1 00:00:00,300 --> 00:00:03,900 We've been studying in Galatians, we've come to chapter 2 00:00:03,900 --> 00:00:07,600 5 and there was no way that I was going to be able to get 3 00:00:07,600 --> 00:00:10,600 through all 25 verses of Galatians 5. 4 00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:14,800 So I'm going to be taking the first 15 verses and studying 5 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:17,200 that this morning and we've already seen up to this point in 6 00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:22,100 the previous chapter studies. We kind of step back and take a 7 00:00:22,108 --> 00:00:24,400 look at Galatians. It's really kind of divided up 8 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:27,600 into two different sections. Galatians chapter 1 and 2. 9 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:29,900 Go together to really show us how we're saved. 10 00:00:30,100 --> 00:00:34,500 And by grace through faith and then in Galatians, 3 and 4 and 11 00:00:34,500 --> 00:00:39,600 show us how it is Grace through faith, in only Christ Christ 12 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:43,200 alone, and he Supreme, and it's by Christ that were delivered 13 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:47,300 from slavery into sonship. We're not slaves anymore. 14 00:00:47,300 --> 00:00:49,500 We're sons in a relationship with God. 15 00:00:50,700 --> 00:00:55,000 So we've seen to this point with some pretty heavy, contextual 16 00:00:56,800 --> 00:01:00,200 things that we have studies meaty lessons and when we get to 17 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:04,400 Galatians 5, Paul is now going to be saying, okay, I've shown 18 00:01:04,400 --> 00:01:06,700 you and taught you this stuff. Now, we're going to really apply 19 00:01:06,700 --> 00:01:09,800 it to our lives. Moving forward into Galatians 5 20 00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:14,200 and infant Galatians 6. And Paul is going to start 21 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:16,600 talking about how we've been running a race and how the 22 00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:18,200 Galatians have been running a race. 23 00:01:18,500 --> 00:01:20,700 And now they're really kind of getting off track with the way 24 00:01:20,700 --> 00:01:23,900 that they're running this race. And the imagery. 25 00:01:23,900 --> 00:01:25,900 That's this is kind of familiar to Paul. 26 00:01:25,900 --> 00:01:30,800 He does this often, he takes athletic pictures and applies 27 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:32,400 them to how he's trying to teach. 28 00:01:33,700 --> 00:01:37,600 About how we're running a race or in a battle or a war or in a 29 00:01:37,607 --> 00:01:40,500 fight. And we want to understand that 30 00:01:40,500 --> 00:01:44,400 when Paul uses this imagery of fighting or war or running, he 31 00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:50,000 never talks about how this is used by means to come to Faith 32 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:52,300 in Jesus Christ. That's not the way to come to 33 00:01:52,300 --> 00:01:57,200 Jesus by doing these things instead, he uses this athletic 34 00:01:57,200 --> 00:02:01,500 imagery running a race to describe our life in Christ, how 35 00:02:01,500 --> 00:02:04,200 it's supposed to look. And that's important. 36 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:07,100 Because in the day that we live in today, our modern day, 37 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:11,200 there's a big idea of. Well, you know, we come to 38 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:14,400 Christ, we may be, you know, in some other religions, we pray a 39 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:17,400 prayer. We confess the name of Christ. 40 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:20,700 We are baptized and now which is smooth sailing. 41 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:24,700 It's just easy koston all the way through from here on out and 42 00:02:24,800 --> 00:02:29,200 and and you know our life is sealed, our Salvation sealed 43 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:30,900 based on those actions that we did. 44 00:02:31,100 --> 00:02:33,100 And that's not what the New Testament describes. 45 00:02:33,300 --> 00:02:37,300 Or teaches us the New Testament describes a Christian Life as a 46 00:02:37,300 --> 00:02:39,500 battle or war or race or Marathon. 47 00:02:41,900 --> 00:02:44,600 And not even just a, you know, a quick race, it's a, you know, 48 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:47,700 not a 50-yard Dash, It's a race were rubbing running through 49 00:02:47,700 --> 00:02:52,800 struggling through going through life, living the Christian life 50 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:54,500 and that's how Paul describes us. 51 00:02:56,300 --> 00:03:01,800 So how do we struggle and fight and run but not be and I'm going 52 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:04,900 to use this word often quote unquote legalistic. 53 00:03:05,900 --> 00:03:08,500 Because this is a word that we're starting to see a lot more 54 00:03:09,900 --> 00:03:14,300 nowadays, legalism legalistic, I want us to understand what that 55 00:03:14,300 --> 00:03:17,000 term. Biblically means not what the 56 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:18,900 world likes to think that it means. 57 00:03:20,100 --> 00:03:22,100 But how do we do that? How do we struggle? 58 00:03:22,100 --> 00:03:23,900 How do we go through a race without thinking that? 59 00:03:23,900 --> 00:03:26,000 We're being legalistic? And I want to try to show us 60 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:31,300 that and Paul is going to show us in Galatians 5 & 6, help us 61 00:03:31,300 --> 00:03:35,200 understand that as well. So we're going to read the first 62 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:39,300 15 verses of Galatians 5 and then we're going to get into our 63 00:03:39,300 --> 00:03:43,100 study here. So Galatians 5 beginning in 64 00:03:43,100 --> 00:03:48,100 verse 1, Stand Fast therefore in the Liberty by which Christ has 65 00:03:48,100 --> 00:03:51,500 made us free and do not be entangled again with the Yoke of 66 00:03:51,500 --> 00:03:54,900 bondage. Indeed, I Paul say to you that 67 00:03:54,900 --> 00:03:58,000 if you become circumcised Christ, will profit you. 68 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:01,300 Nothing and I testify again to every man who becomes 69 00:04:01,300 --> 00:04:05,500 circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law, you have 70 00:04:05,500 --> 00:04:09,000 become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified 71 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:10,900 by the law you have fallen from Grace. 72 00:04:11,100 --> 00:04:14,500 Race for we through the spirit. Eagerly wait for the hope of 73 00:04:14,500 --> 00:04:17,000 righteousness by faith for in Christ. 74 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:20,300 Jesus, neither circumcision. Nor uncircumcision avails 75 00:04:20,300 --> 00:04:23,300 anything. But Faith working through, love 76 00:04:23,800 --> 00:04:26,000 you ran. Well, who hindered you from 77 00:04:26,100 --> 00:04:29,100 obeying the truth. This persuasion does not come 78 00:04:29,100 --> 00:04:29,900 from him. Who calls? 79 00:04:29,900 --> 00:04:31,900 You? A little leaven leavens, the 80 00:04:31,900 --> 00:04:35,000 whole lump. I have confidence in you in the 81 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:39,100 Lord that you will have no other mind but he who troubles you 82 00:04:39,300 --> 00:04:44,300 shall bear his judgment. Whoever he is, and I Brethren if 83 00:04:44,300 --> 00:04:48,200 I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? 84 00:04:48,700 --> 00:04:51,000 Then the offense of the Cross has ceased. 85 00:04:51,500 --> 00:04:55,300 I wish I could wish that those who trouble you, but even cut 86 00:04:55,300 --> 00:04:59,300 themselves off for you Brethren have been called to Liberty. 