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RETURN TO SYLLABUS
GALATIANS 5:13-26
LESSON #11
LIBERTY IN CHRIST IS NOT LICENSE
v MEMORY VERSE: GALATIANS 5:13
v IN THE FIRST PART OF THIS CHAPTER, PAUL TOLD USTHAT LIBERTY IN JESUS CHRIST COMES THROUGH LIVING BY FAITH ACCORDING TO THE GRACE OF GOD.
Ø THERE ARE THREE WAYS TO LIVE THE CHRISTIANLIFE AFTER YOU ARE SAVED. TWO OF THESE THREE WAYS WILL NOT WORK.
§ -1. LEGALISM
· WE HAVE LEARNED THAT LIBERTYMEANS WE ARE NOT BOUND BY LISTS OF RULES OR LISTS OF DOS AND DONTS.
¨ KEEPING RULES DOES NOT WORK BECAUSE THEY DONOT CHANGE THE HEART OF MAN.
§ -2. LICENSE
· THIS PERSON SAYS, IF I AMFREE IN CHRIST, I CAN LIVE ANYWAY I WANT TO LIVE. I CAN DO ANYTHING I WANT TO DO.
¨ THEREIS NO SENSE OF RIGHT OR WRONG AND NO SENSE OF PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY TO GOD OR OTHERS.
¨ PAUL WILL TELL US IN THIS LESSON THAT LICENSEIS NOT LIBERTY. HE WILL TELL US WHY THIS WAY WILL NOT WORK.
§ -3. LIBERTY
· THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO LIVE THECHRISTIAN LIFE SUCCESSFULLY. PAUL WILL TELL US WHY.
v READ GAL 5:13-15 THE LIFE OF LIBERTY
Ø THERE ARE MANY WHO WOULD SAY THAT TOO MUCHFREEDOM IS A LICENSE TO SIN. THEY WOULD SAY THAT AN ABUNDANCE OF FREEDOM MEANS THERE ARENO LIMITING RESTRICTIONS THAT WOULD KEEP A BELIEVER PURE.
§ WE KNOW THAT IF THERE IS NOLAW IN SOCIETY, THERE IS ANARCHY AND CHAOS.
· THIS MAY BE TRUE OF SOCIETY, BUTTHE CHRISTIAN LIVE IS DIFFERENT. THE CHRISTIAN HAS THE HOLY SPIRIT LIVING INSIDE AS HISGUIDE. THEREFORE, WHILE THE BELIEVER IS FREE IN JESUS, HE STILL HAS A GUIDE THAT RESTRICTSHIS LIFE.
¨ WE HAVE LEARNED THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS ABETTER GUIDE THAN A LIST OF RULES AND REGULATIONS.
Ø PAUL IS AWARE OF THIS ARGUMENT THAT TOO MUCHFREEDOM IS LICENSE. (13)
§ PAUL DEALS WITH THISSUBJECT IN MORE DETAIL IN THE BOOK OF ROMANS.
· READ ROM 6:1-18
§ WHY IS TOO MUCH FREEDOM NOTA LICENSE TO SIN?
· THE LIFE OF LIBERTY IS BY THEGRACE OF GOD. GRACE FREES US FROM SIN. THAT WAS HOW WE GOT SAVED IN THE FIRSTPLACE. GRACE DOES NOT GIVE US FREEDOM TO SIN.
· IT IS BY LOVE THAT WE SERVE (13)
¨ THE BELIVER OBEYS GOD AND LIVES A LIFE ASFREE FROM SIN AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE HE LOVES GOD AND DESIRES TO PLEASE GOD. (JOH 14:15)
Ø THIS IS WHY GOD CALLS US SONS AND NOT SLAVES.A CHILD LOVES HIS NATURAL PARENT AND DESIRES TO PLEASE HIM.
