In conscience and religion; (b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including the freedom of the press and other media of communication; (c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and (d) freedom of association.”—Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Quotes
F. D. Roosevelt’s four freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.
“Live free or die.”—the official motto of New Hampshire
“Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.”—Martin Luther King Jr.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free (v. 1a).
• Freedom should be VALUED.
• Freedom can be COSTLY.
• Freedom is often ABUSED.
REAL FREEDOM
What is Christian freedom? Three facts about Christian freedom:
- I am free from the law’s CURSE
- I am not free to EXCUSE my sin.
- I am free to SERVE others.
Galatians 5:1-15
Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery (v. 1b).
The law was given for a limited time (until Christ came) for a limited purpose (to reveal sin). We cannot be justified by obeying the law, no matter how hard we try. This is the law’s curse. “But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope” (v. 5).
2. I am not free to EXCUSE my sin.
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature (v. 13a).
We are free from the curse of the law, but we are not free from the morality of the law. Freedom in Christ is not a license to sin. “They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Christ our only Sovereign and Lord” (Jude 4).
Canada is a free country, but we are not free to do whatever we want. “Freedom is not the right to do what we want, but what we ought.”—Abraham Lincoln
To be free in Christ means to be free to live as God wants me to live.
3. I am free to SERVE others.
Rather, serve one another in love (v. 13b).
Christian freedom is voluntary slavery. The Greek word for “serve” (douleuo) means “to be a slave.” “He who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave” (1 Corinthians 7:22). “Now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God” (Romans 6:22).
Our freedom is not self-seeking; it is self-sacrificing. “The only things that counts is faith expressing itself through love” (v. 6). “Serve one another in love” (v. 13b).
Love is defined by Christ. He “loved me and gave himself for me” (2:20). Love is inspired by the Spirit. “The fruit of the Spirit is love” (5:22). Love is expressed by serving others. “As we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of God” (6:10).
Contributed by Jonathan Mcleod on Apr 28, 2010. © Serman Central. Website: sermoncentral
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