This site requires flash

Set Free or Set Straight?

Galatians #13


“Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.”   – Galatians 5:1

God is more concerned with setting you free than setting you straight!

1. To stay in freedom we have to rely on grace.

“You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.”   – Galatians 5:4

Legalism and grace cannot co-exist.  We cannot simultaneously depend on our own behavior as righteousness AND trust Christ for a right standing with God.

2. To walk in freedom requires a faith outlook.

“For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness.”   – Galatians 5:5

Righteousness is a position given – not a position earned.  Faith holds on to that position.

To walk in freedom requires walking with the Holy Spirit. 

Freedom and the Holy Sprit and faith all go hand in hand.  I don’t abide by an outward code but by an inward relationship with the Holy Spirit.

3. Freedom always works from the inside out.

“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.”   – Galatians 5:6

Circumcision originally started as an outward act that symbolized an inward covenant.  Then people started depending only on the outward act without a real grasp of the inner relationship with God. 

When the outward becomes more important than the inward – we’re missing the point.

4. Always hold freedom as a valuable jewel.

“But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished.  Would that those who are troubling you would even mutilate themselves.”  
– Galatians 5:11 - 12

The fact that there has to be a cross is a declaration that sin has to be paid for.

This liberty that we have is not a cheap grace thing.  It’s a valuable jewel – to be handled with care.  The cross paid for us to live in God’s grace and liberty! 

We were called to be free, liberated!  It’s not a license for selfishness, but a freedom to be all God has called us to be.

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”   – Romans 8:1-2

“Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”   – 2 Corinthians 3:17

“For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”  
– Galatians 5:13

“So speak and so act, as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.”   – James 2:12

“Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.”   – 1 Peter 2:16

“Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. "   - John 8:31

"If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed."  
– John 8:36