FREEDOM IN CHRIST: BURDEN-FREE

Sermon Notes, June 26, 2016

Rev. Garry McGlinchy

Pastor Garry began his sermon series “Freedom in Christ” by asking us to define freedom.  We ended up agreeing with Webster about it being liberation from the power of another, independence, being released or exempt from something onerous, among other things. He will be speaking to us about Spiritual Freedom, basing his sermons on Galatians 5.  First, some information about Galatians.  The letter was written by Paul to the churches he had planted during his first missionary journey, to address the Judaizers who were teaching the new Gentile believers that they had to obey the Jewish laws in order to be saved.  He wrote to call Christians to faith and freedom in Christ, in 49 AD, a year before the council in Jerusalem resolved the issue Jewish law vs. faith in Christ.  Galatians 5, verses 1-12 tell us that through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross we are free from the burdens of sin, and we are free from the burdens of legalism.

Through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross we are free from the burdens of sin!  Verse 1 says “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.”  Christ died to set us free from all sin.  This isn’t a “get out of jail free” card.  It doesn’t mean that we’re free to do what we want, like free-range chickens.  When we live as free-range Christians, we run the risk of falling back into a life of sin.  Freedom from sin means that we no longer are enslaved by our desires and addictions.  We no longer look to the world to fulfill our desires.  We no longer hunger for the darkness of this world.  We look to Christ to take care of our every need, and we hunger for the light that comes through Christ.  Thanks to Christ’s sacrifice on the cross we are free, and able to live an unselfish lifestyle.  A life dedicated to Him.  Those who try to push their freedom to push their own agendas and self-indulgences fall right back into a life of sin.

Through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross we are free from the burdens of legalism!  Trying to be saved by keeping the law is far different than being saved by grace.  Christ’s provisions for our salvation will be of no use to those why try to save themselves.  Obeying the law doesn’t make our salvation easier; it makes it harder.  We receive this incredible gift of salvation through our faith in the savior, Jesus Christ.  No amount of work, discipline or moral behavior can save us.

Circumcision was a symbol of having the right background, and fulfilling all the religious requirements.  But if a person were to seek salvation through circumcision, then that person would be bound to keep ALL of the Jewish laws.  They would not only have to participate in the Jewish celebrations, but they would also have to adhere to the sacrificial rituals as well.  This would only lead people away from God.  They might as well say that Christ’s FINAL sacrifice was meaningless!

We are saved by grace, not deeds.  There are lots of examples of compassionate care for all God’s creatures, but none of them can save us from the consequences of sin.  We can be born, raised, married, and raise our kids in the church, volunteer all our time, die, and be buried in the church, but the only way we will find salvation is through the grace of God that was freely given through the blood of Jesus Christ!

We need to be careful who we listen to.  Like the Galatians who were led to believe that they had to obey all the Jewish laws in order to be saved, we, too, are susceptible of falling into similar traps.  We can be misled by TV evangelists, faith-based radio broadcasts, and Christian authors.  We need to deepen our own understanding of how Christ’s sacrifice frees us from the yoke of slavery that legalism binds us to.  We’re not under the jurisdiction of Jewish laws and traditions.  Nor are we under the authority of Jerusalem.  However, we have, through the Old Testament, a set of parameters to live by: we call them the Ten Commandments. 

Our faith in Christ brings true freedom from sin and from the futile attempt to be right with God by keeping the law.  We are free to serve the risen Christ; free to love and serve God our Creator! We should use our freedom in Christ to truly live burden-free lives.