1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:04,380 Please open your Bible at Galatians and chapter four. 2 00:00:04,380 –> 00:00:07,920 We’re attempting to cover a long section of Galatians today, 3 00:00:07,920 –> 00:00:09,960 really from chapter three verse 26 4 00:00:09,960 –> 00:00:13,880 right through to chapter five and verse 14. 5 00:00:13,880 –> 00:00:16,180 And this whole central section of Galatians 6 00:00:16,180 –> 00:00:17,840 is held together by one theme, 7 00:00:17,840 –> 00:00:20,379 and that is Christian freedom. 8 00:00:20,379 –> 00:00:22,219 And so our title for today is 9 00:00:22,219 –> 00:00:25,760 The Gospel Sets You Free. 10 00:00:25,760 –> 00:00:27,959 Now we’ve been learning a simple summary of the gospel, 11 00:00:27,959 –> 00:00:30,040 that it’s grace, it’s life, 12 00:00:30,040 –> 00:00:31,820 and it’s for the world. 13 00:00:31,820 –> 00:00:33,799 And it’s important for us to grasp this. 14 00:00:33,799 –> 00:00:37,020 The gospel is more than forgiveness for the past 15 00:00:37,020 –> 00:00:39,360 and heaven for the future. 16 00:00:39,360 –> 00:00:43,660 It is the power and presence of God in your life today 17 00:00:43,660 –> 00:00:46,320 by the power of his Holy Spirit. 18 00:00:46,320 –> 00:00:50,560 And when you see Christians who are confident 19 00:00:50,560 –> 00:00:53,599 that their past is forgiven and their future is secure, 20 00:00:53,599 –> 00:00:56,000 but they’re kind of frantically running around 21 00:00:56,080 –> 00:01:00,360 and trying to find out how to live life today, 22 00:01:00,360 –> 00:01:03,700 then you know that they have not grasped the gospel. 23 00:01:05,120 –> 00:01:08,059 And I think that we see a lot of that kind of confusion 24 00:01:08,059 –> 00:01:09,320 in the church today. 25 00:01:10,800 –> 00:01:13,180 And that is why we need to grasp the gospel. 26 00:01:13,180 –> 00:01:15,500 And of course, that is why the book of Galatians 27 00:01:15,500 –> 00:01:16,379 was written. 28 00:01:17,839 –> 00:01:20,760 Now, we’ve reached the midpoint of this marvelous letter. 29 00:01:20,760 –> 00:01:22,879 Paul has been explaining what the gospel is, 30 00:01:22,940 –> 00:01:25,459 and now he comes to its application. 31 00:01:26,320 –> 00:01:28,559 And there are two main applications that he makes 32 00:01:28,559 –> 00:01:30,120 in the second half of this letter. 33 00:01:30,120 –> 00:01:34,059 The first is the freedom that flows from the gospel, 34 00:01:34,059 –> 00:01:36,080 that’s chapter three, verse 26, 35 00:01:36,080 –> 00:01:37,940 through to chapter five and verse 14. 36 00:01:37,940 –> 00:01:40,720 The freedom that flows from the gospel, 37 00:01:40,720 –> 00:01:43,639 and then the fruits that grows from the gospel, 38 00:01:43,639 –> 00:01:45,480 which is chapter five and verse 15 39 00:01:45,480 –> 00:01:48,760 through to chapter six and verse 10. 40 00:01:48,760 –> 00:01:50,519 So this week we look at the freedom 41 00:01:50,519 –> 00:01:51,919 that flows from the gospel, 42 00:01:51,959 –> 00:01:54,099 next week, God willing, the fruit that grows 43 00:01:54,099 –> 00:01:56,440 from the gospel. 44 00:01:56,440 –> 00:01:58,919 Now today, again, we have a very simple outline, 45 00:01:58,919 –> 00:02:00,720 couldn’t be much simpler, 46 00:02:00,720 –> 00:02:04,160 you are free, don’t lose your freedom. 47 00:02:04,160 –> 00:02:06,480 If you get that you’ve got it for today. 48 00:02:06,480 –> 00:02:08,360 You are free, 49 00:02:08,360 –> 00:02:11,759 don’t lose your freedom. 50 00:02:11,759 –> 00:02:14,080 We’re going to see how freedom is found 51 00:02:14,080 –> 00:02:17,600 and how Christian freedom may be lost. 52 00:02:17,600 –> 00:02:20,800 First thing, you are free. 53 00:02:22,279 –> 00:02:23,839 Galatians chapter four begins 54 00:02:23,839 –> 00:02:27,880 with the great transformation that has already happened 55 00:02:27,880 –> 00:02:31,279 in the life of every Christian believer. 56 00:02:31,279 –> 00:02:33,000 Now this is important for us to grasp 57 00:02:33,000 –> 00:02:35,080 because if you’re anything like me, 58 00:02:35,080 –> 00:02:37,919 your mind will often be on the fact 59 00:02:37,919 –> 00:02:39,479 that there is still so much 60 00:02:39,479 –> 00:02:42,119 that the Lord has to do in your life. 61 00:02:42,119 –> 00:02:44,199 I think of this often, I’m so far 62 00:02:44,199 –> 00:02:46,759 from being conformed to the image of Christ. 63 00:02:46,759 –> 00:02:48,520 So much that God still has to do. 64 00:02:49,479 –> 00:02:52,119 And because we are naturally as Christian believers 65 00:02:52,119 –> 00:02:55,419 drawn to how much God still has to do in our lives, 66 00:02:55,419 –> 00:02:57,539 how far we still have to go, 67 00:02:57,539 –> 00:03:00,080 it is important for us to be reminded 68 00:03:00,080 –> 00:03:04,479 of what God has done already in our lives. 69 00:03:04,479 –> 00:03:06,179 And this theme is the focus 70 00:03:06,179 –> 00:03:08,320 of the opening verses of chapter four. 71 00:03:08,320 –> 00:03:10,759 And Paul lays it out in two simple statements. 72 00:03:10,759 –> 00:03:15,039 You were a slave, you are a son. 73 00:03:15,039 –> 00:03:17,800 And this transformation has already happened 74 00:03:17,839 –> 00:03:21,500 in your life as a Christian believer through the Gospel. 75 00:03:21,500 –> 00:03:22,740 Let’s look at it together. 76 00:03:22,740 –> 00:03:27,119 First, you were a slave, verse three of chapter four. 77 00:03:27,119 –> 00:03:29,380 When we were children, we were, 78 00:03:29,380 –> 00:03:31,979 notice the past tense in slavery 79 00:03:31,979 –> 00:03:34,679 under the basic principles of the world. 80 00:03:34,679 –> 00:03:38,240 Or verse eight, formerly, see again it’s past. 81 00:03:38,240 –> 00:03:42,259 When you did not know God, you were slaves 82 00:03:42,259 –> 00:03:44,919 to those who by nature were not gods. 83 00:03:44,919 –> 00:03:48,520 This is what you were, you were a slave. 84 00:03:49,440 –> 00:03:52,160 Now, a slave, of course, has no freedom. 85 00:03:52,160 –> 00:03:54,119 He simply does or she simply does 86 00:03:54,119 –> 00:03:57,220 what he or she is commanded to do. 87 00:03:57,220 –> 00:03:59,160 And the tragedy of a slave’s position 88 00:03:59,160 –> 00:04:01,119 is that no matter how hard a slave works, 89 00:04:01,119 –> 00:04:05,539 he or she cannot improve their situation as a result. 90 00:04:05,539 –> 00:04:08,020 Work for a slave cannot bring freedom. 91 00:04:09,220 –> 00:04:10,639 Now, Paul is saying that used 92 00:04:10,639 –> 00:04:13,160 to be your position before God. 93 00:04:13,160 –> 00:04:16,320 You owed a debt to God that you could not pay. 94 00:04:16,320 –> 00:04:18,339 You had not fulfilled the law of God 95 00:04:18,339 –> 00:04:20,140 and you could not fulfill the law of God 96 00:04:20,140 –> 00:04:22,200 even with your best effort. 97 00:04:22,200 –> 00:04:25,220 That puts you, therefore, in the position of a slave. 98 00:04:25,220 –> 00:04:28,040 You could not change your position by your work, 99 00:04:28,040 –> 00:04:30,839 even the best effort of your most devoted life. 100 00:04:30,839 –> 00:04:32,559 No matter how hard you tried, 101 00:04:32,559 –> 00:04:34,720 you could not get out of the position you were in. 102 00:04:34,720 –> 00:04:36,600 You were a slave. 