As we are free in Christ, how do we enjoy our freedom? Today's message deals with this question as we sum up our series, "Restoration of Freedom".
Galatians 5:13-15
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers.Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through loveserve one another.14 Forthe whole law is fulfilled in one word:“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Purpose of Freedom: Love
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers.Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through loveserve one another.14 Forthe whole law is fulfilled in one word:“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
We are set free so that we can love free.
1. Personal Relationship
2. Kingdom Partnership
How do we respond to our freedom in Christ? (Three Responses)
PROTECT
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers.Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality,impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
How can we protect our freedom?
1. Repent
a. Jeremiah 15:19 “If you repent, I will restore you.”
b. Luke 3:8 “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.”
c. I John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness
2. Resist
James 4:7 “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
3. Remain
John 15:4
Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
PROCEED
1. James 1:25 “But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-he will be blessed in what he does.”
Ephesians 3:12 “In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.”
PROCLAIM
Luke 4:18
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
Acts 5:42
Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.
to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.