87 00:05:00,100 --> 00:05:03,700 Only do not use Liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but 88 00:05:03,700 --> 00:05:07,100 through love serve one. Another, for all the law is 89 00:05:07,100 --> 00:05:11,100 fulfilled in one word, even this you shall love your Your 90 00:05:11,100 --> 00:05:15,000 neighbor as yourself, but if you bite and devour one, another 91 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:18,100 beware lest you be consumed by one. 92 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:24,700 Another The first verse there in Galatians 5 is really one of the 93 00:05:24,700 --> 00:05:27,100 most important verses that we could see in the book of 94 00:05:27,100 --> 00:05:30,500 Galatians. It really encapsulates the whole 95 00:05:30,500 --> 00:05:33,300 picture and if you you know don't have a mark in your in 96 00:05:33,300 --> 00:05:35,700 your Bible or underline. It may be a good idea to it says 97 00:05:35,700 --> 00:05:38,500 Stand Fast therefore in the Liberty by which Christ has made 98 00:05:38,500 --> 00:05:42,300 us free. That's kind of the theme or what 99 00:05:42,300 --> 00:05:45,600 the idea Paul is talking about here and what Paul does. 100 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:48,200 In this first verse, he sums up everything, he says to this 101 00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:52,300 point, it is for Freedom that Christ has set us free, set us 102 00:05:52,300 --> 00:05:54,800 free. And as a result of that freedom 103 00:05:55,100 --> 00:06:00,600 stand firm and do not be yoked again, into slavery or bondage 104 00:06:00,900 --> 00:06:04,400 to run in Freedom. So what I want to show us we 105 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:09,500 have there's two enemies of Christian freedom and to enemies 106 00:06:09,500 --> 00:06:13,800 here. And the word Freedom or Liberty. 107 00:06:14,700 --> 00:06:17,500 We see in some translations is really one of the most 108 00:06:17,900 --> 00:06:22,500 misunderstand or misused or misapplied words in Christianity 109 00:06:22,500 --> 00:06:25,300 Today. All kinds of people can claim 110 00:06:25,300 --> 00:06:28,700 Liberty or freedom in Christ to indulge in all kinds of things 111 00:06:28,700 --> 00:06:30,100 live. Whatever kind of Life, they want 112 00:06:30,100 --> 00:06:32,700 to live, do whatever they want to do because they have that 113 00:06:32,700 --> 00:06:36,000 Liberty, or they have that freedom, And we need to see a 114 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:39,800 Biblical picture of what that means to be free in Christ. 115 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:43,600 So what Paul does he starts talking about two enemies of 116 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:49,100 Christian freedom and we see those kind of coming out or 117 00:06:49,100 --> 00:06:51,600 permeating through these scriptures as we read them. 118 00:06:52,300 --> 00:06:54,000 So two enemies of Christian Freedom. 119 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:58,400 The first one we've already mentioned legalism and the 120 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:03,700 definition of legalism here is working to earn the favor of 121 00:07:03,700 --> 00:07:06,900 God. Working to earn the favor of the 122 00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:15,300 favor of God. whether according to our rules, Or to God's rules, 123 00:07:15,300 --> 00:07:16,800 even working to earn the favor of God. 124 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:19,600 That's legalism. Now what Paul is trying to say 125 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:22,500 here in Galatians 5 is he's actually addressing legalism in 126 00:07:22,500 --> 00:07:24,600 one particular point and that is circumcision. 127 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:28,700 That's what he's getting at here and and and that's what the 128 00:07:28,700 --> 00:07:31,200 judaizers were doing here in galatia. 129 00:07:31,500 --> 00:07:36,000 They were promoting that you need to be circumcised on top of 130 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:38,600 what we've already taught you. That Jesus has come to do and 131 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:45,900 that's what Paul is refuting. He addresses this that as we've 132 00:07:45,900 --> 00:07:49,600 seen now we need to also understand that Paul is not 133 00:07:49,600 --> 00:07:52,900 necessarily against circumcision in and of itself. 134 00:07:53,300 --> 00:07:55,400 But what Paul is teaching us that he's against that you 135 00:07:55,400 --> 00:07:59,000 cannot add this to. The gospel of Christ is not 136 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:01,200 necessary to have that anymore and what that's what these 137 00:08:01,200 --> 00:08:03,800 judaizers were trying to do earlier in the book, he talked 138 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:07,100 about how he didn't want itís to become circumcised and how he 139 00:08:07,100 --> 00:08:09,800 was encouraging, Titus to not become circumcised because in 140 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:16,100 doing so, Titus would be showing that you would need to do this 141 00:08:16,100 --> 00:08:18,200 in order to be saved. Paul had his reasons why he was 142 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:20,900 telling Titus not to do this. And at the same time, in another 143 00:08:20,900 --> 00:08:23,600 point, in the New Testament, Paul was actually encouraging 144 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:28,400 Timothy to be circumcised. And this was later later in the 145 00:08:28,400 --> 00:08:31,800 passage, we see, Paul talked about how some are accusing him 146 00:08:31,800 --> 00:08:36,200 preaching circumcision. Because he told Timothy that he 147 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:40,900 needed to be circumcised. The reason was because Timothy's 148 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:45,600 mother was a Jew. and more importantly, Paul and Timothy 149 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:52,300 were working amongst the Jews and This was kind of a barrier 150 00:08:52,300 --> 00:08:56,900 for the Jews to understand to believe Paul and what he was 151 00:08:56,900 --> 00:08:58,900 saying. So Paul was in that at that 152 00:08:58,900 --> 00:09:01,500 point of the New Testament, Paul saying will become like you. 153 00:09:01,500 --> 00:09:03,300 That's why we want to become circumcised. 154 00:09:03,300 --> 00:09:05,100 I want you to me to be circumcised that way. 155 00:09:05,100 --> 00:09:07,800 You have a better in with the Jews to be able to teach them 156 00:09:07,800 --> 00:09:09,400 that you'll have more Credence with them. 157 00:09:11,500 --> 00:09:17,100 So what they did is it was bad basically, a better for the 158 00:09:17,100 --> 00:09:20,500 advance of the Gospel. So Paul is not against 159 00:09:20,500 --> 00:09:23,100 circumcision, he was actually circumcised himself and the 160 00:09:23,100 --> 00:09:27,100 difference is ball was adamantly against circumcision and 161 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:32,500 anything else that we would put as a regulation or rule to 162 00:09:32,500 --> 00:09:34,900 follow in order to be made right before. 163 00:09:34,900 --> 00:09:38,600 God He's against the Sabbath. He's against feces against 164 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:43,000 anything, no matter how big, or how small that we put on the 165 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:44,200 table. And we think when I'm doing 166 00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:47,100 this, if I do this, I'm going to earn favor before God. 167 00:09:47,200 --> 00:09:48,900 That's what Paul is teaching against. 168 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:54,400 So circumcision is actually what Paul was dealing with here, but 169 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:59,300 if we can, we can take this and think of many examples today of 170 00:09:59,300 --> 00:10:01,200 legalism around us. There are people who believe, 171 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:06,400 well, you know, if I do more work for the church, if I do you 172 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:12,200 no more study time at home, if I do more prayer more this more 173 00:10:12,200 --> 00:10:16,100 that on and on and on that, we're trying to earn that favor 174 00:10:16,100 --> 00:10:18,100 to God. And that's that's not what. 175 00:10:20,100 --> 00:10:21,700 We're to do. We're not earning favorite. 176 00:10:21,700 --> 00:10:24,000 There's nothing we can do. That would Merit or earn favor 177 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:27,500 towards God. No matter how big or how small 178 00:10:30,100 --> 00:10:34,400 and if we put anything that we do as a means to gain favor of 179 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:39,000 God, By earning it then were undercutting the gospel. 