09-30-18, Galatians 4;1-20, True Freedom

Galatians 4:1-20
True Freedom
September 30, 2018
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA
What’s the number one thing?
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The Glory of God!
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1 Corinthians 10:31 NASB
31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
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September Memory Verse
Philippians 4:6-7 NASB
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God,
which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in
Christ Jesus.
Galatians 4:1-20
True Freedom
Galatians 4:1-20 NASB
Sonship in Christ
1 Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave
although he is owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers
until the date set by the father. 3 So also we, while we were children, were held in
bondage under the elemental things of the world. 4 But when the fullness of the
time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 so
that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the
adoption as sons. 6 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son
into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but
a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.
8 However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those
which by nature are no gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or
rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and
worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?
10 You observe days and months and seasons and years. 11 I fear for you, that
perhaps I have labored over you in vain.
12 I beg of you, brethren, become as I am, for I also have become as you are.
You have done me no wrong; 13 but you know that it was because of a bodily
illness that I preached the Gospel to you the first time; 14 and that which was a
trial to you in my bodily condition you did not despise or loathe, but you
received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself. 15 Where then is that
sense of blessing you had? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would
have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. 16 So have I become your
enemy by telling you the truth? 17 They eagerly seek you, not commendably, but
they wish to shut you out so that you will seek them. 18 But it is good always to be
eagerly sought in a commendable manner, and not only when I am present with
you. 19 My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you—
20 but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, for I am
perplexed about you.

Galatians 5:1 NASB
Walk by the Spirit
1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do
not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
How do we live the life of liberty that our God wants us to have and not be
subject again to a yoke of slavery?
20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives
in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,
Who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God,
for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.
What Paul is talking about here is how the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ is the
liberating force.
How does the cross liberate us?
When we say, "I am crucified with Christ," how does that set us free?
And, Paul says, "Stand fast... in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made [you] free"
(Galatians 5:1).
Well, those believers who are in bondage are only in bondage because they
have forgotten the cross.
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How Does This Work Out in Personal Experience?
How do I get Galatians 2:20 off of the page and into my heart?
Adrian Rogers 9/12/1931 – 11/15/2005
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Major Ian Thomas has written a book called - The Saving Life of Christ.
Ian Thomas is showing that Christ in us—the life that He lives in us—is what gives
us that liberty.
Colossians 1:27 NASB
27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this
mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
The book, The Saving Life of Christ, tells about Moses.
Moses was out on the desert, and Moses had started out to be a missionary, but
Moses had become a murderer. He'd messed things up. He'd killed an
Egyptian.
Moses fled out into the desert from the face and fury of Pharaoh—a vagabond
for 40 years, living on the backside of nowhere, out in the desert.

And then, Moses sees a bush burning, and that bush just keeps on burning, and,
the bush is not consumed.
A voice comes from the bush, "Moses, take off your shoes. You're standing on
holy ground."
Ian Thomas uses a little imagination, but there's a great truth here.
He imagines Moses looking at that bush burning, and burning, and burning, and
yet, not consumed.
And, he imagines Moses saying, "I wish I could be like that. I tried to serve God
but I burned myself out. I've been a pile of ashes ever since. And, there's that
bush—it just keeps on burning and burning."
"Do you know," Ian Thomas asks, "we see men like that; we see women like that;
their life is glowing with the power and the energy of God; and, we wonder, did
they breathe a different air than us? Are they God's favorites? No! They just
made a discovery. They just discovered that they didn't have what it took. They
said, 'I can't, God’; You never said, 'I could.’ But, You said, 'You can, and You
said You always would.' And so, they said, 'Lord, it's Your life in me. It's not my
ability; it's my availability. From the human standard, I may not be qualified.
I may fail. But, on the other hand, by the grace of God, like that bush, I can be a
miracle.'"
Ian Thomas imagines God saying to Moses, "Now Moses, you're amazed at that
bush, because that bush just keeps on burning, and burning, and burning.
Moses, let Me tell you—It's not just that bush. Moses, you see this bush over here?
I could do the same thing with that bush. And, Moses, do you see this bush over
here? I could do the same thing with that bush. And, I could do the same thing
with that bush. Moses, listen. It's not the bush; it's God in the bush! Any old bush
will do!"

