Living in Freedom: Embracing Grace and the Spirit
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, everyone. Today, we explored the profound freedom that Christ offers us and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We began by discussing the insidious nature of bindweed in our garden, likening it to the Judaizers who tried to bind the early church with old covenant customs like circumcision. Paul warns us that such legalism is driven by selfish motives and a desire to avoid persecution. He emphasizes that true righteousness cannot be achieved through mere religious observance but through the grace of God in Christ.
We delved into the core message of Galatians, which is that Christ has set us free so we can live free. This freedom is not a license to indulge in sinful desires but a call to serve one another humbly in love. Paul reminds us that the entire law is fulfilled in the command to love our neighbor as ourselves. This love is the true expression of our faith, and without it, our faith is dead.
We also discussed the role of the Holy Spirit, who is given to us when we put our faith in Jesus. The Holy Spirit is not an abstract force but a person who guides, convicts, and transforms us. He helps us to walk in step with God's will, producing godly character and fruit in our lives. This transformation is a continuous process that requires us to crucify our sinful nature and live by the Spirit.
Finally, we were challenged to make a conscious choice to keep in step with the Spirit, allowing Him to lead us into acts of loving servanthood. This is how we truly live out our freedom in Christ, bringing glory to God and making His love evident to the world.
### Key Takeaways
1. Freedom in Christ: Christ has set us free so we can live free, not bound by the old covenant laws but by the grace of God. This freedom is not for self-indulgence but for serving others in love. True freedom in Christ means living a life that reflects His love and grace. [43:10]
2. The Role of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is a person who guides, convicts, and transforms us. He is our counselor and the Spirit of truth, given to us when we put our faith in Jesus. His role is crucial in helping us live out our faith and produce godly character. [54:47]
3. Loving Servanthood: Genuine faith expresses itself through acts of love. We are not saved by our works, but our faith must produce fruit. Loving servanthood is the natural outcome of sincere faith, and it is how we fulfill the law of Christ. [49:27]
4. Crucifying the Flesh: We must make a conscious choice to crucify our sinful nature and its desires. This involves daily decisions to reject selfish ambitions and sinful behaviors, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us into godly living. [01:06:58]
5. Walking in Step with the Spirit: Keeping in step with the Spirit means engaging with Scripture, being sensitive to His guidance, and acting on His promptings. It is a disciplined walk that requires us to align our lives with God's will, producing fruit that glorifies Him. [01:08:51]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[37:16] - Introduction and Prayer
[38:03] - The Bindweed Analogy
[38:59] - Judaizers and Legalism
[39:51] - Selfishness and Sin
[40:38] - Religious vs. Righteous
[41:18] - The Jesus Plus Gospel
[42:23] - Freedom in Christ
[43:10] - Living Free
[44:45] - Grace and Salvation
[45:52] - The Role of the Holy Spirit
[46:53] - True Freedom
[47:32] - Love Your Neighbor
[48:31] - Jesus' Example
[49:27] - Loving Servanthood
[50:31] - The New Teacher
[51:19] - Walk by the Spirit
[52:01] - The Person of the Holy Spirit
[54:47] - The Counselor
[55:56] - The Spirit's Role
[57:28] - Godly Character
[58:54] - Desires of the Flesh
[01:00:26] - Sin in the Church
[01:01:47] - Producing Fruit
[01:03:19] - Crucifying the Flesh
[01:06:58] - Keeping in Step with the Spirit
[01:08:51] - Final Challenge and Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Galatians 5:1 - "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."