180 00:10:41,300 --> 00:10:43,200 An example. Here, that Paul is teaching us 181 00:10:43,200 --> 00:10:45,600 is legalism. The effect of legalism is 182 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:48,000 contamination. Paul says, in verse 9, A little 183 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:53,100 leaven leavens the whole lump Legalism spreads Paul sane. 184 00:10:54,400 --> 00:10:58,700 You know if you judaizers are trying to make sure that 185 00:10:58,700 --> 00:11:01,700 circumcision is is it's going to spread like a wildfire or firing 186 00:11:01,700 --> 00:11:03,900 the church and Paul was trying to put a stop to that. 187 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:07,700 Just it's a little poison one. Little Drop of Poison. 188 00:11:07,700 --> 00:11:09,900 One drop can destroy the whole body. 189 00:11:12,200 --> 00:11:15,500 And that's why we in the church have a responsibility today us 190 00:11:15,500 --> 00:11:18,100 here in this room, we have a responsibility to adamantly 191 00:11:18,100 --> 00:11:23,500 oppose anything, or any teaching anywhere that is not gospel 192 00:11:23,500 --> 00:11:28,600 centered or gospel oriented. Any teaching that is, that's not 193 00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:30,700 gospel needs to be weeded out completely because it 194 00:11:30,700 --> 00:11:33,700 contaminates the whole church. Even if we think it's not a big 195 00:11:33,700 --> 00:11:36,200 deal, you know, we have some some people who say, you know, 196 00:11:36,200 --> 00:11:40,700 Jesus is a a weighted to Heaven, not the way to heaven. 197 00:11:41,200 --> 00:11:44,600 Well that little word is a huge difference and that's what needs 198 00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:46,300 to be weeded out. That's what needs to be pushed 199 00:11:46,300 --> 00:11:49,700 up against and get out of what the teaching is. 200 00:11:51,100 --> 00:11:54,200 Big differences, we're guarding the gospel of the church and 201 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:57,000 that's what Paul is saying because of this effect is 202 00:11:57,000 --> 00:12:00,200 contamination. It could result in link listen 203 00:12:00,300 --> 00:12:05,500 legalism and in condemnation and then verse 10 Paul gets to the 204 00:12:05,500 --> 00:12:06,700 point of what he's talking about. 205 00:12:06,700 --> 00:12:10,000 He says I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will have 206 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:14,100 no other mind but he who troubles you shall bear his 207 00:12:14,100 --> 00:12:15,700 judgment. Whoever he is. 208 00:12:16,700 --> 00:12:19,200 Paul saying if you promote legalism, if you promote the 209 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:22,200 circumcision there's going to be a price to pay for that man 210 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:23,800 who's doing that whoever's doing that. 211 00:12:23,800 --> 00:12:27,200 There's a price to be paid and then down in verse 12 he says I 212 00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:30,500 wish I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut 213 00:12:30,500 --> 00:12:36,400 themselves off. One translation says emasculate. 214 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:41,200 Another translation says mutilate Paul is basically 215 00:12:41,200 --> 00:12:44,800 saying that these, he wishes these judaizers who were talking 216 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:49,500 about circumcision would basically finish the job. 217 00:12:50,300 --> 00:12:53,100 Another translation says, those who are disturbing you. 218 00:12:53,100 --> 00:12:54,900 I would like to see the knife slip. 219 00:12:55,400 --> 00:12:58,100 Okay, we get the imagery. Great. 220 00:12:58,100 --> 00:13:01,200 Let's move on. Okay, what does Paul say he's 221 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:04,400 being crude here? Is he being out of line here? 222 00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:08,500 No, I don't think so. Paul is showing us that anything 223 00:13:08,500 --> 00:13:12,400 that undercuts, the gospel should be met with great Force. 224 00:13:12,500 --> 00:13:16,300 One commentator said, if we were as concern for God's church and 225 00:13:16,300 --> 00:13:20,200 God's word as Paul was, we too would wish that the false 226 00:13:20,200 --> 00:13:22,100 teachers might cease from the land. 227 00:13:22,300 --> 00:13:26,000 Be passionate about protecting gospel truth in the church, Paul 228 00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:29,300 says because any small bit of legalized legalism contaminates 229 00:13:29,300 --> 00:13:32,700 the whole church and ultimately brings condemnation. 230 00:13:33,900 --> 00:13:37,000 So the first enemy of Christian freedom is legalism. 231 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:39,700 Second enemy of Christian freedom is license. 232 00:13:41,500 --> 00:13:45,600 License, says basically, you're forgetting about the whole all 233 00:13:45,600 --> 00:13:47,800 together, all the rules are out the window. 234 00:13:48,700 --> 00:13:51,300 That's what license is what in our study, this morning's what 235 00:13:51,300 --> 00:13:54,000 I'm talking about. People would say, you know, if 236 00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:56,300 we are justified by faith that we don't we don't need to do 237 00:13:56,300 --> 00:13:58,800 anything else. People are just going to live, 238 00:13:58,800 --> 00:14:01,100 you know, Carefree lives, do whatever they want live. 239 00:14:01,100 --> 00:14:05,800 However they want to. In Galatians 5, we're going to 240 00:14:05,808 --> 00:14:09,100 see you know that that is a perversion of the Gospel as 241 00:14:09,100 --> 00:14:14,200 well. Freedom in Christ, all of the 242 00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:18,200 cut, all of a sudden becomes a basis for all kinds of careless 243 00:14:18,200 --> 00:14:21,900 loose living, that is not in line with what we are taught in 244 00:14:21,900 --> 00:14:24,900 the Bible. That is not what the gospel is. 245 00:14:26,700 --> 00:14:33,000 Based on scripture. Gospel truth is never intended 246 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:37,900 only to believed gospel. Truth is always intended to be 247 00:14:38,300 --> 00:14:42,400 obeyed. Gospel truth is never intended 248 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:45,000 to only be believed. It is always intended to be 249 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:48,400 obeyed and this is the language that Paul uses when he brings 250 00:14:48,400 --> 00:14:50,800 this imagery, of course that we see in verse 7. 251 00:14:50,900 --> 00:14:53,800 He says you ran well, who hindered you from obeying, the 252 00:14:53,800 --> 00:14:56,800 truth. He's not talking about obedience 253 00:14:56,800 --> 00:14:58,900 here as a means of earning favor before God. 254 00:14:58,900 --> 00:15:01,300 That would be of course legalism that we just touched on 255 00:15:01,700 --> 00:15:03,800 obedience as a meeting to earn favor before. 256 00:15:03,800 --> 00:15:08,200 God, however, that doesn't mean that it will be nice just thrown 257 00:15:08,200 --> 00:15:12,200 out the window. You don't get rid of obedience 258 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:14,600 altogether. Obedience is still a fundamental 259 00:15:14,600 --> 00:15:17,200 part of Christian life, but it's no longer a means of earning 260 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:20,000 favor before God, it's something very different. 261 00:15:20,900 --> 00:15:23,200 You know, we see people who say well I mean you know I believe I 262 00:15:23,208 --> 00:15:27,900 believe in Jesus you know I it doesn't matter what I do now. 263 00:15:28,900 --> 00:15:31,000 It doesn't matter how I live. I'm going to go ahead and no 264 00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:34,400 matter what I do. And the gospel truth is never 265 00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:37,500 intended to be accepted. Only in our heads, it's always 266 00:15:37,500 --> 00:15:43,300 to be applied in our lives. So I want to show us for 267 00:15:43,300 --> 00:15:47,300 essential Essentials of Christian, Christian Freedom or 268 00:15:47,300 --> 00:15:49,300 Liberty that we see in these passages here. 269 00:15:51,300 --> 00:15:53,900 So how is the gospel applied in our lives? 270 00:15:54,500 --> 00:15:57,000 And this is what leads to Paul's description of Christian 271 00:15:57,000 --> 00:15:59,900 Freedom. So we have legalism over here. 272 00:15:59,900 --> 00:16:02,400 We have license over here and then we get to Liberty Liberties 273 00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:05,700 kind of brings it all together, Christian freedom. 274 00:16:06,800 --> 00:16:11,100 So how do we avoid legalism and license with liberty? 