Embracing Freedom: Living Spirit-Filled in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Standing Firm in Freedom

Christ has set us free for the sake of freedom itself. This freedom is not just from the law but from the guilt and shame of our past sins. We must stand firm in this freedom and not allow ourselves to be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Paul uses the analogy of a yoke to describe the oppressive nature of legalism and false teachings that the Galatians were being misled by. Just as a yoke burdens an animal, these false teachings were burdening the believers, taking away the joy and simplicity of the gospel.

In our modern context, we can easily fall into similar traps, whether through legalistic practices or through the guilt and shame of our past. The freedom Christ offers is complete and liberating, allowing us to live a life unburdened by these weights. We are called to stand firm in this freedom, continually reminding ourselves of the grace that has set us free. [05:17]

Galatians 5:1 (ESV): "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery."

Reflection: What are some "yokes" in your life that you need to let go of to fully embrace the freedom Christ offers?

Day 2: Justification by Faith

Justification means being declared righteous by God, not through our works but through faith in Jesus Christ. This is akin to someone paying off an insurmountable debt or taking the punishment for a crime they didn't commit. We are acquitted and set free by God's grace. This concept is central to the Christian faith and underscores the unmerited favor we receive through Jesus.

Imagine being in a courtroom where you are guilty of numerous offenses, and the judge declares you innocent because someone else has taken your place. This is what Jesus has done for us. He has paid the price for our sins, allowing us to stand before God as righteous. This gift of grace should fill us with gratitude and a desire to live in a way that honors this incredible sacrifice. [14:23]

Romans 3:24-25 (ESV): "And are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith."

Reflection: How does understanding justification by faith change the way you view your relationship with God and others?

Day 3: Living by the Spirit

While we are free in Christ, this freedom is not a license to indulge in sinful behaviors. Paul warns against living according to the flesh, which includes sexual immorality, idolatry, hatred, and drunkenness. Instead, we are called to live by the Spirit, exhibiting the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Living by the Spirit means allowing God's Spirit to guide our actions, thoughts, and decisions. It is a daily commitment to choose the ways of God over the ways of the flesh. This transformative process is ongoing and requires us to be vigilant and intentional in our walk with Christ. The fruits of the Spirit are evidence of a life surrendered to God, and they stand in stark contrast to the destructive behaviors of the flesh. [27:40]

Galatians 5:16-17 (ESV): "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle to live by the Spirit, and how can you invite the Holy Spirit to guide you in those areas today?

Day 4: Repentance and Renewal

We must continually repent of our fleshly ways and return to our Savior. This involves acknowledging our sins, asking for forgiveness, and allowing God to renew and restore us. This process leads to a deeper experience of God's peace and presence in our lives. Repentance is not a one-time event but a daily practice of turning away from sin and turning towards God.

Renewal comes as we allow God to transform our hearts and minds, aligning our desires with His. This ongoing process of sanctification helps us grow in our faith and become more like Christ. It is through repentance and renewal that we experience the fullness of God's grace and the joy of living in His presence. [34:07]

2 Corinthians 4:16 (ESV): "So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day."

Reflection: What specific sins do you need to repent of today, and how can you seek God's renewal in those areas?

Day 5: Rejoicing in Freedom

We have every reason to rejoice because we are no longer under the burden of sin and guilt. Jesus has paid the price for us, and we are free to live a Spirit-filled life. This freedom allows us to walk in the Spirit, marked by the fruits of the Spirit, rather than being enslaved by the flesh.

Rejoicing in our freedom means celebrating the grace and mercy we have received through Christ. It means living with a sense of gratitude and joy, knowing that we are loved and accepted by God. This joy should be evident in our lives, influencing how we interact with others and how we approach each day. [39:38]

Psalm 118:24 (ESV): "This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."

Reflection: How can you actively rejoice in the freedom you have in Christ today, and how can this joy impact those around you?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we delved into the profound message of freedom in Christ, as articulated by the Apostle Paul in Galatians 5. We began with a modern analogy of phishing scams to illustrate how easily we can be deceived, much like the early Christians in Galatia who were misled by false teachings. These teachings added unnecessary burdens to the simple gospel of Jesus Christ, much like the phishing email that promises a prize but leads to identity theft.