· WE SERVE ONE ANOTHER. (13)
¨ THESURRENDERED CHRISTIAN WHO IS LIVING IN THE FREEDOM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS NOT DENYING THELAWS OF GOD.
Ø INSTEADTHE HOLY SPIRIT IS FULFILLING THE LAWS OF GOD IN HIM.
¨ LICENSE MEANS FREEDOM TO DO AS YOU PLEASE.THE BELIEVER IS NOT FREE TO DO AS HE PLEASES BECAUSE HE DOES NOT BELONG TO HIMSELF. HEBELONGS TO GOD WHO PURCHASED HIM BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST.
Ø IF THE BELIEVER DOES AS HE PLEASES HIS LIFEIS CENTERED ON HIMSELF INSTEAD OF ON CHRIST.
§ A LIFE CENTERED ON SELFDOES NOT LEAVE ROOM FOR THE LOVE OF OTHER PEOPLE.
¨ THE BELIEVER WHO LOVES GOD WILL USE HIS LIFETO SERVE OTHER PEOPLE IN LOVE.
¨ THE MATHEMATICAL FORMULA IS:
Ø LIBERTY + LOVE = SERVICETO GOD AND TO OTHERS.
Ø LIBERTY – LOVE = LICENSETO SELF PLEASURE.
§ THE ONE WORD THAT FULFILLSTHE LAW (14)
· THIS ONE WORD IS LOVE.
¨ REMEMBER WE LEARNED THAT LEGALISM DESTROYSLOVE.
¨ LICENSE DENIES LOVE.
¨ LIBERTY PROMOTES LOVE.
Ø HOW CAN LOVE FULFILL THE LAW?
§ CONSIDER SOME OF THE TENCOMMANDMENTS AS AN EXAMPLE:
· THOU SHALT HAVE NO OTHERGODS BEFORE ME (EXO 20:3)
¨ IF YOU LOVE GOD YOU WOULD NOT WANT TO HAVEOTHER GODS.
· THOU SHALT NOT KILL(EXO 20:13)
¨ IF YOU LOVE OTHER PEOPLE, THERE WILL NEVER BEAN OCCASION WHERE YOU WOULD WANT TO TAKE ANOTHERS LIFE.
· THOU SHALT NOT STEAL(EXO 20:15)
¨ IF YOU LOVE A PERSON, YOU WOULD NOT WANT TOTAKE ANYTHING THAT BELONGS TO HIM.
§ THE RESULTS OF LIVING BYLOVE (15)
· LEGALISM IN THE GALATIAN CHURCHESWAS MAKING EVERY BELIEVER A JUDGE OVER EVERY OTHER BELIEVER. AS A RESULT THEY WERE BITINGAND DEVOURING ONE ANOTHER.
¨ THEREFORE, WE CAN SAY THAT LEGALISM LEADS TOA LACK OF LOVE.
v READ GAL 5:16-26 THE LIFE OF LIBERTY IS WALKING IN THE SPIRIT
Ø THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVES YOU POWER TOOVERCOME THE FLESH NATURE.
§ WALKING IN THE SPIRITPREVENTS YOU FROM FULFILLING THE SELFISH DESIRES (LUSTS) OF THE FLESH NATURE. (16)
· THE WORD LUST IN THEGREEK DOES NOT HAVE AN EVIL CONNOTATION. IT SIMPLY MEANS DESIRES.
¨ THERE ARE MANY THINGS WE CAN DESIRE THAT ARENOT NECESSARILY EVIL. HOWEVER, IF THESE THINGS REPLACE SPIRITUAL THINGS AND TAKE US AWAYFROM GOD, THEY ARE EVIL DESIRES (LUSTS).
¨ IF WE WALK IN THE SPIRIT OF LOVE TOWARD GODAND OTHERS, WE ARE FREE TO CHOOSE THOSE THINGS THAT DO NOT VIOLATE LOVE TOWARD GOD OR LOVETO OTHERS.