275 00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:13,300 And Paul gives that us a description there. 276 00:16:13,300 --> 00:16:17,000 That's really really great. And I hope this kind of puts 277 00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:19,100 everything together a little bit that we've been talking about so 278 00:16:19,100 --> 00:16:21,800 far. So we're going to look at verses 279 00:16:22,800 --> 00:16:27,100 5 and 6 of Galatians 5. Verses 5 and 6. 280 00:16:28,200 --> 00:16:31,900 It says there, for we through the spirit are eagerly. 281 00:16:31,900 --> 00:16:35,100 Wait for the hope of righteousness, by faith will 282 00:16:35,100 --> 00:16:37,000 stop right there. And that's a, there's a lot just 283 00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:38,600 in those few little words right there. 284 00:16:39,900 --> 00:16:42,800 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor Arkham's 285 00:16:42,900 --> 00:16:46,100 uncircumcision avails anything but Faith working through love. 286 00:16:46,700 --> 00:16:49,500 So in these two verses I want to see what Christian freedom is 287 00:16:49,500 --> 00:16:54,600 all about essential. Number one, Christian Freedom, 288 00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:58,900 we live by faith. That's what he says in verse 5 289 00:16:58,900 --> 00:17:01,700 for we through the spirit. Eagerly, wait for the hope of 290 00:17:01,700 --> 00:17:06,800 righteousness by faith. This is not, of course, new 291 00:17:07,099 --> 00:17:09,099 thing that we're learning Galatians that, you know, we've 292 00:17:09,099 --> 00:17:12,300 talked about this in our previous studies, Paul is always 293 00:17:12,300 --> 00:17:14,900 talking about faith, he's reminding us, you know. 294 00:17:14,900 --> 00:17:16,599 Okay. We're taking the workings of the 295 00:17:16,608 --> 00:17:21,200 gospel and we're going to apply those to our our lives that were 296 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:24,700 living now We're not working for God. 297 00:17:24,700 --> 00:17:27,599 Christ is not an employee employer relationship with God. 298 00:17:27,599 --> 00:17:30,800 That's not Christianity at all. That's not, that's sometimes, 299 00:17:31,700 --> 00:17:34,700 you know, I've tend to think of Christian, you know, I've got to 300 00:17:34,700 --> 00:17:38,600 do these things for God, you know, but that's not what, 301 00:17:38,600 --> 00:17:40,400 that's not what Christian Life is. 302 00:17:44,600 --> 00:17:47,400 We might not put it that way, but oftentimes we see ourselves 303 00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:52,300 doing that. In Romans 4 verses 4 through 5 304 00:17:52,700 --> 00:17:54,700 Paul addresses. This here, he says, when a man 305 00:17:54,700 --> 00:17:57,500 works or when he's an employee. When a man Works he wet his 306 00:17:57,500 --> 00:18:02,400 wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation So 307 00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:05,500 in other words, an employer any employer in this room, there's a 308 00:18:05,500 --> 00:18:10,200 couple in here. You know, we don't we don't Pay 309 00:18:10,200 --> 00:18:14,100 our employees as a gift to them. We paid to them as an 310 00:18:14,100 --> 00:18:16,100 obligation. We're obligated to pay them for 311 00:18:16,100 --> 00:18:18,500 what they've done to us done for us. 312 00:18:18,800 --> 00:18:21,800 Then Paul says, however, to the man who does not work, but who 313 00:18:21,800 --> 00:18:23,700 trust God, who justifies the wicked? 314 00:18:23,900 --> 00:18:26,000 His faith is credited as righteousness. 315 00:18:26,800 --> 00:18:28,800 So, righteousness is not an obligation favor. 316 00:18:28,800 --> 00:18:33,300 For God, is not an obligation that gives us, that gives to us 317 00:18:33,300 --> 00:18:35,500 what we've done. Instead, there's something given 318 00:18:35,500 --> 00:18:39,200 by faith and we're not, we're not working for God is the point 319 00:18:39,200 --> 00:18:41,400 here. Now what Paul does is he hits us 320 00:18:41,400 --> 00:18:45,000 from a few different angles that I To show us in verses 2 3 and 321 00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:48,600 4. So what happens when we do not 322 00:18:48,600 --> 00:18:55,300 live by faith? Verse 2 says, indeed, I Paul say 323 00:18:55,300 --> 00:18:58,900 to you that if you become circumsized, if you try to work 324 00:18:58,900 --> 00:19:01,500 for God, he says Christ will profit you nothing or if you try 325 00:19:01,500 --> 00:19:05,100 to add anything to the gospel Christ will profit, you nothing. 326 00:19:06,900 --> 00:19:10,700 So if we try to try to add anything that's, you know, if we 327 00:19:10,700 --> 00:19:15,700 try to earn favor before God or add anything to the gospel, Paul 328 00:19:15,700 --> 00:19:18,900 saying here, we'll lose the profit of Christ. 329 00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:24,100 Christ will profit nothing. And we will lose the benefits of 330 00:19:24,100 --> 00:19:25,700 Christ Christ will have no value. 331 00:19:25,700 --> 00:19:28,000 Paul saying here, you know, you depend on your work, you guys 332 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:31,700 have depended on your work, you judaizers, you know, if you keep 333 00:19:31,700 --> 00:19:35,100 doing this, Then what do you need Christ for? 334 00:19:35,500 --> 00:19:37,100 If you think this is how it's going to go. 335 00:19:37,100 --> 00:19:39,800 What is, what is the point of Christ doing what he did? 336 00:19:40,100 --> 00:19:41,900 You don't need him at all anymore, right? 337 00:19:43,300 --> 00:19:45,400 Either you need Christ for everything or you will have 338 00:19:45,400 --> 00:19:48,100 Christ for nothing. You would lose the benefits of 339 00:19:48,100 --> 00:19:51,000 Christ, whenever we add the smallest, little bit of work 340 00:19:51,300 --> 00:19:54,300 that was done away. With in the old old law, no 341 00:19:54,300 --> 00:19:56,300 matter how small we might think it is, whatever. 342 00:19:56,300 --> 00:19:58,900 We may think, you know. Well, I need to do something 343 00:19:58,900 --> 00:20:00,500 here. I need we need to add this here. 344 00:20:00,500 --> 00:20:03,300 I need to do this here when we try to add that to the gospel, 345 00:20:03,300 --> 00:20:06,100 that's what we have. And lose the benefits of what 346 00:20:06,100 --> 00:20:11,000 Christ has done for us. Secondly, we gain the burden of 347 00:20:11,000 --> 00:20:14,600 the law verse number 3. Paul says in verse 3, and I 348 00:20:14,600 --> 00:20:17,900 testify again to every man who become circumcised that he is a 349 00:20:17,900 --> 00:20:23,500 debtor to keep the whole law. Paul saying, you know, you guys 350 00:20:23,500 --> 00:20:27,700 take this one one, small part of the law, you try to hold this 351 00:20:27,700 --> 00:20:31,800 law. Then as soon as you say that you 352 00:20:31,800 --> 00:20:35,300 trying to earn favor before God, then you've got to do everything 353 00:20:35,700 --> 00:20:39,500 in the entire old law. You gain the whole burden of the 354 00:20:39,500 --> 00:20:40,800 law. If you're trying to do at least 355 00:20:40,800 --> 00:20:42,700 just one, that's what Paul is mentioning here. 356 00:20:42,700 --> 00:20:46,000 So we lose the benefits of Christ and we gain the burden of 357 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:47,800 the law. And of ultimately, we miss the 358 00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:52,400 grace of God, verse 4. He says there you'll become 359 00:20:52,600 --> 00:20:56,500 estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by the 360 00:20:56,500 --> 00:21:02,100 law you have fallen from Grace. So, we can read this and people 361 00:21:02,100 --> 00:21:04,900 ask, well, if we read this, can we fall from grace? 362 00:21:06,200 --> 00:21:10,100 Can we lose our salvation? And the answer is absolutely. 363 00:21:10,100 --> 00:21:17,700 Yes, we can without a doubt. And the word Paul uses here. 364 00:21:17,700 --> 00:21:23,600 The fall from that that word fall from or fallen, from Grace, 365 00:21:23,900 --> 00:21:28,100 literally from the Greek means to lose grasp on to lose, hold 366 00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:31,600 So I think what Paul is trying to teach them here is, you know, 367 00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:34,900 we're saved by grace through what God has done through Christ 368 00:21:34,900 --> 00:21:37,600 Jesus. But when you start holding on to 369 00:21:37,600 --> 00:21:40,400 these Old Testament laws, you're actually letting go of that 370 00:21:40,400 --> 00:21:44,100 Grace that God has given you letting go of what Christ has 371 00:21:44,100 --> 00:21:47,000 set you free from. And you're starting to hold on 372 00:21:47,000 --> 00:21:49,700 to something else. Your fallen from Grace, you're 373 00:21:49,700 --> 00:21:51,900 letting go of what we taught you in the past. 374 00:21:52,900 --> 00:21:56,700 So, Paul's teaching them and encourage them, don't let go one 375 00:21:56,700 --> 00:22:00,300 writer said, what can be more insane and wicked than to want 376 00:22:00,300 --> 00:22:02,200 to lose the grace and favor of God. 377 00:22:02,200 --> 00:22:05,700 And to retain the law of Moses, whose retention makes it 378 00:22:05,700 --> 00:22:09,600 necessary for you to accumulate wrath and every other evil for 379 00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:12,700 yourself. It's insanity. 