Galatains 5:1-6

Galatians 5:1–5 ESV

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.

Introduction:

Legalism is toxic to the life and health of the local church.

Kent Hughes said of Legalism

Galatians—Gospel-Rooted Living (Chapter 20: What Ultimately Counts? (Galatians 5:1–6))

Legalism is treating that which is good as though it were essential.

Whenever Christians turn something valuable into something ultimate, legalism is at work and freedom is forfeited.

What good things do we tend to elevate to essential things?

Legalism is deadly.

Let me say it another way.

Legalism is lethal to a relationship with God.

Galatians 5:4 (ESV)

4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.

This is what Paul spoke in chapter 1:6. They were abandoning the true gospel for another gospel.

Galatians 1:6 (ESV)

6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—

Legalism chokes out the authentic gospel. It leaves a substitue in its place.

Legalism is deceptive.

Legalism often goes unnoticed even when it thrives in our lives.

Legalism elevates the familiar things of worship into sacred things.

examples.

1. Service times -

2. Service Places -

3. Service Furniture - Like the steeple/Stain Glass/ Pews.

4. Service Frequencies - Like Multiple Worship Services on Sunday

5. Worship Elements - Like Choir! Like the cloth over the communion table.

5. Programs - WMU! - literature - Like it has to say lifeway on it.

When familiar things are elevated to the sacred then the sacred is replaced by the familiar.

No Christ- No Grace - No Gospel.

If we are going to preserve the purity of the gospel then we must purge our faith of any form of legalism.

Galatians 5:6 ESV

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

The purity of the gospel demands that we concentrate on what counts.