THE LIBERTY WE HAVE IN CHRIST Presented by Steven Schiller
FREEDOM FROM THE LAW OF MOSES...
This is Paul's primary concern in this epistle - cf. Ga 2:16,17
Upon which he expounded in the first four chapters - e.g., Ga 3:23,24-25
Concerning which he wrote elsewhere - Ro 7:4,5-6
-- Christ has delivered the Jews from their obligation to keep the Law of Moses
FREEDOM FROM THE BONDAGE OF SIN...
Writing of being "justified", Paul refers to being "not guilty" of sin - cf. Ga 2:16,17,18
Concerning which he wrote elsewhere - Ro 8:1-2
Jesus also spoke of the deliverance from bondage of sin - Jn 8:31,32,33-34
-- Christ has delivered all men from the guilt and power of sin
FREEDOM FROM THE TRADITIONS OF MEN...
Paul wrote of this in chapter four - Ga 4:9,10,11
Also in his writing to the Colossians - Col 2:20,21,22-23
Jesus also spoke of the danger of human traditions - Mt 15:3,4,5,6,7,8-9
-- Christ has delivered us from the need to keep human traditions
FREEDOM FROM WORKS OF THE FLESH...
Paul will have much more to say about the works of the flesh - Ga 5:13,17,19,20-21; 6:8
As he warned against in writing to the Corinthians - 1Co 6:9,10-11
About which Jesus also warned - Mk 7:20,21,22-23
-- Christ offers deliverance from deeds of the flesh which endanger our salvation
[Such are the things we experience through the liberty that we have in Christ. Of course, that presumes that we are indeed...]
STANDING FAST IN OUR LIBERTY
HANDLE THE LAW PROPERLY...
The Law is good if used properly - 1Ti 1:8; 2Ti 2:15
It was written for our learning and admonition - Ro 15:4; 1Co 10:11
It is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness - 2Ti 3:14,15,16-17
But it has its limitations
It has ceased as a system of justification - cf. Ga 5:4
It has been replaced as a covenant - cf. He 8:6,7,8,9,10,11,12-13
Its religious observances have been replaced - cf. He 9:9-10; Jn 4:20,21,22,23-24
-- The Law must be properly handled if we are to preserve our liberty in Christ
APPLY OUR BLESSINGS IN CHRIST LIBERALLY...
The blood of Christ frees us from the guilt of sin - Ep 1:4
The remission of sins is promised to those who repent and are baptized - Ac 2:38
The blood of Christ remains available for Christians who repent of sin - 1Jn 1:7,8,9-10
Christians need to repent and pray when they sin - Ac 8:22
The Spirit of God can free us from the power of sin - Ro 8:12-13
God can strengthen us by His Spirit in the inner man - Ep 3:16
We can do all things through God and Christ - Php 2:12-13; 4:13
-- We must not hesitate to access the blood of Christ and the Spirit of God to make use of our liberty in Christ
DEAL WITH TRADITIONS OF MEN CAUTIOUSLY...
Traditions may have a place on an individual level - cf. Ro 14:5-6
When not taught as a doctrine of God - Mk 7:7
When not done instead of keeping a command of God - Mk 7:8-9
But they must handled with the utmost of caution on a congregational level
Things done on a congregational level necessarily bind them upon all the members
That is why religious holidays are reasons for such grave concern - Ga 4:10-11
-- We must be careful not to let human traditions destroy our liberty in Christ
FOLLOW THE SPIRIT DILIGENTLY...
We must not use our liberty as an occasion for the flesh - Ga 5:13
Our best weapon against the flesh is to follow the Spirit - Ga 5:16,17-18
Those who are led by the Spirit will produce the fruit of the Spirit - Ga 5:22,21-23
Our new life in Christ makes it possible to walk in the Spirit - Ga 5:25
-- We must be diligent to set our minds on the things of the Spirit if we want to enjoy life and peace - Ro 8:5-6
CONCLUSION
The liberty we enjoy in Christ is great...
Freedom from the law of Moses
Freedom from the bondage of sin
Freedom from the traditions of men
Freedom from the works of the flesh
But it is not license to do whatever we want; we must...
Handle the Law properly
Apply our blessings in Christ liberally
Deal with traditions of men cautiously
Follow the Spirit diligently
With the aid of Paul's epistle to the Galatians, we will succeed in "Standing Fast In The Liberty Of Christ". Have you begun to enjoy the liberty Christ offers through obedience to the gospel...?
OBEY THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST
HEAR
BELIEVE
REPENT
CONFESS
BE BAPTIZED
LIVE FAITHFULLY