Stand Fast in the Freedom in Christ.

Sermon Notes

Galatians 5:1–6 (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.

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.

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

5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

“The yoke of Christ frees us to fulfill His will, while the yoke of the Law enslaves us.” Wiersbe, W. W. (1996).

“The thing that is of power to effect a transformation in the life is faith, the faith of the justified person which issues in love in his life, a love produced by the Holy Spirit.” Wuest, K. S. (1997).

“So, the believer who chooses legalism robs himself of spiritual liberty and spiritual wealth. He deliberately puts himself into bondage and bankruptcy.” Wiersbe, W. W. (1996).

“Grace is God’s free blessing that he gives to us as we live our daily life by faith in him and obedience to his word. When we refuse the gift of grace for daily living, we close the door to God’s blessing. When the Christian thus chooses works and “falls from grace,” he does not thereby lose his salvation. He does close the door to spiritual growth and forfeits the peace and power that is his when he operates by grace. Because a Christian does not appropriate the grace God offers him for sanctification (spiritual growth) does not mean the believer loses the grace God gave him for justification (salvation). If saving grace were lost every time we turned our back on God’s daily grace, everyone would be lost, because everyone, from time to time, turns his back on God’s daily grace.” Anders, M. (1999).

Sermon Outline

The greatest way to grow in maturity is the live and love Jesus Christ daily.

God wants us to live a life that is fruitful and constantly growing.

How does this happen in a Christian’s life has always been the struggle for every Christian.

If we become over religious then we are in danger of legalism.

If we become more worldly then we are in danger of living in sin.

But if we equate living a religious life with being a christian, then of course we will always lean toward doing something religious because it is better than living in sin. Right?

What did Jesus say?

John 15:4–5 NKJV

4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

There is something else Jesus said, this time to the church in Ephesus in revelation 2.

Revelation 2:1–5 NKJV

1 “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.

Galatians 2:20 NKJV

20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Colossians 2:6–7 NKJV

6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

Romans 8:9–10 NKJV

9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

The message throughout the whole New Testament is consistent, “If you want to grow in your Christian life, then you have to be walking with Him daily in His Word and in prayer.”

As you walk with Him, His Spirit does His work in you bearing the neccessary fruit for the glory of God.

There are four reasons why Paul wants Christians to standfast in Christ

The greatest benefits in life are found in Christ. (2)

The only free life is a life in Christ. (3)

There is nolonger a need for them to justify themselves before God. (4)

The need to follow law counters God’s grace. (4)