Freedom in Christ
Pastor Bill Nichols - October 25, 2009Introduction
Several years ago now I dug a hole for a corner post I needed to set for a short section of fence I needed to run. I had some eight foot posts that had been cut from an old telephone pole, and I decided that one of them would be just right. I picked out the thinnest one, and stood it on end, which was no easy task in and of itself. Then, I lowered it down onto my right shoulder, found a balance point, and began walking toward the barn with it. It was heavy, but I began walking well and I felt like I could make it all the way to the hole that I had dug. About half way, the post began to get heavy, but I was determined to make it so I continued on. The closer I got, the heavier it became, but I knew if I ever put it down, I might not get it back on my shoulder again and I really wanted to get it in the hole that day. When I got to about 10 feet from the whole not knowing for sure which end was the largest, I dropped it off my shoulder. What a relief it was to have that heavy load removed.
Sometimes in life it feels like we are carrying around a heavy load. We are brought into a world that is full of sin. This sin eventually becomes a great weight that we carry. Especially when we come to understand that the wages of sin are death. Romans 6:23 What an awesome feeling it is when we come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of our lives, and the weight of sin is removed from us. How many of you can remember the joy and the sense of relief you felt when you gave your life to Jesus?
Still, many people have gotten so used to carrying around that weight of sin that they find themselves going back and picking up that post again, putting it back on their shoulder. Then they struggle to stay in balance as they try to walk both according to the world and also according to faith.
In our passage from Galatians today, Paul warns against going back to the slavery of the old life.
Galatians 5:1-15
1It 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 law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit 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 and kept 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 will pay the penalty, whoever he may be. 11 Brothers, 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, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 15 If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
I. Christ Set You Free, Stay That Way!
Galatians 5:1
The Apostle Paul wants the believers in the churches of Galatia to understand one very important thing. They have been set free by their faith in Jesus Christ. Free from the elemental principles of the world that they had been enslaved to and free from the power and the penalty of the law which they had never known. (The reference to a yoke of slavery that the false teachers were trying to get them to serve) They were free to love God with heart, soul, mind and strength. They were free to love their neighbor as themselves. They were free to serve one another in a spirit of love. They were free to do what was right and to reject what was wrong. For Paul, freedom means being able to "walk and live in the Holy Spirit." Freedom means being able to enjoy life without the external restraint of the law. Freedom means living by instead the internal restraint of the Holy Spirit. Freedom in Christ means obeying God out of a sense of love.
So Paul says, "Stand firm" (in your freedom) and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery!
Then Paul gives some reasons why believers are to stand firm.
II. Four Reasons to Stand Firm in our Freedom in Christ!
Galatians 5:2-6
First: Works based religion negates the gift of eternal life that Jesus gives.
Verse 2 - "If you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.
Second: If you subject yourself to man's rules, you have to obey all of them.
Verse 3 - "Obligated to obey the whole law." You cannot pick and choose which laws are appropriate for you.
Third: Works based religion causes one to fall away from grace, and alienates you from Christ.
Verse 4 - "You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace."
Also read
John 15:6
6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
Again, I do not want you to misunderstand. Works are a vital part of the Christian life. But works are a response to our salvation in Christ, not a means of to salvation.
I believe Paul is saying that those who do works out of obligation, those who obey the laws and the rules that men make up, and those who are striving to get to heaven by a faith plus works system, are actually falling away from the grace that Christ has already given them.
On the other hand, those who do works out of a sincere love for Christ, and those who the Scriptures and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in their lives because of their salvation, are growing in grace and spiritual maturity.
Paul declares that those who seek to be declared righteous by works, forfeit that which Christ has already given them. And Paul says that it does not matter if you are a Jew, under the law, or a Gentile, under the principles of the world, only faith expressing itself in love is what counts.
III. Do Not Let Anyone Cut You Off!
Galatians 5:7-12
Finally, Paul has harsh words for those who were trying to cut in on the believers in the Galatian churches. First, the word cut in means to hinder or trip up. The believers there had been doing well. They were obeying the truth of the gospel until these false teachers came in and intentionally tried to trip them up. Paul says that these false teachers, whoever they might be, will pay the penalty for their deceit. They were preaching circumcision and the law. And Paul became so angry at them that he said that they might as well go all the way and emasculate or castrate themselves. The inference being that if circumcision is so good, then castration must be even better. Do you sense a little sarcasm from the Apostle Paul? If these false teachers believe that circumcision shows commitment, then Paul declares that castration would show an even stronger commitment.
IV. How to Use Your Freedom
Galatians 5:13-15
Finally, Paul says that freedom in Christ does not mean freedom to indulge in sin. Freedom in Christ means freedom to serve one another in love. The whole point of the law, Paul says is summed up in a single command, "Love your neighbor as yourself."
Rather than focusing on what you should not do, focus on what you can do for God and others. Do not devour one another, but watch out for each other.
Conclusion
In order to finish my fence, I had to pick up that post one more time. So I stood it up and gave it a big bear hug and then I set it down in the hole. I filled the hole with dirt, leveled it and tamped it down. Later I braced that post, and then I ran my fence. You know, I have not had to carry that post around now for about ten years, and I do not expect to ever have to pick it up and carry it again, ever. It feels good to know that I am done with that heavy load.
The same is true in your Christian lives. You do not ever have to be burdened again with works of the flesh or the works of the law. If you have accepted Jesus as Lord of your life, the work is already done. You do not have to carry that load anymore. Your works as a Christian should be works of love done in Christ Jesus our Lord. Your service to one another should not be burdensome, but should be done out of joy.