2. Galatians 5:13-14 - "You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
3. Galatians 5:16-18 - "So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law."
### Observation Questions
1. What does Paul mean when he says, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free"? ([43:10])
2. According to Galatians 5:13-14, how should we use our freedom in Christ?
3. What are the contrasting desires mentioned in Galatians 5:16-18, and how are they in conflict with each other?
4. How does Paul describe the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives? ([54:47])
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Paul emphasize that true freedom in Christ is not a license for self-indulgence but a call to serve others in love? ([47:32])
2. How does the analogy of bindweed relate to the Judaizers' influence on the early church? ([38:03])
3. What does it mean to "crucify the flesh" according to the sermon, and why is it necessary for living by the Spirit? ([01:05:20])
4. How can understanding the Holy Spirit as a person, rather than an abstract force, change the way we interact with Him in our daily lives? ([54:47])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt burdened by legalistic expectations. How did it affect your relationship with God and others? What steps can you take to embrace the freedom Christ offers? ([43:10])
2. In what ways can you serve others humbly in love this week? Identify a specific person or group you can serve and describe how you will do it. ([47:32])
3. Think of a recent situation where you struggled between the desires of the flesh and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. How did you respond, and what can you learn from that experience to better keep in step with the Spirit? ([51:19])
4. The sermon mentioned that genuine faith expresses itself through acts of love. What is one practical way you can demonstrate your faith through loving actions this week? ([49:27])
5. Identify a specific area in your life where you need to "crucify the flesh." What steps will you take to surrender this area to the Holy Spirit's guidance? ([01:05:20])
6. How can you become more sensitive to the Holy Spirit's guidance in your daily life? Consider setting aside specific times for prayer and Scripture reading to cultivate this sensitivity. ([54:47])
7. The sermon challenged us to make a conscious choice to keep in step with the Spirit. What is one practical change you can make in your daily routine to align more closely with the Spirit's leading? ([01:06:58])
Devotional
Day 1: Living Free in Christ
Christ has set us free to live a life of love and service.
True freedom in Christ is not about indulging in our desires but about living a life that reflects His love and grace. The early church faced challenges from Judaizers who tried to impose old covenant customs like circumcision, which Paul warned against. He emphasized that righteousness cannot be achieved through religious observance but through the grace of God in Christ. This freedom is a call to serve one another humbly in love, fulfilling the law by loving our neighbors as ourselves. Without love, our faith is dead, and we are not truly living in the freedom Christ offers. [43:10]
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: Think of a way you can serve someone in your community this week. How can you use your freedom in Christ to show His love to them?
Day 2: The Holy Spirit's Guidance
The Holy Spirit guides, convicts, and transforms us into godly character.
The Holy Spirit is not an abstract force but a person who plays a crucial role in our spiritual journey. When we put our faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit is given to us as our counselor and the Spirit of truth. He guides us, convicts us of sin, and transforms us to align with God's will. This transformation is a continuous process that requires us to crucify our sinful nature and live by the Spirit. By walking in step with the Spirit, we produce godly character and fruit in our lives, reflecting the nature of Christ. [54:47]
John 16:13 (ESV): "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need the Holy Spirit's guidance today? Take a moment to pray and ask Him to lead you.
Day 3: Genuine Faith Through Loving Servanthood
Genuine faith expresses itself through acts of love and service.
Our faith in Christ is not just about belief but about action. Genuine faith produces fruit, and one of the most significant fruits is loving servanthood. We are not saved by our works, but our faith must manifest in acts of love. This is how we fulfill the law of Christ and make His love evident to the world. Loving servanthood is the natural outcome of sincere faith, and it is a powerful testimony of God's love and grace in our lives. [49:27]
James 2:17-18 (ESV): "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."
Reflection: Identify one person you can serve this week. How can you show them the love of Christ through your actions?
Day 4: Crucifying the Flesh
We must consciously choose to crucify our sinful nature daily.
Living a life led by the Spirit requires us to make daily decisions to reject our sinful nature and its desires. This involves crucifying the flesh, which means putting to death selfish ambitions and sinful behaviors. It is a conscious choice to live according to God's will and not our own. By doing so, we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us into godly living, producing fruit that glorifies God. This process is not easy, but it is essential for spiritual growth and maturity. [01:06:58]
Galatians 5:24-25 (ESV): "And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit."
