Galatians 5.1-6
1. For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. 2 Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. 3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law.
4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
Sermon Outline
I. Freedom Accomplished (v1)
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30
II. Freedom at Risk (vs. 2-4)
Some men came from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” – Acts 15.1
A. Separation
B. Obligation
C. Alienation
III. Freedom Gained (vs. 5-6)
A. Eager
B. Faithful
Sermon Quotes & References
“Our former state is portrayed as slavery, with Jesus Christ as liberator, conversion as an act of emancipation and the Christian life as a life of freedom. This freedom, as the whole letter makes plain, is not a freedom from sin, but rather from the law … The Christian freedom Paul describes is freedom from the tyranny of the law, that dreadful struggle to keep the law with a view to winning the favor of God. It is the freedom of acceptance with God and access to God through Christ and Christ alone.”
– John Stott, The Message of Galatians
“A wise Christian once remarked that he was more afraid of his good works than his sins – for his good works made him proud, but his sins made him humble. It is true that good works can never have too much diligence used about them, nor too little confidence placed in them. They are good helps, but bad saviors. It is necessary that we do them, but it is dangerous to rely upon them. If the devil cannot dissuade us from performing good works, then his next work will be to persuade us to rely upon them, to make saviors of them; because this will as certainly ruin our souls as if we had wholly neglected them. Open sin is the broad, dirty way to hell; but trusting in our good works is as surer & cleaner way to that same destination.
So then, let these things compel you to renounce your own righteousness and to take sanctuary alone in the pure, perfect, and most glorious righteousness of Jesus Christ and in the free grace of God.”
– Thomas Brooks, A Cabinet of Choice Jewels