Choices, Choices, Choices!

SERMON OUTLINE:

Choice #1: Slavery or Freedom? (vs 1).

Choice #2: Law or Grace (vs 2-6).

Choice #3: Circumcision or the Cross (vs 7-12)

Choice #4: The Spirit or the Flesh (vs 13-15)

SERMON BODY

Ill:

• Herbert Asquith was British Liberal prime minister from 1908 to 1916,

• He was in charge and took Britain into World War One.

• On one occasion he spent a weekend at the Waddesdon estate,

• This was owned by the very, very wealthy Rothschild family.

• On one occasion the butler of the house had this conversation with him.

• The butler: "Tea, coffee, or a peach from off the wall, sir?"

• Asquith answered: "Tea, please,"

• The butler: "China, India, or Ceylon, sir?"

• Asquith answered: "China, please."

• The butler: "Lemon, milk, or cream, sir?"

• Asquith answered: "Milk, please,"

• The butler: "Jersey, Hereford, or Shorthorn, sir?"

• TRANSITION: Aren’t you glad that for most of us life is not that complicated.

• But we all have plenty of choices to make each day.

• And when it concerns the things of God, we need to choose wisely.

Quote: Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart

“Attitude is a choice. Happiness is a choice. Optimism is a choice. Kindness is a choice. Giving is a choice. Respect is a choice.

Whatever choice you make makes you. Choose wisely.”

In this chapter of Galatian’s, the apostle Paul is asking his readers to choose wisely!

• The churches in Galatia (modern day Turkey)

• Were comprised of both Jewish and Gentile converts,

• Some of those Jews, known as Judaizers, who were corrupting the gospel message.

• By adding to it, saying it is Jesus plus keeping the Old Testament Law.

• Yet, Paul and the other apostles had clearly taught that salvation is a gift,

• We receive that gift through faith, when we trust in Jesus Christ.

• It is a grace gift, that we could not earn, or we can do is simply receive it.

• Let’s look at the choices in these verses,

• I want to divide the passage up under four main headings.

Choice #1: Slavery or Freedom? (vs 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.”

The first choice in these verses is between slavery and freedom.

• This verse tells us why Christ came…he came to set us free.

• This verse tells us what we must do to maintain our freedom…stand firm.

• This verse warns us about what we must avoid…the entangling yoke of slavery.

Ill:

• If you have ever seen a yoke, then this image is easy to understand.

• A yoke ties you to another person or animal.

• e.g. Oxen were yoked together, usually with a straight beam;

• This beam sits atop of the oxen’s necks and connects to U-shaped oxbows.

• This then puts pressure on the shoulders,

• To keep the team moving in the same direction and at the same time.

• e.g. Slaves were yoked together in transportation;

• To control them and stop them running away.

• TRANSITION: Both of those images speak of service and slavery.

• Your freedom and independence have sadly been taken from you.

Note: The apostle Paul says make sure that does not happen!

• To remain free we must be vigilant, observant, on our guard.

• We must be alert to anyone or any teaching that would steal our freedom from us.

• One of the implications of this verse is that;

• It is impossible for us to be enslaved unless we voluntarily allow it to happen.

• No one can chain us up again unless we willingly surrender our freedom.

• So, stand firm, Christian.

• Because it is for freedom that Christ has set you free.

• Quote: New English Bible:

• “Christ has set us free, to be freemen”

We are free men in Christ:

• Before we were Christian’s we were slaves.

• Jesus Christ is our liberator.

• When we trusted Christ (converted) we were emancipated.

• And the Christian life, is a life of freedom.

• The freedom that weaves through this letter is not freedom from sin,

• But rather freedom from the Old Testament law.

Choice #2: Law or Grace (vs 2-6).

“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 required 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.”