What is Freedom

TEXT: Galatians 5:1

INTRODUCTION:

Over the last several weeks, Paul has been showing us the difference between slavery and sonship.

Galatians 4:7 says: “So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.”

Galatians 4:31 says: “So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.”

Then Paul says in Galatians 5:1: “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”

Before we can understand what it means to stand firm in freedom, we need to understand what freedom is.

Because if we define freedom the wrong way, we may believe we are living free but we are truly living in slavery

And if we define slavery the wrong way, we may put the yoke back on and think we are being faithful.

STORY / ILLUSTRATION:

There was a man who loved the Lord and was involved in his church.

Every Sunday he was there. He gave faithfully. He volunteered when the church had events. He served when help was needed. From the outside, everyone would have said, “That is a faithful Christian.”

But inside, something was wrong.

He felt tired. Burdened. Restless. He could not explain it.

So one day he went to his pastor and said, “Pastor, I am doing all the things I thought I was supposed to do as a Christian, but I do not feel free. I feel heavy.”

The pastor listened and then asked, “Why are you doing the things you are doing?”

The man paused.

At first, he wanted to say, “Because I love Jesus.” But the more he thought about it, the more he realized something else was going on.

He said, “I think I am doing these things because I believe they make God happier with me. I think I have been checking the boxes, hoping God would bless me more, love me more, or be more pleased with me.”

The pastor said, “Those are good things to do. But if you are doing them to earn God’s favor, they have become a burden instead of joy.”

Then the pastor said, “Christ did not die to remove the yoke of slavery from you so you could rest in Him, and then have you pick up another yoke called performance.”

The man sat quietly.

For the first time, he realized he had not stopped serving God, but he had started serving like a slave instead of living like a son.

He was obeying, but not from freedom.

He was serving, but not from joy.

He was doing the right things, but for the wrong reason.

And that is when he began to understand Galatians 5:1:

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”

Freedom in Christ does not mean we stop obeying.

Freedom in Christ means we stop obeying to earn what Christ has already given.

We serve, but not to earn sonship.

We obey, but not to purchase God’s favor.

We give, but not to make God love us.

We are free to live for Christ because we are no longer trying to earn from Christ what He has already purchased for us.

TRANSITION:

So today we are asking two simple questions:

What is freedom?

And what is slavery?

But before we answer those questions biblically, we need to see how the world often defines freedom.

I. THE WORLD’S DEFINITION OF FREEDOM IS INCOMPLETE

A. The world usually defines freedom by the absence of outside restraint.

A common dictionary-style definition of freedom is:

Freedom is the power or right to act, speak, and think without external hindrance, coercion, or restraint.

That definition is not completely wrong.

There is such a thing as freedom from oppression. There is such a thing as freedom from external coercion. There is such a thing as freedom from unjust restraint.

But that definition is incomplete.

B. The world’s definition usually focuses on what is outside of me.

The world says: I am free if no one stops me. I am free if no one controls me. I am free if no one tells me what to do. I am free if I can pursue my own way. I am free if I can define myself. I am free if I can decide what is true for me.

But Scripture says the deepest slavery is not always outside of me.

A person can have no external restraint and still be enslaved internally.

John 8:34: “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.”

C. The Bible says a person can be outwardly free and inwardly enslaved.

A person can be free physically and still be enslaved spiritually.

A person can have freedom of speech and still be enslaved to fear.

A person can have freedom to choose and still be enslaved to sinful desires.

A person can have no one stopping them and still be ruled by shame, guilt, anger, pride, lust, bitterness, approval, or self-righteousness.

The world says: Freedom is no one restraining me.

But the Bible asks: What if the thing destroying you is inside of you?

II. THE WORLD’S FREEDOM IS SELF-RULE

A. The world says freedom means, “I belong to myself.”

The world’s idea of freedom says: I define myself. I decide what is true for me. I choose what is good and evil. No one tells me what to do. Freedom means no limits, no boundaries, and no master.

But that is not biblical freedom. That is autonomy. Autonomy - is the capacity and right of an individual or group to govern themselves, make independent decisions, and act according to their own will, free from external control or coercion And autonomy separated from God always becomes slavery.

B. The first picture of worldly freedom is Genesis 3.

Genesis 3:5: “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

The serpent offered Adam and Eve a false kind of freedom.

He was basically saying: You do not need to trust God. You do not need to obey God. You do not need God to define good and evil. You can be your own authority.

But the result was not freedom.