Don't think that some people are greater, stronger, better than you.
God takes ordinary people to do extraordinary things.
It is not the bush; it is God in the bush!
Any old bush will do!
That's what Paul is talking about.
Galatians 2:20 NASB
Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Dear friend, understand that Christ has made us free.
That's the Gospel.
That's the Good News.
When we understand that, we begin to want to sing songs like "Amazing Grace,
how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me."
Be free in the Lord Jesus!
God, seal this message in our hearts and help us to stand fast in the liberty
wherewith Christ has made us free.
As witnesses for Christ, we are to be newsboys, not editors.
We are to deliver the Gospel of grace.

Dr. Leo Eddleman, who was the former president of New Orleans Seminary, said,
"What a wonderful salvation!"
He's talking about the Gospel of grace that we are to deliver.
He said, "You cannot beg it. You cannot buy it. You cannot borrow it. You
cannot steal it. You cannot earn it. You cannot learn it. You cannot merit it. You
cannot inherit it. It is internal, external, eternal. By the work of Christ on the cross
it was completed and can never be depleted or repeated."
That's the Gospel of Christ!
Look at Galatians 4:7.
Galatians 4:7 NASB
7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir
through God.
Do you think of yourself as a slave or as a son?
So, what's the difference?
Dr. David Seamands has pointed out the difference in a book called -- Freedom
from the Performance Trap.
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So many people need to be delivered from the performance trap.
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According to Dr. Seamands:
• A servant is accepted and appreciated on the basis of what he does.
• A son is accepted and appreciated on the basis who he is.
• A servant begins the day anxious that he may please his master.
• A son begins the day resting, knowing that he is accepted and loved.
• The servant is accepted on the basis of his workmanship.
• A son is accepted on the basis of his relationship.
• A servant knows that productivity and performance are the basis of his
acceptance.
• A son knows that his acceptance is on the basis of his position as a
person.
• A servant has peace of mind at the end of the day, only if he has proven
worthy by his work.
• Tomorrow, the anxiety will begin again for the servant.
• A son is secure all day long, knowing that tomorrow will not change his
status as a member of the family.
• A servant knows that, if he fails, his whole position is at stake.
• A son is secure all day long, knowing that tomorrow will not change his
status as a member of the family.
• A son knows that, if he fails, he may be lovingly corrected, but he is not
afraid of being thrown out of the family.
• His performance does not change the stability of his position.
Look, again, at Galatians 4:7.
Galatians 4:7 NASB
7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir
through God.

These Galatians had let some people come in, and pervert the gospel, and tell
them, "Yes, you're saved by the grace of God, plus you must do this, and this,
and this, and this."
And, when they added works into the mix, it was no longer the Gospel of
grace—the standard that God had set.
Satan is a pervert and had enticed these false teachers to pervert the gospel of
Christ.
God does not say, "I love you, because...," or, "I love you, since...," or, "I will love
you, if...," or, "I love you, when...," or, "I love you, after...," or, "I love you,
provided...".
God just says, “I love you!”
God loves us by His grace.
It is unconditional grace and it is unconditional love.
It doesn't mean that God is looking for something in us, that if He finds it, then He
will love us—something like our goodness.
The reverse, therefore, would mean that, if He didn't find that something in us, He
would stop loving us—some failure on our part.
But God's love for you is unconditional and it flows out of His very nature.
It is an action toward us, not a reaction to us.
Romans 5:8 NASB
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us.
God doesn't love us because we're valuable; we're valuable because He loves
us.
God is not changing us so He can love us, He loves us so He can change us.
Now, friend, that's amazing grace!
There are some who would pervert that gospel, and that is legalism.
So, we are to be set free from the Bondage of legalism.

