Galatians 5:1-15
By Keith Howard
This morning, I want you to go with me to the fifth chapter of Galatians in a study I’ve entitled, The Believer’s Purpose—Freedom. In the last two chapters of Galatians, you will notice that Paul begins to summarize his teaching and draw conclusions based on the foundations he has laid in the first four chapters. Here, he makes an important point to those who would seek to find their righteousness through the law. He reminds them that works-based righteousness leads to slavery but that Christ has purchased our freedom. So, from Galatians 5:1-15, I want to discuss the topic, The Believer’s Purpose—Freedom.
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Galatians 5:1-15 NLT “So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law. Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: If you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ will be of no benefit to you. I’ll say it again. If you are trying to find favor with God by being circumcised, you must obey every regulation in the whole law of Moses. For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace. But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us. For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love. You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? It certainly isn’t God, for he is the one who called you to freedom. This false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough! I am trusting the Lord to keep you from believing false teachings. God will judge that person, whoever he is, who has been confusing you. Dear brothers and sisters, if I were still preaching that you must be circumcised—as some say I do—why am I still being persecuted? If I were no longer preaching salvation through the cross of Christ, no one would be offended. I wish that those troublemakers who want to mutilate you by circumcision would mutilate themselves, for you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.”
PRAY
*The story is told of an aspiring artist commissioned to do a large sculpture for a famous museum. At last, he had the opportunity to create the masterpiece he had long dreamed of. After laboring over the work for many years, he saw it grow not only in shape but in beauty. But when it was finished, he discovered to his horror that it was much too large to be taken out a window or door and that the cost of tearing down a part of the building to remove it was forbidden. His masterpiece was forever a captive to the room in which it was created. That is the fate of all human religion. Nothing a person does to earn God’s favor can leave the room of this earth where self-made works are created.*
Works are the issue that is at the core of Paul’s letter. Let’s go back for a moment and recreate the circumstances that surround this letter. When Paul was on his first missionary journey, he preached the Gospel to the province’s inhabitants in Galatia, and his message was wonderfully received. The Galatians turned to Christ and were wonderfully saved out of heathenism, paganism, and idolatry.
That’s why I want to focus on verse thirteen, which says, (13) For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.
God has a purpose for your life. If that weren’t true, He’d have taken you home to heaven at the moment of salvation.
Do you ever wonder why He left you here?
The Lord intends to influence others through you. Our purpose is to be a vessel through which Christ overflows to others–touching those who hurt and desperately need a Savior. Once we are saved, Scripture teaches, our involvement is threefold.
First, we love God and then others. Jesus clearly stated that these were the two greatest commandments. Matthew 22:37-39 says, “Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’”
This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love is a verb. It requires action. You can tell me you love me, but it doesn’t mean anything if you never do anything to show it. “People don’t care how much you know until you show them how much you care.” Paul talked about love in 1 Corinthians 13; he spoke of a commitment, being faithful and consistent even when times are hard. All of us can talk about the condition we find ourselves in today with this Covid-19 Pandemic, but what will your testimony look like when this is over. What have you shared with others? What will your family say? How about your neighbor, what will they say?
Second, we share the good news of salvation. Acts 1:8 says, But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
Growing in Christ involves far more than just attending church, tithing, and listening to a sermon. Many believers do these yet remain stagnant in their walk. There are two elements necessary for us to become more like Jesus: instruction and involvement.
God’s power is available to God’s people who want to do His will and be His witness.
The Bible says, Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Tim. 2:15
Third, we serve in various ways, like helping those in need, sharing our resources, and lifting others in prayer. Jesus is our perfect example of all three. His entire life was marked by caring for people–both those who loved Him and those who did not. In fact, the Bible teaches that He humbled Himself and became like us, willing to give up His life for our redemption. There is no greater love; there is no greater act of service.
Scripture clearly defines the believer’s purpose. Aligning ourselves with God’s intentions for His children–loving others, witnessing, and serving– brings us great satisfaction. We’re still on earth not merely to hear more teaching but to act on it and share with others what we learn. Amen!
How many of you want to make a renewed commitment today to love, witness, and serve others for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ?
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