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| The teachings of Jesus stress human values; the spiritual worth and freedom of each individual. He said, "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life"(John 3:16); that salvation depends upon one's being "born again" of the Holy Spirit (John 3:8). Jesus' ministry was to the lost (Matt. 18:11;Luke 15:24), to the sinner (Mark 2:17), and to Jew and Gentile alike (Matthew 10:6;12:17-21). He said that he did not come to condemn the world but to save it, and each person who does the truth "comes to the light" and his or her deeds become manifest as being done through God (John 3:17-21). Some very specific spiritual and material blessings or rewards were declared by Jesus for true followers: forgiveness of sins (Luke 7:47-48); answered prayer (Matt. 7:7-8;Mark 11:24); provision of necessities (Matt. 6:31-33); prosperity now, both spiritually and materially, eternal life (Mk. 10:28-30); receiving measure for measure as one gives (Luke 6:38); living with peace and joy (John 14:27;John 15:11); freedom from anxiety and fear (Luke 12:32;Rom. 8:15); receiving the spiritual power to do works as Jesus has done (John 14:12); and being seated with Christ in heaven (Rev. 3:21;John 14:3). Jesus also taught the concept of a spiritual oneness; a unity of the Father and the Son with each believer, and of believers with each other. A believer also receives the baptism of the Holy Spirit whose indwelling endows him or her with spiritual gifts (Mk. 1:8;Matt. 3;11;Acts 1:5;2:4,I Corinthians 12-14). It is stressed that the risen Christ has a special affinity for each individual, having empathy for human weaknesses, since in his earthly walk, he had been in "all points tempted as we are, yet without sin"(Heb. 4:15). "Wherefore, he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them "(Heb. 7:25). A believer need have no fear of physical death, for he or she will enjoy a resurrection to a higher life, being raised with a spiritual body in power and glory (Matt. 22:30;Luke 20:36;I Cor. 15:42-44). 5.The freedom that Christ brings GALATIANS 5:1-6:18 The central message of the letter to the Galatians is that a person is saved by faith alone; being saved means being free. Being saved by faith alone is the heart of the gospel. Paul made his case by showing that Abraham was saved by faith (a good example because the Jews considered Abraham the father of their nation). This is the way God has established the salvation of humankind. Jesus died so that we would not have to earn our own salvation--which we could not do even if we wanted to. To deny that we can be saved by faith is to deny God himself. When a person believes, that person becomes free--free from the penalty of sin, from useless rules, from the law, from evil powers, from himself or herself. It is a message that opens the door to meaningful life and joy. The Holy Spirit enters, bringing "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance" (5:22-23). A person can then live for others, loving them and bearing their burdens. Freedom to be what God wants and to serve others is the heart of the Christian life. Paul defended his point that we are saved by faith and made free by an elaborate set of arguments. He showed that his apostleship entitled him to speak with authority, that the risen Jesus had revealed the truth to him, that the other apostles in Jerusalem agreed, that the Old Testament taught what he was teaching, that the Holy Spirit affirmed the truth of his message by working miracles, and that this gospel worked in life. Anyone who did not agree should be careful so as not to be fighting against God. Whatever persons sow, that will they reap. A life of faith brings life. A life of self-seeking and evil brings death. The choice is always before us, and Paul urges that we choose life. |
| Inspirational Insight Paul Fights Back When freedom gets dangerous The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Galatians 5:6 Over the years Paul caught on to his opponents' crafty ways of undermining him. Galatians provides a textbook case of his response to critics. First, Paul answered their personal attacks. Some had questioned his right to be called an apostle. In chapters 1 and 2, Paul insists that he received the gospel directly from God. In addition, he has met every criterion of an apostle. Chapters 3 and 4 deal with Paul's ideas. Had he strayed too far from Old Testament law and customs? Some hinted that Paul was preaching an incomplete gospel. He answered those objections with a carefully reasoned look at the Old Testament, focusing on Abraham, the father of the Jewish race. What to Do with Freedom Then Paul turned to more practical matters. Stressing freedom, not rules, left him open to criticism. Did his strong emphasis on freedom lead to loose morals? To answer this question, he ended Galatians, a letter devoted to Christian liberty, with a warning. "Why did Christ set us free?" Paul asks. To make possible a life of orgies, drunkenness, and witchcraft? Obviously no. Christ freed us from worrying about whether we are "doing enough" to please God and from uselessly following external forms. But we should use that freedom to serve one another in love and to live a Spirit-filled life. The teachings of Jesus stress human values; the spiritual worth and freedom of each individual. He said, "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life"(John 3:16); that salvation depends upon one's being "born again" of the Holy Spirit (John 3:8). Jesus' ministry was to the lost (Matt. 18:11;Luke 15:24), to the sinner (Mark 2:17), and to Jew and Gentile alike (Matthew 10:6;12:17-21). He said that he