We are also freed from the Bondage of Criticism.
Not only are we set free from the bondage of legalism, but we are also set free
from the bondage of criticism.
Galatians 2:4-5 MSG
4-5 While we were in conference we were infiltrated by spies (false brethren)
pretending to be Christians, who slipped in to find out just how free true
Christians are. Their ulterior motive was to reduce us to their brand of servitude.
We didn’t give them the time of day. We were determined to preserve the truth
of the Message for you.
Not only did Paul have to contend there with legalism, but also with criticism.
These were false brethren which one translation calls "sham Christians".
They had a bunch of rules, a bunch of laws, and they said to these Galatians,
"Now, you've got to do like we tell you to do."
They were grace-busters—that's what they were.
The Pharisees took the Old Testament laws, expanded them, lengthened them,
and made all kinds of rules on their list that they could hold over the heads of
other people to intensify the guilt (control) of these people.
They were list makers.
The Pharisees themselves served God out of grim compulsion and not out of
joyous overflow.
Then, they tried to export their grimness onto other people.
There are a lot of list makers today who'll steal the joy that you have in the Lord
Jesus Christ and make you a slave to public opinion.
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That's an awful slavery.
It's not that we are not to be concerned about what other people think - we're
not to be unconcerned about our attitudes.
We want to be a good influence as much as we can, but we cannot be slaves to
public opinion.
Paul refused to be a slave to public opinion.
Galatians 2:5 NASB
5 But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of
the gospel would remain with you.
He had a tender heart, but, friend, Paul had a tough hide.
In serving the Lord, we, like Paul, have to do the same thing.
Many people have some little peccadillo, some idea, something that they have
conjured up, that they want to force on me, or force on you, or force on us.
It's a vicious trap when you become a slave to public opinion—not only
legalism, but the bondage of criticism.
Peter did that.
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11 But when Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because
he stood condemned. 12 For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he
used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and
hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision.
• The “circumcision” is just a euphemistic way of saying “the Jewish high
muckety-mucks.”

What had happened is this:
Peter found out that the Gospel was for the Gentiles as well as for the Jew; and
so, Peter was down there, having fellowship with the Gentiles, until the brethren
came from denominational headquarters.
And then, Peter, fearing criticism, withdrew himself.
Paul said, “Peter, you're to be blamed, because you let these people put you
under the bondage of criticism, and fear has replaced your heart”.
We are to get along with people.
We are to be ambassadors.
But, friend, we're not to be politicians, and it may be a relief to you to know that
you don't have to get along with everybody.
Criticism may come from within as well as without.
We expect the world to criticize us, but you'll get more criticism from within the
church, sometimes, than you will from without the church!
We need to be compassionate about what people think.
We need to listen to valid criticism, but don't let people put you under bondage
with criticism.
You can make yourself sick trying to make these people well.
These people are professional weaker brothers.
When you analyze it, they're just hardcore legalists, and it is their problem.
But, if you yield to it, it will soon become your problem.
Paul said:
Galatians 5:1 NASB
You're free from the bondage of legalism, trying to earn your status before God.

You are free from the bondage of criticism, trying to conform to somebody else's
idea of how you ought to live, rather than finding from Jesus Christ Himself how
you ought to live.
Romans 12:2 NASB
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of
your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and
acceptable and perfect.
Don’t allow these people to put you under bondage.
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We are also freed From the Bondage of Fatalism.
Now, there's a third thing that the Lord gives us liberty in: not only the bondage of
legalism, and not only the bondage of criticism, but the bondage of fatalism.
This is a theme that goes all the way through the book.
3 So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental
things of the world. 4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His
Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who
were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
What does Paul mean here, when he talks about being "held in bondage under
the elemental things of the world."?
He's talking, here, about what we would call the elemental forces of the world.
He's talking, here, about the stars, the planets, nature, birth.
Have you ever had anybody ask you, "What sign were you born under?"

Good night!
There are a lot of people who have put themselves under bondage to these
things.
It's fatalism.
They think that their future is in the stars or in circumstances.
In legalism, we get under bondage to ourselves.
In criticism, we get under bondage to others.
In fatalism, we get under bondage to circumstances.
The child of God is not to be under bondage to any of these things.
Now, when he's talking about days, and months, and seasons, and years, he's
talking about astrology.
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Galatians 4:8b-11 MSG
8b-11 But now that you know the real God—or rather since God knows you—How
can you possibly subject yourselves again to those paper tigers (gods)? For that
is exactly what you do when you are intimidated into scrupulously observing all
the traditions, taboos, and superstitions associated with special days and
seasons and years. I am afraid that all my hard work among you has gone up in
a puff of smoke!
Astrology goes all the way back to the tower of Babel but, you know what, we
have a generation today—even some foolish Baptists—who read their
horoscope every morning.

