Freedom in Jesus

 

Freedom in Jesus

Galatians 5:1-15

 

In Galatians 5:1-15 we are given options as to how we live life. We can live as a slave or a debtor or a runner or a free person.

 

Galatians 5:1: A Slave

For Freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

 

In Romans 3:10-12 those who have not surrendered their lives to Jesus as Lord are described as not righteous, not seeking God, turning aside from God, & not doing good. We were slaves to sin. Jesus came & through His death & resurrection has given us the chance to be freed from being a slave of sin. But Jesus will not force us, so we can remind slaves to sin or, by surrendering our lives to Jesus, we are made free.

 

Raise the Roof & Remove the Walls is about being freed from the slavery of sin through Jesus’ death & resurrection.

 

Galatians 5:2-6: A Debtor

Look: I Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

 

We can try to achieve salvation by keeping the law. If we try to achieve salvation through the law, we must keep every part of the law all the time. We cannot fail to keep even one part of law one time; we must obey the whole law all of our lives. That is an impossible task. The other way is through God’s grace. Paul says that it is not about being a debtor to the law, but it is about faith in Jesus working through our love for Jesus.

 

Raise the Roof & Remove the Walls is about faith in Jesus working through our love for Him & not trying to follow every aspect of the law. 

 

Galatians 5:7-12: A Runner

You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!

 

We have two options as to where we can run. We can run away from Jesus & the cross or we can run to Jesus & the cross. When we run away from Jesus & the cross, we are running away from life & peace. When we run to Jesus & the cross, we are running to life & peace.

 

Raise the Roof & Remove the Walls is about running to Jesus & the cross to receive life & peace.

 

Galatians 5:13-14: The Free Person

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “ You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

 

We are called to freedom. We have been delivered from slavery to sin to freedom in Jesus. We are to use our freedom in Jesus to, in love, serve one another. We are not to use our freedom in Jesus to satisfy the desires of our old nature. We also are not to use this freedom to hurt & condemn others.

 

Raise the Roof & Remove the Walls is about being free in Jesus & using our freedom to serve others.

 

Jesus sets us free, so we do not have to be a slave to sin or a debtor to the law or run away from Him. We can live as free people through grace by our faith in Jesus to help & serve others in the name of Jesus.  

 

Raise the Roof & Remove the Walls,

                         Joe