§ THE WAR WITHIN (17)
· BECAUSE WE HAVE THE HOLY SPIRITLIVING IN US, AND BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE THE FLESH NATURE, THERE IS THIS INNER CONFLICT.
¨ REMEMBER THE ALLEGORY ABOUT HAGAR AND SARAHTHAT EXPLAINED THE NATURE OF THIS CONFLICT.
¨ READ ROM 7:15-21
§ THE BETTER WAY TO WIN THISINNER BATTLE IS NOT BY LEGALISM. IT IS BY WALKING IN THE SPIRIT.
· DISCUSSION: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO WALK IN THE SPIRIT?
· DISCUSSION: HOW CAN YOU KNOW WHEN YOU ARE WALKING IN THESPIRIT?
§ THE BELIEVER IS TO BE LEDBY THE SPIRIT.
· LED BY THE SPIRITMEANS A COMMITMENT TO BE GUIDED BY TRUTH. (JOH 16:13)
· LED BY THE SPIRITMEANS FIXING YOUR MIND ON WHAT GOD DESIRES. (ROM 8:5)
· LED BY THE SPIRITMEANS YIELDING CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE TO GOD. (ROM 8:9)
§ YOU CAN TELL IF YOU AREWALKING IN THE SPIRIT IF YOU ARE NOT FULFILLING THE WORKS OF THE FLESH. WHAT ARE THE WORKSOF THE FLESH? (19-21)
· THESE WORKS OF THE FLESH DIVIDEEASILY INTO CATEGORIES:
¨ SENSUAL SINS:
Ø ADULTERY = SEXUAL SINS AFTER MARRIAGE.
Ø FORNICATION = ALL SEXUAL SINS OUTSIDE OFMARRIAGE AND SEXUAL SINS WHILE MARRIED.
Ø UNCLEANNESS = IMPURITY SUCH AS THE SEXUAL SINOF PORNOGRAPHY.
Ø LASCIVIOUSNESS = BRUTALITY AND SADISM; AWANTON APPETITE THAT KNOWS NO SHAME.
¨ RELIGIOUS SINS:
Ø IDOLATRY = THE WORSHIP OF ANYTHING THATREPLACES GOD.
Ø WITCHCRAFT (pharmakeia) = THE USE OF DRUGS;SATANIC WORSHIP AND ITS PRACTICES.
Ø HATRED
Ø VARIANCE = ARGUING AND STRIFE.
¨ SOCIAL SINS:
Ø EMULATIONS = RIVALRY AND JEALOUSY.
Ø WRATH = ANGER.
Ø STRIFE = FACTIONS AND CLIQUES.
Ø SEDITIONS = DIVISIONS.
Ø HERESIES = SECTS THAT PROMOTED FOLLOWINGCERTAIN LEADERS INSTEAD OF CHRIST.
Ø ENVYINGS = HOLDING GRUDGES.
Ø MURDERS.
¨ PERSONAL SINS:
Ø DRUNKENNESS
Ø REVELINGS = PARTYING, WANTONNESS.
¨ AND SUCH LIKE
Ø THERE ARE MANY MORE PAUL COULD HAVEMENTIONED, BUT WE GET THE IDEA.
· ALL OF THESE SINS REPRESENT ALOSS OF CONTROL IN YOUR LIFE.
¨ THE SEXUAL SINS REPRESENT A LOSS OF MORALCONTROL.
¨ THE RELIGIOUS SINS REPRESENT A LOSS OFSPIRITUAL CONTROL.
¨ THE SOCIAL SINS REPRESENT A LOSS OF CONTROLIN YOUR RELATIONSHIPS.
¨ THE PERSONAL SINS REPRESENT A LOSS OFPERSONAL CONTROL.
· THEY WHICH DO SUCH THINGSSHALL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD (21)
¨ THE WORD, DO, INDICATES ACONTINUOUS, HABITUAL ACTION.