380 00:22:14,400 --> 00:22:19,900 Second essential. Of Christian Freedom. 381 00:22:20,100 --> 00:22:24,700 We live through the spirit verse 5 for we through the spirit 382 00:22:25,200 --> 00:22:29,500 eagerly await our eagerly wait, Christian Freedom happens 383 00:22:29,800 --> 00:22:33,200 through the spirit, we see the holy spirit all over the book of 384 00:22:33,200 --> 00:22:36,300 girly Galatians and especially here in verse chapter five and 385 00:22:36,300 --> 00:22:40,600 six and glad Wade's going to hopefully take teach on the 386 00:22:40,608 --> 00:22:42,100 spirit. And the second half of this 387 00:22:42,100 --> 00:22:47,100 chapter, I wasn't going to be able to get to it but we'll 388 00:22:47,100 --> 00:22:49,100 learn more about that. They're so When Christian 389 00:22:49,100 --> 00:22:52,800 Freedom, you know, it's dependent on living through the 390 00:22:52,800 --> 00:22:55,100 spirit. So, what is the spirit do in us? 391 00:22:55,200 --> 00:22:57,300 Well, what does the spirit doing? 392 00:22:57,300 --> 00:23:01,400 This enables us to experience the presence of Christ. 393 00:23:02,100 --> 00:23:05,500 We've seen this in Galatians, 2:20 three. 394 00:23:05,500 --> 00:23:08,500 And also chapter 3 and verse 5, it says I've been crucified with 395 00:23:08,500 --> 00:23:10,500 Christ. I no longer live but Christ 396 00:23:10,500 --> 00:23:12,500 lives in me. So how does that happen? 397 00:23:12,500 --> 00:23:18,300 How does Christ live in US? How does he, how does he do that 398 00:23:18,300 --> 00:23:19,800 through? Who, it's through the spirit, 399 00:23:19,800 --> 00:23:22,600 through the Holy Spirit, the one who dwells in us and enables us 400 00:23:22,600 --> 00:23:25,400 to experience the presence of Christ in us. 401 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:29,700 The spirit is the one who unites our lives with Christ. 402 00:23:30,300 --> 00:23:32,500 If the spirit is not there, then Christ is not there. 403 00:23:34,300 --> 00:23:36,000 Christ is in us because of the spirit. 404 00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:39,600 And this is huge for Christian, freedom, because we're not free 405 00:23:39,800 --> 00:23:43,900 from Christ instead were free to Christ. 406 00:23:46,900 --> 00:23:48,900 Some people think that Christian, Freedom means, you 407 00:23:48,908 --> 00:23:51,600 know, like we've said, I'll live, however, I want I'll do 408 00:23:51,600 --> 00:23:53,500 whatever I want. I'll make my own choices, make 409 00:23:53,500 --> 00:23:55,600 my own decisions. I live according to the 410 00:23:55,600 --> 00:23:58,900 lifestyle that I want to live and we need to realize that 411 00:23:58,900 --> 00:24:02,400 whenever we say that. Whenever we have that kind of 412 00:24:02,400 --> 00:24:05,300 mentality or that that desire, we're actually. 413 00:24:06,500 --> 00:24:08,900 You know, we're admitting that we're actually still slaves to 414 00:24:08,900 --> 00:24:12,800 ourselves slaves to our own desires slaves to what we want 415 00:24:12,800 --> 00:24:16,800 to do. And we're not free at all, you 416 00:24:16,800 --> 00:24:18,600 know, we think about it, you know, we want to live, however, 417 00:24:18,600 --> 00:24:21,700 what how we want to even in that picture where we're living as 418 00:24:21,700 --> 00:24:25,100 slaves to ourselves. Like I just mentioned, We've 419 00:24:25,100 --> 00:24:27,800 been delivered from that. We've been set free from that 420 00:24:27,800 --> 00:24:31,600 desire. From ourselves and free from 421 00:24:31,600 --> 00:24:35,200 sin, and we've been freed to Christ. 422 00:24:36,700 --> 00:24:39,600 Now we're free to live. However, Christ wants us to live 423 00:24:39,600 --> 00:24:42,300 were freed. We weren't before but the grace 424 00:24:42,300 --> 00:24:44,000 of God. Now we're now we're free to live 425 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:47,000 the way that we were created to live and that was to live in 426 00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:49,900 Christ. For free to experience, the 427 00:24:49,900 --> 00:24:52,200 Beauty and the glory, and the joy, in the presence of Christ 428 00:24:52,200 --> 00:24:54,400 in our life. That's what we're free to do. 429 00:24:54,400 --> 00:24:59,200 We're not not free from Christ to ourselves. 430 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:02,500 That doesn't make any sense. We're free to Christ. 431 00:25:04,000 --> 00:25:07,200 He begins once were free to Christ and he's begins to 432 00:25:07,200 --> 00:25:10,300 transform our hearts. Transformed the way that we live 433 00:25:10,300 --> 00:25:11,800 transformed. The ways that we do the ways 434 00:25:11,800 --> 00:25:14,700 that we think for free to Christ. 435 00:25:16,000 --> 00:25:20,800 And not just the presence of Christ, but we're but the spirit 436 00:25:20,800 --> 00:25:24,600 also enables us to enjoy the commands of Christ. 437 00:25:25,500 --> 00:25:29,600 When Christ is living in us through the holy spirit, that 438 00:25:29,600 --> 00:25:32,000 doesn't mean that we're free from The Words of Christ of the 439 00:25:32,008 --> 00:25:35,900 commands of Christ. And he's given that he's given 440 00:25:35,900 --> 00:25:39,600 to us, were free to his word, free to his commands. 441 00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:42,100 So, when we come to the New Testament, we don't say, well, 442 00:25:42,100 --> 00:25:44,500 I'm just free. So I'm going to live, leave all 443 00:25:44,500 --> 00:25:47,200 that behind and live. However, I want that's not 444 00:25:47,200 --> 00:25:51,300 what's being taught here. We're free to obey the law of 445 00:25:51,300 --> 00:25:54,000 Christ in the Commandments of Christ, in the words of prices, 446 00:25:54,000 --> 00:25:58,100 exactly. What Jesus says in John 15 verse 447 00:25:58,100 --> 00:26:00,900 10. He says, if you keep my 448 00:26:00,900 --> 00:26:02,800 Commandments, you will abide in my love. 449 00:26:02,800 --> 00:26:05,300 Just as I have kept my father's Commandments and abide in his 450 00:26:05,300 --> 00:26:09,100 love. So not only will We, Will We 451 00:26:09,100 --> 00:26:12,100 obey the commands will also enjoy the commands of Christ. 452 00:26:13,300 --> 00:26:17,000 Well, one thing will desire them because because we want to 453 00:26:17,000 --> 00:26:20,400 because we love and see what Christ has done for us. 454 00:26:21,700 --> 00:26:24,800 And when we get to First John 5 and verse 3, it says this is the 455 00:26:24,800 --> 00:26:27,200 love of God that we keep his Commandments. 456 00:26:29,500 --> 00:26:32,900 Now, when we think about that, how do you look at John first, 457 00:26:32,900 --> 00:26:35,900 John 5 and 3? And I say that's legalism. 458 00:26:37,300 --> 00:26:39,600 By keeping the Commandments were in that favor towards God. 459 00:26:39,600 --> 00:26:42,800 How do we, how do we see that obey his commands? 460 00:26:42,800 --> 00:26:44,400 And that's not what this is teaching at all. 461 00:26:44,800 --> 00:26:46,100 That's not what the scriptures teach. 462 00:26:46,100 --> 00:26:51,800 And what the scripture is saying is obedience and love Toward 463 00:26:51,800 --> 00:26:56,300 God, go together. Would come which is, you know, 464 00:26:56,300 --> 00:27:00,300 right after it says right here and his Commandments are not 465 00:27:00,300 --> 00:27:04,700 burdensome. Before we were slaves to the 466 00:27:04,700 --> 00:27:08,100 law, the law was a burden that we were trying to carry that. 467 00:27:08,100 --> 00:27:11,500 Talking about the Old Law Moses. Now the words of Christ are a 468 00:27:11,508 --> 00:27:15,000 delight because he's living through us through his Spirit by 469 00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:17,800 and and by faith and walking and we're walking. 