The result was fear. The result was shame. The result was hiding. The result was blame. The result was separation.

Genesis 3:10: “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.”

C. Worldly freedom promises life but produces slavery.

Judges 21:25: “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”

Romans 1:25: “They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator.”

Worldly freedom says: Be your own master.

But when man tries to become his own master, he does not become free. He becomes enslaved to sin, fear, shame, desire, approval, and self.

Worldly freedom says, “I am free when I belong to no one.”

But Scripture says, “You are only free when you belong to the One who made you, redeemed you, and gives you life.”

III. BIBLICAL FREEDOM IS FREEDOM IN CHRIST

Galatians 5:1: “For freedom Christ has set us free…”

A. Biblical freedom begins with Christ’s work, not ours.

Paul does not say: Set yourself free. Try harder to become free. Prove that you are free. Earn your freedom.

He says: Christ has set us free.

Freedom in Christ is not self-made. Freedom in Christ is not self-improvement. Freedom in Christ is not personal independence.

Freedom in Christ is redemption.

John 8:36: “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

B. A biblical definition of freedom:

Freedom in Christ is being set free by Jesus from sin, condemnation, fear, and self-salvation so that we can live as children of God by faith, through the Spirit, in love.

This definition is built from Scripture.

Free from sin: Romans 6:18: “And, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.”

Free from condemnation: Romans 8:1: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Free from fear and slavery: Romans 8:15: “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons…”

Free from self-salvation: Galatians 5:1: “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”

Free to live by the Spirit: Galatians 5:16: “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”

Free to love: Galatians 5:13: “Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”

C. Key contrast:

Worldly freedom says: I am free when I can do whatever I want.

Freedom in Christ says: I am free when Christ has rescued me from the desires, fears, sins, and lies that once ruled me.

Worldly freedom is self-rule.

Biblical freedom is Spirit-led sonship.

IV. FREEDOM IN CHRIST IS RESCUE

A. Christ frees us from condemnation.

Romans 8:1: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Freedom in Christ means I am no longer standing before God under the sentence of guilt.

I am free because Christ bore my sin.

I am free because Christ fulfilled the law and took the curse for me.

Galatians 3:13: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us…”

B. Christ frees us from self-salvation.

The Galatians were being tempted to add something to Christ.

They were being told: Yes, Jesus matters, but you also need circumcision. Yes, Jesus matters, but you also need this outward mark. Yes, Jesus matters, but you also need law-keeping as the basis of your acceptance.

But Paul says that is slavery.

Galatians 5:2–4: “Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you… You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.”

Slavery is trying to earn what Christ already purchased.

Ephesians 2:8–9: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

C. Christ frees us from sin’s mastery.

John 8:34: “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.”

Romans 6:17–18: “But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart… and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.”

Freedom in Christ does not mean sin no longer matters. Freedom in Christ means sin is no longer master.

D. Key statement:

Christ did not set us free from sin’s penalty so we could remain comfortable under sin’s power.

V. FREEDOM IN CHRIST IS NOT FREEDOM TO SIN

A. Paul guards against the wrong understanding of freedom.

Galatians 5:13: “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”

Freedom is not permission to indulge the flesh.

Freedom in Christ is not: I can sin because I am forgiven. I can live however I want. I am free from obedience. I am free from God’s authority.

Romans 6:1–2: “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means!”

B. Freedom in Christ is not freedom from God.

Psalm 119:41-48

1 John 5:3: “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.”

God’s commands are not prison bars for His children. They are pathways of life.

Freedom in Christ is not escaping God’s authority. Freedom in Christ is being restored to God’s design.

C. Freedom in Christ changes the reason we obey.

John 14:15: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

The slave obeys to become accepted. The son obeys because he is accepted.

The slave obeys under threat. The son obeys in love.

The slave obeys to earn a place in the house. The son obeys because he already belongs in the house.

Freedom in Christ is not freedom from obedience. It is freedom from obedience as a way to earn acceptance.

VI. FREEDOM IN CHRIST IS SONSHIP

A. Paul has already told us who we are.

Galatians 4:4–7: “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son… so that we might receive adoption as sons… So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.”

Freedom in Christ means we are not slaves trying to earn a place. We are sons who already belong.

B. Freedom is living from identity, not for identity.

The slave says: If I do enough, maybe I will belong. If I perform well enough, maybe I will be accepted. If people approve of me, maybe I will be enough.

The son says: I belong because of Christ. I am accepted in Christ. I am known by God. I am an heir through God.

