"Liberty"

June 21, 2011

“Liberty”

Blessings Folk!

Over the next 17 months or so much will be said about “liberty” and “freedom”.

All sorts of “buzz-phrases” will be cast about.

Few folk will give them a moment of thought.

Most will simply parrot the buzz thinking they are waxing eloquent.

As we consider the political state of where we are - regardless of where that is - let us not forget this wonderful truth.

True liberty, true freedom, is only found in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Galatians 5
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

Christ has set us free.
He made us free.

Our response?

We are to stand fast in this liberty.
Do not be distracted by the ways of the world or of the religious man.

We are to be certain to be not entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

The situation being addressed with the the church in Galatia was that of circumcision.

Some were teaching that to “be in Christ” one must first be circumcised - be a Jew.

They were attempting to be justified through the Law.

The Spirit through Paul says - “no.”

Galatians 5
2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing.
3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law.
4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

We are saved by grace - not grace + law.
We live by grace - not grace + law.

Some will say that the church has no struggle with such today.
Not true.

The spirit of the law is strong and prevalent.

It is seen in the man-made “covenants and oaths” that many “churches” require.
It is seen in the rules and regulations established by man - none found in the Word.

We have been called to liberty, not the bondage of man “in the name of the Lord.”

But, we are not to use liberty for the desires of the flesh…

Galatians 5
13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

In our liberty we are to love, honor and serve one another.
This is the fulfillment of the Law - Love your neighbor as yourself.

Let us do so now.
Do not bite.
Do not devour one another.
Do not consume one another.
Love one another.

Pray especially for Jane - recovering from medical procedure to remove a small blood clot on the brain after a fall.

Also, pray for Buddy - procedure Wednesday…

Blessings!