Break The Yoke

The Apostle Paul’s letter to the churches of Galatia was quite possibly the first epistle Paul ever wrote.

Paul was dealing with those who were being misled into the Mosaic law by Jewish teachers who insisted that the gentile converts must be circumcised in order to be holy.

Galatians 5:1 NKJV

1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

Galatians 5

When the Jerusalem council which consisted of the Apostles and the elders came together concerning circumcision Peter posed this question:

Acts 15:9 NKJV

9 and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

Acts 15:10 NKJV

10 Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

Don’t waste your Jesus

Galatians 5:2–3 NKJV

2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law.

Illustrate with a box of tissue as the gift of grace

Don’t fall from Grace

Galatians 5:4 NKJV

4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.

How do we avoid the Yoke?

Hebrews 12:14–15 NKJV

14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;

Hebrews 12:14–15a NKJV

14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;

We avoid the yoke of Bondage by pursuing peace with all people

And by Pursuing Holiness