FOR FREEDOM WE WERE SET FREE
Galatians 5:1-15 (NASB)
1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
INTRODUCTION:
Humorous experiences saturate the life of my friend Burnell Lewis. One of the funniest took place over 50 years ago as Burnell participated in the Army’s basic training.
A friend of his persuaded him to help him in embarrassing the Inspection Officer. This Inspection officer enjoyed going over locker and person effects with a white glove. He seemed to over react at ever infraction.
Burnell’s friend asked Burnell to help by agreeing to respond with the words ""Patrick Henry sir in 1776."to what ever this man shouted out. So while the soldiers were standing at inspection and the inspection officer seemed especially intend to find some infraction of the rules. Burnell’s friend hollered out "give me liberty or give me death". Immediately the Inspection Officer cried out who said that." Burnell replied "Patrick Henry sir in 1776."
The entire troupe of soldiers fell all over themselves laughing. The inspection turned into a shambles and Burnell receive orders to report to the commanding officer. He was sternly reprimanded. When he was dismissed he turned around and ask the officer if ha could ask one question? His superior said "yes, what is it." Burnell ask "of the record sir did you think that episode was funny"? The commanding officer put his head down on his desk and laugh heartily. He then said "it is one of the funniest things I ever heard of."
Many of us do not fully understand the privileged of freedom. This is true concerning National freedom. It is even more evident in the matters of spiritual freedom. Today I want to guide you in an analysis of the text and emphasize the title "FOR FREEDOM WE WERE SET FREE"
I. The Purpose . . Of Our Freedom. v 1
2. The Pleasure . . Of Our Freedom. v 1
3. The Persistency . . Of Our Freedom. v 1
I. The Purpose . . Of Our Freedom. v 1
It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
A. The . . Obvious Purpose of Freedom. v 1 a
" It was for freedom . . . "
1. Freedom from A Set of Rules.
a. Jewish religion added over 600 rules to the 10 Commandments.
2. Freedom from A Set of Rituals.
a. Washings and outward expression of religion.
b. The Word of God sets us free for righteous living.
Psalms 119:45 And I will walk at liberty, For I seek Thy precepts.
B. The . . Originator of the Purpose of Freedom. v 1 b
". . . that Christ set us free;. . . "
John 8:32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." NKJV
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through Me. NKJV
John 8:36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. NKJV
1 Cor 9:19-22 19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. NKJV
1 Peter 2:16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.
Illustration
I once visited in the home of a main from China. He was complaining about Americans and the treatment he receive from the general public. I sat and listened until I had enough and then I ask him "why don’t you go back home? He looked at me and said "because of freedom. You don’t really understand your freedoms.
Illustration
A number of zoning cases have affected the right of worship in private homes. In Colorado Springs, minister Richard Blanche has been repeatedly cited for holding religious meetings in his home in violation of a city zoning ordinance.
In Fairhaven, Massachusetts, local zoning official ruled that Bible studies were home occupations and therefore prohibited under the town’s property-use ordinances.
In Los Angeles, officials ruled that home-occupancy regulations forbade orthodox Jews from holding prayer meetings in their homes.
As civil-liberties lawyers could not help but note in a Stratford, Connecticut case, prayer in home Bible studies is penalized while Tupperware parties enjoy the full protection of the Constitution.
APPLICATION:
Man Who had quit smoking Took Cigarettes out of Peoples Mouths Stomped Them on the Floor
That is the wrong attitude of freedom, and that man died from cancer of the foot.
2. The Pleasure . . Of Our Freedom. v 1
It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
A. It Is A Pleasure to Stand Firm for . . Salvation. v 1 c
". . . therefore keep standing firm. . . "
1. It is the gift of God.
ILLUSTRATION:
During the Spanish-American War, Clara Barton was overseeing the work of the Red Cross in Cuba. One day Colonel Theodore Roosevelt came to her, wanting to buy food for his sick and wounded Rough Riders. But she refused to sell him any. Roosevelt was perplexed. His men needed the help and he was prepared to pay out of his own funds. When he asked someone why he could not buy the supplies, he was told, "Colonel, just ask for it!" A smile broke over Roosevelt’s face. Now he understood -- the provisions were not for sale. All he had to do was simply ask and they would be given freely.
That’s how a sinner receives eternal life. Salvation is a gift. If it could be bought at an auction, millionaires would compete for the purchase and most people would be excluded. But God’s forgiveness is free for the asking. Nothing we can do will ever earn it. -- J. Vernon McGee
Illustration
The Presbyterian Church U S A recently held their conference. Last year they had a controversal speaker. They were relating further to that opinion this year. Last years a speaker suggested that an all-powerful God may provide other avenues to salvation for non-Christians.
This year the conservative group got this statement passed. "Jesus Christ is the only Savior and Lord, and all people everywhere are called to place their faith, hope and love in him. No one is saved by virtue of inherent goodness or admirable living, ’for by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God’ (Eph. 2: 8). No one is saved apart from God’s gracious redemption in Jesus Christ. June 20, 2002
B. It Is A Pleasure to Stand Firm for . . Spiritual Lifestyle. v 1 d
". . . therefore keep standing firm. . . "
1. 1 Corinthians 8:9 But take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling
block to the weak.
a. The fruit of the spirit includes "the control of self"
ILLUSTRATION:
In early 1988 Charles and Diana, Prince and Princess of Wales, and some friends took a skiing trip to Switzerland. The shocking news came one afternoon of a terrible accident caused by an avalanche in which one of the prince’s lifelong friends was killed and another seriously injured.
How did it happen? A day or two later the press reported that the prince’s group had chosen to ski out on slopes that were closed to the public. One of them observed, that’s where the optimum fun and excitement were to be found. But it went beyond the margins of what was wise and prudent. And the avalanche exacted its price among those who went beyond the fences. The result? Several broken worlds.
Like the prince and his party who could not stay inside the fences, all of us become curious enough at times to edge out to the fences and see what’s on the other side.
APPLICATION:
We do not buy the thought: GO ALONG TO GET ALONG
3. The Persistency . . Of Our Freedom. v 1
"It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject
again to a yoke of slavery.
A. Persistency In Remembering the . . Past of Slavery. v 1 a
". . . and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery."
1. Habits of the past.
2. Strongholds of the past.
B. Persistency In Remembering the . . Pain of Slavery. v 1 a
". . . and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery."
1. Pain Caused to Self.
2. Pain Caused to Others.
ILLUSTRATION:
Prior to the dramatic political changes that have come to Eastern Europe in recent years, those of us who lived in the free world often thanked the Lord for the freedoms we enjoyed. The testimonies of Christians who grew strong even under tyranny, however, give us reason to ask ourselves how free we really are.
Author Phillip Hook traveled in Eastern Europe before the Berlin Wall came down and the borders opened up. He met some followers of Christ and later made these observations: "I sat in the midst of some Eastern European young people and was thinking how fortunate I was to be an American and free. As I watched them and learned from them,
I realized that they were more free than I. I was seeing freedom as being free to travel, to own, to say; while they had given up the hopes that the world offers materially, and had become free to be God’s people. I discovered that in reality they were far freer than I."
APPLICATION:
FOR FREEDOM WE WERE SET FREE
I. The Purpose . . Of Our Freedom. v 1
2. The Pleasure . . Of Our Freedom. v 1
3. The Persistency . . Of Our Freedom. v 1