Reflection: What is one sinful habit or attitude you need to crucify today? Ask God for the strength to overcome it and live by the Spirit.
Day 5: Walking in Step with the Spirit
Engage with Scripture and be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's guidance.
Walking in step with the Spirit means aligning our lives with God's will through disciplined engagement with Scripture and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit's promptings. It requires us to be attentive to His guidance and act on it, producing fruit that glorifies God. This disciplined walk is a continuous process that involves regular reflection, prayer, and obedience. By keeping in step with the Spirit, we grow in our relationship with God and become more like Christ in our character and actions. [01:08:51]
Romans 8:14 (ESV): "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God."
Reflection: How can you create a daily habit of engaging with Scripture and listening to the Holy Spirit? What steps will you take to ensure you are walking in step with the Spirit?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "So my first point this morning is this. That Christ has set us free so we could live free. He's set us free so we could live free. Paul's saying, look, if you're going to force, if you're going to force somebody to obey one of the laws, you have to obey all of the law. You can't separate them. Because it's only through obedience to all of the law that you could be considered righteous." [43:10] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Friends, to be lawless. Does not mean to be lawless. To be without law does not mean that we are lawless. Because Paul's reminding us here that there is a commandment that Jesus gave to his disciples. That he gave to everyone who loves him, everyone who follows him. And it's love your neighbor as yourself." [47:32] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Friends, it is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery to the law. You were called to be free, but do not use your freedom to indulge in the flesh. Rather, serve one another humbly in love and submit yourselves to the supervision and the power of the Holy Spirit in your lives, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh if we keep in step with the Spirit." [01:07:28] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "So friends, our faith. It must express itself through actions of love towards other people. And we're not saved through our loving actions towards others. We're saved by our faith. But I will say that a fruitless faith is no faith at all. It's got to display itself. So my second point today is loving servanthood is the outcome of sincere faith." [49:27] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The Bible teaches us that when we put our faith in Jesus and surrender to him as Lord, we're given the Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 1.22 says that God sets his seal of ownership on us and puts his Spirit in our hearts. The Spirit indwells us. He lives with us. He counsels us. He leads us into all truth regarding Christ." [55:56] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "And selfishness is really the toughest weed to kill in the garden of our lives. We just can't really get rid of it apart from the grace of God found in Christ. And Paul's been making this argument throughout this entire letter. That even when the law was in place, a person could be religious without ever being righteous. I'll say that again. A person could be religious without ever becoming righteous." [39:51] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "You know, and this was Jesus' main quarrel with the teachers of the law. Right? You know, he called them whitewashed tombs. Right? They looked so pretty on the outside. And their obedience was so good looking. But yet they were still dark and sinful on the inside. You know, and that kind of way of life really leads to only being able to boast in self. You can boast in your obedience to God. you're never really able to boast about God." [40:38] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "So my third point this morning is this, the Holy Spirit works to build godly character in us. It's what he does. You know, there's an American singer-songwriter named Paul Overstreet. He does country music and things like that. He wrote a song that says, you say it best when you say nothing at all, which as a husband, I think I need to play on repeat. But he also wrote a song called, I See My Father In Me." [57:28] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "So my point is this, is that when we surrender our lives to Jesus, when we hear the gospel and it convicts us in our hearts that we've sinned against God, and we decide to confess and repent of those sins and start trusting in Christ and say, God, I need your forgiveness. I want you to be my Lord and Savior. The Bible tells us that we get His Spirit." [01:01:47] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "So that's my fourth point today is, we must choose to keep and step with the Spirit. That means we've got to, we've got to go to the places that the Spirit wants to meet us. We've got to engage with Scripture because the Spirit illuminates it for us. He teaches us from it. He is the Spirit of truth. He's going to give us opportunities out in the world that when we feel that urge or that nudge to go and do those, those acts of loving servanthood, we've got to step into that because He's calling the cadence for us to do it." [01:06:58] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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