Text: Galatians 5:1-6
Title: Standing firm in our Freedom
Introduction
Since today is the 4th of July we are going to jump ahead in our study of Galatians to Galatians chapter 5- because Galatians chapter 5 is all about the subject of Freedom
–The freedom we have in Christ.
“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.”(v1)
1.Christ has set us free
2.Christ wants us to stay free
3.Staying free in Christ is conditional.
4.It’s conditional on us Standing Firm!
Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”(v1)
Question 1: What are we to stand firm against?
Who is our spiritual Taliban? Who wants to take away the freedom we have in Christ?
What are we to stand firm against?
Question 2: What are we to stand firm on?
Who is on our side? Who can we count on to help us stay free spiritually?
Conclusion: We can stay free because those who are for us are far stronger than those who are against us.
Question1. What are we to stand firm against?
1. Those who insist you must do more than trust in Christ if you really want to be right with God. (v2-6)
“Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” (v2-6)
There will always be those who insist that trusting in Christ is never enough if you really want to be right with God. They say to us if you really want to be right with God you have to do more than trust in Christ. The Galatians found themselves is such a battle. Apparently there were those who came into the church and insisted that trusting in Christ was not enough. They were told you must also be circumcised in order to be right with God. They insisted that Christ plus Circumcision = being right with God . No circumcision- No justification (no getting right with God) . It’s implied in our scripture passage that some in the church believed the lie. They were planning on being circumcised.
Let’s fast forward now 2000 years.Many of us are not quiet sure if trusting in Christ is enough for us to be right with God. Surely there must be more we are to do besides trusting in Christ
Here is one that is on the top of all our lists.
•Trying hard to be a good person
Christ plus trying hard to be a good person = being right with God
Let’s substitute “trying hard to be a good person” for the word “circumcision” in verse 2.
V2 “Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourself be circumcised, (trying hard to be a good person) Christ will be of no value to you at all.”
Now let’s substitute “trying hard to be a good person” for “trying to be justified by law” in verse 4
V4 “You who are trying to be justified by law (trying hard to be a good person) have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.
One more. Now let’s again substitute “trying hard to be a good person” for “circumcision” in verse 6
V6 “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision (trying hard to be a good person) nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”
Whenever you try to add anything to what Christ has already done for you on the Cross 3 things always happen
1.You will devalue Christ (v2)
“Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.”
•You will devalue the Cross of Christ
•You will devalue the suffering of Christ
•You will devalue the Words of Christ
•You will devalue the Deity of Christ
•You will devalue the power of Christ
•You will devalue the love of Christ
•You will devalue the Church of Christ
•You will devalue the Sufficiently of Christ
•You will devalue the Lordship of Christ
•You will devalue the worship of Christ
2.You will alienate yourself from Christ (v4)
Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ;
The word used for “alienate” here is a very strong word. It means to “do away with.”
Once you begin to devalue Christ it is only a matter of time until you do away with him.
•You do away with prayer
•You do away with reading the word
•You do away with fellowship
•You do away with worship
•You do away with sharing your faith
Finally
3.You will fall away from grace (v4)
… you have fallen away from grace.
The root word for grace means “to rejoice”.Grace is “that which causes joy.” When you fall away from grace you fall away from joy.Trying harder in order to be right with God is not joy.
Jesus is joy.
So how do you stay free in Christ? How do you stand firm in Christ? Who is fighting for us?
“But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” (v5-6)
You have 3 things fighting for you according to v5-6
Faith, hope and love
1.Your faith in Christ
“But by faith…
“The only thing that counts is faith…
Another word for faith is trust
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Your faith in Christ that He is who he says he is.Faith comes from hearing and hearing by the word of God.Faith grows.
2.Your hope in Christ
But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope
Your Hope in Christ comes from your faith in Christ.If your faith in Christ is strong then your hope in Christ will be strong. Hope in the promises of God
3.Your love in Christ
The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” (v5-6)
Love follows after faith and hope.I wish I loved God more. Love follows after faith and hope.If you have faith and hope then love will naturally follow. Build your faith and hope first.
Conclusion
Are you standing firm in the freedom you have in Christ?
Is your faith in Christ firm?
Is your hope in Christ firm?
Is your love in Christ firm?
Or
Are you devaluing Christ?
Are you alienated from Christ?
Have you lost the joy of Christ?
