Freedom in Christ.
Stand with me and lift your Bible and repeat after me.
This is my Bible.
I am what it says I am.
I can do what it says I can do.
I am going to learn more of what it says I can be.
The indestructible, never ending, living Word of God.
I will never be the same.
I will never be the same.
In Jesus Name.
Before you sit down, say, “Hello” to someone you have not met before.
Title: Freedom in Christ – Living by Grace, Walking by the Spirit**
Turn in your Bibles to Galatians chapter 5 and say, “Amen when you are there.
Galatians 5:1 – "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."
Paul’s letter to the Galatians is a powerful reminder of what it means to live in the true freedom Christ offers. Imagine being in a church where people have begun to slip back into rule-keeping and ritual, weighed down by burdens they were never meant to carry.
The Galatians faced this struggle, and sometimes, we do too. We think, "If I just do a little more, try a little harder, I’ll finally be right with God."
Paul’s message is clear: Christ alone has set us free. Our salvation is a gift, not something we earn.
1. The Gospel of Grace: Christ’s Work Alone (Galatians 1:6-10)
The True Gospel
Paul begins with urgency, saying, "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ" (v. 6). He’s warning us not to trade this grace for a “different gospel.”
Our Foundation
Jesus’ work on the cross was enough—complete and final. Any message that adds to His finished work distorts the gospel.
Today, God calls us to stand on grace alone, trusting that our salvation doesn’t depend on our performance but on His promise. We can rest in His love and live in confidence.
2. Justified by Faith: Our Identity in Christ (Galatians 2:15-21)
The New Covenant:
Paul teaches that we are justified by faith in Christ, not by following the Law. He says, "I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me" (v. 20).
Freedom from Performance:
God’s acceptance of us isn’t based on what we do but on what Christ has done. When we put our faith in Jesus, our old life is gone, and a new life begins.
We no longer have to strive to earn God’s favor. Instead, we can live from a place of grace and acceptance, walking in the identity God has given us as His beloved children.
3. Freedom in Christ: The Power of Grace (Galatians 5:1)
Living in Freedom:
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” Paul calls us to embrace this freedom, standing firm against anything that would enslave us again.
Guarding Our Freedom:
Legalism and a “works-based” mindset are real dangers, tempting us to believe that our worthiness before God depends on our efforts.
True freedom isn’t a license to do whatever we want; it’s the freedom to become who God has created us to be. Let’s commit today to guard our hearts from any message that would diminish the grace we’ve been given.
4. Walking by the Spirit:
Transformation from Within (Galatians 5:13-26)
Life in the Spirit:
Paul contrasts the works of the flesh—things like hatred, jealousy, and selfishness—with the fruit of the Spirit, such as love, joy, and peace.
A Transformed Life:
As we surrender to God, the Spirit grows these qualities in us. Our freedom in Christ is a freedom to live a new life, marked by the Spirit’s power.
The Holy Spirit enables us to love, forgive, and serve in ways we couldn’t do on our own. Every day, we’re invited to live a Spirit-led life, to let God’s character shine through us.
5. Bearing One Another’s Burdens: Living in Community (Galatians 6:1-10)
The Law of Christ:
Paul encourages us to bear each other’s burdens, to lift one another up. We’re not meant to walk this journey alone.
Sowing and Reaping:
What we invest in our spiritual lives brings an eternal reward. Let’s not grow weary in doing good, for in due season, we will reap a harvest.
We are called to build a community grounded in love and mutual support. As we carry each other’s burdens, we fulfill the law of Christ.
Paul’s message to the Galatians is also a message for us: Jesus came to set us free from striving, from condemnation, and from sin’s grip. He has offered us life through His Spirit, an invitation to know true joy and peace.
Today, let’s ask ourselves: *Am I living fully in the freedom Christ has given me? Or, am I still weighed down by fear, doubt, or trying to earn God’s love?
Also today, I believe the Lord is calling some of us to respond to His invitation for freedom and transformation. Maybe you’ve been holding onto burdens you were never meant to carry. Maybe you’ve been striving, feeling like God’s love depends on your efforts. Or perhaps you’re struggling to break free from sin, and you feel trapped.
For Those Seeking Freedom:
If you’re here and you’ve never experienced the freedom that Jesus offers, this is your moment. He loves you, and His arms are open wide. Come and receive His forgiveness and the gift of salvation.
For Those Wanting to Surrender
For others, maybe you’ve believed, but you haven’t fully surrendered. You’re trying to control, to perform, to make yourself right with God in your own strength. Today, He’s inviting you to let go, to give it all to Him, and to live by His Spirit.
For Those in Need of Strength:
And finally, if you feel weak, if you need a fresh filling of the Spirit to live the life God’s called you to, come forward. He is here to empower you, to strengthen you, to grow His fruit in you.
Let’s come to the altar, asking the Holy Spirit to fill us, to break every chain, and to lead us in true freedom.
Come now.
Let’s pray together.
