A Letter of Freedom

Introduction

Well if you have your Bibles, you can take them and open them to Galatians chapter 1. This morning, we begin working through the next book that we will spend quite some time in, and a book that I am, quite honestly, in no rush to to get through. When I was in youth group back at Springdale Baptist Church, I remember getting the devastating news that the Youth Pastor at the time, Bro. Robbie Rowland, who had consistently picked us up on the church van, took us on outreaches/mission trips, and played a large role in my life was leaving Springdale to take another Youth Ministry position. It wasn’t too long after that, Springdale hired the new youth minister Bro. Cody Matlock whom some of you have probably heard me talk about, because not only was he my youth minister during some of the most formative years of my life, but prior to coming to Immanuel, I had the opputunity to serve under him as the Youth Minister of Fellowship Baptist Church, where he is the Pastor. Now I didn’t know the guy, but I knew things would be different. When he got there, he did something I don’t remember us ever doing, and that was working straight through a book of the Bible. The book he chose was the book of Galatians. I don’t remember how long it took us to get through it, but I remember it taking quite some time, and every week I looked forward to it, because I knew that it was going to be another lesson on the liberating work of Christ in the life of the believer, and that is why I chose to title the introduction to this book as “A Letter of Freedom”.

Body

(1) Freed from a False Gospel (1:1-2:13)

a. Defending Apostleship

b. Defending the Gospel

Application:

Trusting what has been preserved for us, not having to question the legitimacy of the Bible’s authorship

Trusting the Gospel as it has been presented to us in the scriptures, and not having to worry about distorted gospels presented today.

(2) Freed from the Law (2:14-4:31)

a. Justified by Faith

b. The Purpose of the Law

c. The Promise of an Inheritance

Application:

Salvation and Sanctification is the work of God through the Spirit to free us from slavery to sin.

(3) Freed from the Flesh (5)

a. The Desires of the Flesh

b. The Fruit of the Spirit

Application:

Notice that the fruit of the Spirit does not entail a list of commands/do’s and don’ts, but rather it deals with character. Brothers and sisters, if you want to know what the will of God is, take note that it has to do with character and conduct. I think we often times get caught up in praying about jobs, relationships, cars, and other material things, when we ought to be praying for love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

(4) Freed to Love One Another (5-6)

a. Serve One Another in Love

b. Restore One Another

c. Carry One Another’s Burdens

Application:

I think we often times get so caught up in what the church and Christianity can do for us, when we should be more concerned with how we are contributing to the life of the church. Do you think of the church as a place to practice humble service for the sake of others, or do you only view the church as a place for you to get your spiritual fix?

Conclusion