LIBERTY IN CHRIST

RESPONSIVE READING: Galatians 5:1-

TEXT: Ga 5:1 ¶ Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

No man is free who cannot command himself. -Pythagoras

1. What are you liberated to do? to love and know God
   1. When Israel came into Egypt, they did not know they would be forced into bondage.
   2. Israel was set free from bondage to Egypt by the mighty hand of God
   3. God taught them his ways and said to obey and love the Lord your God with all your heart soul, mind and strength
   4. But then Israel became complacent (unconcerned, self-satisfying) forgetting the commands of God
   5. Israel then compromised into idolatry, then became slaves to the nations by which the idolatry came from
      1. Moab, -Chemosh (god of pleasure)
      2. Ammon- Molech same
      3. Philistines-Dagon (fish god)
      4. Babylon-Bel or Baal- (sun-god)
      5. Ashtoreth- sex goddess
   6. We also came into the world in bondage, not knowing the power of sin over a persons life, then our Parents try to break us of it
   7. Then when Christ comes into our lives, we are set free.
   8. Then sometimes we become unconcerned with our salvation and get ourselves into a yoke of bondage again. Possibly to the same old sin, or another, even legalism, like here in Galatians
2. How do you become bound to sin again? Starts with compromise
   1. Sampson started with power with God, but sold his life to sin and was unconcerned with Holiness in his life, gave himself to pleasures, alcohol, sex, and power ( the euphoria of power over the philistines)
   2. There is a rush, a power, a pleasure to sin, but in the end it brings death.
   3. Like playing video games, or TV, it is exciting, but then we need more to excite our senses more.
   4. Like having that rush of coffee or soda which enters into the blood stream and energize us.
   5. like smokers, smoking is an acquired taste, but it starts with one, and increases more and more, then into bondage
   6. we compromise and say “I can handle this”, or “I have power over this”
   7. Just this one time, it didn’t hurt John Marcus
   8. 1 Corinthians 10:11-13
   9. 2 Peter 2:19-22
   10. James 1:25 not a doer, but a hearer

1. 11. How are we set free from sin? the truth
   1. John 8:31-36
   2. Ephesians 1:3; realize God has given us all we need for salvation and victory in Christ
   3. 2 Peter 1:3 Know that God has given you all you need for godliness.
   4. confession 1 john 1:7-9
2. Is there any involvement in being free from sin? Repentance, change your ways, gets rid of the sin in the camp, or your heart and life.
   1. 1 Samuel 7:1-13
   2. James 4:7-10
   3. Hebrews 12:4
   4. Jesus resisted sin even to sweat blood and die on the cross to give us salvation, why can’t we resist sin to love God?
   5. This is why Jesus said, “Pick up your cross, deny-self, and follow me. Luke 9:23

2Pe 2:19- 22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Jas 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.