“Be Free” Part 15 – Galatians 5:13-15
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This Sunday, David Sawyer preached from Galatians 5:13-15 as part of our series “Be Free.” We looked at what it means to be free. What is this freedom we have in Christ and what we should do with our freedom without becoming self-indulgent?
Free from the law
Our freedom is not an innate human right but it is from God. Our freddom is not the end outcome in itself but leads to something greater. Most of Paul’s letter to the Galatians is an all out indiscriminate attack on the law. The law as we have already seen is perfect.
We are called to not follow the law that speaks of legalism and regulations but the law of Christ or the law of liberty – John 14:1 and Romans 13:9. We are called to love our neighbours in the same way that we love ourselves.
This is how we fulfill the law of Christ. We don’t throw the law away completely as the law acts as a framework for how we live our lives. As Christians we have a different way of fulfilling the law – 1 John 4:20. The law of Christ is a summary of all that is good. The law keeps us safe. Keeping the commandments and regulations of the law was at the heart of Judaism. The new law is based on the old law in which love for others is over-arching.
Lovingly serving each other
Our freedom is an opportunity to lovingly serve one another – Galatians 5:13-14. Our natural tendency is to look out for our own interests. If we need something we do set out to get it. This is the attitude we need to have in looking out for and meeting the needs of others. We don’t do this out of obligation but out of the freedom that Christ brings us (1 Corinthians 13:3). Law and regulation cannot contain love. All of the ways that we serve others can demonstrate this – 1 John 4:7.
We need to love others as we love ourselves. Do we love ourselves? Out natural tendency is to act out of self interest. If we need something we get it. We need to have this attitude in looking to one others needs, helping them get what they need. Our freedom is given to us to use it in loving and sacrificial service of others.
We have a choice to use our freedom to serve others or follow our selfish desires
Our freedom gives us an opportunity to follow our selfish desires or to lovingly serve others. If we do not have an attitude of serving others over time we will become self-serving like the Galatian church. We are never going to totally beat our sinful desires this side of heaven. We need to live our lives on a supernatural level through loving one another and being fill of the Holy Spirit. No church has ever split because there is too much love in a church. Romans 13:13-14.
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Galatians 5:13-15
13 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. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. (ESV)
Latest sermons from this series
- “Be Free” Part 20 – Review (2 Apr 12)
- “Be Free” Part 19 – Galatians 6:11-18 (26 Mar 12)
- “Be Free” Part 18 – Galatians 6:6-10 (12 Mar 12)
- “Be Free” Part 17 – Galatians 6:1-5 (4 Mar 12)
- “Be Free” Part 16 – Galatians 5:16-25 (27 Feb 12)
- “Be Free” Part 15 – Galatians 5:13-15 (19 Feb 12)
- “Be Free” Part 14 – Galatians 5:1-12 (12 Feb 12)
- “Be Free” Part 13 – Galatians 4:21-31 (29 Jan 12)
- “Be Free” Part 12 – Galatians 4:12-20 (22 Jan 12)
- “Be Free” Part 11 – Galatians 4:1-11 (15 Jan 12)
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