“Freedom or Bondage”
Galatians 3:26-5:12
Sermon Series: “Choice”
Main Idea: Jesus brings us true freedom while the law brings us back into bondage.
The NIV translates Galatians 5:1 as, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” This verse is really a hinge point in the book that transitions from the doctrinal section to the practical application section. It shows us that Jesus sets us free, but we have to stand firm in Him and not add law and /or ritual to Him. This section shows us that Jesus is not only completely sufficient for our salvation but also for our sanctification (spiritual growth). The Bible also teaches us that all of us are going to be slaves to something or someone (see Romans 6:16). This is what a yoke pictures. Before we are saved, we are under the yoke (slavery) of sin (Lamentation 1:14, John 8:34). This verse speaks of moving to the yoke of religion, which still results in slavery because it doesn’t give us the power to overcome sin. However, Jesus invites us to take His yoke upon us. His yoke is easy (it means kind, gracious) and His burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30).
Therefore, the idea once again is to look to Jesus alone. He brings freedom. Why? Here are four reasons from this text:
1. Trusting the law in addition to Jesus causes us to forfeit our spiritual riches (5:2-12). This section does not teach that we lose our salvation, but it is a warning about the dangers of following this type of false teaching and everything it robs us of.
2. The Old Testament example of Abraham shows us that it does not work for us to live in our own strength instead of trusting God’s promises (4:21-31). The Believer’s Study Bible explains this section like this, “The allegory in this historical situation is just this: Ishmael was born of a slave, the result of fleshly attempts to give offspring to Abraham (v. 23). Isaac was freeborn, with sonship based not upon human effort but upon the grace and promise of God (v. 23). The Jerusalem which now is (Jews and Judaizing Christians) is like Ishmael (v. 25), slaves to law, making fleshly and unfruitful attempts to gain God’s favor (v. 30). Advocates of God’s grace in salvation are like Isaac, freeborn and thereby the recipients of God’s promise (v. 31). It absolutely did not work for Abraham to try to fix his situation instead of trusting God’s promises, and this story shows us that life will not work for us when we do not live by God’s promises.
3. Trusting the law turns us away from the true God and turns us into religious idolaters (4:8-20). In this section, Paul shows his pastoral heart as he practically begs them to turn away from false teachers and turn back to the truth. He loves them and wants to see Christ formed in them.
4. Our identity as redeemed and adopted sons of God through Jesus shows us that He is the only way to freedom (3:26-4:7). He moves us from slavery to sonship (This is true of males and females. In that day and time, the firstborn son was the primary heir and the point is that every Christian is like a firstborn son who is the recipient of everything God has to offer.).
A. God sent His Son to redeem us (v. 4-5).
B. The purpose of redemption is adoption (v. 5).
C. The results of adoption include (v. 6-7):
-We are indwelled by the Holy Spirit.
-We can cry out, “Abba, Father.” We have a Father who rules from His throne (Revelation 3:21-4:11), a Father we can talk to (Matthew 6:9, Ephesians 2:18), a Father who takes care of His children (Matthew 6:25-33), a Father who gives good gifts (Matthew 7:11), a Father who is merciful and comforting (2 Corinthians 1:3-4), a Father who delivers us from the bondage of fear (Romans 8:15), and a Father who will remove us from this messed up world and take us to be with Him (Romans 8:23).
-We are set free as a child of God.
-We are made heirs of God through Jesus (Rom. 8:14-17).
