Series: Action [#38]
FREEDOM LETTER- HOLD YOUR GROUND
Galatians 2:11-21
Introduction:
We are living in a time that it is easy to go along and get along. We are watching our Country change very quickly, and we are not going in the right direction. For many years, we have allowed the World to dictate to us what is moral and immoral. We have allowed them to change our doctrines and have allowed them to change the direction of Christians.
What Christians should have been doing and continue to do is hold our ground. We should not drift away from the Bible. I believe we are in a time that we are going to have to choose between God and man.
Galatians 2:11-14
You hold your ground by being…
1. Bold and courageous.
This was definitely a time that things were awkward. Paul called out Peter in front of many people for being hypocritical. It took a lot of boldness and courage to call out one of the most known Christians of that day. It still requires a lot of boldness and courage to take a stand.
Peter had acted out of fear instead of faith. When you operate out of fear, you make yourself a slave. It turned Peter into a people pleaser, which gave people power over him. Peter had a lot of influence with the Jewish believers, which meant that they would follow him, (which is what they did). Even Barnabas fell for it. Barnabas planted this Church; but all of a sudden, he would not even eat with these Gentile believers.
Christians, hold your ground. Be bold and courageous when it comes to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Choose to follow God, not man.
Galatians 2:15-19
You hold your ground by being…
2. Justified by faith in Christ.
Paul was reminding them that we are saved by faith in Jesus Christ, not the Law. He is also reminding them that we can all be saved through faith in Jesus Christ. The Law proves that we are sinners that deserve eternal death; but through God’s grace we can be saved. To be justified means to be just if I’d never sinned. God sees the blood of Christ on us, not that we are Law breakers.
Hold your ground. Do not let people make you think that you do not matter. Do not allow people to make you question who you are. If you are saved, you have been justified. You need to answer to God and God alone. Stop trying to earn you way into good standing with God and remember that you have been justified.
Galatians 2:20-21
You hold your ground by being…
3. Crucified with Christ.
When you are saved, you have been crucified. The old you is dead, and you have become a new creation. The life you live should be by the faith that you have in Jesus. Jesus has resurrected you from eternal death through the price He paid for us on the cross and His victory over death. Hold your ground, you belong to God.
Conclusion:
What this World needs right now, is Christians who will hold their ground by living by faith in Jesus Christ. We cannot waiver back and forth with the World. We need to stand firm on the foundation of Jesus Christ.
