Bible Study Notes for Lord’s Day,
May 17, 2009
Galatians 5:1-14
Called to Liberty
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us
free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. 2 Indeed
I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will
profit you nothing. 3 And I testify again to every man who becomes
circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. 4 You have
become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by
law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit eagerly
wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Christ Jesus
neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith
working through love.
7 You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This
persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. 9 A little leaven
leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in you, in the Lord,
that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall
bear his judgment, whoever he is.
11 And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still
suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. 12
I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves
off!
13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not
use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve
one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in
this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Introduction Throughout human history, some people have been free,
others have been under the control of tyrants, with many degrees
in between.
Paul has been encouraging the Galatians to be free - not to be bound
by laws, rules, regulations, ritual, religion, but to come to Christ,
receive His heart and mind, be filled with His Spirit and love,
and then go out into the world as free - to think, speak and act
in love - love for God and for other people. If we do this, we have
freely fulfilled every law there is.
We are controlled internally by our agreement with the Holy Spirit,
and don’t need a lot of external control, heavy handed and
oppressive laws.
Notice in nations where there are a lot of Christians, they don’t
need that many laws, and the people have a lot of freedom, as in
the early days of our country. But when the people have no self
control because they don’t know Christ, the rulers have to
come down hard, as in atheist/communist nations.
In a home where kids are basically good, loving, kind, responsible
- need less rules, less discipline. But if they have no self control,
selfish, mean - then mom and dad need many rules, constantly making
new ones, closing loop holes, exercising discipline.
We are losing our freedoms, a little at a time. We have fewer and
fewer people who are truly Christian, so crime, corruption and abuse
have gone up, morality, commitment and respect for other people
has gone down, and so notice how many more laws have been made -
and by leaders who are themselves corrupt and dishonest.
How to boil a frog.
1. Called to Liberty
What we have:
Freedom - Christ has made us free v1
Benefits of Christ - v2, 4
Righteousness out of faith v5
Faith working through love v6
Running well, obeying the truth v7
Him calling you v8
Serving one another in love v13
Love your neighbor as yourself v13
3. The Yoke of Slavery:
What we stand to lose if we reject Christ, and come back into our
own devices:
Yoke of slavery v1
Circumcision v2
Christ profits nothing v2, 4 - left to own righteousness - total
failure, lost with no hope
Debtor to the whole law v3
Fallen from grace v4b
Held back v7
Not obeying the truth v7
Persuaded, but not by Christ v8
Cancer spreading through every aspect of your life, others v9
Trouble v10
No trouble v11 - not threat to Satan, no opposition from the enemy
- he likes it.
3. Stand Firm in Freedom
Stand firm v1
Back under the Law, Christ profits you nothing v2
A little leaven ruins the whole thing - goal line stand v9 No beachhead
allowed
Think nothing else v10
Judgment on trouble makers v10
Castrate doubt causers, trouble makers, those who pollute the Gospel
v12
Pastor Steve Boggan
Living Waters Christian Fellowship
Heritage Ranch by Lake Nacimiento, CA
Website - livingwaters.cc
