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Freedom: Legalism, Liberty, or License

       Freedom: Legalism, Liberty or License
June 11, 2017

 Galatians 5:13-18                

“For you were called to freedom, brothers.” 

 Legalism is not Freedom

            *See last week’s message

“Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.” (Galatians 3:23-25)

“If you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law.” (v18) 

License is not Freedom

           *Read Romans 6

“For you were called to freedom, brothers.  Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh.” (v13)

  • It bites and devours one another

“If you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.” (v15)

  • It is led by the flesh

“. . . the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit” (v17)                                                                                              

 Liberty is Freedom

            *Read John 8:31-36

  • It loves and serves one another

“. . . through love, serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word. ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’.” (v13-14)

  • It is led by the Spirit

“But I say, walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.” (v16-17)

 “Now the Lord is Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:17)

 “Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, truly I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. . . if the Son set you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:34,36)

Examine Your Life this Week:

Does it look more like license or liberty?