470 00:27:17,800 --> 00:27:20,300 Now in his commands were enjoying his commands, and his 471 00:27:20,300 --> 00:27:23,200 words, we Delight in the law that Christ has given us. 472 00:27:23,900 --> 00:27:28,600 We're glad to follow him. Because of what he did, he did 473 00:27:28,600 --> 00:27:33,400 for us. As a result, we're not free to 474 00:27:33,400 --> 00:27:35,600 sin. Were free from sin or if not 475 00:27:35,600 --> 00:27:37,900 free to Indulgence. In is Paul talks about later in 476 00:27:37,900 --> 00:27:43,600 verse 13 and we can, you know, it misses the whole point when 477 00:27:43,600 --> 00:27:45,400 we say, you know, I've been saved. 478 00:27:45,400 --> 00:27:47,500 Now, I can just do whatever I want to do, I'm going to heaven, 479 00:27:47,800 --> 00:27:49,700 misses the entire point of the Gospel. 480 00:27:50,400 --> 00:27:53,500 So we walk in Freedom by faith, through the spirit. 481 00:27:53,500 --> 00:27:55,900 And number three, we live in Hope. 482 00:27:57,600 --> 00:28:00,800 We live in hope the third essential Christian Freedom, 483 00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:05,600 verse 5 says, for we through the spirit, eagerly, wait not work. 484 00:28:05,600 --> 00:28:08,800 We wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 485 00:28:09,400 --> 00:28:13,000 So, Paul describes the Christian Living, as a life of waiting. 486 00:28:14,300 --> 00:28:17,800 He also talks about how we're running a race in the same 487 00:28:17,900 --> 00:28:20,300 chapter. So how do you run and wait at 488 00:28:20,300 --> 00:28:23,500 the same time, how do we live a Christian life where we're not 489 00:28:23,700 --> 00:28:25,700 working for God, but we're waiting in a sense? 490 00:28:25,700 --> 00:28:29,400 What's he talking about here? What he's what he's saying when 491 00:28:29,400 --> 00:28:35,500 he says, we live in hope that word excuse me that word wait 492 00:28:36,300 --> 00:28:39,100 implies that there's something out there in the future that 493 00:28:39,100 --> 00:28:41,500 we're looking forward to that, were wanting or waiting. 494 00:28:42,800 --> 00:28:44,800 What are we waiting for? What do we have? 495 00:28:44,800 --> 00:28:49,600 What are we looking forward to? What's in the future for us? 496 00:28:50,600 --> 00:28:53,500 What he says, is we long for we want, or we desire to look 497 00:28:53,500 --> 00:28:56,700 forward to, we're waiting for the guarantee of his 498 00:28:56,900 --> 00:28:59,200 righteousness, the guarantee of his righteousness. 499 00:28:59,200 --> 00:29:02,600 Paul says, we eagerly, wait through the spirit, the 500 00:29:02,600 --> 00:29:06,400 righteousness for which, we hope the picture, what Paul that Paul 501 00:29:06,400 --> 00:29:10,400 is giving us here when he says, for we through the spirit, 502 00:29:10,400 --> 00:29:12,300 eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 503 00:29:12,500 --> 00:29:15,900 What he, what he's what he's talking about there is that 504 00:29:15,900 --> 00:29:18,800 there's a day that's coming when we will stand before. 505 00:29:18,800 --> 00:29:24,900 God day is coming. When we have been justified 506 00:29:24,900 --> 00:29:27,000 through faith, we have peace with God through Christ. 507 00:29:27,000 --> 00:29:29,100 We've been reconciled to him, but there's still something to 508 00:29:29,100 --> 00:29:32,700 wait for all these things we've gone through, but we know that 509 00:29:32,700 --> 00:29:36,200 there's coming a day in the future will stand before God in 510 00:29:36,200 --> 00:29:40,000 judgment and will experience the full manifestation of the full 511 00:29:40,000 --> 00:29:42,700 realization of our righteousness in Christ. 512 00:29:43,000 --> 00:29:46,600 Paul says, we long for that day, we want that day to come. 513 00:29:47,600 --> 00:29:49,400 We're looking forward to that day. 514 00:29:51,500 --> 00:29:54,200 Paul cannot wait for the day of judgment. 515 00:29:54,800 --> 00:29:57,600 He cannot wait to stand before God and experience the fullness 516 00:29:57,900 --> 00:30:04,600 and righteousness of Christ. You know, to see what we have, 517 00:30:04,600 --> 00:30:10,200 been living or working for or doing all of our Lives, living 518 00:30:10,200 --> 00:30:12,600 the Christian Life, we're longing for that day. 519 00:30:13,000 --> 00:30:15,700 That's what we're doing. That's what we're looking 520 00:30:15,700 --> 00:30:17,800 forward to. That's what we're hoping for 521 00:30:17,900 --> 00:30:20,400 that. Hope we get to see that day when 522 00:30:20,400 --> 00:30:26,800 it's all all fulfilled. And do we personally eagerly 523 00:30:26,900 --> 00:30:32,500 await the day of judgement. Do we do I long for that day? 524 00:30:33,400 --> 00:30:38,500 Do you long for that day? When we get to see the face of 525 00:30:38,500 --> 00:30:43,300 Jesus. That's what we're doing. 526 00:30:43,300 --> 00:30:47,600 We're waiting for that day. When all pain, all suffering, 527 00:30:48,000 --> 00:30:55,100 everything that this life brings upon us is gone and the stuff, 528 00:30:55,200 --> 00:30:58,800 everything that we've learned in the scriptures is now completely 529 00:30:58,800 --> 00:31:02,100 fulfilled on that, great and wonderful day. 530 00:31:02,700 --> 00:31:07,100 That's what we're living for. If we're living in legalism, 531 00:31:07,600 --> 00:31:09,900 then we're not looking forward to that day because we have more 532 00:31:09,900 --> 00:31:12,300 work to do. There's more check boxes to 533 00:31:12,300 --> 00:31:14,900 check for things to do. You know, we're not looking 534 00:31:14,900 --> 00:31:18,900 forward to that day. If we're living with a license 535 00:31:18,900 --> 00:31:21,500 of freedom to think that we can do anything, then we're also not 536 00:31:21,500 --> 00:31:25,600 looking forward to that day as well because because it shows by 537 00:31:25,600 --> 00:31:28,600 the way that we're living our actions, it's careless Carefree 538 00:31:28,900 --> 00:31:31,400 all that stuff, you know, that that that's hard. 539 00:31:31,400 --> 00:31:33,700 We're living for what's right now not for what's in the 540 00:31:33,700 --> 00:31:39,100 future. But that day, of course, is not 541 00:31:39,100 --> 00:31:42,400 here yet, so we long for the guarantee of his righteousness 542 00:31:42,700 --> 00:31:48,300 and we live and grow. Every day waiting for that day. 543 00:31:49,800 --> 00:31:52,200 We're counted righteousness in Christ because of faith in 544 00:31:52,200 --> 00:31:56,300 Christ and because we follow the gospel of Christ, we know that 545 00:31:56,500 --> 00:31:59,300 we're going to heaven based on the righteousness of Christ. 546 00:32:00,600 --> 00:32:03,500 Because of who he is, but we still sin. 547 00:32:04,200 --> 00:32:08,500 So how do we deal with that? We still sin, we struggle with 548 00:32:08,500 --> 00:32:11,200 sin, we battle, we war with it, just like Paul talks about. 549 00:32:11,200 --> 00:32:13,900 We want to experience the fullness of his righteousness, 550 00:32:13,900 --> 00:32:16,200 but we have seen that we struggle with here. 551 00:32:19,400 --> 00:32:22,300 But this just absolutely transforms our Christian Life. 552 00:32:22,600 --> 00:32:26,100 That's Freedom we can tell when you can tell who a Christian is, 553 00:32:26,100 --> 00:32:30,400 we can tell a person who's been saved walking by faith through 554 00:32:30,400 --> 00:32:34,100 the spirit with hope, because their eyes are not set. 555 00:32:34,100 --> 00:32:36,900 On the things of this world, their eyes are set on. 556 00:32:38,500 --> 00:32:43,300 That last and final day. We can tell who a Christian is, 557 00:32:44,300 --> 00:32:53,100 were free from the things of this life to serve Christ. but, 558 00:32:54,400 --> 00:32:56,800 This free life of Liberty that we live. 559 00:32:57,600 --> 00:32:59,900 It's not easy, of course, like we've mentioned, it's a 560 00:33:00,000 --> 00:33:02,100 marathon. It's a 26-mile marathon and 561 00:33:02,108 --> 00:33:04,900 maybe we're only at Mile two or three. 562 00:33:05,000 --> 00:33:08,400 It's a long way to go. We got we got a long ways to go, 563 00:33:08,400 --> 00:33:12,100 but the victory is going to be ours and one of these days We 564 00:33:12,100 --> 00:33:14,300 know that the day is coming. We're going to cross that finish 565 00:33:14,300 --> 00:33:17,500 line, and God is going to say, right in Christ. 566 00:33:18,300 --> 00:33:21,600 You have finished. So we're running and we're 567 00:33:21,600 --> 00:33:24,500 living to experience that fullness of Christ and that 568 00:33:24,500 --> 00:33:27,900 changes the way that we run. We don't run like we don't have 569 00:33:27,900 --> 00:33:30,900 any hope. We don't run like were defeated, 570 00:33:31,200 --> 00:33:33,500 you don't run like you're always getting distracted by what's 571 00:33:33,500 --> 00:33:36,200 going on. Either side of you, we run 572 00:33:36,200 --> 00:33:38,100 because we want to get to that Finish Line. 573 00:33:38,400 --> 00:33:39,900 We're looking for that finish line. 574 00:33:41,600 --> 00:33:44,000 That's what we're running for. It's what Paul talks about. 