Galatians 5:1-15 Choosing To Be Free

Today, we're going to be in Galatians chapter five, and what we're going to talk about is choosing to live in the freedom you've been given. I'm going to read this passage; we'll be in Galatians chapter five, looking at the first 15 verses. Then we're going to stair-step our way through those verses as we go. Let's go ahead and read: "For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Look, I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace."

"For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is."

"But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case, the offense of the cross has been removed. I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves."

"For you were called to freedom, brothers; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another."

Let's pray. Father, we just come before you, and we ask that you be our tour guide today. Holy Spirit, just lead us through this passage. Father, let me simply be your vessel for whom you speak today, and I pray, Father, that your words would come forth with power and authority. Father, that you would stir the heart today, and we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen.

Last week, Scott was teaching on a very complicated section of chapter 4, and he laughed about the fact that he thought about giving me that section. Well, instead, he gives me the one that's full of circumcision. A couple of weeks ago, I warned the children's ministry leaders: "Hey, you need to know this is the topic of this passage. It's really about freedom, but it's centered on this topic. You might give some advanced thought to that before it catches you off guard."

Today, we're going to get into this idea of freedom—the freedom that Christ has purchased for each one of us, the freedom that we have the opportunity to live in, and we're also going to discuss the opportunity we have to choose the bondage of the law as well. "For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery."

In 1990, I was a detention officer at the Tarrant County Jail in Fort Worth, Texas, and I was working the release desk one night. There was a gentleman who had been in jail for the last two years; he had served his time. As he came to the release desk, I was processing all of his paperwork, and he said, "You know, I really don't want to leave here. I really want to stay." I said, "Well, here's the thing: you've served your time; the judge has signed off; you have to go." He said, "Well, I'm going to be back here in a couple of hours. I'm probably going to go out and smash the window on a squad car." And sure enough, he leaves, and in 1990, in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, Nolan Ryan was the star pitcher of the Texas Rangers. So, doing his best Nolan Ryan impression, he finds a rock, winds up, and lets go a fastball through the windshield of a squad car and immediately returned at the Tarrant County Jail to await new charges.

The reason I say that is he was free. He could have gone anywhere; he could have done anything with the opportunity, but instead, he chose the bondage of the law as his home. And so where I want us to come away with this: "For freedom, Christ has set us free." I don't want you to miss that. What Jesus did for you on the cross, what Jesus did for you when he stepped forth from the tomb, was he purchased your freedom—something you could not do on your own. In my personal Bible study time right now, I'm going through the Book of Leviticus, and I commented in our staff meeting the other day that the law was bad enough for the people, but I really felt sorry for Aaron, the high priest, and his sons. I don't see how anybody could maintain that law with any confidence. It was a constant battle, and that's the law that Jesus fulfilled. He fulfilled the law, purchasing that freedom for us.