ’s redemptive work: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” In its original context, the writer of Deuteronomy refers to someone executed for a capital offense—being hung on a tree was a public sign of divine curse and disgrace. The body had to be taken down by sunset to avoid defiling the land

(Deuteronomy 21:22–23 “22 If a person commits a sin punishable by death and is executed, and you hang the corpse on a tree, 23 his body must not remain all night on the tree; instead you must make certain you bury him that same day, for the one who is left exposed on a tree is cursed by God. You must not defile your land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance.”).

Paul applies this to Christ’s crucifixion: though sinless, Jesus bore the curse of the law on our behalf. By being “hung on a tree,” He took on the full weight of covenantal curse so we could receive the blessing of Abraham and the promised Spirit through faith. It’s a powerful reversal—Christ became cursed so we could be counted righteous.

The cost of Redemption is the Death of Christ the sinless-spotless lamb.

Highlight the substitutionary atonement and the gift of the Spirit received by faith.

Application: Stop striving. Trust Christ’s finished work—He bore the curse so you could walk free.

II. From Guardianship to Sonship (Gal. 3:23–29; 4:4–7) – 12 minutes

Galatians 3:23–29 “23 Now before faith came we were held in custody under the law, being kept as prisoners until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 Thus the law had become our guardian until Christ, so that we could be declared righteous by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian (The Law).26 For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith.27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female—for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to the promise.”

Galatians 4:4–7 “4 But when the appropriate time had come, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we may be adopted as sons with full rights.6 And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, who calls “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if you are a son, then you are also an heir through God.”

Exposit the metaphor of the law as a guardian (3:24)—pointing us toward Christ.

Imagine a child who is learning to ride a bike. The training wheels are like the law—guarding them from falls while they develop their skills. However, there comes a time when the wheels must come off. The law teaches us how to balance, but it’s Christ who gives us the freedom to ride on our own. Just as those training wheels point the child toward mastering the bike, the law points us toward embracing Christ's grace.

Unpack the radical shift: In Christ, we’re no longer slaves but sons and daughters (4:5–7).

Paul’s words in Galatians 4:5–7 describe a breathtaking transformation: from slaves under the law to adopted sons and daughters of God. Under the law, we were like minors—bound, restricted, and spiritually powerless. But “when the fullness of time had come,” God sent His Son to redeem us, not just to free us from bondage, but to bring us into His family.

This isn’t mere legal pardon—it’s relational adoption. We’re not just forgiven; we’re embraced. The Spirit now cries out within us, “Abba, Father,” a term of deep intimacy. And as children, we’re also heirs—recipients of God’s promises, not by merit, but by grace.

Highlight the language of “adoption,” “Abba! Father,” and the intimacy of our new status.

Emphasize identity over performance—Christians live from approval, not for it.

Application: Embrace your spiritual adoption. Freedom begins with knowing whose you are.

III. Standing Firm in Grace (Gal. 5:1–6) – 10 minutes

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free”—dig into the imperative to stand firm (5:1).

Galatians 5:1–6 “1 For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery. 2 Listen! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you at all! 3 And I testify again to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be declared righteous by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace! 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we wait expectantly for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision carries any weight—the only thing that matters is faith working through love.”

Clarify the danger of returning to law and circumcision as requirements for righteousness (v.2–4).

How do we turn back to the law today?

Show how faith expresses itself through love, not legal observance (v.6).

Freedom is not license—Freedom is Spirit-empowered transformation.

Application: Guard your freedom. Don’t drift into legalism or self-justification.

Conclusion: Walking in the Spirit (8 minutes)

Tie the message together: from bondage (law) to belonging (adoption) to becoming (Spirit-led).

Cast a vision of gospel-rooted living: free, yet dependent; bold, yet humble.

Invite reflection: Are you walking in the liberty of grace or still haunted by guilt and performance?

Closing Scripture: Galatians 5:25 – “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”