True Freedom (2)
Notes
Transcript
Galatians 5:13-15
Galatians 5:13-15
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. 14 For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
This is the end of a discourse where Paul is talking about the Jewish law and addressing the concerns of the Galatians who were gentiles and Jews about whether or not they needed to follow the religious law.
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.
—> A double freedom
—> freedom from the Law
—> freedom from sin
—> Do not use your freedom for selfishness
—> do not simply do what you want under the auspice of grace
—> instead may everything you do be done in love and service to one another. These acts allow you to exercise your freedom in Christ to its fullest measure.
—> Our freedom is our greatest asset. Yet it is our choice how to use it.
—> Some of the dumbest things I’ve ever done in my life were done in a time that I was carefree. Times that I had what I thought was ultimate freedom.
14 For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
—> Our freedom comes from love. God loved us so much that The Father sent the Son to die for us so we would know freedom from sin and we could know God personally. When this happens we no longer need the 613 rules and regulations of the Law to be close to God because God drew close to us. And all God wants in return is that we would draw close to others. To love others like we have been loved.
15 If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
—> When we choose to use our freedom for things that are not “of love of neighbor” the consequences are disastrous.
—> True interactions with Jesus change EVERYBODY!