103 00:04:38,899 –> 00:04:42,179 Now, here’s the good news, the gospel. 104 00:04:42,220 –> 00:04:44,700 God has acted to win your freedom. 105 00:04:44,700 –> 00:04:47,019 You were a slave but God has acted to win your freedom. 106 00:04:47,019 –> 00:04:48,019 What has God done? 107 00:04:48,019 –> 00:04:49,320 Two things. 108 00:04:49,320 –> 00:04:51,940 Number one, Galatians chapter four and verse four, 109 00:04:51,940 –> 00:04:54,380 he sent his Son into the world. 110 00:04:55,299 –> 00:04:58,540 When the time had fully come, verse four, 111 00:04:58,540 –> 00:05:03,540 God sent his Son, born of a woman, 112 00:05:03,540 –> 00:05:05,480 born under the law, 113 00:05:05,480 –> 00:05:06,959 to redeem those under the law 114 00:05:06,959 –> 00:05:11,320 that we might receive the full rights of sons. 115 00:05:12,119 –> 00:05:13,760 God sent his Son into the world 116 00:05:13,760 –> 00:05:17,079 and second, God sent his spirit into our hearts, 117 00:05:17,079 –> 00:05:18,519 chapter four and verse six. 118 00:05:18,519 –> 00:05:20,399 Because you are sons, 119 00:05:20,399 –> 00:05:25,079 God sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts 120 00:05:25,079 –> 00:05:27,040 and the Spirit calls out, 121 00:05:27,040 –> 00:05:28,980 Abba, Father. 122 00:05:29,839 –> 00:05:32,760 So you were a slave but God has acted. 123 00:05:32,760 –> 00:05:33,980 In this decisive way, 124 00:05:33,980 –> 00:05:37,000 he sent his Son into the world, that’s Christmas. 125 00:05:37,000 –> 00:05:39,200 He has sent his spirit into your heart, 126 00:05:39,200 –> 00:05:41,119 that’s what happened when you were converted, 127 00:05:41,119 –> 00:05:43,359 when you came to faith in Jesus Christ, 128 00:05:43,359 –> 00:05:45,440 you were forgiven and you received the Spirit 129 00:05:45,440 –> 00:05:46,899 as we saw last week 130 00:05:46,899 –> 00:05:48,720 so now you are in a different position. 131 00:05:48,720 –> 00:05:51,880 You are a son, chapter four and verse seven, 132 00:05:51,880 –> 00:05:54,000 present tense, this is what you are. 133 00:05:54,000 –> 00:05:57,200 You are no longer a slave, verse seven, 134 00:05:57,200 –> 00:06:00,359 but a son and since you are a son, 135 00:06:00,359 –> 00:06:04,000 God has made you also an heir. 136 00:06:04,000 –> 00:06:05,440 Now you’ll see that that theme of sons 137 00:06:05,440 –> 00:06:07,440 runs right through the whole passage. 138 00:06:07,440 –> 00:06:09,260 Chapter three and verse 26. 139 00:06:09,260 –> 00:06:14,140 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 140 00:06:14,140 –> 00:06:16,420 He’s writing to Christian believers. 141 00:06:16,420 –> 00:06:19,339 Chapter four and verse five. 142 00:06:19,339 –> 00:06:21,140 We’re redeemed from under the law 143 00:06:21,140 –> 00:06:25,380 that we might receive the full rights of sons. 144 00:06:25,380 –> 00:06:30,040 In verse seven, you are no longer a slave but a son. 145 00:06:32,459 –> 00:06:35,700 Now this remarkable change Paul is saying 146 00:06:35,739 –> 00:06:39,459 that it has already happened, this is what has happened, 147 00:06:39,459 –> 00:06:42,100 if you are a Christian believer. 148 00:06:42,100 –> 00:06:45,720 You were a slave, you are a son, 149 00:06:45,720 –> 00:06:47,959 and the reason for this great transformation 150 00:06:47,959 –> 00:06:50,380 is that God sent his son into the world 151 00:06:50,380 –> 00:06:53,359 and God has sent his spirit into your heart. 152 00:06:54,820 –> 00:06:57,299 Now grasping the gospel means believing 153 00:06:57,299 –> 00:07:00,739 that these things are true for me in Christ. 154 00:07:01,880 –> 00:07:04,660 I was very young when I became a Christian, 155 00:07:04,660 –> 00:07:06,260 strictly speaking, personally, 156 00:07:06,260 –> 00:07:08,700 and so I don’t have a lot of vivid memories 157 00:07:08,700 –> 00:07:10,700 before the time that I actually came to Christ. 158 00:07:10,700 –> 00:07:12,140 It’s an act of faith for me to believe 159 00:07:12,140 –> 00:07:15,299 that I was born in the condition of being a slave. 160 00:07:15,299 –> 00:07:17,059 That was my condition by birth 161 00:07:18,040 –> 00:07:20,320 and God has sent his Son into the world. 162 00:07:20,320 –> 00:07:22,739 He has sent his Spirit into my heart. 163 00:07:22,739 –> 00:07:27,440 Now, indeed, I am a son of God. 164 00:07:29,679 –> 00:07:31,859 Now let me tell you something very strange. 165 00:07:32,619 –> 00:07:37,619 There are many people who believe themselves 166 00:07:38,720 –> 00:07:43,720 to be Christians but are constantly telling themselves 167 00:07:43,799 –> 00:07:45,160 that they are slaves. 168 00:07:46,600 –> 00:07:47,980 Now that’s a strange thing. 169 00:07:49,519 –> 00:07:50,820 Here’s what it looks like. 170 00:07:52,320 –> 00:07:55,640 A guy says, you know, I’ve got this sin 171 00:07:55,640 –> 00:07:58,239 and I’ve been doing this thing for 20 years 172 00:07:58,239 –> 00:08:01,000 and I just can’t get over it. 173 00:08:01,019 –> 00:08:05,339 It’s just me and it’s the way I’m made 174 00:08:05,339 –> 00:08:08,540 and so I just had to accept that that’s who I am. 175 00:08:10,940 –> 00:08:12,380 Now I think we can all recognize 176 00:08:12,380 –> 00:08:14,160 that kind of pattern of thought 177 00:08:14,160 –> 00:08:17,619 that so easily comes to us, 178 00:08:17,619 –> 00:08:21,100 but you know when you think and speak like that 179 00:08:21,100 –> 00:08:23,519 in your mind or speak like that to someone else 180 00:08:23,519 –> 00:08:24,540 and you’re saying, you know, 181 00:08:24,540 –> 00:08:26,779 there’s a sin I can’t get over, 182 00:08:26,779 –> 00:08:27,820 you know what you’re saying? 183 00:08:27,820 –> 00:08:29,579 You’re saying that you are a slave. 184 00:08:31,799 –> 00:08:33,760 And when you say that you are slave, 185 00:08:33,760 –> 00:08:36,919 you are at that point denying the gospel. 186 00:08:39,179 –> 00:08:40,880 You really are. 187 00:08:40,880 –> 00:08:44,719 You are not at that point living by faith 188 00:08:44,719 –> 00:08:47,520 in the son of God who loved you and gave himself for you. 189 00:08:49,960 –> 00:08:53,719 Which is of course why so many Christians live in defeat. 190 00:08:56,580 –> 00:08:58,140 We have not grasped the gospel. 191 00:09:01,219 –> 00:09:03,099 There’s only one way to live the Christian life 192 00:09:03,099 –> 00:09:05,859 and that is that believing what the gospel affirms 193 00:09:05,859 –> 00:09:08,619 in Jesus Christ is actually true for me. 194 00:09:10,340 –> 00:09:15,340 Victory over sin begins as you believe the gospel. 195 00:09:15,500 –> 00:09:18,059 If you keep telling yourself that you are a slave, 196 00:09:18,059 –> 00:09:19,520 you are denying the gospel. 197 00:09:20,580 –> 00:09:22,380 So don’t expect ever to have victory 198 00:09:23,599 –> 00:09:26,340 if that’s what’s running in your mind. 199 00:09:26,340 –> 00:09:27,880 You’re still believing the lie. 200 00:09:27,880 –> 00:09:29,619 You have not yet embraced the truth. 201 00:09:29,799 –> 00:09:31,659 Jesus says you will know the truth 202 00:09:31,659 –> 00:09:33,440 and the truth will make you free. 203 00:09:33,440 –> 00:09:34,640 You’ve gotta believe it. 204 00:09:35,599 –> 00:09:37,320 You will be transformed, how? 205 00:09:37,320 –> 00:09:39,179 By the renewing of your mind. 206 00:09:39,179 –> 00:09:40,359 There will not be victory 207 00:09:40,359 –> 00:09:42,340 for those who do not believe the gospel. 