did not come to condemn the world but to save it, and each person who does the truth "comes to the light" and his or her deeds become manifest as being done through God (John 3:17-21). Some very specific spiritual and material blessings or rewards were declared by Jesus for true followers: forgiveness of sins (Luke 7:47-48); answered prayer (Matt. 7:7-8;Mark 11:24); provision of necessities (Matt. 6:31-33); prosperity now, both spiritually and materially, eternal life (Mk. 10:28-30); receiving measure for measure as one gives (Luke 6:38); living with peace and joy (John 14:27;John 15:11); freedom from anxiety and fear (Luke 12:32;Rom. 8:15); receiving the spiritual power to do works as Jesus has done (John 14:12); and being seated with Christ in heaven (Rev. 3:21;John 14:3). Jesus also taught the concept of a spiritual oneness; a unity of the Father and the Son with each believer, and of believers with each other. A believer also receives the baptism of the Holy Spirit whose indwelling endows him or her with spiritual gifts (Mk. 1:8;Matt. 3;11;Acts 1:5;2:4,I Corinthians 12-14). It is stressed that the risen Christ has a special affinity for each individual, having empathy for human weaknesses, since in his earthly walk, he had been in "all points tempted as we are, yet without sin"(Heb. 4:15). "Wherefore, he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them "(Heb. 7:25). A believer need have no fear of physical death, for he or she will enjoy a resurrection to a higher life, being raised with a spiritual body in power and glory (Matt. 22:30;Luke 20:36;I Cor. 15:42-44). 5.The freedom that Christ brings GALATIANS 5:1-6:18 The central message of the letter to the Galatians is that a person is saved by faith alone; being saved means being free. Being saved by faith alone is the heart of the gospel. Paul made his case by showing that Abraham was saved by faith (a good example because the Jews considered Abraham the father of their nation). This is the way God has established the salvation of humankind. Jesus died so that we would not have to earn our own salvation--which we could not do even if we wanted to. To deny that we can be saved by faith is to deny God himself. When a person believes, that person becomes free--free from the penalty of sin, from useless rules, from the law, from evil powers, from himself or herself. It is a message that opens the door to meaningful life and joy. The Holy Spirit enters, bringing "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance" (5:22-23). A person can then live for others, loving them and bearing their burdens. Freedom to be what God wants and to serve others is the heart of the Christian life. Paul defended his point that we are saved by faith and made free by an elaborate set of arguments. He showed that his apostleship entitled him to speak with authority, that the risen Jesus had revealed the truth to him, that the other apostles in Jerusalem agreed, that the Old Testament taught what he was teaching, that the Holy Spirit affirmed the truth of his message by working miracles, and that this gospel worked in life. Anyone who did not agree should be careful so as not to be fighting against God. Whatever persons sow, that will they reap. A life of faith brings life. A life of self-seeking and evil brings death. The choice is always before us, and Paul urges that we choose life. His arguments and emotions exhausted, Paul concludes, "Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation" (6:15). A released prisoner, a freed slave, the bountiful fruit of a living tree--all the images in Galatians convey life, an abundant life in the Spirit of God, readily available to every Christian. Life Questions: Read over the qualities of life in the Spirit listed in 5:22-23. Do these characterize your life? |
| FREEDOM IN CHRIST-WHAT IT MEANS |
| It is not surprising that most people think of freedom as from some kind of restriction. Some might wish that they would be allowed to do whatever they want to do. For anyone who is aware of the desires and impulses that surge in human beings, the notion of complete freedom is frightening. What would this world be like if restrictions were removed? It would be total chaos. To the Christian, the idea of law is comforting. No wonder that the Biblical statement that we are "no longer under the supervision of the law" (Gal. 3:25) seems to some to imply an irresponsible or immoral life. But fear of freedom is based on a radical misunderstanding. The Bible does teach that we are "not under law but under grace"( Rom. 6:14). This is not a license to sin. It is our title deed to experience true morality and righteousness. In Christ we are free to be truly good in motives and desires as well as actions. Freedom is release from the need for external regulations found through our new, inner relationship with God. This is explained in Romans 7 and Galatians 4. Freedom is a union with Christ by which the tiger in us is bound and the best in us is unchained. (Rom 6). We are freed to concentrate on loving Jesus and so experience the changes God is working within. |
| CHANGES GAINED FROM OUR NEW LIFE IN CHRIST |
| OLD LIFE NEW LIFE Sinful nature Spirit Not responsive to God Responsive to God In conflict with the Spirit In conflict wth sin Ruled by cravings Ruled by God Immorality Love Impurity Joy Debauchery Peace Idolatry and Witchcraft Patience Hatred Kindness Discord Goodness Jealousy Faithfulness Fits of Rage Gentleness Selfiish Ambition Self-control Law is "aganst such things"(Gal5:23) NONE! and was added because of the "Against such there is no law "(5:23) trangressions (3:19) |
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