575 00:33:44,000 --> 00:33:49,400 Romans 8, verses, 22 through 23, when he says, for, we know that 576 00:33:49,400 --> 00:33:52,400 the whole creation groans and Labor's with birth pains until 577 00:33:52,700 --> 00:33:55,800 pain together until now, not only that. 578 00:33:55,800 --> 00:33:59,100 But we also have the first fruits of the spirit, even we 579 00:33:59,100 --> 00:34:03,400 ourselves groan within ourselves eagerly waiting for the 580 00:34:03,400 --> 00:34:08,000 adoption, the Redemption of our body, he's talking about going 581 00:34:08,000 --> 00:34:10,900 through suffering here. It's he say, You know, it's 582 00:34:10,900 --> 00:34:14,500 going to end one day and and the groaning and we're waiting and 583 00:34:14,500 --> 00:34:18,600 we're suffering, but that hope is there were patiently awaiting 584 00:34:18,900 --> 00:34:23,000 for that moment. Essential number 4. 585 00:34:23,699 --> 00:34:29,500 We live with love. verse six for in Christ, Jesus neither 586 00:34:29,500 --> 00:34:34,400 circumcision, nor uncircumcision uncircumcision avails anything 587 00:34:34,600 --> 00:34:39,199 but Faith working through love That's a great phrase. 588 00:34:39,600 --> 00:34:44,100 Faith working through, love That's a big one. 589 00:34:45,000 --> 00:34:48,600 This is not pulsing were justified by faith and love. 590 00:34:48,600 --> 00:34:51,300 That's not what he's saying. He's not adding love to the 591 00:34:51,300 --> 00:34:54,800 equation, right? We're justified by faith as we 592 00:34:54,800 --> 00:34:58,800 have studied but it's a faith that expresses itself through 593 00:34:58,800 --> 00:35:04,200 love It's what we get to in the Book of James. 594 00:35:04,200 --> 00:35:06,900 And first John, we can see it talking about. 595 00:35:06,900 --> 00:35:09,100 Well, if there are no other works from your faith, in your 596 00:35:09,100 --> 00:35:11,500 faith is dead. In first John, says the love of 597 00:35:11,500 --> 00:35:15,200 God is not in you. Then excuse me. 598 00:35:15,200 --> 00:35:17,500 The love of God is not in you. Then you're not a child of God 599 00:35:17,500 --> 00:35:22,400 because faith. Faith being Howard Justified. 600 00:35:24,500 --> 00:35:27,600 When we are, when we are saved and justified by faith, we 601 00:35:27,600 --> 00:35:33,400 express that through love. Paul is saying here that love is 602 00:35:33,400 --> 00:35:37,700 an extension essential expression of Salvation not into 603 00:35:37,700 --> 00:35:40,100 means of Salvation, loving others. 604 00:35:40,600 --> 00:35:42,400 No, that's not a means of Salvation. 605 00:35:43,100 --> 00:35:46,700 Love is an essential as expression of Faith because of 606 00:35:46,700 --> 00:35:51,200 Salvation Faith expressing itself through love, you'll know 607 00:35:51,200 --> 00:35:53,800 my disciples by their what, by their love. 608 00:35:55,400 --> 00:35:58,800 It'll be evident. Love is evidence. 609 00:36:00,300 --> 00:36:04,000 Of our faith. Another example. 610 00:36:05,500 --> 00:36:07,400 Of our faith. Expressed through love is found 611 00:36:07,400 --> 00:36:11,700 in verse 13, for you Brethren have been called to Liberty. 612 00:36:11,700 --> 00:36:15,300 Only do not use Liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but 613 00:36:15,300 --> 00:36:21,300 through love serve one another Now this is where it gets kind 614 00:36:21,300 --> 00:36:24,900 of interesting. Jesus, our Paul has spent five 615 00:36:25,300 --> 00:36:28,800 chapters telling us that that we are free and we're no longer 616 00:36:28,800 --> 00:36:31,900 slaves and he gets the verse 13 and the second half of this 617 00:36:31,900 --> 00:36:37,000 verse he says, only do not use the Liberty as an opportunity 618 00:36:37,000 --> 00:36:41,300 for the flesh, but through love serve one another, and the word 619 00:36:42,900 --> 00:36:47,800 that word serve there. That is a Greek New Testament 620 00:36:47,800 --> 00:36:52,200 word for slave. That's what that means. 621 00:36:52,200 --> 00:36:55,800 They're so we're free. We're not a slave anymore. 622 00:36:56,900 --> 00:37:01,900 And you're teaching us to to be not slave or free from slavery. 623 00:37:01,900 --> 00:37:05,400 Now, be a slave. So how does that make sense? 624 00:37:06,200 --> 00:37:07,800 Is that what Paul is teaching us? 625 00:37:07,900 --> 00:37:12,100 Of course, not, Paul is saying that we are free from slavery to 626 00:37:12,100 --> 00:37:15,200 the law of Moses. That's what his point is. 627 00:37:15,700 --> 00:37:18,700 He said this, we've got to be careful because this doesn't 628 00:37:18,700 --> 00:37:21,400 mean that the law was bad. The law of Moses were bad, 629 00:37:21,400 --> 00:37:23,800 that's not what he's saying. Because that all pointed to 630 00:37:23,800 --> 00:37:29,300 Jesus, that's I was a a tutor as we studied in the past. 631 00:37:30,400 --> 00:37:33,800 We don't just leave it behind Wishy later in Galatians. 632 00:37:34,100 --> 00:37:39,200 Chapter 6, and verse 2, when we carry each other's burdens we 633 00:37:39,200 --> 00:37:41,600 love one another. We fulfill the law. 634 00:37:41,600 --> 00:37:44,200 The law of Christ is good, the words of Christ are good, the 635 00:37:44,200 --> 00:37:48,400 commands of Christ are good. However, the picture here is 636 00:37:48,400 --> 00:37:52,000 where slavery to the law. That's what we're talking about. 637 00:37:52,000 --> 00:37:55,200 It's a burden that we're trying to carry in order to earn favor 638 00:37:55,200 --> 00:37:56,800 before God. That's what the judaizers were 639 00:37:56,800 --> 00:37:59,800 trying to do. We're free from that. 640 00:38:01,600 --> 00:38:04,000 But now, we're free to the slavery. 641 00:38:04,000 --> 00:38:08,400 Of Love, were free to be slaves to one another in love. 642 00:38:10,400 --> 00:38:12,100 I don't want us to miss the difference that you know the 643 00:38:12,100 --> 00:38:17,000 slavery to the law. Trying to earn favor before God, 644 00:38:17,500 --> 00:38:19,900 you know, and then we have slavery to love. 645 00:38:20,100 --> 00:38:23,900 It's joyful, living for the sake of other people around us 646 00:38:24,300 --> 00:38:28,000 because we love them. The slavery of love. 647 00:38:29,100 --> 00:38:33,700 Mark 10:45 says, the son of man did not come to be served, but 648 00:38:33,700 --> 00:38:40,300 to serve Jesus came to serve, not to be served. was that 649 00:38:40,300 --> 00:38:43,500 because he was obligated to because he had to, because he 650 00:38:43,500 --> 00:38:46,600 was burdened to I don't think so. 651 00:38:47,100 --> 00:38:51,300 I think it's because Jesus desired to he desired to come to 652 00:38:51,300 --> 00:38:57,500 serve us to help us to make that way for us to be reconciled to 653 00:38:57,500 --> 00:39:01,000 God forever. He came to serve and he gave his 654 00:39:01,000 --> 00:39:05,600 Ransom, his life for all of us. And when we think of the slavery 655 00:39:05,600 --> 00:39:10,200 of love, which the Epic example of that is, of course, Christ 656 00:39:10,200 --> 00:39:13,100 dying on the cross. And when we think of the Cross, 657 00:39:16,200 --> 00:39:21,100 when Christ came to be sure came to serve and not to be served. 658 00:39:21,100 --> 00:39:23,600 His sacrifice means everything to us. 659 00:39:24,400 --> 00:39:28,500 He gave everything he had to serve us, and that should change 660 00:39:28,500 --> 00:39:32,400 the way that we live. That makes us, or should make us 661 00:39:32,400 --> 00:39:35,600 want to just serve everybody else around us as best we can 662 00:39:35,600 --> 00:39:39,100 putting others needs before. For our own were slave to other 663 00:39:39,100 --> 00:39:41,500 people. We sacrifice ourselves for other 664 00:39:41,500 --> 00:39:44,400 people and that's the picture. It's a New Testament, Church 665 00:39:44,700 --> 00:39:47,800 were free to the slavery of Love Of Love. 666 00:39:47,900 --> 00:39:51,200 So we no longer indulge and our self, our sin. 667 00:39:51,300 --> 00:39:54,200 That's what verse 13. It's talking about here. 668 00:39:54,300 --> 00:39:57,500 Only do not use your Liberty as an opportunity for the flesh. 669 00:39:58,600 --> 00:40:02,100 Says, right here, do not use your Liberty as an opportunity 670 00:40:02,100 --> 00:40:04,700 for the flesh. Don't take that Liberty upon 671 00:40:04,700 --> 00:40:07,500 yourself, that it's not the point of what Paul's teaching. 672 00:40:09,700 --> 00:40:16,000 We talk about freedom. You know us As Americans we hear 673 00:40:16,000 --> 00:40:18,600 that all the time. Freedom is a big deal for 674 00:40:18,600 --> 00:40:22,700 Americans. And you know, we talked about 675 00:40:22,700 --> 00:40:25,500 how we want to cling to our freedoms, debate, our freedoms, 676 00:40:25,900 --> 00:40:28,800 you know, what do we mean, when we really say the word freedom? 