New Years Resolve

I. Reflection-Identify

You Were Running Well — The Call to Stay the Course (v. 7)

A. encouragement-you were running well

• The Christian life is a race, not a stroll (cf. 1 Cor 9:24–27; Heb 12:1–2).

• The Galatians started well but were now being hindered.

B. The Danger of Hindrance

• “Who hindered you?” — Paul points to personal influence, not abstract ideas.

• Doctrinally- from obeying the truth.

False teachers don’t just distort doctrine; they disrupt direction.

Illustration:

A runner in a marathon is on pace for a personal best, but someone steps into the lane, causing them to stumble. They lose rhythm, confidence, and momentum. Paul says: That’s what the Judaizers have done to you.

Application:

• What (or who) is hindering your obedience today?

• Identify the voices that slow your spiritual pace—legalism, comparison, distraction, or discouragement.

II. False Teaching Spreads Like Leaven (vv. 8–10)

A. The Source of Truth vs. the Source of Confusion

• “This persuasion is not from Him who calls you.”

How were you persuaded? Love or show of power?? Godly or demonic???

• God’s call leads to freedom, not fear; grace, not guilt.

satan uses fear, guilt, etc-your gonna miss out, lose etc.etc. words of death and loss destruction...bite and devour

you will influence others according to your persuasion

B. The Power of Influence

where is your influence? is your influence Spirit empowered or performance driven? I do this or have done this......are you taking advantage of what God has given you? not for a prize

• “A little leaven leavens the whole lump” (cf. 1 Cor 5:6).

• False teaching enters loudly and it creeps in subtly.

Illustration:

A single drop of dye in a glass of water changes the whole color. Likewise, a small distortion of the gospel eventually reshapes the entire faith of a community.

someone does something and you start to only see them through that lens instead of thru the lens of grace

Application:

• Guard your heart and your church from small compromises that grow into major distortions. Operate from the grace you have received, from Jesus.

• Evaluate teaching by Scripture, not personality or tradition.

Receive and Reject

Receive-Return to the truth...”I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view,”

The offender will bear his penalty

III. The Offense of the Cross and the Folly of Legalism (v. 11–12)

A. The Cross Offends Human Pride- it was public and offensive...in the market place, shopping at the mall and there is a man crucified with all of his sins listed there for everyone to read

• The gospel says: You cannot save yourself.

• Legalism says: You can contribute something.

• These two messages cannot coexist.

B. Paul’s Sharp Rebuke-strong language

• Paul exposes the absurdity of the Judaizers’ message.

• If circumcision could save, the cross would be unnecessary

Galatians 2:21 ESV

I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

cut themselves off-Cybel was the goddess of fertility a preist had to emasculate himself to be a priest....modern day sex change operations....you can be free to be who you feel you are in the flesh!!! mutilation

Illustration:

Imagine someone insisting that a drowning person must “help” the lifeguard by swimming harder. The lifeguard saves because the swimmer cannot. The cross saves because we cannot.

Application:

• Reject any teaching that adds human effort to Christ’s finished work.

• Receive the humility of grace—salvation is Christ alone, by faith alone.

Resolve

IV. Freedom Expressed Through Love, Not License (vv. 13–15)

A. Freedom Is Not an Excuse for the Flesh

Freedom is from the new nature so it has to be different from that which enslaved you!

• Christian freedom is not self‑indulgence but Spirit‑empowered love.

• True freedom leads to service, not selfishness.

Freedom from the law does not mean you can live in open rebellion or sin, what it means is that you are free in Christ to serve God and the Church by serving one another...

your free in Christ not an adulterer anymore,...you can teach young couples about marriage or your not a thief anymore so you can lead people how to work as unto the Lord and give to the body from what you earn now...your not a liar anymore so you can teach the Word of God!!!!

B. Love Fulfills the Law-you take the new life in Jesus and give that to others....you ever tell someone about the best restaurant because it was so good you want them to experience it as well?

• “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Lev 19:18; Matt 22:39).

Leviticus 19:18 ESV

You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

• The law’s goal is not ritual performance but relational transformation.

C. Warning Against Devouring One Another

• Legalism breeds comparison, competition, and conflict.

• Churches that bite and devour eventually consume themselves.

Illustration: Feeding the dogs at home...Pheobe is the little dog but she was in the house a month or two before Missy so she acts that way when i feed them

Two dogs fighting over a single bone eventually lose sight of the bone and focus only on destroying each other.

The Scripture warns: Don’t let legalism or other persuasions turn you into spiritual predators.

Application:

• Use your freedom to build up, not tear down.

• Ask: “How can I serve someone today in love?”

• Guard your church from the corrosive effects of criticism, rivalry, and division.

Conclusion: Running the Race of Freedom

• You began well—keep running with your eyes on Christ.

• Let the cross humble you and free you.

• Guard the gospel from distortion.

• Use your freedom to love, serve, and strengthen the body of Christ.