Free to Run

July 17, 2024

Michael Boyd

Free to Run LISTEN ON MIXLR @ https://gbcsl.mixlr.com WATCH US ON YOU TUBE LIVE @ http://www.youtube.com/gracechurch-slus/live Galatians 5:1–15 Reveals Why Christ Has Set Us Free It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. GALATIANS 5:1-15 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[a] 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. 7 You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion is not from him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 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. 11 But if I, brothers,[b] still preach[c] circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. 12 I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves! 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. Two Enemies of Christian Freedom Legalism :Obey the law and earn favor before God License : Forget about the law altogether. Gospel truth is never intended only to be believed. Gospel truth is always intended to be obeyed. We live by faith. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. (Gal. 1:5 ) 4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in[a] him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, (Rom. 4:4-5) Christ will be of no value to you. We lose the benefits of Christ, and we gain the burden of the law. We miss the grace of God. We live through the Spirit. We are free to Christ You’re free to experience the beauty and the glory and the joy of the presence of Christ in your life. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome (1 John 5:3) We live in hope. Paul describes the Christian life as waiting. Freedom is living with eager anticipation for the day when the full realization of the righteousness of Christ is applied in our lives and our salvation is complete. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. (Romans 8:24-26) We live with love. In Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. (6) Justified by faith alone, but it’s a faith that expresses itself through love. 9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him[b] there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. ( 1 John 2:9-11). If Christ is in you, then ask Him to produce this kind of love through you We are free from slavery to the law. What Does It Mean To Be Free? It’s the life of freedom by faith through the Spirit in hope with love. Free to serve each other with selfless love. Christian freedom, living by faith, through the Spirit in hope with love. Grace Baptist of Second Life PODCAST HTTPS://PODPOINT.COM/GRACE-BAPTIST-CHURCH-OF-SECOND-LIFE-PODCAST WEBSITE https://gracebaptistofsecondlife.godaddysites.com