All In With Freedom

Main Idea: All or nothing

Opening Line: Have you ever gotten a great deal haggling?

Stand up if you have. Who thinks they have saved the most money talking down a price?

- First time went to South Africa to help Nancy I was 17th - David and Goliath - He Got great deals

Galatians 5:1–13 NIV

1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. 2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. 7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? 8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9 “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” 10 I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty. 11 Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. 12 As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves! 13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

All or nothing in Christ

Have you ever felt not good enough for God?

Galatians 5:6 NIV

6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Romans 5:6–8 NIV

6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

It is easy to think that we have been justified or Saved by grace, but...

We can often find ourselves feeling like we need to do something in order to stay in God’s good graces

Romans 3:21–26 NIV

21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

Mercy Triumphs over Judgement

James 2:8–13 NIV

8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. 12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Live in the freedom that you have been given.

If you accept Christ at the start through faith, but then begin trying to earn favor with God through works you are allowing yourself to be yoked or connected to the slavery from the law.

And HOW?

Stand firm in freedom

Trust that you are justified or saved by faith expressed itself through love

Stop negotiating with God

If we believe any of our actions will save us or give us favor with God

Christ Died for Nothing!

We must not attempting to do what has already been done for you.

Speak and act as those who are going to be judged.

We have Freedom but we will still face judgement for our words and actions

Story about pulled over for not having registration

God has forgiven you and given you freedom if you accepted it through Faith expressed in love and now you are no longer held to the law that brings death, but that law still exists and you will have to stand trial for that, but Jesus will come to your defense if you let him.

Galatians 5:13 NIV

13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

This is why we must not use our freedom to indulge in the flesh or follow after sinful desires, but to live out our faith through the action of love.

As we focus on a year filled will you take the leap to be ALL IN with Freedom in Christ?

Would you bow your heads

I want to ask if you will become all in and receive the forgiveness and freedom in Christ today?

If you would not describe yourself as all in with Jesus because you have never taken that first step to having faith in Christ to forgive your sin and shame - Raise your hand...

If you have a hard time feeling free and often feel like you need to do more, work harder, be nicer, or do better to feel that God is near - Raise your hand...

Next week we will talk about what it means to be ALL IN with Love

And on April 3rd we are going to have a special Serve Sunday and Express our faith through our love of our neighbors. If you have questions let me know, but we will have more information soon.

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