Freedom in Christ: Embracing Grace Over Effort
Summary
In our journey with Christ, we often encounter the temptation to add our own efforts to the Gospel, believing that by doing so, we somehow legitimize our faith. However, the truth is that Christ has already completed the work necessary for our salvation. The Gospel is not about climbing up to God through our own efforts; it is about Jesus coming down to us, meeting us in our need, and doing the work for us. This is the heart of the message I shared with you today.
The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Galatians, passionately reminds us that we are called to freedom in Christ. He warns against adding anything to the Gospel, such as the old law of circumcision, which was a significant part of Jewish identity and religious practice. Paul's message is clear: Christ has set us free, and we must stand firm and not submit again to a yoke of slavery—be it through rules, rituals, or any human effort.
We have been reconciled to God through Jesus, and at the moment of faith, we are justified before Him, our sins are forgiven, and His Holy Spirit is placed within us. We are new creations, fully known and loved by God. Our faith is not a list of to-dos or performances; it is a relationship with God, founded on the work of Jesus.
As we embark on our new sermon series on spiritual disciplines, it is crucial to approach these practices from a place of freedom and security in Christ. Spiritual disciplines, such as Bible reading, prayer, fasting, and worship, are not about earning God's favor or proving our legitimacy as Christians. They are about knowing God more intimately and living out our faith in response to the freedom we have been given.
Spiritual disciplines can be a beautiful part of a believer's life, but they must never replace Christ at the center of our faith. They are not a means to gain more of God, for He has already given Himself to us fully. Instead, they are a way to experience our new freedom and to know the God who grants us this freedom.
Key Takeaways:
- Christ has set us free for the purpose of freedom itself. This freedom is not an opportunity for self-indulgence but a call to serve one another in love. The law of love, which fulfills the entire law, is the guiding principle of our freedom in Christ. We must guard against any teaching or practice that adds to the Gospel and threatens to undermine the sufficiency of Christ's work. [36:07]
- The Gospel is not about our ascent to God through religious efforts; it is about God's descent to us in Jesus Christ. Our faith is not a climb towards righteousness but a recognition of Christ's righteousness given to us. We must resist the urge to control our salvation and instead trust wholly in the finished work of Jesus. [46:29]
- Spiritual disciplines are not about getting more of God or earning His love. We engage in these practices not out of necessity but out of a desire to know God more deeply. They are a response to the love and pursuit that God has already shown us. [47:41]
- The Gospel is a gift of grace that we receive without cost. Our response to this gift should be one of curiosity and a desire to explore the depths of God's love and the riches of our inheritance in Christ. Spiritual disciplines are tools for discovery, not requirements for acceptance. [48:29]
- As we practice spiritual disciplines, we must do so with the right motivation. They are not a means to prove our faith or to gain security in our salvation. Instead, they are a way to experience the freedom Christ has given us and to grow in our knowledge and love of God. [50:07]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Galatians 5:1, 7-14 (ESV)
- "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case, the offense of the cross has been removed. I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves! For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"
2. Romans 5:1 (ESV)
- "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
3. Mark 2:17 (ESV)
- "And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, 'Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.'"
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Paul mean when he says, "For freedom Christ has set us free" in Galatians 5:1?
2. According to Romans 5:1, what is the result of being justified by faith?
3. In Mark 2:17, who does Jesus say He came to call, and why is this significant?
4. What specific warning does Paul give to the Galatians about adding to the Gospel in Galatians 5:7-9? [35:00]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Paul emphasize the importance of not submitting again to a yoke of slavery in Galatians 5:1? How does this relate to the concept of freedom in Christ? [35:00]
2. How does the idea of being justified by faith in Romans 5:1 provide peace with God? What implications does this have for our daily lives?
3. What does Jesus' statement in Mark 2:17 reveal about His mission and the nature of the Gospel? How does this challenge common perceptions of righteousness?
4. How can the subtle addition of rules or disciplines to the Gospel, as warned by Paul in Galatians 5:7-9, affect a believer's faith and relationship with God? [35:00]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt the need to add your own efforts to the Gospel. How did this impact your sense of freedom in Christ? [35:00]
2. In what ways can you remind yourself daily that your justification and peace with God come solely through faith in Jesus Christ, as stated in Romans 5:1?