Galatians 4:9: “But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God…”

C. This is foundational for leadership.

You cannot lead from freedom if you are still living like a slave.

A slave leads from fear. A son leads from identity.

A slave serves to prove he belongs. A son serves because he already belongs.

A slave is driven by pressure. A son is led by love.

A slave uses people for validation. A son is free to love and serve people.

Romans 8:15: “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons…”

Worldly freedom says, “I belong to myself.”

Freedom in Christ says, “I belong to the Father.”

VII. FREEDOM IN CHRIST IS SPIRIT-LED LIFE

A. Freedom is not merely being released from something.

Freedom is also being empowered for something.

Galatians 5:16: “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”

2 Corinthians 3:17: “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

B. The Spirit changes us from the inside out.

Slavery is outside-in pressure. Freedom is inside-out transformation.

The law can command, but it cannot transform the heart.

The Spirit writes God’s truth within us.

Jeremiah 31:33: “I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts.”

Ezekiel 36:26–27: “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you… And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes…”

C. Freedom in Christ means we now have new desires and new power.

The Spirit does not just tell us what is right. The Spirit gives us the desire and ability to walk in what is right.

Galatians 5:22–23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…”

Freedom is not doing whatever the flesh wants. Freedom is walking by the Spirit so the flesh no longer rules.

VIII. SLAVERY IS RETURNING TO ANY YOKE CHRIST BROKE

Galatians 5:1: “Stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”

A. A yoke is something that controls you, burdens you, and drives you.

In context, the yoke is law-keeping as the basis of justification.

But the principle applies broadly: Whatever controls you, burdens you, and drives you away from resting in Christ is a yoke.

B. Slavery can be obvious sin.

John 8:34: “Everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.”

Romans 6:16-18

Titus 3:3 “For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.”

C. Slavery can also look religious.

The Galatians were not being tempted to stop being religious. They were being tempted to trust in their religion.

Slavery can look like: Trying to prove yourself to God. Trying to earn peace by performance. Serving from fear instead of love. Obeying to be accepted instead of obeying because you are accepted. Being controlled by fear, guilt, shame, or people’s approval. Thinking God loves you more when you succeed and less when you fail. Trying to earn sonship instead of living from sonship.

D. Slavery is fear as the driver.

Romans 8:15: “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear…”

Fear of failure. Fear of rejection. Fear of not being enough. Fear of losing control. Fear of being exposed. Fear of man.

Proverbs 29:25: “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.”

2 Timothy 1:7: “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

If Christ is not the one carrying you, something else will be yoking you.

IX. FREEDOM MUST BE STOOD IN

Galatians 5:1: “Stand firm therefore…”

A. Freedom must be guarded.

Paul tells them to stand firm because there is always a temptation to go back.

We can go back to sin. We can go back to shame. We can go back to fear. We can go back to performance. We can go back to people-pleasing. We can go back to religious self-salvation.

B. Standing firm means refusing to move away from Christ’s finished work.

Colossians 2:6: “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him.”

Galatians 2:20: “The life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

C. Standing firm means remembering who set us free.

Christ set us free. Christ keeps us. Christ defines us. Christ leads us. Christ empowers us.

The Christian life is not standing firm in your performance. It is standing firm in Christ’s finished work.

CONCLUSION:

So what is worldly freedom?

Worldly freedom says: I belong to myself. I define myself. I rule myself. I serve myself. I am free when nothing outside of me restrains me.

But that kind of freedom always becomes slavery because it never deals with the sin, fear, shame, guilt, and desires ruling inside of me.

What is freedom in Christ?

Freedom in Christ is being set free by Jesus from sin, condemnation, fear, and self-salvation so that we can live as sons and daughters of God by faith, through the Spirit, in love.

Freedom is not living without God. Freedom is living in Christ.

Freedom is not doing whatever I want. Freedom is being rescued from the desires that were destroying me.

Freedom is not freedom from obedience. Freedom is freedom from obedience as a way to earn acceptance.

Freedom is not self-rule. Freedom is Spirit-led sonship.

And what is slavery?

Slavery is sin ruling over me. Slavery is guilt defining me. Slavery is shame driving me. Slavery is fear controlling me. Slavery is legalism burdening me. Slavery is trying to earn what Christ already purchased.

So Paul says:

Stand firm.

Do not go back to the yoke. Do not go back to the prison. Do not go back to self-salvation. Do not go back to fear. Do not go back to slavery.

Because Christ did not set you free halfway.

“For freedom Christ has set us free.”