208 00:09:43,239 –> 00:09:45,640 I don’t just mean, oh, believing that Jesus died and rose, 209 00:09:45,640 –> 00:09:49,080 I mean grasping that the promises of the gospel 210 00:09:49,080 –> 00:09:50,880 are actually true of me. 211 00:09:50,880 –> 00:09:53,080 That I am no longer a slave, 212 00:09:53,080 –> 00:09:55,880 but by the grace of God am now a son. 213 00:09:55,880 –> 00:09:57,799 So if you are a Christian 214 00:09:58,640 –> 00:10:01,000 and you’re struggling with a particular sin in your life 215 00:10:01,000 –> 00:10:03,340 and all of us have many struggles, 216 00:10:05,179 –> 00:10:09,380 don’t, please don’t, say to yourself, 217 00:10:09,380 –> 00:10:13,559 oh, this is something I can’t get over. 218 00:10:13,559 –> 00:10:15,159 Because if you’re saying that to yourself, 219 00:10:15,159 –> 00:10:17,200 you’re denying the gospel to yourself 220 00:10:18,440 –> 00:10:19,940 and you’ll never move forward. 221 00:10:21,159 –> 00:10:22,320 Here’s what to do. 222 00:10:22,320 –> 00:10:25,320 Say to yourself, now this is a sin 223 00:10:25,320 –> 00:10:28,859 I have fallen into many times. 224 00:10:30,780 –> 00:10:35,780 But that past is forgiven by the grace of God 225 00:10:37,380 –> 00:10:42,380 and today I stand before him not as sin’s slave 226 00:10:44,780 –> 00:10:49,780 but rather as God’s child in whom his spirit now lives 227 00:10:51,340 –> 00:10:54,179 and because his spirit now lives in me 228 00:10:54,200 –> 00:10:56,340 and this I believe and know to be true 229 00:10:57,479 –> 00:10:59,340 I can endure this trial, 230 00:11:00,320 –> 00:11:02,719 I can stand against this temptation 231 00:11:02,719 –> 00:11:05,580 by the grace of God, I will prevail. 232 00:11:07,919 –> 00:11:10,640 See, that’s what it means to live this life in the body 233 00:11:10,640 –> 00:11:12,520 where there are so many struggles 234 00:11:12,520 –> 00:11:17,239 but to live it by faith in the son of God 235 00:11:17,239 –> 00:11:19,099 who loved me and gave himself for me. 236 00:11:20,299 –> 00:11:21,140 You have to start 237 00:11:21,140 –> 00:11:25,299 the position of grasping the gospel 238 00:11:25,299 –> 00:11:26,679 which means being able to affirm 239 00:11:26,679 –> 00:11:28,200 that what the Bible says about you 240 00:11:28,200 –> 00:11:29,700 as a Christian believer is true 241 00:11:29,700 –> 00:11:32,500 of you as a Christian believer, you are free. 242 00:11:33,619 –> 00:11:39,500 I was a slave, but God has acted to change that situation, 243 00:11:39,500 –> 00:11:42,340 He acted decisively by sending his Son into the world, 244 00:11:42,340 –> 00:11:44,640 by sending his spirit into my heart 245 00:11:44,640 –> 00:11:47,239 that is the reality, I am no longer a slave, 246 00:11:47,239 –> 00:11:55,539 I stand before God as a Son, and therefore I am free. 247 00:11:57,119 –> 00:11:59,640 So that is grasping the gospel, it really is, 248 00:11:59,640 –> 00:12:01,239 you cannot move forward in life 249 00:12:01,239 –> 00:12:04,359 without grasping the gospel and holding to it every day 250 00:12:04,359 –> 00:12:06,479 and coming back to it every time we have failed 251 00:12:06,479 –> 00:12:11,520 and need afresh the grace of God, you’re free. 252 00:12:12,679 –> 00:12:15,159 Now, Paul says, 253 00:12:15,159 –> 00:12:18,200 you are free, so whatever you do, 254 00:12:18,200 –> 00:12:22,159 don’t lose your freedom, don’t lose your freedom. 255 00:12:23,039 –> 00:12:25,460 Now, in this long section, 256 00:12:25,460 –> 00:12:27,960 from Galatians chapter four and verse eight, 257 00:12:27,960 –> 00:12:31,140 right through to chapter five and verse 14. 258 00:12:32,200 –> 00:12:36,159 Paul identifies two ways in which Christian believers 259 00:12:36,159 –> 00:12:39,039 might lose their freedom, might just give it up, 260 00:12:39,039 –> 00:12:42,320 and kind of voluntarily wander back into slavery, 261 00:12:42,320 –> 00:12:44,840 which would be a crazy thing to do, 262 00:12:44,880 –> 00:12:47,539 two ways of going back to be a slave. 263 00:12:47,539 –> 00:12:50,799 First, we may abandon our freedom 264 00:12:51,719 –> 00:12:53,940 by returning to the law, 265 00:12:53,940 –> 00:12:56,000 and that’s chapter four and verse eight, 266 00:12:56,000 –> 00:12:59,099 right through chapter five and verse 12, long section. 267 00:13:00,280 –> 00:13:05,280 Second, we may abuse our freedom by indulging the flesh. 268 00:13:06,320 –> 00:13:08,479 That is chapter five and verse 13, 269 00:13:08,479 –> 00:13:10,719 and continues on, as God willing, 270 00:13:10,719 –> 00:13:12,780 will continue next week. 271 00:13:12,780 –> 00:13:16,260 Abandoning our freedom by returning to the law, 272 00:13:16,260 –> 00:13:20,659 abusing our freedom by indulging the flesh. 273 00:13:20,659 –> 00:13:23,539 Now, remember that Paul is writing here 274 00:13:23,539 –> 00:13:26,020 to Christian believers. 275 00:13:26,020 –> 00:13:30,000 He’s writing to the churches in Galatia, 276 00:13:30,979 –> 00:13:34,059 and I think that we should therefore conclude 277 00:13:34,059 –> 00:13:36,859 that there is a real temptation here 278 00:13:36,859 –> 00:13:39,239 for Christian believers, 279 00:13:39,260 –> 00:13:40,760 that there is a real danger 280 00:13:40,760 –> 00:13:42,760 that Paul is warning us against 281 00:13:42,760 –> 00:13:44,719 and that we need to understand 282 00:13:44,719 –> 00:13:49,719 you will be tempted to abandon your freedom in Christ 283 00:13:51,679 –> 00:13:53,960 by returning to the law, 284 00:13:53,960 –> 00:13:56,059 and I hope we’re going to see this morning 285 00:13:56,059 –> 00:13:59,539 how subtle that is, how easily it can happen to us. 286 00:13:59,539 –> 00:14:00,919 Let’s be aware of it. 287 00:14:00,919 –> 00:14:03,880 You are free but you will be tempted 288 00:14:04,719 –> 00:14:07,979 to abandon your freedom in Christ by returning to the law. 289 00:14:08,020 –> 00:14:09,539 You just will be. 290 00:14:09,539 –> 00:14:11,099 And secondly, be aware 291 00:14:11,099 –> 00:14:14,700 you will be tempted to abuse your freedom 292 00:14:14,700 –> 00:14:17,059 by indulging the flesh. 293 00:14:17,059 –> 00:14:19,179 You will find that in your Christian life 294 00:14:19,179 –> 00:14:21,580 this will be an issue and a struggle for you, 295 00:14:21,580 –> 00:14:23,340 so let’s be aware of these two things 296 00:14:23,340 –> 00:14:26,599 so that we don’t lose our freedom. 297 00:14:26,599 –> 00:14:31,299 First then, freedom abandoned by returning to the law. 298 00:14:32,380 –> 00:14:34,960 Let’s look at chapter four in verse nine. 299 00:14:35,020 –> 00:14:39,799 Now that you know God, or rather are known by God, 300 00:14:39,799 –> 00:14:43,919 how is it that you are turning back 301 00:14:43,919 –> 00:14:47,559 to those weak and miserable principles, 302 00:14:47,559 –> 00:14:52,559 do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again. 