Freedom from Religious Strongholds

This is the weekend that we celebrate being free as Americans. The liberties that we are able to enjoy are wonderful and worthy of celebration. We can live how we want to live, do what we want to do, say what we want to say, pursue the dreams that we want to… WE are so blessed to be able to enjoy our freedom.

We aught to be quick to come against anything that would want to take away our freedoms… life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

The more we become indifferent to other people taking away those freedoms the quicker they will be taken away from us.

I am all about freedom but if somebody is using their freedoms to hurt other people or causing people to live in fear, they are abusing their freedoms and some of their freedoms need to be taken away until they learn to respect freedom.

Illus: Raising children. As a parent you want to give your kids freedom but at the same time help them learn to appreciate those freedoms.

Freedom is a privilege and a blessing and cost too much for people to trample on it.

We must choose to restrain our freedoms as we choose to respect and love others. Love always trumps our freedom.

In Paul’s letter to the Galatians he was having to deal with the false teachers who were trying to add regulations to these new Gentile believers. They were using guilt and control to influence these new followers of Jesus. They were teaching that salvation in Jesus is not enough.

Theses new followers of Jesus were being taught that they also must obey the requirements of the law and needed to be circumcised.

Paul sternly and harshly rebuked these Jewish false teachers. Paul clearly recognizing that putting our faith in Jesus is the only thing that brings salvation.

Jesus came to set us free from religious strongholds.

In Galatians 5:1-15, the Apostle Paul emphasizes the importance of spiritual freedom through Christ and warns against the dangers of returning to a life of legalism and religious obligation.

The reality is that many Christians today may still feel trapped by rules and regulations rather than living in the grace and freedom that only Christ can offer. As we seek to understand this passage in context we can be encouraged to embrace our true identity in Christ and reject any religious strongholds that hinder our spiritual growth.

Galatians 5:1–15 NLT

1 So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law. 2 Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: If you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 I’ll say it again. If you are trying to find favor with God by being circumcised, you must obey every regulation in the whole law of Moses. 4 For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace. 5 But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us. 6 For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love. 7 You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? 8 It certainly isn’t God, for he is the one who called you to freedom. 9 This false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough! 10 I am trusting the Lord to keep you from believing false teachings. God will judge that person, whoever he is, who has been confusing you. 13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. 14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.

PRAY

True freedom is only found in our relationship with Jesus rather than adhering to the law. Paul is teaching that relying on the law can lead to bondage, while putting our faith in Christ leads to liberation and love.

Christ is seen as the ultimate fulfillment of the law. Jesus provides the freedom from sin's penalty and the ability to live a life of love, which is the true essence of the law—not the mere observance of its rules.

We are called to live in the freedom that Christ offers, abandoning the false security of legalism, and thriving in God’s love and grace.

1. Proclaiming Our Freedom

Our freedom in Christ is so much better then our freedom as Americans.

No matter what country we live in, what government we are under…

No matter what leader we are to submitting we can still live in the freedom Jesus wants to give us.

Jesus came to set us free from sin, from strongholds, guilt, addiction, legalism, and HE wants us to live in HIS freedom. Whether we live in a free country of not.

The world sees freedom as do what you want to do, live how you want to live, and find joy in whatever I want to.

However if we don’t have any love for God, love for others, purpose for life, and a conviction for truth then our freedoms will lead us to sin without any restraint.

Religion and legalism won’t set us free but only Christ who died came to set us free.

Not free to do whatever we want because that would lead us back into slavery to our selfish desires.

Rather, through Christ, we are now free and able to do what was impossible before—to live unselfishly.

Those who appeal to their freedom so that they can have their own way or indulge their own desires are falling back into sin. But it is also wrong to put a burden of law keeping on Christians. We must graciously but firmly resist those who would enslave us with rules, methods, or special conditions for being saved or growing in Christ. Don’t let anyone enslave you.

Galatians 5:1 NLT

1 So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.

WE must stand firm in the freedom Christ has granted us. This freedom is not just deliverance from sin but also from the burdensome yoke of religious legalism.

Christ’s sacrifice liberates us from needing to earn God’s favor through works. We must find our joy in this unearned freedom that only Jesus came to give us.

Christ has truly set us free so proclaim our freedom in Christ.

2. Prioritizing Faith over Law

Results are important and we look at numbers to help measure results.

When it comes to church growth, we count people… how many got baptized, received salvation, how many people are connected to a small group, how many people are involved in cooperate prayer. These results help us measure weather churches are growing or declining.

When it come to financial growth we count the offering so we know how much we have. We set up a budget to make sure our money is allocated to fulfill God’s purpose in the most effective way possible here at New Life. When it comes to people and where they spend their money can indicate where their heart is.

I totally believe that results are important. Saying that you are going to do something and actually doing it are very different.

At the same time, guilt is a poor motivator for results.

Giving because you are feeling guilty is a bad reason to give.

Guilt is also a poor reason to attend church and will not sustain a long lasting religious experience.

We cannot control other people. It’s the Holy Spirit that convicts us of sin and we must recognize that God’s grace is so much bigger then us.

