Freedom

FREEDOM

Gal. 5:1-13

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR

1. Sometimes we take our freedoms too far. Like evry other president, William Howard Taft had to endure his share of abuse. One night at the dinner table, his youngest son made a disrespectful remark to him. There was a sudden hush.

2. “Well,” said Mrs. Taft, “aren’t you going to punish him?”

3. With tongue in cheek, the president replied, “If the remark was addressed to me as his father, he certainly will be punished. However, if he addressed it to the President of the United States, that is his constitutional privilege!”

B. WHAT IS FREEDOM?

1. In our country, the concepts of freedom of speech, the freedom to bear arms, and the free exercise of religion have endured constant scrutiny and been redefined.

2. But the term “freedom,” as defined by scripture, has a much different meaning. Paul, in Galatians 5, defines our freedom in two forms. The first form is negative and suggests we are free FROM something. The second form is positive and suggests we are free FOR something.

C. TEXT & TITLE

1. 5 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. 2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. 13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” Gal. 5:1-6,13.

2. The title of this message is “Freedom.”

I. CHRISTIAN FREEDOM: FREEDOM FROM...

A. LEGALISTIC BONDAGE

1. Context of Gal. 5 – the struggle over keeping the Mosaic Law. Jews argued that Gentiles must become Jews before they could become Christians.

2. This type of practice still happens today. In some circles Christians impose outward standards when deducing whether people are Christians or not.

3. EXAMPLES: how they cut their hair; dress codes; worship practices; use of tattoos, piercings, etc. We need to be communicating, “You don’t have to live up to other people’s expectations to earn God’s favor or to be a Christian.”

4. Does that mean that we do away with the rule of modesty? No! Do we do away with godly living? God forbid! But we accept people where they are and give them time to grow up.

5. The early church’s decision was, “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God” Acts 15:19. The Holy Spirit gave them the judgment not to throw stumbling blocks in the way of people coming to Christ. Paul acknowledged that they came from every conceivable sinful background (1 Cor. 6:9-11) but the Holy Spirit knew just how to transform each of them into the image of Christ!

B. FREEDOM FROM SLAVERY TO SIN

1. Some have gone the opposite direction and have accepted the world’s pattern of lawless freedom. “With one accord they have broken off the yoke” Jer. 5:5. Some have exchanged one bondage for another.

2. After the Civil War, freed slaves were given the choice to continue to sharecrop for their former owners. The pay for all their work would be a place to live and a small amount of money to feed and clothe their families. However, the cost of things was kept so high that, though these people were free, they remained in abject poverty. They might feel good about being “free,” but they found themselves economically and socially controlled by another type of bondage.

3. FALSE FREEDOMS:

a. Those who throw off the restraints of Christianity think they have greater freedom. They speak of free love & life, but they are slaves to their own appetites.

b. Then there’s Bondage to Peer Pressure. They claim they’re “dressing like a unique individual.” The question is, why are there so many unique individuals who all look the same?

c. Addiction Vs. Bondage. Isn’t addiction a polite way of saying that I am enslaved? Today free speech has been twisted to become unbridled profanity.

d. People argue for “Reproductive Rights” or “A Woman’s Right to Choose” but it’s not the freedom of choice that people want so much, but rather a license to sin!