303 00:14:53,559 –> 00:14:55,479 Now, remember the setting here, 304 00:14:55,479 –> 00:14:57,640 that there was a pressure group 305 00:14:57,640 –> 00:14:59,500 that had come into the churches in Galatia 306 00:14:59,500 –> 00:15:02,099 that wanted to impose the Jewish heritage 307 00:15:02,099 –> 00:15:03,880 on all the new Gentile believers, 308 00:15:03,900 –> 00:15:06,119 circumcision, special feast days, 309 00:15:06,119 –> 00:15:07,440 and all the rest of it, 310 00:15:07,440 –> 00:15:10,840 and Peter had caved into this group 311 00:15:10,840 –> 00:15:12,400 and had given them his support. 312 00:15:12,400 –> 00:15:13,780 Paul confronted Peter. 313 00:15:13,780 –> 00:15:15,559 Now he’s saying to these Galatians, 314 00:15:15,559 –> 00:15:18,280 many of whom had also caved into this pressure, 315 00:15:18,280 –> 00:15:19,580 now look, why in all the world 316 00:15:19,580 –> 00:15:21,559 are you turning back to the law? 317 00:15:21,559 –> 00:15:22,900 Why are you putting yourself 318 00:15:22,900 –> 00:15:25,840 under these rites and ceremonies 319 00:15:25,840 –> 00:15:27,640 and going to be circumcised, 320 00:15:27,640 –> 00:15:29,919 and verse 10, observing special days 321 00:15:29,919 –> 00:15:31,679 and months and seasons and years? 322 00:15:31,679 –> 00:15:36,119 All the stuff that church tends to keep up 323 00:15:36,119 –> 00:15:38,979 on top of the gospel, 324 00:15:38,979 –> 00:15:40,859 that ends up actually burying 325 00:15:40,859 –> 00:15:44,119 or even undermining the gospel. 326 00:15:46,280 –> 00:15:49,820 Now the second half of Galatians chapter four 327 00:15:49,820 –> 00:15:53,700 is taken up with an extended illustration 328 00:15:53,700 –> 00:15:55,880 that Paul draws from the Old Testament. 329 00:15:56,960 –> 00:15:58,880 Abraham had two sons. 330 00:15:59,559 –> 00:16:03,099 The first son Ishmael was born through Hagar 331 00:16:03,099 –> 00:16:05,280 who was Abraham’s slave. 332 00:16:06,479 –> 00:16:10,719 And of course Paul is not defending what Abraham did here, 333 00:16:10,719 –> 00:16:12,179 he’s simply telling us what happened. 334 00:16:12,179 –> 00:16:14,280 This is what happened, that Abraham’s first son 335 00:16:14,280 –> 00:16:17,479 was born as a result of his union with a slave. 336 00:16:18,679 –> 00:16:20,900 Abraham’s second son, whose name of course 337 00:16:20,900 –> 00:16:25,380 was Isaac, was born by a miracle of God’s grace. 338 00:16:25,380 –> 00:16:28,320 Abraham’s wife Sarah was 90 years old. 339 00:16:28,539 –> 00:16:30,719 Can you imagine this, 90 years old, 340 00:16:30,719 –> 00:16:32,219 she had never had any children. 341 00:16:32,219 –> 00:16:34,840 And then Isaac is conceived by a miracle of God. 342 00:16:34,840 –> 00:16:37,700 I mean it caused consternation in the old people’s home. 343 00:16:40,840 –> 00:16:42,559 Now the point of this illustration, 344 00:16:42,559 –> 00:16:46,219 which of course was very familiar to the early believers 345 00:16:46,219 –> 00:16:48,539 in Galatia from the Old Testament, 346 00:16:48,539 –> 00:16:49,780 the point is in verse 31. 347 00:16:49,780 –> 00:16:51,000 “‘Brothers, 348 00:16:51,000 –> 00:16:55,520 “‘We are not children of the slave woman 349 00:16:55,520 –> 00:16:58,059 “‘but of the free woman.’ 350 00:16:58,059 –> 00:17:00,419 In other words, we are children of God, 351 00:17:00,419 –> 00:17:04,000 not by slavish obedience to the law, 352 00:17:04,000 –> 00:17:07,319 but by a miracle of grace rather like the birth of Isaac, 353 00:17:07,319 –> 00:17:10,479 in which God gives us new life by the Spirit 354 00:17:10,479 –> 00:17:13,020 through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 355 00:17:13,979 –> 00:17:18,979 Now since we are born free as sons of God in Jesus Christ, 356 00:17:19,160 –> 00:17:21,439 the question he’s raising is why in all the world 357 00:17:21,439 –> 00:17:25,400 would you want to exchange that marvelous position 358 00:17:25,400 –> 00:17:27,680 for the position of a slave. 359 00:17:28,900 –> 00:17:29,979 Chapter five in verse one, 360 00:17:29,979 –> 00:17:33,160 it is for freedom that Christ has set us free, 361 00:17:33,160 –> 00:17:34,739 so stand firm then, 362 00:17:34,739 –> 00:17:37,920 and do not let yourselves be burdened again 363 00:17:37,920 –> 00:17:39,739 by a yoke of slavery. 364 00:17:39,739 –> 00:17:43,819 It would be a crazy thing for a son who is born free 365 00:17:43,819 –> 00:17:47,900 to live and to act as if he was a slave. 366 00:17:49,839 –> 00:17:51,699 In fact, that is so strange 367 00:17:53,199 –> 00:17:54,880 that it raises for me the question 368 00:17:54,880 –> 00:17:57,359 why in all the world would anyone 369 00:17:57,359 –> 00:18:00,900 want to go back under the law? 370 00:18:02,280 –> 00:18:03,959 What would be the motivation for that? 371 00:18:03,959 –> 00:18:08,959 Why would anyone ever want to go back under the law? 372 00:18:10,959 –> 00:18:13,479 You look at chapter four in verse 21. 373 00:18:13,479 –> 00:18:18,479 He speaks about those who want to be under the law. 374 00:18:18,619 –> 00:18:23,280 What would ever make a person want, 375 00:18:23,280 –> 00:18:27,000 want to be under the law? 376 00:18:29,420 –> 00:18:34,420 Well relationships of law have clearly defined limits. 377 00:18:38,339 –> 00:18:41,439 That’s why we have contracts in business 378 00:18:41,439 –> 00:18:44,839 to limit our liability. 379 00:18:45,160 –> 00:18:49,780 Relationships of love are different. 380 00:18:49,780 –> 00:18:52,140 In their nature they have no limits. 381 00:18:52,140 –> 00:18:56,219 Greater love has no one than this, 382 00:18:56,219 –> 00:19:01,219 that a man should lay down his life for his friends. 383 00:19:02,640 –> 00:19:07,640 So a relationship of love could cost you your life. 384 00:19:09,619 –> 00:19:12,160 Oh, oh. 385 00:19:12,839 –> 00:19:17,839 See, there is a deep instinct within all of us 386 00:19:18,359 –> 00:19:22,599 that wants to limit our liability in any sphere of life. 387 00:19:24,540 –> 00:19:29,500 And that is why there is something within us 388 00:19:29,500 –> 00:19:31,880 that is often more comfortable with law 389 00:19:31,880 –> 00:19:33,380 than we are with love. 390 00:19:36,239 –> 00:19:38,359 Think about your credit card. 391 00:19:38,979 –> 00:19:41,180 The relationship you have with the company 392 00:19:41,219 –> 00:19:44,500 that issued your credit card is a relationship of law. 393 00:19:44,500 –> 00:19:45,900 It is not a relationship of love. 394 00:19:45,900 –> 00:19:47,459 You will not be sending a Christmas card 395 00:19:47,459 –> 00:19:49,660 to your credit card company with an extra payment 396 00:19:49,660 –> 00:19:50,939 just to tell them that you love them 397 00:19:50,939 –> 00:19:52,140 and appreciate them so very much 398 00:19:52,140 –> 00:19:53,520 and want to have a nice warm fuzzy feeling 399 00:19:53,520 –> 00:19:54,859 between you and them. 400 00:19:54,859 –> 00:19:58,920 It is a relationship of law, which is a good thing 401 00:19:58,920 –> 00:20:02,160 because you know exactly where you stand with them. 402 00:20:02,160 –> 00:20:03,619 When you get your statement, 403 00:20:03,619 –> 00:20:05,979 you know exactly what you have to do. 404 00:20:05,979 –> 00:20:08,300 This is the debt I have incurred. 405 00:20:08,300 –> 00:20:10,280 This is therefore what I owe. 406 00:20:10,280 –> 00:20:12,439 So you write the check or you send it down 407 00:20:12,439 –> 00:20:13,920 on the email or whatever it is 408 00:20:13,920 –> 00:20:16,119 and you are done. 409 00:20:16,119 –> 00:20:18,920 That’s the great thing about relationships of law. 410 00:20:18,920 –> 00:20:19,839 You can be done. 411 00:20:22,500 –> 00:20:25,239 But a relationship of love, you see, is different. 