God have mercy upon them--poor, pitiful things--that they pick up a newspaper
and consult some satanic, ungodly occult practice to find out how they ought to
live, or what they ought to expect in a day.
You put yourself under bondage, whether it's the bondage of legalism, the
bondage of criticism, or the bondage of fatalism.
You are not a victim of fate!
Friend, you are what you are by the grace of God.
Paul says to these Galatians:
Galatians 5:1 NASB
How does this work?
How, therefore, do we come against this legalism, and this criticism, and this
fatalism?
How do we live the life of liberty that our God wants us to have?
Who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God,
for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.
What he is talking about here is how the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ is the
liberating force.
How does the cross liberate us?
When we say, "I am crucified with Christ," how does that set us free?
And, Paul says;
Galatians 5:1 NASB

Well, those who are in bondage are only in bondage because they have
forgotten the cross.
https://glenhartline.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/jesus-cross-and-sun.jpg
You see, because of the cross, I could never be in bondage to legalism,
because every demand of the law has been met by the precious blood of Jesus
Christ.
Every demand that the law has put upon us Christ has fulfilled for us.
What about criticism?
How does the cross free me from criticism?
No matter what you say about me, He loved me enough to die for me.
That frees me from criticism.
When I look at that love, I know that I am "accepted in the beloved" (Ephesians
1:6), and I don't have to worry about your criticism of me.

Ephesians 1:4-6 MSG
4-6 Long, long ago He decided to adopt us into His family through Jesus Christ.
(What pleasure He took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the
celebration of His lavish gift-giving by the hand of His Beloved Son.
How does the cross free us from fatalism?
Well, the cross frees us from fatalism, because we were in the heart and mind of
God before the foundation of this world.
I am not a victim of circumstances; I am the recipient of God's grace.
The cross sets me free from legalism, the cross sets me free from criticism, the
cross sets me free from fatalism.
Paul says, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ that
liveth in me" (Galatians 2:20).
Here are three things:
A. It is an Executed Life
• The life of liberty is an executed life.
• "I am crucified with Christ" (Galatians 2:20).
• The old person you were has been executed.
• He/she has been put to death.
• When Jesus died, He did not merely take your sin to the cross.
• That would still leave you.
• When He died, not only did He take your sin; He took you to the cross!
• "I am crucified with Christ."
• His death had my name on it.
• When Jesus Christ died on that cross, Bill Boteler died on that cross.
• You died on that cross.
• Paul died on that cross.
• Paul said, "I am crucified with Christ."
• Now, if I am crucified, if I had been executed for my crimes, then I
could never be brought into double jeopardy.
• The penalty is paid in full.
• What can you do to a dead man?
• He has been crucified with Christ.
• I died with Him and so, it is an executed life.
• He took my sin and He took my self to the cross.
• The old Bill is dead.
• It is an executed life.
• Penalty, power, presence of sin.

B. It is an Exchanged Life.
• Then, it becomes an exchanged life.
• Now, look at it again, in verse 20:
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth
in me" (Galatians 2:20).
• It is not merely a changed life; it is an exchanged life.
• When He died, He died for me.
• When He rose, I rose with Him.
• He lives in me.
• He gave Himself for me, that He might give Himself to me.
• I'm not with Him in a tomb.
• He has a life that the grave could not keep and that life is mine.
• I live because He lives and only the Holy Spirit can help us understand
it.
• You pray, "God, help me to understand this."
• I am crucified with Christ.
• That's an executed life.
• Now, I live with Christ.
• That is an exchanged life.
C. It is an Energized Life.
• And now, it becomes an energized life.
• The executed life is the exchanged life, which is the energized life.
• Galatians 2:20 NASB
20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but
Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith
in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
• And, when I understand that —
• I am free.
• I am free from legalism.
• I am free from criticism.
• I am free from fatalism.
• I am free, indeed!
And, that's the reason the Apostle Paul goes back to our text that we began
with.

Galatians 5:1 NASB
Sunday
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Galatians 5:13-25
True Fruit
October 7, 2018
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA
The Plan of Hope & Salvation
John 3:16 NASB
16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever
believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
John 14:6 NASB
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to
the Father but through me.”
Romans 3:23 NASB
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23a NASB
23a For the wages of sin is death,
• Death in this life (the first death) is 100%.
• Even Jesus, the one who doesn’t deserve death, died in this life to pay the
penalty for our sins.
• The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the second death explained in
Revelation 21:8.

Revelation 21:8 NASB
8 “But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and
immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the
lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
Romans 6:23b NASB
23b but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 5:8 NASB
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for
us.
Revelation 21:7 NASB
7 “He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be
My son.”
• Romans 10:9-10 explains to us how to be overcomers.
Romans 10:9-10 NASB
9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that
God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person
believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in
salvation.
Romans 10:13 NASB
13 for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Have questions or would like to know more?
Please, contact First Baptist Church Jackson at 601-949-1900 or
http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/

09-30-18, Galatians 4;1-20, True Freedom

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09-30-18, Galatians 4;1-20, True Freedom