FHBC Sermon Notes

Galatians 5:1-15 -What is freedom? Are we really free individuals in a free nation?

Intro

Internet distraction syndrome. I can't replicate the story Jim is telling, but boy is that true. Freedom software that restricts access to the Internet. It is so true that we mistake freedom for so called access. We think it making our choices, but we are slaves to much more than we care to admit.

Paul asks this question. In the freedom we have in the gospel, are we free to just do whatever we want, to continue to follow our own way, instead of Jesus who we follow?

1. The gospel frees us to live by faith. V. 2-6

All throughout Galatians Paul makes the point that we have all be slaves; slaves to the law, slaves to the flesh, slaves to the world. Yet, Christ has set us free! We so like to think of ourselves as already free. After all we can make our own choices, right? No we are slaves to the world indeed. But through faith in Jesus we are free! Then are we free to keep going with what we are already? No!! Don't go back Paul says.

This might not seem as novel to us, but to the Galatians, this was central to their struggle. They were being told salvation needed more than faith, they needed to follow the ceremonial law as well. Well we don't do that right? Well, I think we do. We measure our faith by so many measures. In what way are we adding to the grace of God as if it is insufficient? What are our circumcision issues? Because we do have them.

Paul points out though that this faith we have is a working faith. V6 It is a different vantage point. We are not seeking access and approval to God by our works, instead we are living in obedience to the will of God because we have been changed, and the Spirit that has been given to us compels us to gather and worship. In a spirit of wonderment and thankfulness we gather, not becaue we've earned anything.

2. The gospel frees us to obey the truth. V. 7-12

Paul is frustrated. What has hindered his spiritual children, to is friends, brothers and sisters? That little bit of untruth has placed them back in bondage. But Christ has freed us that we may act, not sit on our hands in fear of the world, pandered by the little lies, that seek our life.

3. The gospel frees us to love one another. V. 13-15

Don't let freedom be a launching point for sin, Paul says. Instead love one another. Service is the outpouring of love to another. We say we love God, but we do not love one another. Yet scripture tells us that we define love as a practically displayed action. We do not love God, if we do not love one another.

Loving one another is freedom, for it is how Christ has loved us.