Sermon – September 6, 2015: “For Freedom Christ Has Set Us Free”

Galatians 5:1-26

1. The Essence of Freedom in Christ
   1. Freedom from sin and its consequences
   2. Freedom from anxiety
   3. Freedom from fear of death
2. The Escapes from Freedom in Christ
   1. With freedom comes personal responsibility
      1. For valuing, defending and preserving freedom
      2. For your personal conduct
      3. For filtering information, considering options and to make responsible decisions
      4. For bearing the burdens of others (6:2)
   2. Many find freedom to be too threatening and too heavy a responsibility to carry.
   3. So they seek to escape, and fall back into
      1. Addictions
      2. Allowing others rule over them and make decisions for them
      3. Some even commit suicide
3. The Abuse of Freedom in Christ (5:13)
   1. Using freedom to indulge the sinful nature
      1. Insisting on having it my way
      2. Doing whatever I feel, regardless of the consequences or of what God has said
   2. Rather, we are admonished to serve one another in love (5:13b)
4. The Spirit of Freedom in Christ
   1. More than just a feeling, a thirst or a personal quest for being free
   2. We have been given the spirit of freedom – the Holy Spirit
      1. For Guidance
      2. For Encouragement
      3. For Intercession
      4. To help bear productive fruit in our lives