Christ Has Set Us Free
Notes
Transcript
Reading
Reading
1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. 2 Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. 3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. 4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. 7 You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion is not from him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. 11 But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. 12 I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves! 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.
Sermon
Sermon
Pre-Amble
Pre-Amble
Does not condemn actions of the past
What you do now and in the future
False Teachers
Attitude - personal gain
Misrepresented leadership, teaching & scripture
Divided the Church
Rejected Gentiles
Lord’s Table
Law of Moses (legal nation) distorted into process of salvation
Physical manifestation of Faith
Circumcision
Food - clean vs unclean
Not spiritual enough
Not truely a Christian / Saved
Paul has laid out his argument
now deals with consequences & solution
1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. 2 Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you.
Christ has set us Free - stand firm
Paul speaks as one who loves Christ, loves the law, and is passionate for obedience
Paul speaks in the present and future tense
“if you accept” - immenant decision or action
“Circumcision” - Christ will be of no advatage to you
3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. 4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.
Circumcucision after convertion
Why? Is it necessary to salvation?
If yes, then Christ’s Death is not sufficient
No longer trusting Christ to save them
Salvation by Works
Circumcision & the Law
First act of obedience to the Law of Moses
Obligated to keep the whole law
Sabbeth & Festivals
Food Laws
Severed from Christ
“Fallen away from Grace”
Divorce (Marriage) from Christ
Alienated from Christ
5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.
Salvation is a single act in Scripture (Past, Present & Future)
We have been saved
We are being saved
We shall be saved
We wait on God with a certain expectation
Law is by Flesh & Nature
The Gift of Faith (Gift of Grace), the Gift of the Spirit
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
“Neither Circumcision not uncirmcumcision count for anything”
Do not boast or argue
Faith working through Love
Faith brings forth the “Fruit of the Spirit”
Love is the fulfilment of the law (Romans 13:10)
10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
7 You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?
Before this you were running the great race well
Living up to our profession of Faith
Who has tripped you up or prevented you from obeying the Truth?
8 This persuasion is not from him who calls you.
Not from God
Therefore, it is of the devil
9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
Bread is either leavened or not (no such thing as a little leavened)
Leaven taints the sacrific, and taints our self offering to God
10 I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is.
Paul has confidence in the Lord, to guide genuine believers in the truth
No matter who the ringleader is, or what position they hold
God will hold them to account
11 But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed.
Paul probably refers to his pre-Christian life and work
or deals with a false accusation that Paul taught circumcision
If taught circumcision then Jews would not persecute Christians
12 I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!
Pagan eunuch priests castrated themselves to earn favour with God
Paul is not just being course, he is making a fundamental point about circumcision
A sign of faithful obedience & legal nationality
had become an act of salvation by works
Paul sees subsequent to the work of Christ, an act of self mutilation
Paul is symbolic in the action that should take place
Whether ministers or others who aim to alter the gospel message, or disturb the peace of Christians forfeit the priviledges of Christian communion
Conclusion
Conclusion
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.
Called to freedom
Freedom - Not an opportunity for the flesh
Serve one another through Love
It is an act of serving God
We do not seek their favour
but we must be careful not to blaspheme against the spirit
asigning the work of the Spirit as the work the devil
Serve one another through Love - two way action
Next time: Live & Walk by the Spirit