Galatians 5:2–4 NLT

2 Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: If you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 I’ll say it again. If you are trying to find favor with God by being circumcised, you must obey every regulation in the whole law of Moses. 4 For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace.

Paul gave a serious warning, and he didn’t want any of his hearers to miss it. Paul said if the Galatian believers were to follow these false teachers and let themselves be circumcised, Christ could do them no good.

Obviously, only men could be circumcised, but more than circumcision was at stake.

Paul was confronting the Galatians because they were trying to fulfill the Jewish law. Circumcision had become a big issue for these Jewish false teachers.

Paul had nothing against circumcision… he had been circumcised… he had Timothy get circumcised (Acts 16:1–3). But it wasn’t so Timothy could be saved, or to make him “fully Jewish” before he could become “fully Christian.”

But that’s what theses people were teaching. They taught that the gospel needed the Jewish law system to make it perfect. Their goal was to mix Judaism and Christianity to produce a self-serving “improvement.”

But God’s way was different—salvation through Christ by grace alone. We can’t mix and match works and grace. God has an exclusive arrangement. The Galatians were about to be circumcised as a requirement to “complete” their salvation. But Paul explained that by that very act they would be making Christ’s sacrifice by his death of no benefit.

Salvation is a free gift cannot be earned. Following the law would mean that they were discarding Christ’s death on the cross. They were not only rejecting Christ’s provision for their salvation, but destroying any basis for Christ’s guidance in their life as well.

Martin Luther pointed out two ways that people devalue the cross of Christ and make his atonement of no benefit:

trusting in their own works, merit, inherent goodness, or religion; and

doubting Christ’s power to deal with their sin.

Satan will use memories of our past sins and accuses us. He points out our shortcomings until our conscience condemns us.

Our response must be a Christ-centered faith. Our trust must be in Christ’s faithfulness and perfect life, not in our ability to live up to the law’s expectations.

Giving into Satan’s accusations leads to legalism, pride in a “correct” religion, self-made religion, and frantic efforts to gain God’s favor.

Jesus invites us to live in HIS freedom. His words encourage us when our conscience condemns us:

Matthew 11:28 LBP

28 Come to me and I will give you rest—all of you who work so hard beneath a heavy yoke.

Matthew 9:13 LBP

13 For I have come to urge sinners, not the self-righteous, back to God.”

John 16:33 LBP

33 I have told you all this so that you will have peace of heart and mind. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows; but cheer up, for I have overcome the world.”

Christ has set us free from legalistic formulas, from God’s judgment upon sin, from all man-made rules, and from the subjective experiences of fear and guilt.

We are to live it out, practice it, and rejoice in it! To turn back to the law and try to earn what Christ has already given mocks HIS sacrifice.

Galatians 5:5–6 NLT

5 But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us. 6 For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love.

Faith working through love must be the true expression of our freedom. Our walk with God should prioritize love over legalistic rituals, reinforcing that faith, and not ritual observances. Love draws us nearer to God when we prioritize faith over law.

3. Protecting the Gospel Truth

Galatians 5:7–10 NLT

7 You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? 8 It certainly isn’t God, for he is the one who called you to freedom. 9 This false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough! 10 I am trusting the Lord to keep you from believing false teachings. God will judge that person, whoever he is, who has been confusing you.

Paul warns the Galatians against those corrupting their understanding of the gospel with legalistic teachings.

Paul said, You were running a good race so don’t let these people take you off course. Paul often described living for Jesus through the metaphor of us running a race.

Philippians 3:13–14 NLT

13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

2 Timothy 4:7 NLT

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.

Running a race takes focus… determination… drive. We are called to finish the race, to press on, to forget the past and move forward.

When we take our eyes off of Jesus… when we look to legalism or religion to bring us life and freedom we are living a different gospel and we are pursuing an unnecessary Jesus.

Acts of legalism are like a small amount of yeast spreading through the dough. As believers we must remain vigilant against false teachings. The Good News, Christ’s message is pure and needs no other additions.

4. Pursuing Love over License

Galatians 5:13–15 NLT

13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. 14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.

Our freedom in Christ is never an opportunity to indulge the flesh. Instead, our freedom in Christ should be exercised in love.

You shall love your neighbor as yourself is what sums up the whole law.

How we treat others is the evidence.

Do we treat others with respect no matter where they stand?

Can we serve them whether we speak their language… whether they embrace a different lifestyle… whether they vote for things that we stand against.

Can we love those people simply because they are created in God’s image… loved by God… Jesus came to seek and save those who are lost.

We live in God’s freedom by lovingly serving one another, fulfilling the law through genuine love rather than mere duty.

We are called to love and love is the culmination of our liberty in Christ. It’s not about empty legalistic rituals.

Jesus came to set us free from control… from pride… from judging.

Jesus came to set us free so that we can love like Jesus loved…

Jesus went to the cultural outcast, the known sinner, and those with questionable occupations.

Jesus came to set us free so that we can live in HIS freedom and reflect HIS love. We can only live in that freedom as we know the love of Jesus and abide in the love of Jesus.

Take Away:

How are you using your freedom?

Are we relying on other things instead of Jesus to set us free?

Are we using legalism and religion to try to control others rather then trusting and living in God’s love and grace?