07 Let Freedom Ring - Free to be Free

River Church Sermons

Let Freedom Ring #7

Free To Be Free!, Galatians 5:1-15

By Louie Marsh, 7-29-2007

1) Jesus set me free to BE FREE!

“1It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1, BSB)

• Freedom has ETERNAL VALUE.

Why? What is that Value?

· You could say without it we can reach our full potential – true but not the real value

· Because it makes me happy and that’s what life is all about.

· Real Reason: We are make in God’s image, and are called to be like God, and God is Free!

The Two Components of Spiritual Freedom:

Free FROM & Free TO

3 Way this freedom works in my life

1) In my relationship with Jesus

Free From: SEEKING SECURITY which INVALIDATES Christ’s power in my life.

Free To: Live life TRUSTING God’s spirit alone.

“2Take notice: I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4You who are trying to be justified by the law have been severed from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the hope of righteousness.” (Galatians 5:2–5, BSB)

2) In how I live out the truth.

“6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. All that matters is faith, expressed through love. 7You were running so well. Who has obstructed you from obeying the truth? 8Such persuasion does not come from the One who calls you. 9A little leaven works through the whole batch of dough. 10I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is troubling you will bear the judgment, whoever he may be. 11Now, brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. 12As for those who are agitating you, I wish they would proceed to emasculate themselves!” (Galatians 5:6–12, BSB)

Why don't these agitators, obsessive as they are about circumcision, go all the way and castrate themselves! Galatians 5:12 (MSG)

Free From: DECEPTION

News Item: Giant Man-Eating Badgers in Basra

British military officials are denying reports that they released, we kid you not, "strange man-eating bear-like" badgers to sow fear among the residents of Basra, Iraq.

"We have not released giant badgers in Basra, and nor have we been collecting eggs and releasing serpents into the Shatt al-Arab river," Maj. David Gell tells reporters, according to The Guardian..

Free To: Live by FAITH through LOVE.

3) In how I view myself

“13For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love. 14The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”” (Galatians 5:13–14, BSB)

Free From: A SELF-CENTERED life

Free To: SERVE God & others