Untitled Sermon
Notes
Transcript
We come in Galatians 5:1-13 to a passage that I’ll spend the next week or two on…
This morning, before moving into the details and key seeds of the Kingdom of God to be planted in our lives, I want to spend this morning unpacking a reality Paul raises which I believe — for us — is profoundly difficult to understand.
At the end of Chapter 4, Paul is talking to the Galatians about how those, who are children of the law, are enslaved to the law and live by the flesh; he is setting that beside those, who are people of faith, are free from the law and live by the Spirit of God.
At the end of Chapter 4, Paul is talking to the Galatians about how those, who are children of the law, are enslaved to the law and live by the flesh; he is setting that beside those, who are people of faith, are free from the law and live by the Spirit of God.
In 5:1-13 he brings this argument he is making to a peak as he articulates why we have been set free.
1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
It is for Freedom that Jesus has set us free.
It is for Freedom that Jesus has set us free.
Freedom. This is a word that EXPLODES off the page — particularly to us as Americans. As it should.
The establishment and identity of the United States is one that is connected with FREEDOM at every point and every turn through our history.
Our history brims — at every point — with a case for liberty and freedom.
Perhaps you recall from your American Civics class how the American experiment began with a cry for freedom from Britain’s King George III and Britain’s Parliament.
Perhaps you recall from your American Civics class how the American experiment began with a cry for freedom from Britain’s King George III and Britain’s Parliament.
Over a period of years leveled the American colonies — for a variety of reasons — with a series of “Acts” that became for many living in the colonies as intolerable.
The Stamp Act, the Declaratory Act, The Townshend Revenue Act, The Tea Act, and the Intolerable Acts — which included (among others):
The Boston Port Act, the Administration of Justice Act, the Massachusetts Government Act, the Quartering Act of 1774, and the Quebec Act
By the middle of 1774 many colonists had had enough of King George’s and Parliament’s CRUEL and CAPRICIOUS acts.
By the middle of 1774 many colonists had had enough of King George’s and Parliament’s CRUEL and CAPRICIOUS acts.
Feeling the oppressions, depressions, and darkness of being enslaved, the colonists revolted eventually securing emancipation and FREEDOM from Britain, King George III and Parliament.
The colonists determined — and I realize that in the environment in which we find ourselves today, there is no wise old man on this story — that the way to FREEDOM as a way of life was for the United States to be a nation ruled by LAW and not by one person, one family, or a group of leaders cut off from those laws or those they serve by leading.
The colonists determined — and I realize that in the environment in which we find ourselves today, there is no wise old man on this story — that the way to FREEDOM as a way of life was for the United States to be a nation ruled by LAW and not by one person, one family, or a group of leaders cut off from those laws or those they serve by leading.
Equal footing under the LAW… we are a nation of LAWS…
Equal footing under the LAW… we are a nation of LAWS…
Of course, the last 250 years have demonstrated time and again how ripe with complexity that approach is… and as we come to the current day, the amount of laws that are in place and have been enacted and adopted — we literally have no idea what rules us.
Hold that… turn to John 8...
Hold that… turn to John 8...
31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”
34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. 38 I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”
Jesus words:
63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
Not dogma and law
52 The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?” 54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ 55 But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” 57 So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” 59 So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.
Drawing it all together --
Drawing it all together --
As Americans we have been raised to believe that FREEDOM is found and expressed by the rule of law — not allegiance to a man or a movement.
But as men and women who are free — free indeed — the freedom that comes to and from the soul… the freedom that can be known and lived and experienced WHATEVER country or political system you live in — that does NOT and can NOT come from or by law...
That freedom come from and by the one man — Jesus Christ —
1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.