Paul's letter to the Galatians addresses the confusion caused by those who insisted that Gentile believers must adhere to Jewish laws, such as circumcision, to be saved. This false gospel was a trap, much like the flesh that tempts us away from God's truth. Paul emphasizes that Christ has set us free for freedom's sake, and we must stand firm in that freedom, not allowing ourselves to be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

We explored the concept of justification, which means being declared righteous by God. This is not something we earn through our actions but is a gift of grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Just as someone might pay off an insurmountable debt or take the punishment for a crime they didn't commit, Jesus has paid the price for our sins, setting us free from guilt and shame.

However, this freedom is not a license to indulge in sinful behaviors. Paul warns against living according to the flesh, which manifests in various forms such as sexual immorality, idolatry, hatred, and drunkenness. Instead, we are called to live by the Spirit, exhibiting the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

In conclusion, we are justified and declared righteous by God's grace. We must repent of our fleshly ways, return to our Savior, and rejoice in the freedom we have in Christ. This freedom allows us to live a Spirit-filled life, marked by the fruits of the Spirit, rather than being enslaved by the flesh.

###

Key Takeaways

1. control. [27:40]
4. Repentance and Renewal: We must continually repent of our fleshly ways and return to our Savior. This involves acknowledging our sins, asking for forgiveness, and allowing God to renew and restore us. This process leads to a deeper experience of God's peace and presence in our lives.

5. Rejoicing in Freedom: We have every reason to rejoice because we are no longer under the burden of sin and guilt. Jesus has paid the price for us, and we are free to live a Spirit-filled life. This freedom allows us to walk in the Spirit, marked by the fruits of the Spirit, rather than being enslaved by the flesh.

### [27:40]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:13] - Introduction to Galatians and Acts
[02:41] - The Trap of the Flesh
[03:56] - False Believers and Confusion
[05:17] - Freedom in Christ
[06:28] - Context from the Book of Acts
[07:54] - The Debate in Jerusalem
[09:04] - The Authority of the Apostles
[10:15] - Reporting God's Work
[11:37] - The Question of Circumcision
[13:16] - Justification Explained
[14:23] - Courtroom and Debt Illustrations
[16:02] - New Identity in Christ
[17:05] - Freedom from Guilt and Shame
[19:19] - Warning Against Legalism
[21:03] - Living by the Spirit vs. Living by the Flesh
[22:09] - Warning Signs of the Flesh
[24:15] - Relational Sins
[27:40] - Categories of Fleshly Sins
[34:07] - Repentance and Renewal
[39:38] - Rejoicing in Freedom
[40:15] - Final Words and Prayer
[41:54] - Closing Remarks and Call to Action

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What analogy did the pastor use to illustrate how easily we can be deceived, similar to the early Christians in Galatia? [[01:13]]
According to the sermon, what was the false teaching that caused confusion among the Galatians? [[03:56]]
What does Paul emphasize about the nature of our freedom in Christ in Galatians 5:1? [[05:17]]
What are the fruits of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23, and how do they contrast with living according to the flesh? [[27:40]]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Paul warn against living according to the flesh, and what are some examples of fleshly behaviors mentioned in the sermon? [[21:03]]
How does the concept of justification by faith, as explained in the sermon, change our understanding of our relationship with God? [[14:23]]
What does it mean to "stand firm" in the freedom that Christ has given us, and why is this important? [[20:31]]
How does the process of repentance and renewal lead to a deeper experience of God's peace and presence in our lives? [[34:07]]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt burdened by guilt or shame. How can you embrace the freedom in Christ to let go of these burdens? [[17:42]]
Identify one area in your life where you might be living according to the flesh. What steps can you take to live by the Spirit instead? [[21:03]]
Think of a specific instance where you have been tempted to add "rules" to your faith. How can you remind yourself that justification comes through faith in Jesus alone? [[11:37]]
Choose one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit to focus on this week. What specific action can you take to cultivate it in your interactions with others? [[27:40]]
How can you practice repentance and renewal in your daily life? What practical steps can you take to return to your Savior and experience His peace? [[34:07]]
Reflect on the freedom you have in Christ. How can you use this freedom to serve others and glorify God in your community? [[19:19]]
Think of a person who tests your patience. What is a short prayer you can say before the next time you interact with that person to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit? [[35:40]]