Ø IN OTHER WORDS, THE PERSON WHO CONTINUOUSLYDOES THESE SINS AND IS HAPPY DOING THEM, IS NOT A BORN-AGAIN BELIEVER. WHY?
§ THE TRUE BELIEVER WILL BELIKE THE PRODIGAL SON. HE WILL EVENTUALLY WANT TO GET OUT OF THIS PIG PEN AND Return to HIS FATHER. WHY? WHAT IS HIS MOTIVATION TO GET OUT OF THESE SINS?
· THE HOLY SPIRIT LIVING IN HIMWILL MAKE HIM SO UNCOMFORTABLE AND UNHAPPY INSIDE THAT HE WILL BE MOTIVATED TO LEAVE THESESINS BEHIND.
· LEGALISM CAUSES THESE SINS TOMANIFEST THEMSELVES OPENLY. WHY?
¨ HUMAN NATURE MAKES MAN WANT TO DO EXACTLYWHAT HE IS TOLD NOT TO DO. LEGALISM TELLS MAN WHAT NOT TO DO AND THAT MAKES HIM WANT TO DOIT MORE.
Ø THEREFORE, THE ANSWER IS NOT LEGALISM. THEREIS A BETTER WAY.
§ THE HOLY SPIRIT PRODUCESFRUIT IN YOU.
· THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT (22-23)
¨ NOTICE THAT THE WORD FRUIT ISSINGULAR EVEN THOUGH THE LIST INCLUDES MORE THAN ONE. WHY?
Ø THE FRUIT HAS ONE SOURCE, THE HOLY SPIRITINSIDE OF THE BELIEVER.
Ø THE FRUIT IS OF ONE VARIETY– LOVE.
§ JOH 15:1-5 THE VINE, THE BRANCHES, AND THE FRUIT
· THE ONE VARIETY OF FRUIT IS THATWHICH COMES FROM GOD, THE ONE SOURCE.
§ THE FIRST ONE MENTIONED INTHE LIST IS LOVE. FROM LOVE COME ALL THE OTHERS.
· THIS IS UNCONDITIONAL, DIVINELOVE (agape).
Ø THE ASPECTS OF FRUIT TOWARD GOD:
§ JOY = A JOY THAT DOES NOTDEPEND ON OUTWARD CIRCUMSTANCES.
§ PEACE = PEACE WITH GODTHROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST.
Ø THE ASPECTS OF FRUIT TOWARD OTHERS:
§ LONGSUFFERING = PATIENCE.
§ GENTLENESS = KINDNESS.
§ GOODNESS = KIND BUT FIRM.
Ø THE ASPECTS OF FRUIT WITHIN YOUR OWNCHARACTER:
§ FAITH = FAITHFULNESS.
§ MEEKNESS = UNDER THECONTROL OF THE WILL OF GOD.
§ TEMPERANCE = SELF-CONTROL.
· AGAINST SUCH THERE IS NOLAW (23)
¨ THERE IS NO LAW AGAINST DOING THESE WONDERFULTHINGS AND THERE IS NO LAW THAT CAN PRODUCE THEM. YOU CANNOT LEGISLATE LOVE OR PEACE, ETC.ONLY THE HOLY SPIRIT INSIDE THE BELIEVER CAN PRODUCE THESE THINGS.
§ THE CRUCIFIED BELIEVER (24)
· WHEN DID THE BELIEVER CRUCIFY THEFLESH?
¨ WHEN THE BELIEVER IDENTIFIES HIMSELF WITH THECRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST, HE CRUCIFIES HIS OWN FLESH NATURE. (COL 3:3)
Ø REMEMBER PAUL TOLD US IN GAL 2:20 THAT WE ARECRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST.
· BECAUSE THE BELIEVER IS CRUCIFIEDWITH CHRIST, HE YIELDS TO THE HOLY SPIRIT.
¨ CHRIST DIED FOR THE BELIEVER TO REMOVE THEPENALTY OF HIS SIN.
