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What does it mean to be “born free” in Christ?

1. We are “Born Free” from the Bondage and Pain of Our Past. (Galatians 1:13-15)

- Paul doesn’t write much about his past.

- He does so in Gal. 1 and 2 to accomplish 2 primary goals :

Paul first describes how in Jesus Christ we are “born free” from:

A. The Pain of a Misdirected Life. (Gal. 1:13)

· How could Paul ever be a leader in the Christian Church?

How could he live with himself?

· The power of God’s grace set Paul free.

· His grace can free us!

B. The Bondage of Self-Sufficiency. (Gal. 1:14)

· This is a terrible reality of the human condition spiritually (another word = “pride”).

· “His personal religious life, his scholarship, and his zeal in opposing alien religious faiths, all combined to make him the most respected young rabbi of his day.”

· The whole idea of being self-sufficient is an illusion at best.

· In Christ, this bondage is broken, and the cycle is ended!

Counterfeit Christianity is not a recent phenomena of our day.

Paul was “astonished, amazed, flabbergasted” by the Galatians.

Why is false teaching such a serious matter?

1. Because of What False Teaching Does (Gal. 1:6-7)

Paul refers to 3 specific effects of false teaching:

A. False Teaching Encourages Desertion.

B. False Teaching Demands Perversion.

C. False Teaching Produces Confusion.

2. Because of the Judgement False Teachers Face. (Gal. 1:8-9)

External appearance of any teacher is not important.

Note Acts 15:24 (special connections also don’t matter)

“…the outward person of the messenger does not validate his message; rather, the nature of the message validates the messenger.”

The most serious pronouncement in all of Paul’s writings.

An introduction and overview of the entire letter:

1. Who, What, and Why? (Gal 1:1-2)

- One of Paul’s earliest letters, and was a circular letter.

- Concerned because these churches were being led astray.

- Paul needed to re-establish his spiritual credentials and authority.

What was Paul’s answer to the false teaching of legalism?

2. Christ Alone, Faith Alone, Grace Alone. (Gal. 1:3-4)

· “You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free.”

What’s the purpose of right doctrine?

3. Real Power for Living. (Gal 5:1)

- Beginning in Gal. 3:2, Paul talks about the Holy Spirit 16 times!

“…live by the Spirit…led by the Spirit…the fruit of the Spirit…keep in step with the Spirit…sowing to please the Spirit…”

The Scriptures declare that we are united with Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ is united with us.

In Christ:

1. We are New Creations.

Satan’s 2-fold strategy:

a. To keep non-believers from Believing.

b. To keep believers Powerless in sin.

When we place our Faith and Trust in Christ we shatter Satan’s 1st goal.

When we walk in the Power and Fullness of the Holy Spirit we shatter Satan’s 2nd goal.

2. We are able to Share in the Victory of the Cross.

The Rule of Sin over us was Shattered.

Our Old sinful Nature was Crucified.

We are now free to Allow the Holy Spirit to Transform Us.

3. We are Alive in Christ’s Resurrection.

We are united with him in Resurrection.

Physical Death is Not the End.

For Christians, Death is a Defeated enemy.

4. We are Seated in the Heavenly Realms.

We are in the heavenlies by virtue of our Union with Christ.

All this is made Available to us because of the Merits of Christ.

The Cross is a place of: The ultimate Triumph of Jesus Christ and The place of Satan’s ultimate Demise.

1. Satan was Defeated by his own Spiritual Ignorance.

- God’s purposes and God’s plan are Not completely Understood by the Devil.

- The Cross was Not Satan’s place of Triumph. - In fact it was his place of Crushing Defeat.

2. The Victory of the Cross.

a. The Forgiveness of our Sins.

b. Satan is Conquered.

The cross that seemed like Shame was the triumph of Victory.

On the Cross, Satan’s weapons and his works were Demolished.

Spiritual Warfare will require well-equipped Christian Soldiers.

1. The Belt of Truth.

a. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Person of Truth.

b. The Word of God is the Word of Truth.

c. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth.

d. The Church is the Pillar and Foundation of the Truth.

2. The Breastplate of Righteousness.

Righteousness is a Powerful weapon against Satan,

because in him there is No Righteousness.

3. The Shoes of Peace.

The shoes of peace give us the Stability we need to Stand.

4. The Shield of Faith.

The shield of faith keeps us God Centred.

5. The Helmet of Salvation.

Salvation is deliverance from the Penalty of sin.

It is also deliverance from the Power of sin.

6. The Sword of the Spirit.

The Word of God.

Notice that the sword is an Offensive weapon,

not just a Defensive weapon.

1. The Context of the Temptations.

a. The Preceding context. Baptism.

b. The Immediate context. Obedience.

c. What is Jesus Doing? Fasting.

2. The Nature of the Temptations.

a. The Flesh.

b. The World.

c. The Devil.

3. How did He Overcome?

a. By using Scripture.

b. The Power of God’s Word.

c. To Know and Apply the Word of God.

We can be tempted to make Godless choices in many areas:

1. Money and Possessions.

The love of Money can cause people to Wander from the faith.

2. Power, Status and Popularity.

The tools of seeking Popularity and Power are:

Gossip, Criticism, Manipulation, Undermining and Slander.

When we get Caught up in these we are doing the Devil’s Work for him.

3. Happiness.

Escapism can become our god when happiness is our Goal.

The goal for believers is not Happiness, but Contentment.

4. What are the Results of Godless Choices?

Chasing after the Wind.

5. How can we see Godlessness become Godliness?

Reorder, Repent, Resist.

The Bible refers to “a Foothold” of the Devil. A window of Opportunity.

1. Anger.

a. Interestingly anger is Not always Sinful.

b. While anger itself is not sin, it certainly can Become Sin

2. When does Anger become Sin?

Anger has a Progression.

Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

Anger becomes sin when an Unforgiving spirit takes root.

3. How do we Respond to anger?

a.. Expressing it for all to see.

b. Suppressing anger.

c. Repressing anger.

4. What’s God’s way of Dealing with anger?

Confess it. Tell God About our anger.

God has a way of Dealing with that anger.

a. Forgiveness.

b. Resist.