412 00:20:25,239 –> 00:20:29,699 There are no defined payments, no limits, 413 00:20:31,520 –> 00:20:32,579 never done. 414 00:20:35,719 –> 00:20:38,319 So, when it comes to our relationship with God, 415 00:20:38,319 –> 00:20:43,160 you see, there is a strong instinct in our fallen nature 416 00:20:43,160 –> 00:20:46,280 that would prefer a relationship of law. 417 00:20:47,219 –> 00:20:48,680 And it sounds like this. 418 00:20:48,680 –> 00:20:50,180 Just tell me what I have to do. 419 00:20:51,040 –> 00:20:53,160 Give me the list. 420 00:20:53,160 –> 00:20:55,800 Tell me what I need to do to be a good Christian. 421 00:20:57,800 –> 00:20:58,619 What is it? 422 00:21:00,199 –> 00:21:02,219 Confession on Sundays? 423 00:21:02,219 –> 00:21:04,420 Fish on Fridays? 424 00:21:04,420 –> 00:21:05,719 A daily quiet time? 425 00:21:05,719 –> 00:21:06,800 Join a Bible study? 426 00:21:06,800 –> 00:21:08,520 Get an accountability partner? 427 00:21:08,520 –> 00:21:10,180 Prayers at home with the family? 428 00:21:10,180 –> 00:21:11,400 Tell me what I have to do. 429 00:21:11,400 –> 00:21:12,239 What else is it? 430 00:21:12,239 –> 00:21:13,500 Give me the list, give me the whole list. 431 00:21:13,500 –> 00:21:14,339 Fasting? 432 00:21:14,339 –> 00:21:16,199 Well, okay, how often and how long? 433 00:21:16,199 –> 00:21:18,040 Serving, at what and where? 434 00:21:18,040 –> 00:21:20,160 Giving, how much and how often? 435 00:21:21,640 –> 00:21:23,560 Give me the checklist. 436 00:21:28,280 –> 00:21:31,599 You’d be surprised at how much momentum there is 437 00:21:31,599 –> 00:21:34,219 to try and reduce the Christian life 438 00:21:34,219 –> 00:21:37,540 these days to a checklist. 439 00:21:37,540 –> 00:21:38,880 And you know what that is? 440 00:21:40,459 –> 00:21:43,380 It’s returning to a relationship of law. 441 00:21:43,380 –> 00:21:44,280 That’s what it is. 442 00:21:47,339 –> 00:21:49,859 And it’s more comfortable, because relationships of law 443 00:21:49,859 –> 00:21:51,160 have clearly defined limits. 444 00:21:51,160 –> 00:21:53,219 Relationships of love have no limits. 445 00:21:55,060 –> 00:21:56,680 Now think about this. 446 00:21:58,300 –> 00:22:03,300 If Jesus Christ had related to us on the basis of law, 447 00:22:03,540 –> 00:22:05,520 He would never have come into the world. 448 00:22:07,979 –> 00:22:09,920 There would have been no Christmas, 449 00:22:10,939 –> 00:22:15,780 because Jesus was under no obligation to come. 450 00:22:17,219 –> 00:22:19,540 There was no requirement on Him to do this. 451 00:22:20,459 –> 00:22:24,500 Christmas is about God going beyond the law 452 00:22:25,500 –> 00:22:28,739 in order to relate to you and me in love. 453 00:22:29,099 –> 00:22:31,380 Therefore, greater love has no man than this, 454 00:22:35,239 –> 00:22:37,819 than that a man lay down his life for his friends. 455 00:22:37,819 –> 00:22:39,260 That is what Jesus did. 456 00:22:40,599 –> 00:22:43,479 He came into the world and He went to the cross 457 00:22:44,540 –> 00:22:48,959 not out of a relationship that is based on law, 458 00:22:48,959 –> 00:22:51,420 but out of a relationship that is based on love. 459 00:22:53,540 –> 00:22:56,599 Therefore, if His Spirit, 460 00:22:57,420 –> 00:23:00,900 the Spirit of Jesus, lives within you, 461 00:23:02,239 –> 00:23:07,239 you cannot relate back to God on the basis of law, 462 00:23:07,239 –> 00:23:09,020 but only on the basis of love, 463 00:23:09,020 –> 00:23:11,319 for this is how He has related to you 464 00:23:11,319 –> 00:23:13,359 and His Spirit now is at work within you. 465 00:23:16,859 –> 00:23:21,040 You will find yourself, if His Spirit lives within you, 466 00:23:22,180 –> 00:23:24,079 saying something like this. 467 00:23:24,160 –> 00:23:27,380 Where the whole realm of nature mine, 468 00:23:29,040 –> 00:23:32,520 that were an offering far too small, 469 00:23:32,520 –> 00:23:35,500 love so amazing, so divine, 470 00:23:35,500 –> 00:23:38,780 shall have my life, my soul, my all. 471 00:23:38,780 –> 00:23:41,119 That’s not a relationship of law 472 00:23:41,119 –> 00:23:42,560 with clearly defined limits, 473 00:23:42,560 –> 00:23:44,160 that is a relationship of love. 474 00:23:46,880 –> 00:23:49,280 Now you see, that is where the Spirit of Jesus 475 00:23:49,280 –> 00:23:50,280 will bring you. 476 00:23:51,160 –> 00:23:56,219 Freely embracing unlimited liability towards God. 477 00:24:02,040 –> 00:24:04,920 No restrictions on what he can ask of you. 478 00:24:08,459 –> 00:24:10,319 And you know when you look at that, 479 00:24:10,319 –> 00:24:12,239 I think we can maybe see more clearly 480 00:24:12,239 –> 00:24:14,680 why there is something in all of us 481 00:24:14,680 –> 00:24:18,260 that says, hey just give me the rules. 482 00:24:21,079 –> 00:24:22,459 Now here’s a question. 483 00:24:24,079 –> 00:24:29,079 Can you see how you could lose your freedom in Christ 484 00:24:29,640 –> 00:24:31,219 by returning to the law? 485 00:24:31,219 –> 00:24:36,079 Can you begin to see how this subtle drawing back 486 00:24:37,680 –> 00:24:40,959 from the relationship of love to a relationship of law 487 00:24:40,959 –> 00:24:42,959 could happen in your Christian life 488 00:24:42,959 –> 00:24:45,599 that you could sort of legalize it 489 00:24:45,599 –> 00:24:48,020 with a bunch of disciplines and practices? 490 00:24:50,959 –> 00:24:54,760 Bring it within safer limits. 491 00:24:56,540 –> 00:24:58,400 We had a very useful discussion 492 00:24:58,400 –> 00:25:00,520 among the pastors on this just a few weeks ago. 493 00:25:00,520 –> 00:25:02,119 We were talking about, you know, 494 00:25:02,119 –> 00:25:03,680 among evangelical Christians, 495 00:25:03,680 –> 00:25:06,880 what are some of the ways in which we might reduce 496 00:25:06,880 –> 00:25:09,839 the Christian life to a sort of formula 497 00:25:09,839 –> 00:25:14,760 of things that we do and thereby lose our freedom? 498 00:25:14,760 –> 00:25:16,719 And the pastors came up with a number of things. 499 00:25:16,719 –> 00:25:17,640 Let me give you just three 500 00:25:17,640 –> 00:25:19,880 that came out fairly prominently. 501 00:25:19,939 –> 00:25:23,119 The first was, Salvation by Quiet Time. 502 00:25:24,579 –> 00:25:26,459 And you say, it’s a very real danger, isn’t it? 503 00:25:26,459 –> 00:25:28,939 That I feel more accepted by Jesus 504 00:25:28,939 –> 00:25:31,619 because I have said my prayers this week, 505 00:25:31,619 –> 00:25:33,540 and if I’ve missed, I’m not so sure 506 00:25:33,540 –> 00:25:35,239 if He loves me any more. 507 00:25:36,859 –> 00:25:38,660 Or Salvation by Worship, 508 00:25:39,579 –> 00:25:41,420 That I feel more accepted by God 509 00:25:41,420 –> 00:25:43,780 if I feel moved in the service. 510 00:25:43,780 –> 00:25:45,579 And if I didn’t feel moved, 511 00:25:45,579 –> 00:25:49,300 I kind of wonder if I’ve still got a relationship with God. 512 00:25:49,300 –> 00:25:51,020 Salvation by emotion, really. 513 00:25:52,839 –> 00:25:54,239 Or Salvation by Service. 