Stand Firm For Freedom

Stand Firm For Freedom!

Galatians 5: 1, 13 – 26

1 For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery.

13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity to indulge your flesh, but through love serve one another.

14 For the whole law can be summed up in a single commandment, namely, "You must love your neighbor as yourself."

15 However, if you continually bite and devour one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another.

16 But I say, live by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh has desires that are opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit has desires that are opposed to the flesh, for these are in opposition to each other, so that you cannot do what you want.

18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, depravity,

20 idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, murder, drunkenness, carousing, and similar things. I am warning you, as I had warned you before: Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

24 Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with the Spirit.

26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, being jealous of one another.

1. Don’t be enslaved again

Verse 1

By the Law

Our former “religion”

Legalism and works theology

By the enslaving power of Sin

Sin is seductive, addictive, and destructive.

2. Love your Neighbor

Verses 13 – 15

We are free to love our neighbors!

Freedom not license!

3. Crucify your sinful nature

Verses 16 –21, 24

Crucifixion – a grievous way to die!

The contradiction: vv. 17 – 21

The result: Hell

3. Crucify your sinful nature

The acts: vv. 19 – 21

Sexual sins: fornication, impurity, sensuality

Religious deviations: idolatry, witchcraft

Disorders in personal relationships: hatred, discord, envy, rage, selfish ambition, divisions, factions and envy

Others sins: drunkenness and orgies

4. Live by the Spirit

Verses 22 – 25

Make it a habit to walk in the Spirit

One fruit, 9 manifestations