THE FREEDOM WE HAVE IN CHRIST JESUS
Galatians 2
Freedom is a word that Americans cherish. Slogans like this abound: “This will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave ."
The Apostle Paul cherished the fact that his spiritual liberty in Christ was worth far more than popularity or even security. He was willing to fight for that liberty.
The fact that the church leaders in Jerusalem extended to Paul the “right hand of fellowship” is remarkable considering his past. With his past resume, I’m not sure congregations today would accept him!
In our text today, Paul is continuing to craft his argument to call the Galatians back to the freedom of the Gospel. Paul patiently builds a case to prove that the doubts the Galatians had about him had been planted by the Judaizers who had less claim to authority than Paul did.
For us today, the question is who are the Judaizers in the church? The role is filled by those who introduce rules, policies and extra requirements in non-essentials that they claim are necessary for salvation or full participation in the Christian life. They often have developed their own list of “do’s and don’ts”. Often they are motivated by a desire for power and control or to maintain an image of moral and religious superiority.
They diligently work to promote their own agenda, vision and purposes. They often elevate non-essentials and traditions to the same level as Scripture. They relish the opportunities to expose others when they violate the principles that these modern Judaizers promote. Paul shows very clearly that grace gives us freedom from the law as a basis of salvation and Christian growth.
A few weeks ago, a congregation in a neighboring state decided not to assemble for worship on Sunday morning, but rather go out in groups of 10-12 to minister to those who were homeless, helpless or hurting. A self-appointed ‘watchdog’ in our brotherhood unleashed a venomous attack on this congregation for “forsaking the assembly” and not coming together as a body on the first day of the week to partake of the Lord’s Supper, using the ‘slippery slope’ argument.
The best news is that there are no human standards that should enslave us. Paul believed that we should guard this freedom at all cost. In this passage, Paul makes four very important statements in regard to the freedom that Christ gives. Let’s take some time today to examine these.
We are free from those who seek to enslave us. Paul uses three very unusual words to describe the Judaizers’ activities. Each of these words are derived from the world of political and military espionage but applied to the conflict raging in the early church.
The idea is that of a conspiracy of error, a secret plot concocted by enemies of the faith, informants, and double agents deliberately planted to ferret out confidential information.
Peter penned words describing a situation very similar to the one Paul describes. He said, “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them” - 2 Peter 2:1 NIV.
The objective of Paul’s opponents was not to honor Christ, but to “reduce to slavery” fellow Christians. They insisted on the right to judge the actions and consciences of those they could dominate. Even in modern culture many, many people have been enslaved by the teachings of others.
We marvel at how someone like Jim Jones a few years ago could enslave people to such an extent as to get 918 people to drink poisoned Kool-Aid. And even in our very own fellowship we have seen churches and Christians become self-appointed ‘cult leaders’ to preserve a certain line of beliefs and practices that cannot be defended scripturally.
Just as in Paul’s day the Judaizers did not see themselves as trying to enslave anyone, but they were requiring obedience to all the Jewish laws and traditions. From this letter we learn: Nobody threatens those who are in slavery more than the person who truly has been reborn into freedom. The truth is that we are not born free; we come into the world helpless, ignorant and dependent and a slave to the mercy of our parents or guardians.
If we live to God, it is only because we have been united with Christ crucified. He gave himself for us, and he makes possible the life of faith.
If the Judaizers were right - if we could receive righteousness by observing the law - there would be no need for grace, and Christ’s self-giving would have been a waste. We are free from the fear of dominant people.
Paul himself felt no compelling need to obtain the approval of the Jerusalem apostles; the Gentile churches had no need to be confirmed by the Jewish believers. Paul approached the Jerusalem leaders with the attitude of a man who has little to fear from a close inspection and thorough testing.
Paul spoke privately to those who were the leaders of the Jerusalem church, for he wished to avoid public remarks or a decision, whether valid or not, that could harm the work he had already done or was planning to do among the Gentiles.
Paul recognized that the decision reached could have terrible consequences for the church’s missionary outreach - if the doctrine of grace were not boldly and clearly upheld.
Paul felt that the greatest need was for the people of God to stand united as one church. Oh, that Jesus’ plea for unity in John 17 and Paul’s plea here could be embraced by all of Christendom today!
For Christian unity it is necessary that Christian believers be united through their relationship to Christ. Bickering and division is all too easy, unity takes relationship and work.
Paul does not exalt nor diminish the role of any of the Jerusalem leaders. Like Paul, we too must reject human appraisal of importance. What else did the Gentiles have to do to be acceptable to God? Of course, the answer is - nothing!
And, the leaders of the church in Jerusalem set an excellent example building partnership in ministry. Those in the role of leadership have the great responsibility to glorify God, not to make themselves look more spiritual or authoritative. Any leadership role in the church should always glorify God and amplify the Gospel of Christ.
The moment any Christ follower starts proclaiming a message that says faith “plus,” their discipleship is diminished and just like Paul says they are running the race in vain.
The leaders of the church in Jerusalem realized that Paul’s message and mission was from God and they chose to add nothing to his message. This fellowship was not just the partnership of one believer with another in Christ; it was the partnership of one apostle with another in the mission of Christ.
The freedom in Jesus Christ is for both Jews and Gentiles. The Jews only recognized two classes of people: us and everybody else.
Has that not been the spirit in too many of our congregations over the past 100 years or so – us and then everybody else?
