FREEDOM
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Freedom
Freedom
Freedom! We live in a country that has the most freedom then any other country in the world.
We have our Constitution and Bill of Rights that gives us freedom of speech; right to bear arms; right to a fair trial; right to protest when we don’t like something; right to vote.
We have the freedom to pick our friends, freedom to say no when we don’t want to do something, freedom of religion, and freedom to love or hate someone.
We have all this freedom, yet in reality we are still in bondage outside of Christ.
1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
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.
Paul is addressing the Galatians concerning their easy willingness to set aside Christ and go back to the Law.
We know that the Law can not safe from death because we will eventually break it.
Paul shares with the Galatians that if they choose to follow the Law then they will be under the control of the Law.
Paul says not to submit to this yoke of slavery.
The picture Paul portrays is two oxen strapped together with a piece of wood around their neck. This controlled them on where they could and could not go.
The Law works the same way for us. If we are going to follow the Law then we need to hold to every one written in Leviticus. (There are many)!!
Give an example about working.
The truth is that only ONE was able to hold the Law to a T. That being Jesus.
He was able to live a life hold to the whole Law. Tempted in every way, yet found without sin.
This is why the cross is so important. He gave His life
5:1 states Christ set us free. For what? Freedom!!
Freedom in what?
In Him!
This is why the cross is so important. He gave His life to bring us from bondage to freedom.
Men and women have and is willing to give their life that we as a nation may continue to have the physical freedoms that we have.
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.
Many times our physical flesh and spiritual flesh work against each other.
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Galatians 5:16
What are the desires of the flesh?
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Example( division). Our country is experiencing this so much right now.
Satan is using this division to tear us apart.
Abraham Lincoln said, “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”
As a disciple of Christ, just because we have the FREEDOM in America to do these things, does not mean we have the FREEDOM in Christ.
Freedom must have limitations in order to be freedom. Some might argue that I am free to do this or that, but find that they actually become slaves to this or that. There is no slavery worse than being a slave to one's wrong desires .
Example- drunkenness- we have the freedom to go to a bar or set in our home and drink. Drink until we choose to stop. But the reality is we are a slave to that alcohol.
The same with smoking. There is so much nicotine in cigarettes that it is very hard to quit.
Just because we can does not mean we should.
Paul shows us that are freedom should be found in the attributes of Christ.
Matter of fact, Paul tells us the things that we should be holding too.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:
Our freedom should not control us, but motivate us to be more like Jesus.
Our freedom should lead us to do right out of love for the Lord who freed us from sin.
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Big Idea: Freedom means we live our lives through the Holy Spirit who pushes us toward the true source of freedom, Jesus Christ.
The evidence of our freedom is love producing fruit.
36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.