"Holding On To The Freedom We Have”

In Jesus Holy Name March 29, 2020

Text: Galatians Series Galatians 5 Redeemer

“Holding on to the Freedom We Have”

May the grace and mercy or our risen Lord bring comfort to you in these days of “sheltering in”.

Ronald Reagan, the 40th president of the United States stated: “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it on to our children in the blood stream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”

“If we lose freedom here, there, is no place to escape to. This is the last stand on Earth. And this idea that government is beholden to the people, that it has no other source of power except to sovereign people, is still the newest and most unique idea in all the long history of man’s relation to man.” End of quote.

Paul begins chapter 5 to the Galatians with a clarion call to not lose their freedom. “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”. (5:1) The most basic choice is between slavery and freedom. This verse tells us why Jesus came… to set us free from the fear of the wrath of God. Paul tells us what we must do to maintain our freedom…. “Stand firm.” Stand firm on the Gospel. The crucial point is that freedom comes at the cost of continual vigilance.

How do we stand firm in our freedom when we live in a performance-based world? The answer must be that we continually remind ourselves (and do it several times a day) We know we do not measure up to our own ethical standards. We know we fall short of moral purity, yet in love, God has already declared that we are “accepted and loved ” as long as we shelter under the arms of Jesus. (Ephesians 1:6)

Psalm 91:1 reminds us of this truth. “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”

Every day tiny decisions come our way to become selfish. Tiny decisions have enormous consequences. Paul reminds them and us “If you give in to the Judaizers, their rules of circumcision & Kosher food” … “then the work of Jesus and his sacrificial death and the power of His resurrection “is of no benefit to you.”.

“Mark my words! Christ will be of no value to you at all” (Galatians 5:2). to be circumcised, or to follow Jewish kosher laws would be to reject the gospel of the grace of God. It would be saying, “Christ is not enough for me.” In that case, you have lost the benefits that Christ came to secure for you. You have turned from freedom and returned to the chains of slavery of the law. Mark my words….you have added to “grace”.

Kent Hunter in his book “Who Broke My Church” wrote: “salvation occurs by grace, through faith. Grace means salvation is a gift from God. Just because it’s a free gift to you does not mean it has no cost. It cost Jesus his life.

Remember this: Justice happens when you get what you deserve. Mercy happens when don’t’ get what you deserve. Grace is getting what you don’t deserve. (repeat)

You don’t do things to become a Christian. When you become a Christian you do things that demonstrate that you are imitating Jesus in your behavior.” (p. 76)

The Galatian Christians were beginning to “drift”. They were beginning to “drift” from the values of Jesus. Values are what you consider important. (repeat) For me, the words of Jesus would be important.

They were beginning to drift away from their theological moorings, the doctrine of grace alone, through faith. Beliefs are what you demonstrate that you believe are true. (repeat)

They were drifting away from their “priorities”. Priorities are what you will always do first. (repeat) Everyday you make hundreds of choices. Priorities are signposts of what is important to help you decide what you will do and what you will say. In Galatians 5:14 Paul reminds them of their priority: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” And the second: “Love your neighbor as you love yourself”.

Think about your priorities: Are you more concerned about:

1. A person lost in sin… or a scratch on your new car?

2. Missing the worship service… or missing a day’s work?

3. Your church not growing… or your garden not growing?