Remember, the main problem for the Judaizers was the idea that God wanted them to receive Gentiles into the church without them first becoming Jews. God intends for all individuals to enjoy the privileges of freedom. God did not create any human being to be a slave - to a religious, political or economic system, to social prejudices or barriers, to sin or habits or to traditions.
From everything that would bar people from true fellowship with God, God in Christ has set us free. Freedom in Christ is for all people everywhere.
When it came down to the Judaizers demand that Titus who was a Greek be circumcised, Paul refused seeing that acceptance of these traditions would cause Christianity to become just another sect of Judaism. The leaders in Jerusalem made a huge concession. It took nothing short of a direct revelation from God to cause them to cross the cultural boundaries and accept Gentiles into the fellowship. The reverse of that is that no one demanded that a Jewish Christian adopt Gentile customs. In fact until the temple in Jerusalem, was destroyed in 70 AD the worship of Christians in Jerusalem very much resembled Jewish worship.
When Christ’s commission is remembered, Christians should be able to settle their differences to reach the world for Christ. We are free to bring freedom to others.
V. 10 shows us that the discussion ended quite fittingly with a call to practical application of one’s faith – “All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along.”
To Paul this means translating the lofty concept of freedom into practical activities to set people free. As far as the New Testament is concerned, the assignment of caring for the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of others has been given to the church.
What restrictions were added to Paul and Barnabas as they preached? What additions were now required? Answer: only that they keep on remembering the poor - which, of course, they were already doing.
James, the brother of Jesus notes; suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead .
Paul demonstrated this truth when he and Barnabas traveled to Jerusalem with an offering from Antioch. Paul believes that the Good News of freedom is for everyone.
There are some great practical applications of our faith that will set others free. Through evangelism we can set people free from superstition, idolatry and fear. Through education others can know God’s Will and be free from ignorance and disobedience. Through counseling, people can be freed from emotional bondage. Through benevolence people can be free of hunger and being destitute.
Paul had lived much of his life trying to diligently keep every aspect of the Law. However, after his conversion he preached and practiced the life-giving grace of Jesus Christ. He noted that he had died to the old life and was raised with Christ in a new life.
Paul realized that he was charged with the task of proclaiming freedom through Jesus Christ. Paul was willing to debate anyone including the other apostles to defend the idea that, “It was for freedom that Christ set us free” .
The Christian life is not about working as hard as we can to live right; it is about allowing Christ Himself to live out His life through us. As that happens, Christ’s character and glory are displayed in us for all to see.
Because of Paul’s death to the Law and because of Christ’s death for the sins of the world Paul could say , “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
In v. 21, Paul says the gospel does not nullify the grace of God. If anyone insists that our righteousness comes by works or that we earn our salvation through our own efforts, that person is saying, in effect, that Christ died needlessly .
And, if anyone believes that we keep our salvation by doing good works, somehow contributing to the work of Christ – meeting Him halfway, so to speak – that individual regards the full and finished work of Christ on the cross as partial and incomplete.
When freedom is forgotten, our fellowship will disintegrate into factions with its petty arguments that will distract from the real mission of the church. The question is how far will you go to defend the freedom that we have in Jesus Christ?
We are all free in Christ! This great teaching of Paul has never been fully realized even in the church in 2017.
Oh, how we need to understand and appreciate that grace is the way to life and the way of life!
Christ redeemed us for relationship – we are accountable to God and each other. We cannot live as we please while proclaiming Christianity and expect everyone else to look the other way. When we hold each other accountable to a Christ-like life of integrity – and invite others to do the same – we can heal the hypocrisy that so many people accuse Christians of.
As Christians we represent Christ to a watching world – for better or for worse. We affect the attitudes of others toward Christ by our words and our actions.
And, because of God’s magnanimous gift of grace, we must be committed to truth. God is the one true God - the God of truth . And, Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life . And, God’s Holy Spirit guides believers into the truth .
When we claim to be children of God but live contrary to His will, we’re not living in keeping with the truth. In fact, 1 John 3:18 NASB says, “Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.” Of all people, Christians should be known for our unwavering commitment to all that is true and right – demonstrated especially in both our private and public lives.
G-R-A-C-E, amazing grace, how sweet the sound, is sweet, when we truly recognize and understand our sinful instincts! Do you share God’s amazing grace today?
There is a contemporary song entitled, “Jesus, Friend of Sinners” . There’s a heart piercing line that says:
Nobody knows what we’re for
only what we’re against when we judge the wounded
What if we put down our signs
crossed over the lines and loved like You [Christ] did
I wonder how much more the world would be changed if we put down our signs of rhetoric and writing and our petty standards and vitriolic attacks AND loved like Jesus does.
But what if we, as Christians, followers of Jesus, disciples, put down our pointing fingers and loved like Jesus? Jesus crossed so many lines to extended grace to sinners.
He touched the untouchable when He didn’t have to. But they needed it. He loved the unlovable when people weren’t kind to Him. He came to save them from their sins, too. Yes, even the Pharisees. Jesus loved them despite their political agendas to kill Him.
Jesus ate with outcasts, sinners and tax collectors. Because it was lonely in their outcast world and they needed love, too. He granted mercy to the adulterous woman when death was merited according to the Law.
Everyone has a need to be loved. Find the need and meet it in a way Jesus would. And to love like Jesus, so we should do likewise as grateful lepers at Jesus’ feet.
If you need God’s grace today – please come as we sing the invitation song.