3. Jesus came to call sinners, not the righteous. How does this truth affect the way you view yourself and others in your community? [19:01]
4. Paul warns against adding to the Gospel. Are there any "little leavens" in your life that you need to address to maintain the purity of the Gospel message? [35:00]
5. How can you approach spiritual disciplines like Bible reading, prayer, and fasting from a place of freedom and security in Christ, rather than as a means to earn God's favor? [26:17]
6. Think of a specific spiritual discipline you practice. How can you ensure that it remains a tool for knowing God more deeply rather than a way to prove your faith or gain security in your salvation? [26:17]
7. Identify one area in your life where you might be striving to "climb up to God" through your own efforts. What steps can you take to trust wholly in the finished work of Jesus instead? [46:07]
Devotional
Day 1: Freedom in Christ
Christ has set us free for the purpose of freedom itself. This freedom is not an opportunity for self-indulgence but a call to serve one another in love. The law of love, which fulfills the entire law, is the guiding principle of our freedom in Christ. We must guard against any teaching or practice that adds to the Gospel and threatens to undermine the sufficiency of Christ's work. [36:07]
Galatians 5:13-14 (ESV): "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"
Reflection: How can you use your freedom in Christ to serve someone in your community today?
Day 2: God's Descent to Us
The Gospel is not about our ascent to God through religious efforts; it is about God's descent to us in Jesus Christ. Our faith is not a climb towards righteousness but a recognition of Christ's righteousness given to us. We must resist the urge to control our salvation and instead trust wholly in the finished work of Jesus. [46:29]
Romans 10:6-7 (ESV): "But the righteousness based on faith says, 'Do not say in your heart, "Who will ascend into heaven?"' (that is, to bring Christ down) or 'Who will descend into the abyss?' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead)."
Reflection: In what ways do you find yourself trying to earn God's favor? How can you shift your focus to trust in Christ's finished work?
Day 3: Spiritual Disciplines as a Response
Spiritual disciplines are not about getting more of God or earning His love. We engage in these practices not out of necessity but out of a desire to know God more deeply. They are a response to the love and pursuit that God has already shown us. [47:41]
1 Timothy 4:7-8 (ESV): "Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come."
Reflection: What spiritual discipline can you practice today to deepen your relationship with God, and how will you approach it as a response to His love?
Day 4: The Gift of Grace
The Gospel is a gift of grace that we receive without cost. Our response to this gift should be one of curiosity and a desire to explore the depths of God's love and the riches of our inheritance in Christ. Spiritual disciplines are tools for discovery, not requirements for acceptance. [48:29]
Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV): "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
Reflection: How can you cultivate a sense of curiosity about God's love today? What new aspect of your faith can you explore?
Day 5: Right Motivation in Spiritual Practices
As we practice spiritual disciplines, we must do so with the right motivation. They are not a means to prove our faith or to gain security in our salvation. Instead, they are a way to experience the freedom Christ has given us and to grow in our knowledge and love of God. [50:07]
Colossians 2:20-23 (ESV): "If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations—'Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch' (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh."
Reflection: Reflect on your current spiritual practices. Are there any that you are doing out of a sense of obligation rather than a desire to know God more? How can you realign your motivations?
Quotes
- "The Gospel isn't about climbing up to God. The Gospel is about Jesus coming down to us, coming to meet our needs, always doing the work for us." [46:29](Download | Download Cropped Video)
- "We don't do this to get more of God. We don't do this to get some sort of false comfort. We don't even do these disciplines in faith to get more known by God, because you're already fully known by God." [47:41](Download | )
- "You've been noticed. And we get everything for nothing. This is what's so absurd about the Gospel. So what are you going to do now that you don't have to do anything?" [48:29](Download | )
- "Spiritual disciplines, we get to unpack this knowledge, not because we have to, because we have a freedom and we get to. We love because He first loved us." [49:30](Download | )
- "We don't need to toil or labor for Your approval, but that we've been approved, and so, God, we use this freedom just to continue to seek and get to know more of You." [50:07](Download | )
- "If we add anything to the Gospel of Jesus, it strips the Gospel of everything. A little work or a little leaven affects the whole loaf." [37:22](Download | Download Cropped Video)
- "It's easier to look at a track record of like, my Bible app says I'm on a streak of eleven. I am killing it. So unfortunately, spiritual disciplines often don't enter a Christian's life from a place of security and freedom." [43:15](Download | Download Cropped Video)
- "We don't fast to get more known or loved by God. No, we don't give money or our time or our gifts so that God will notice us. He's already noticed you. He's given His Son to die for you." [47:41](Download | )
- "For freedom Christ has set us free. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." [36:07](Download | )
- "Spiritual disciplines are here to allow us to experience our new freedom in a way that helps us get to know the God who gives us this awesome freedom." [50:07](Download | )
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