514 00:25:54,239 –> 00:25:55,880 I really do feel close to God 515 00:25:55,880 –> 00:25:58,339 when I’m working more for Him. 516 00:25:58,339 –> 00:25:59,660 That missions trip or whatever it was 517 00:25:59,660 –> 00:26:01,060 really made me feel near God. 518 00:26:01,060 –> 00:26:03,280 So that’s the thing that is now becoming 519 00:26:03,280 –> 00:26:06,579 the means by which we feel that we are right with Him. 520 00:26:06,579 –> 00:26:08,359 Now, you see where that takes you? 521 00:26:09,739 –> 00:26:11,939 Each of these are examples in subtle ways 522 00:26:11,939 –> 00:26:13,260 of sliding back to law. 523 00:26:13,260 –> 00:26:15,060 And they will cost you your freedom 524 00:26:15,060 –> 00:26:17,000 by bringing you back into slavery. 525 00:26:18,000 –> 00:26:20,000 The slavery of guilt, 526 00:26:20,000 –> 00:26:22,579 if I didn’t have my quiet time, 527 00:26:24,680 –> 00:26:26,880 or the slavery of 528 00:26:26,880 –> 00:26:30,239 trying to get the feeling in worship. 529 00:26:30,239 –> 00:26:31,760 You know that? 530 00:26:31,760 –> 00:26:34,819 I call that Barry Manilow Christianity. 531 00:26:34,819 –> 00:26:35,880 You know that? 532 00:26:35,880 –> 00:26:37,959 I’ve been up, I’ve been down 533 00:26:37,959 –> 00:26:39,640 trying to get the feeling all around 534 00:26:39,640 –> 00:26:41,219 trying to get the feeling again. 535 00:26:41,219 –> 00:26:42,560 And the Christian life becomes 536 00:26:42,560 –> 00:26:43,800 a kind of endless chase 537 00:26:43,800 –> 00:26:45,680 to get the tingles in the spine 538 00:26:45,680 –> 00:26:47,599 as if that would make you nearer God. 539 00:26:48,579 –> 00:26:51,680 That’s slavery, emotional slavery, isn’t it? 540 00:26:53,680 –> 00:26:56,040 Or the slavery of endless activity 541 00:26:56,040 –> 00:26:59,640 in the hoping of pleasing God a little bit more. 542 00:26:59,640 –> 00:27:01,000 Now, look with me for just a moment 543 00:27:01,000 –> 00:27:03,439 at Galatians chapter 5 and verse 4. 544 00:27:04,380 –> 00:27:09,380 You who are trying to be justified by law 545 00:27:10,060 –> 00:27:13,619 have been alienated from Christ. 546 00:27:14,020 –> 00:27:18,599 See, if you start to reckon you’re standing before God 547 00:27:18,599 –> 00:27:20,219 and your acceptance by God 548 00:27:21,319 –> 00:27:23,439 from the discipline of your quiet time 549 00:27:23,439 –> 00:27:25,239 or the emotion you feel in worship 550 00:27:25,239 –> 00:27:27,680 or the dedication and faithfulness of your service 551 00:27:27,680 –> 00:27:29,28 or anything else that you do as a Christian, 552 00:27:29,280 –> 00:27:30,400 here’s what happens. 553 00:27:30,400 –> 00:27:32,640 You’re going back to the law 554 00:27:32,640 –> 00:27:36,560 and this will actually alienate you from Christ. 555 00:27:36,560 –> 00:27:37,640 That’s why you can have people 556 00:27:37,640 –> 00:27:40,079 who are incredibly disciplined 557 00:27:40,079 –> 00:27:41,599 in their religious observance, 558 00:27:41,599 –> 00:27:42,719 like the Pharisees were, 559 00:27:42,780 –> 00:27:44,400 and nowhere near to the experience 560 00:27:44,400 –> 00:27:47,020 of the living Lord Jesus Christ by the Spirit. 561 00:27:48,160 –> 00:27:49,780 They’re going back into slavery. 562 00:27:50,760 –> 00:27:51,739 So subtle. 563 00:27:53,479 –> 00:27:54,719 This may seem extraordinary 564 00:27:54,719 –> 00:27:56,920 but what Paul is warning us about here 565 00:27:56,920 –> 00:27:59,699 is that it is possible to have the Spirit 566 00:27:59,699 –> 00:28:02,119 and live like a slave. 567 00:28:03,760 –> 00:28:05,079 And he says, don’t do that. 568 00:28:06,020 –> 00:28:07,359 And the only way out of it, 569 00:28:07,359 –> 00:28:08,599 chapter five and verse five, 570 00:28:08,599 –> 00:28:09,920 is that we live by faith. 571 00:28:09,920 –> 00:28:12,380 By faith, we eagerly await the righteousness 572 00:28:12,400 –> 00:28:14,199 for which we hope. 573 00:28:14,199 –> 00:28:16,839 My righteousness, my standing before God 574 00:28:16,839 –> 00:28:20,000 does not depend on my prayers last week 575 00:28:20,000 –> 00:28:22,040 or my feelings in worship this week 576 00:28:22,040 –> 00:28:24,439 or my service in my ministry next week 577 00:28:24,439 –> 00:28:26,680 but on the righteousness of Jesus Christ 578 00:28:26,680 –> 00:28:28,079 crucified for me 579 00:28:28,079 –> 00:28:31,040 and I find peace in the promise 580 00:28:31,040 –> 00:28:34,439 that God will accept me on the last day 581 00:28:34,439 –> 00:28:37,380 not because of the quality of my Christian life 582 00:28:37,380 –> 00:28:38,959 which has been very patchy 583 00:28:39,859 –> 00:28:44,979 but rather on the basis of the son of God 584 00:28:44,979 –> 00:28:47,380 who loved me and gave himself for me 585 00:28:47,380 –> 00:28:49,660 that’s freedom 586 00:28:49,660 –> 00:28:50,920 And Paul says live there 587 00:28:50,920 –> 00:28:54,459 that’s worthy of an amen isn’t it? 588 00:28:54,459 –> 00:28:56,839 How easy it is to lose our freedom 589 00:28:56,839 –> 00:29:02,239 to abandon it by going back to the law 590 00:29:02,239 –> 00:29:04,800 Now here’s a second way in which we can lose our freedom 591 00:29:05,479 –> 00:29:09,380 freedom abused by indulging the flesh 592 00:29:09,380 –> 00:29:12,020 freedom abandoned by returning to the Law was the first 593 00:29:12,020 –> 00:29:12,760 here’s the second 594 00:29:12,760 –> 00:29:16,719 freedom abused by indulging the flesh 595 00:29:16,719 –> 00:29:20,260 chapter 5 in verse 13 596 00:29:20,260 –> 00:29:26,520 You my brothers were called to be free 597 00:29:26,520 –> 00:29:32,099 do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature 598 00:29:32,099 –> 00:29:34,439 rather serve one another 599 00:29:34,540 –> 00:29:35,880 in love 600 00:29:38,199 –> 00:29:44,040 and then he comes in verse 14 to a statement which if you’ve been grasping 601 00:29:44,040 –> 00:29:47,699 Galatians will come as a big surprise to you 602 00:29:47,699 –> 00:29:50,560 it really did to me 603 00:29:50,560 –> 00:29:52,819 The entire Law 604 00:29:54,040 –> 00:29:56,040 What? 605 00:29:56,619 –> 00:30:00,640 Is summed up in a single command love your neighbour as yourself 606 00:30:00,839 –> 00:30:07,760 this as I come to it in chapter 5 verse 14 seems to me to be very confusing 607 00:30:07,760 –> 00:30:12,959 Because the whole point of the letter has been that we are no longer under the law 608 00:30:12,959 –> 00:30:16,079 that fulfilling the law is not the basis of our standing before God 609 00:30:16,079 –> 00:30:17,939 that we’re released from that kind of a slavery 610 00:30:17,939 –> 00:30:20,640 and that we’re now sounds by His grace through faith 611 00:30:20,640 –> 00:30:24,400 and because of the spirit 612 00:30:24,400 –> 00:30:28,599 now he tells us to live a life of love that fulfills the law 613 00:30:28,599 –> 00:30:32,199 I mean isn’t that the strangest thing that after all this argument 614 00:30:32,199 –> 00:30:34,300 that we are not taking our stand the law 615 00:30:34,300 –> 00:30:37,099 he now brings in the law in chapter 5 and verse 14 616 00:30:37,099 –> 00:30:40,680 How are we to make any sense of this? 617 00:30:40,680 –> 00:30:42,579 It’s a very important question 618 00:30:42,579 –> 00:30:47,640 what is the relationship between the Christian believer and the law? 619 00:30:47,640 –> 00:30:54,300 It’s so important for us to understand it clearly 620 00:30:54,439 –> 00:30:59,640 our freedom in Christ is the freedom of the Spirit 621 00:30:59,640 –> 00:31:03,000 that is we are freed from the slavery in which we were 622 00:31:03,000 –> 00:31:06,500 to live a life of love that fulfills the law 623 00:31:06,500 –> 00:31:10,260 that is the life of Jesus being worked out in us 624 00:31:10,260 –> 00:31:13,599 by the presence of his spirit within us 625 00:31:13,599 –> 00:31:17,939 not as a means of being accepted by God 626 00:31:17,939 –> 00:31:22,060 but rather as a fruit of our acceptance with God 627 00:31:22,060 –> 00:31:24,119 not as a means to acceptance 628 00:31:24,160 –> 00:31:26,280 but rather a fruit of acceptance 629 00:31:26,280 –> 00:31:30,959 now I know whenever a distinction is made by a speaker 630 00:31:30,959 –> 00:31:35,079 for for many of us, the natural instinct is to glaze our eyes over and go 631 00:31:35,079 –> 00:31:37,680 this is a fine distinction I’m never gonna grasp it 632 00:31:37,680 –> 00:31:40,280 who can grasp these things? 