Sermon Clips

1. "Part of my goal this morning is to help you become uncomfortable. I'm going to, I'm going to, as I preach, as Paul, as the word comes out, there's going to be two camps of people that are uncomfortable this morning. They're going to be the religious people, people who've been religious and they think you've got to have all these rules. You're going to be uncomfortable with the text and the message. And that's okay. Maybe the uncomfortable will get, us to think." [03:56] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip | )

2. "You are justified. You're not guilty. Let me give a couple of illustrations so that we make sure we understand them. A courtroom scene. You're standing in a courtroom. You're guilty. The judge knows you're guilty. The gavel goes down. Guilty. But someone else comes forward. And they offer to pay and to take the punishment that you deserve for your guilty crime. You're guilty. The judge knows it. You know it. And then somebody comes in and says, he's guilty. Let me take the punishment for him. I will serve the time. I will pay the fine. I will do what is required. And the judge accepts the offer. And now you're no longer guilty. That person has taken on your guilt. Incredible. Justified." [14:23] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip | )

3. "You are justified in God's eyes. You are not guilty. You don't owe Him a debt at all. You're free. Absolutely, completely, in totality. You are free. No guilt, no shame. You don't have to have any more. What do you have shame over? Christ has paid. What do you have to have guilt over? You're not, He doesn't see you in that light anymore. You are free. God's grace has set you absolutely free. And what did you do to deserve it? Nothing. God in His great love forgave you, released you, satisfied the complete requirement of the law of God, blessed you with your life, for you, and on your behalf." [17:05] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip | )

4. "You are free. Some of you might be uncomfortable with that. You might be uncomfortable with the complete, absolute freedom that God has given you now. You have freedom. Nothing shackles you. Nothing hinders you. You're free to go where you want to go. You're free to do what you want to do. You are free, church. And for those of you who are trapped in legalism, who want Jesus plus, you're really struggling right now. You're really uncomfortable because does that mean I can? And it means yes. Yes, you're free. Grace is easy." [19:19] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip | )

5. "You're free. You're absolutely free, church. Some of you have been trapped by your sin and by your shame and by your guilt and by your failures and your flaws that you have no idea what freedom feels like. You're free. Accept Jesus. Trust him. Accept the freedom that he has. Church, you're free. The passage goes like this. For those of you who are legalistic and struggling, you're free. And Paul says it is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then. There are no gates. There are no walls. But there are walls. There are warning signs we have. Stand firm then. And do not let yourself, again, be burdened by the yoke of slavery." [20:31] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "When your behavior is marked by conflict, you're living in the confines of the flesh. In your family life, at work, with your friends, listen to the stories that your friends talk about. And the stories that your people talk about. If there is just a lot of conflict with them and everybody they interact with, you can pretty much bet that they're living in the flesh. In other words, you're no longer living in the flesh. You're no longer living for Jesus. It's a warning sign. When your life is filled with hostility, you're being held hostage by the flesh." [24:15] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "You are justified. You are declared Thank you. You are. Even though we have all of those sins of the flesh and there's a whole bunch more we could list. If you've accepted Jesus Christ you are declared righteous. So if you're righteous, why are you living like that? Doesn't that make sense? If you are righteous and if you are holy is that a place a holy person should be? Should a holy person be looking at that, acting at that, thinking like that, dwelling like that, going that direction? No." [38:28] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "Rejoice in You've got everything in the world to rejoice over, church. Right? Are you being punished for your sin and your guilt? No. You've been free. You've been released. You've been bought with a price. Jesus paid the price for you. Jesus gave his life for you. Jesus did everything for you. You have everything to rejoice about. And then you can walk in the Spirit and it's far better to walk in the Spirit than it is to be afraid of touching that electric thing. Church, Spirit-filled life filled with goodness. Gracious. Love. Patience. Kindness. Just well within it." [39:38] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "It is for freedom that Christ has set you free. Stand firm then and do not let yourself be burdened again by the yoke of slavery. I'm gonna pray for us. Some of you today your shackles have fallen off. Or the realization is that you shackled yourself to the wrong thing and those shackles are done. Rejoice. Come forward. Just in your mind. Ask him to wash you clean. Ask him to redeem and reconcile and fill you with his Spirit in a way that you've never had." [40:15] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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