Legalism, License and Liberty
Sermon Text: Galatians 5:1
I. Legalism- a mixing of faith and works
A. The example of legalism... circumcision.
B. The effect of legalism... contamination.
“The bite of legalism spreads paralyzing venom into the body of Christ. Its poison blinds our eyes, dulls our edge, and arouses pride in our hearts. Soon our love is eclipsed as it turns into a mental clipboard with a long checklist.” Charles R. Swindoll
C. The end of legalism... condemnation.
“Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” 2 Corinthians 3: 5-6
II. License -Faith with an absence of works
“For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand [a]marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” Jude 1:4 (NASB)
A. Gospel truth is never intended only to be believed...
B. Gospel truth is always intended to be obeyed.
C. Gospel truth is never intended only to be accepted in our heads...
D. Gospel truth is always intended to be applied in
our lives.
III. Liberty– Faith demonstrated by works
A. We need a proper understanding
James 2: 14-26 Faith without works is nead.
B. We need a proper mission.
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10
Coram Deo-Christian liberty is not life without restraints, it is a life that is finally free to love and serve God in complete abandonment by loving and serving others: the lost-so that they might be saved (19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.” 1 Corinthians 9: 19-23) and the saved to help them grow in their faith.