633 00:31:40,280 –> 00:31:44,660 let me tell you if you think that it is a fine distinction 634 00:31:44,660 –> 00:31:48,439 between the use of the law as a means to acceptance 635 00:31:48,439 –> 00:31:51,280 and the use of the law as the fruit of acceptance 636 00:31:51,619 –> 00:31:55,800 I have to tell you there is all the difference in the world 637 00:31:55,800 –> 00:31:58,599 and I want us to grasp it clearly 638 00:31:58,599 –> 00:32:02,880 so I am going to use an illustration that I think is a delicate one 639 00:32:02,880 –> 00:32:03,920 but 640 00:32:03,920 –> 00:32:07,160 I believe that you will find it helpful and it’s such an important point 641 00:32:07,160 –> 00:32:09,719 for us to grasp and to remember 642 00:32:09,719 –> 00:32:12,020 I want to try and make it as clear 643 00:32:12,020 –> 00:32:15,719 as I possibly can 644 00:32:15,719 –> 00:32:18,760 I want you to imagine a woman 645 00:32:18,939 –> 00:32:22,000 who sets her eye on a man 646 00:32:22,000 –> 00:32:24,520 and decides that she wants him 647 00:32:24,520 –> 00:32:27,459 for her husband 648 00:32:27,459 –> 00:32:31,479 so she seduces him 649 00:32:31,479 –> 00:32:34,640 she gives herself to him 650 00:32:34,640 –> 00:32:36,300 in hope 651 00:32:36,300 –> 00:32:38,760 that this will lure him 652 00:32:38,760 –> 00:32:42,140 into a lasting relationship 653 00:32:42,140 –> 00:32:45,180 that’s the first picture 654 00:32:45,180 –> 00:32:48,680 here’s the second picture and it is very different 655 00:32:48,680 –> 00:32:50,699 imagine a woman 656 00:32:50,699 –> 00:32:52,540 who meets a man 657 00:32:52,540 –> 00:32:56,680 and is captivated by his love 658 00:32:56,680 –> 00:32:59,719 he loves her 659 00:32:59,719 –> 00:33:05,699 and over time she comes to love him deeply and freely and truly 660 00:33:05,699 –> 00:33:08,839 after some time they are married 661 00:33:08,839 –> 00:33:11,119 and in that marriage 662 00:33:11,119 –> 00:33:14,579 she gives herself to him 663 00:33:14,579 –> 00:33:18,459 she does not do this as a matter of duty 664 00:33:18,540 –> 00:33:21,479 but she does this freely 665 00:33:21,479 –> 00:33:24,239 joyfully 666 00:33:24,239 –> 00:33:25,900 an act of beauty 667 00:33:25,900 –> 00:33:30,359 that comes from her own desire 668 00:33:30,359 –> 00:33:33,880 now there is all the difference in the world 669 00:33:33,880 –> 00:33:38,239 between these two pictures right 670 00:33:38,239 –> 00:33:42,439 giving herself to the man, the first woman giving herself to the man 671 00:33:42,439 –> 00:33:45,660 in order to make him her husband 672 00:33:45,660 –> 00:33:51,579 is a shameful kind of manipulation isn’t it 673 00:33:51,579 –> 00:33:57,579 but giving herself to the man freely and joyfully out of her own desire 674 00:33:57,579 –> 00:34:02,040 in the marriage is the natural fruit of this relationship 675 00:34:02,040 –> 00:34:08,379 and is a thing of great beauty 676 00:34:08,379 –> 00:34:09,659 now by that analogy think of this 677 00:34:09,659 –> 00:34:13,860 any attempt to use the law 678 00:34:13,939 –> 00:34:17,719 as a means to secure our relationship with God 679 00:34:17,719 –> 00:34:20,959 is sheer manipulation and will always fail 680 00:34:20,959 –> 00:34:26,879 because no one manipulates God 681 00:34:26,879 –> 00:34:29,600 but fulfilling the law freely 682 00:34:29,600 –> 00:34:33,080 by living and pursuing a life of love 683 00:34:33,080 –> 00:34:38,080 because the Spirit of Jesus lives within you 684 00:34:38,080 –> 00:34:39,919 is a thing of great beauty 685 00:34:39,919 –> 00:34:45,500 the natural fruit of already existing relationship 686 00:34:45,500 –> 00:34:47,620 that you have by grace through faith 687 00:34:47,620 –> 00:34:49,479 with God in Jesus Christ 688 00:34:49,479 –> 00:34:53,260 it is in fact a beautiful expression 689 00:34:53,260 –> 00:34:57,919 of your freedom in Christ 690 00:34:57,919 –> 00:34:59,340 and isn’t this precisely 691 00:34:59,340 –> 00:35:01,879 at the very heart of what God has always intended 692 00:35:01,879 –> 00:35:03,399 even back in the Old Testament 693 00:35:03,399 –> 00:35:04,840 He said you know I’m going to take the law 694 00:35:04,840 –> 00:35:07,199 which was written on tablets of stone 695 00:35:07,199 –> 00:35:08,820 and go into something far better 696 00:35:08,840 –> 00:35:12,000 I’m going to write it on the hearts of my people 697 00:35:12,000 –> 00:35:15,020 I’m going to put my spirit in the hearts of my people 698 00:35:15,020 –> 00:35:17,219 so that there will not be some kind of slavish 699 00:35:17,219 –> 00:35:19,760 and artificial attempt at duty and obedience 700 00:35:19,760 –> 00:35:23,639 but rather A free giving of self 701 00:35:23,639 –> 00:35:26,639 that has joy within it 702 00:35:26,639 –> 00:35:28,179 because the essence of freedom 703 00:35:28,179 –> 00:35:30,620 is when you find God has placed within you 704 00:35:30,620 –> 00:35:32,159 a desire to do the very thing 705 00:35:32,159 –> 00:35:35,439 that he’s called you to do 706 00:35:35,439 –> 00:35:36,919 and sure as we’ll see next time 707 00:35:36,959 –> 00:35:39,000 that desire that is within you 708 00:35:39,000 –> 00:35:40,340 to live a life of love 709 00:35:40,340 –> 00:35:41,800 and to fulfil the law of God 710 00:35:41,800 –> 00:35:43,159 and to honour and to please him 711 00:35:43,159 –> 00:35:43,820 in anyway 712 00:35:43,820 –> 00:35:45,520 that desire is in conflict 713 00:35:45,520 –> 00:35:46,500 with many other things 714 00:35:46,500 –> 00:35:47,699 that we find within us 715 00:35:47,699 –> 00:35:49,560 and yet that desire is within you 716 00:35:49,560 –> 00:35:51,820 because the Spirit of God 717 00:35:51,820 –> 00:35:53,320 lives in you 718 00:35:53,320 –> 00:35:57,540 its what makes you a Christian 719 00:35:57,540 –> 00:35:59,860 now don’t lose that freedom 720 00:35:59,860 –> 00:36:02,820 it’s God’s beautiful gift to you 721 00:36:02,820 –> 00:36:03,840 that you have already become 722 00:36:03,840 –> 00:36:06,600 to desire 723 00:36:06,600 –> 00:36:11,820 he’s calling you to 724 00:36:11,820 –> 00:36:12,500 my brothers 725 00:36:12,500 –> 00:36:15,659 you’re called to be free 726 00:36:15,659 –> 00:36:16,679 so don’t use 727 00:36:16,679 –> 00:36:17,500 your freedom 728 00:36:17,500 –> 00:36:19,979 to indulge the sinful nature 729 00:36:19,979 –> 00:36:23,500 it is freedom of the Spirit 730 00:36:23,500 –> 00:36:24,959 let me ask you this question 731 00:36:24,959 –> 00:36:25,919 then briefly 732 00:36:25,919 –> 00:36:27,439 can you see how 733 00:36:27,439 –> 00:36:28,239 you could lose 734 00:36:28,239 –> 00:36:29,500 your freedom in Christ 735 00:36:29,500 –> 00:36:30,840 by indulging the flesh 736 00:36:30,840 –> 00:36:31,379 can you see how 737 00:36:31,379 –> 00:36:34,300 that would happen 738 00:36:34,300 –> 00:36:34,879 you know there is a 739 00:36:34,879 –> 00:36:35,739 sin in your life 740 00:36:35,939 –> 00:36:37,719 and you allow it to continue 741 00:36:37,719 –> 00:36:38,959 you used battle 742 00:36:38,959 –> 00:36:40,300 against it some time ago 743 00:36:40,300 –> 00:36:41,719 but you had many defeats 744 00:36:41,719 –> 00:36:42,399 and so now 745 00:36:42,399 –> 00:36:44,100 you’ve kind of called a truce 746 00:36:44,100 –> 00:36:44,540 and that you’ve 747 00:36:44,540 –> 00:36:46,879 learned to live with it 748 00:36:46,879 –> 00:36:48,520 and you kind of let it be 749 00:36:48,520 –> 00:36:50,100 and you justify this 750 00:36:50,100 –> 00:36:50,739 in your mind 751 00:36:50,739 –> 00:36:51,199 because you say 752 00:36:51,199 –> 00:36:52,399 well, my sins are forgiven 753 00:36:52,399 –> 00:36:53,399 and my entrance to heaven 754 00:36:53,399 –> 00:36:54,860 doesn’t depend on my works 755 00:36:54,860 –> 00:36:56,860 but do you know what 756 00:36:56,860 –> 00:36:58,179 by indulging this sin 757 00:36:58,179 –> 00:37:00,560 you’ve really 758 00:37:00,560 –> 00:37:01,060 allowed yourself 759 00:37:01,060 –> 00:37:02,659 to go back into a kind of slavery 760 00:37:02,659 –> 00:37:03,560 haven’t you 761 00:37:03,560 –> 00:37:04,159 who ever sins 762 00:37:04,159 –> 00:37:04,719 Jesus says 763 00:37:05,000 –> 00:37:06,600 that is a slave to sin 764 00:37:06,600 –> 00:37:07,959 and by declaring a truce 765 00:37:07,959 –> 00:37:09,000 you have compromised 766 00:37:09,000 –> 00:37:12,120 your freedom in Christ 767 00:37:12,120 –> 00:37:12,780 I want you to hear 768 00:37:12,780 –> 00:37:14,179 God’s words to you today 769 00:37:14,179 –> 00:37:16,060 with regards to this issue 770 00:37:16,060 –> 00:37:19,219 do not use your freedom 771 00:37:19,219 –> 00:37:21,040 to indulge 772 00:37:21,040 –> 00:37:23,179 the sinful nature 773 00:37:23,179 –> 00:37:27,060 you have to break the truce 774 00:37:27,060 –> 00:37:27,439 you have to say 775 00:37:27,439 –> 00:37:28,879 now this is sin 776 00:37:28,879 –> 00:37:29,800 I’ve kind of 777 00:37:29,800 –> 00:37:33,320 allowed it for a long time 778 00:37:33,320 –> 00:37:34,620 but it is offenses to God 779 00:37:34,699 –> 00:37:37,020 and it is destructive to me 780 00:37:37,020 –> 00:37:38,459 and I will not allow myself 781 00:37:38,459 –> 00:37:39,179 to be drawn back 782 00:37:39,179 –> 00:37:40,040 into slavery 783 00:37:40,040 –> 00:37:41,540 I will not indulge the flesh 784 00:37:41,540 –> 00:37:43,939 I will live by 785 00:37:43,939 –> 00:37:46,360 the spirit 786 00:37:46,360 –> 00:37:46,780 and you know as soon 787 00:37:46,780 –> 00:37:47,659 as you say that in 788 00:37:47,659 –> 00:37:49,060 your heart 789 00:37:49,060 –> 00:37:50,379 Satan will say to you 790 00:37:50,379 –> 00:37:52,379 you can’t 791 00:37:52,379 –> 00:37:54,540 because you’re a slave 792 00:37:54,540 –> 00:37:55,060 and you know you 793 00:37:55,060 –> 00:37:58,219 can’t get over this 794 00:37:58,219 –> 00:37:59,699 and you will say to him 795 00:37:59,699 –> 00:38:00,760 by faith 796 00:38:00,760 –> 00:38:01,820 grasping the gospel 797 00:38:02,419 –> 00:38:06,780 no I once was a slave 798 00:38:07,419 –> 00:38:08,100 but God has sent His son 799 00:38:08,100 –> 00:38:09,260 into the world 800 00:38:09,260 –> 00:38:09,820 and His spirit 801 00:38:09,820 –> 00:38:10,699 into my heart 802 00:38:10,699 –> 00:38:13,659 and I am a slave no longer 803 00:38:13,659 –> 00:38:16,780 I am a son 804 00:38:16,780 –> 00:38:19,100 and as a son 805 00:38:19,100 –> 00:38:22,219 I will choose to live 806 00:38:22,939 –> 00:38:24,139 it is for freedom 807 00:38:24,139 –> 00:38:27,340 that Christ had set us free 808 00:38:27,340 –> 00:38:30,860 stand firm 809 00:38:31,500 –> 00:38:32,540 and don’t let anyone 810 00:38:32,540 –> 00:38:33,500 take your freedom 811 00:38:34,379 –> 00:38:34,939 from you 812 00:38:35,580 –> 00:38:36,860 let’s bow in God’s presence 813 00:38:36,860 –> 00:38:37,659 in prayer together 814 00:38:40,060 –> 00:38:41,179 Father, we cry out 815 00:38:41,179 –> 00:38:42,219 from our hearts 816 00:38:42,219 –> 00:38:43,020 and with the help 817 00:38:43,020 –> 00:38:44,060 of the Holy Spirit 818 00:38:46,060 –> 00:38:48,139 enable us to grasp the gospel 819 00:38:48,139 –> 00:38:48,860 more fully 820 00:38:48,860 –> 00:38:50,139 more deeply 821 00:38:50,139 –> 00:38:51,100 for ourselves 822 00:38:51,100 –> 00:38:51,979 in our lives 823 00:38:53,979 –> 00:38:55,260 we see how easily 824 00:38:55,260 –> 00:38:56,780 we abandon our freedom 825 00:38:56,780 –> 00:38:58,139 by returning to the law 826 00:38:58,540 –> 00:38:59,879 we lose our 827 00:38:59,879 –> 00:39:00,540 we lose our focus 828 00:39:00,540 –> 00:39:01,820 and our confidence 829 00:39:01,820 –> 00:39:02,620 in Christ 830 00:39:02,620 –> 00:39:03,260 and placed it again 831 00:39:03,260 –> 00:39:04,060 in our own efforts 832 00:39:04,060 –> 00:39:05,580 our own experience 833 00:39:08,139 –> 00:39:09,340 forgive us O, God 834 00:39:10,300 –> 00:39:11,419 and bring us back 835 00:39:11,419 –> 00:39:12,939 out of that slavery 836 00:39:14,459 –> 00:39:15,179 into the freedom 837 00:39:15,179 –> 00:39:16,699 that is ours in Christ 838 00:39:19,500 –> 00:39:20,540 we see how easily 839 00:39:20,540 –> 00:39:21,820 we lose our freedom 840 00:39:21,820 –> 00:39:23,820 by indulging the flesh 841 00:39:23,820 –> 00:39:26,459 and we ask 842 00:39:26,459 –> 00:39:27,659 forgive us O Lord 843 00:39:27,659 –> 00:39:28,060 and we prayed 844 00:39:28,540 –> 00:39:30,620 God 845 00:39:30,620 –> 00:39:32,620 to help us now 846 00:39:32,620 –> 00:39:33,500 as those who grasp the gospel 847 00:39:34,540 –> 00:39:36,060 applying it to ourselves 848 00:39:36,060 –> 00:39:37,020 to move forward 849 00:39:38,139 –> 00:39:39,899 by faith in the son of God 850 00:39:40,939 –> 00:39:41,739 who loved me 851 00:39:43,179 –> 00:39:44,780 and who gave himself for me 852 00:39:46,620 –> 00:39:48,219 thank you for this miracle of grace 853 00:39:48,219 –> 00:39:49,979 in which you truly have planted 854 00:39:49,979 –> 00:39:51,419 the desire to live a life 855 00:39:51,419 –> 00:39:52,219 that pleases you 856 00:39:52,219 –> 00:39:53,419 within the hearts 857 00:39:53,419 –> 00:39:54,540 of all of your children 858 00:39:55,820 –> 00:39:56,620 let that grow 859 00:39:56,620 –> 00:39:57,820 and let it strengthen 860 00:39:58,620 –> 00:40:00,300 by the power of your spirit 861 00:40:01,020 –> 00:40:03,100 let it flower in great beauty 862 00:40:03,739 –> 00:40:05,659 and increasing glory in us 863 00:40:06,620 –> 00:40:07,500 until the day 864 00:40:08,139 –> 00:40:09,739 we will see you face to face 865 00:40:10,540 –> 00:40:11,820 for these things we ask 866 00:40:12,379 –> 00:40:13,820 in Jesus’ name 867 00:40:13,820 –> 00:40:18,139 amen