677 00:40:31,300 --> 00:40:33,800 And when we think about it at the core, isn't it really? 678 00:40:35,000 --> 00:40:39,100 I'm free to do whatever I want to do. when we talk about 679 00:40:39,100 --> 00:40:44,300 freedom, the current debates that are going on in our 680 00:40:44,300 --> 00:40:46,500 country. I'm free to believe. 681 00:40:46,500 --> 00:40:48,500 Whatever I want. I'm free to marry whoever I 682 00:40:48,500 --> 00:40:50,000 want. I'm free to live according to a, 683 00:40:50,000 --> 00:40:51,900 however, I want them free to identify. 684 00:40:51,900 --> 00:40:54,900 However, I want. I'm free to do whatever I want. 685 00:40:56,100 --> 00:40:59,600 Once sociologist said, and I think he was pretty spot-on. 686 00:40:59,600 --> 00:41:04,000 He said, freedom is perhaps the most resonant deeply-held 687 00:41:04,000 --> 00:41:07,800 American value yet freedom, in America means being left alone 688 00:41:07,800 --> 00:41:10,800 by others. Not having other people's values 689 00:41:10,800 --> 00:41:13,600 ideas or styles of Life forced upon. 690 00:41:13,600 --> 00:41:17,700 You being free of arbitrary, Authority and work family, and 691 00:41:17,700 --> 00:41:21,100 political Life, free to do whatever you want, believe 692 00:41:21,100 --> 00:41:24,000 whatever you want, think? However, you want live how 693 00:41:24,000 --> 00:41:26,800 everyone its autonomy. Freedom. 694 00:41:28,500 --> 00:41:32,400 Now, how do we take that? How would we take that? 695 00:41:32,400 --> 00:41:35,200 Misunderstood concept of freedom, freedom, and bring it 696 00:41:35,200 --> 00:41:39,200 into the church? I'm going to follow Christ, but 697 00:41:39,200 --> 00:41:41,400 I'm going to, I'm going to follow them how I want to follow 698 00:41:41,400 --> 00:41:44,300 him because I'm free I'm going to do it the way that I want to 699 00:41:44,300 --> 00:41:45,400 do it. I'm going to take this verse 700 00:41:45,400 --> 00:41:48,400 here and I'm going to just ignore it because that really 701 00:41:48,400 --> 00:41:52,000 doesn't apply to me. That's not freedom. 702 00:41:53,200 --> 00:41:57,300 That's not freedom to Christ. You know, when he says sell your 703 00:41:57,300 --> 00:42:00,000 possessions and give to the poor, maybe we take that burst 704 00:42:00,000 --> 00:42:02,000 and we just want to ignore because we don't want to, we 705 00:42:02,000 --> 00:42:04,200 don't really want to give up some of the stuff that we have. 706 00:42:07,100 --> 00:42:10,800 We cannot pick and choose what the scripture tells us. 707 00:42:11,800 --> 00:42:13,600 That's not what new Treasures Testament. 708 00:42:13,600 --> 00:42:17,300 Christianity is its slavery, really to ourselves and it's 709 00:42:17,300 --> 00:42:19,800 what we've been freed from its slavery to our stuff. 710 00:42:20,400 --> 00:42:23,000 The picture is that we are free to serve each other without 711 00:42:23,000 --> 00:42:26,400 Selfless Love. He says, again, in verse 14, for 712 00:42:26,400 --> 00:42:29,600 all the law is fulfilled in one word. 713 00:42:29,600 --> 00:42:32,700 Even in this you shall love your neighbor as yourself. 714 00:42:34,100 --> 00:42:37,100 Paul is saying, you know, that natural inclination that you 715 00:42:37,100 --> 00:42:43,900 have that natural desire to. Let's say if you're hungry that 716 00:42:43,900 --> 00:42:48,500 you want to feed yourself, Paul saying, take that desire now and 717 00:42:48,500 --> 00:42:50,700 give that desire to somebody else, you could take that and 718 00:42:50,700 --> 00:42:52,900 you feed somebody else instead of yourself first. 719 00:42:54,600 --> 00:42:59,500 That's what Paul's, you know, he's saying, love your neighbor 720 00:42:59,500 --> 00:43:05,900 as yourself. Use that to change the way that 721 00:43:05,900 --> 00:43:09,700 we look at others. Practically that desire that we 722 00:43:09,700 --> 00:43:14,200 have to take care of ourselves. Now, put it on somebody else 723 00:43:14,300 --> 00:43:20,100 that needs it more than you. The passion that we have to get 724 00:43:20,100 --> 00:43:22,000 all these details in our life, right? 725 00:43:22,000 --> 00:43:24,700 You know, making sure that we got everything right in our 726 00:43:24,700 --> 00:43:27,000 lives, take that passion. That we have to make sure that 727 00:43:27,000 --> 00:43:30,300 all the t's are crossed and I's are dotted. 728 00:43:30,700 --> 00:43:34,800 Take that detail and now work with somebody else to show them 729 00:43:34,800 --> 00:43:36,800 that those Details Matter in the scripture. 730 00:43:38,900 --> 00:43:41,700 Spread the gospel. That's the point work for 731 00:43:41,700 --> 00:43:45,000 others. How do we have love like that? 732 00:43:45,300 --> 00:43:49,100 How do we do that? It's Faith expressing itself 733 00:43:49,100 --> 00:43:51,600 through love and we need Christ to give us that kind of love. 734 00:43:51,600 --> 00:43:53,800 It's the fruit of the spirit, right? 735 00:43:54,400 --> 00:43:57,400 We get into that later on in the chapter here we haven't even 736 00:43:57,400 --> 00:43:58,500 looked at that. That's in verse 22. 737 00:43:58,500 --> 00:44:00,400 The fruit of the spirit is what love? 738 00:44:00,600 --> 00:44:02,900 That's where it starts with. That's the first one love. 739 00:44:04,000 --> 00:44:06,800 Spirit only produces this kind of love that we have. 740 00:44:07,600 --> 00:44:10,100 It's a lack of faith that I think sometimes that keeps us 741 00:44:10,100 --> 00:44:13,200 clinging to our stuff and indulging in our luxuries and 742 00:44:13,200 --> 00:44:16,500 ignoring those who are in need around us. 743 00:44:17,200 --> 00:44:20,700 It's a lack of faith that we need to trust God that he's 744 00:44:20,700 --> 00:44:23,800 better than all those things. And that Christ is sufficient 745 00:44:23,800 --> 00:44:29,100 and satisfying more than all those things and we need to ask, 746 00:44:29,500 --> 00:44:31,800 you know, if we're struggling with those things, if we're 747 00:44:31,800 --> 00:44:34,400 struggling with our possessions, if we Ugly with the things to 748 00:44:34,400 --> 00:44:37,400 make our life more comfortable, you know, spend some time in 749 00:44:37,400 --> 00:44:41,500 prayer to really ask God to help us with those things in our 750 00:44:41,500 --> 00:44:44,100 life. That's the only way we're going 751 00:44:44,100 --> 00:44:46,300 to lay down our lives and sacrifice everything for the 752 00:44:46,300 --> 00:44:51,700 sake of the glory of Christ, when he fully takes control of 753 00:44:51,700 --> 00:44:55,500 our Hort of our hearts faith, that expresses itself through 754 00:44:55,500 --> 00:44:58,500 love So what does it mean to be free? 755 00:44:59,200 --> 00:45:00,600 Of course, we've talked about it. 756 00:45:00,600 --> 00:45:03,300 We live by faith. It's the freedom of Faith 757 00:45:03,600 --> 00:45:07,800 through the spirit in the hope with love free to serve each 758 00:45:07,800 --> 00:45:10,700 other. With Selfless Love. 759 00:45:11,900 --> 00:45:17,000 So why are you here today? Are you one who who you want and 760 00:45:17,000 --> 00:45:20,300 need to commit your heart and your life to Christ and live 761 00:45:20,300 --> 00:45:22,700 with Christian Freedom, Christian Liberty? 762 00:45:24,700 --> 00:45:27,900 Do you need to make a change in your life to follow Christ and 763 00:45:27,900 --> 00:45:31,000 his Commandments understand what he has done for us. 764 00:45:31,200 --> 00:45:35,000 And now just give everything that we have to him and that 765 00:45:35,000 --> 00:45:38,200 starts with obeying the gospel by by hearing and believing 766 00:45:38,400 --> 00:45:41,800 confessing his divinity and being baptized for the remission 767 00:45:41,800 --> 00:45:44,700 of our sins. There's a one here who just 768 00:45:44,700 --> 00:45:47,700 needs the prayers of the church or needs to make a public 769 00:45:47,700 --> 00:45:49,700 confession. We actually come while we stand 770 00:45:50,000 --> 00:45:54,500 and while we see We thank you for listening to our podcast, 771 00:45:54,500 --> 00:45:58,400 put on by the Church of Christ at 22:15 plans. 772 00:45:58,400 --> 00:46:02,000 Road in Bakersfield, if you would like any additional 773 00:46:02,000 --> 00:46:05,300 information, or you would like to receive a free Bible 774 00:46:05,300 --> 00:46:10,700 correspondence, course by mail. Please email us at info at her 775 00:46:10,700 --> 00:46:13,100 Church of Christ Bakersfield.com. 776 00:46:13,800 --> 00:46:19,000 Our service times are on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and 777 00:46:19,000 --> 00:46:23,500 Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. Please make plans to join us. 778 00:46:24,000 --> 00:46:26,200 We would love for you to be our honored guest.