¨ THE BELIEVER CONSIDERS THAT HE DIED WITHCHRIST, AND THAT REMOVES THE POWER OF SIN IN THE BELIEVERS LIFE.
Ø THIS IS DONE BY FAITH. THE BELIEVER PUTS HISFOCUS ON THE CRUCIFIED CHRIST AND NOT ON THE SINS FROM WHICH HE WANTS TO BE FREE.
§ THE WALK IN THE SPIRIT (25)AS OPPOSED TO THE WORKS OF THE FLESH (26)
· PAUL TALKED ABOUT WALKING IN THESPIRIT IN VERSE 16 AND AGAIN HERE IN VERSE 25. HOWEVER, THE GREEK WORDS ARE DIFFERENT INTHESE TWO VERSES.
¨ VS. 16 (parapateo) = THE PRINCIPLE OFWALKING.
¨ VS. 25 (stoichomen) = TO LEARN TO WALK STEPBY STEP BY TRIAL AND ERROR.
Ø A CHILD LEARNS TO WALK BY TRAIL AND ERROR. HEFREQUENTLY FALLS UNTIL HE GETS IT RIGHT.
§ THE BELIEVER LEARNS TO WALKIN THE SPIRIT BY TRIAL AND ERROR. IT IS A LEARNING PROCESS.
v SUMMARY AND APPLICATION:
Ø BOTH LEGALISM AND LICENSE ARE SLAVERY.LEGALISM IS SLAVERY TO LAW AND LICENSE IS SLAVERY TO SIN. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE LIES BETWEENTHESE TWO EXTREMES.
Ø GOD NEVER ASKS THE BELIEVER TO LIVE THECHRISTIAN LIFE IN HIS OWN STRENGTH BECAUSE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE. INSTEAD GOD ASKS THE BELIEVERTO LET CHRIST LIVE THE LIFE OF CHRIST THROUGH HIM.
§ HOW DO YOU LET THE HOLYSPIRIT PRODUCE THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IN YOUR LIFE?
· YOU YIELD YOURSELF TO THEWILL OF GOD, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT IN YOU PRODUCES THE FRUIT. THIS IS JUST THE OPPOSITE OFSTRUGGLING TO LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.
Ø THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WORKS AND FRUIT:
§ WORKS ARE PRODUCED LIKE APRODUCT THAT COMES FROM THE FACTORY AS THE RESULT OF HARD WORK.
· THE FLESH NATURE PRODUCES WORKSOF THE FLESH THAT THE BIBLE CALLS DEAD WORKS. (HEB 9:14)
§ FRUIT IS PRODUCED BYNATURAL GROWTH. FRUIT HAS A SEED THAT NATURALLY PRODUCES MORE FRUIT.
HOMEWORK
GALATIANS 6
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERSTO THE TEACHER FOR CORRECTION.
v APPLICATION OF GAL 5:13-26
Ø ARE YOU STRUGGLING IN ANY AREA OF YOURCHRISTIAN LIFE?
Ø YIELDING TO THE HOLY SPIRIT IS SOMETHING THATMUST BE DONE DAILY.
§ YIELD THIS AREA OF YOURLIFE TO THE HOLY SPIRIT EVERY MORNING THIS WEEK.
§ WATCH FOR MOMENTS DURINGTHE DAY WHEN YOU ARE AGAIN STRUGGLING IN THIS AREA. THAT IS A SIGN TO YOU THAT YOU HAVESTOPPED YIELDING TO THE HOLY SPIRIT. SAY A SHORT PRAYER AND YIELD IT TO HIM AGAIN.
§ AT THE END OF THE WEEK,EVALUATE THE FRUIT PRODUCED IN THIS AREA OF YOUR LIFE.
v PREPARATION FOR GAL 6:1-18
Ø READ GAL 6:1-18
§ WHAT ARE THERESPONSIBILITIES TO OTHER BELIEVERS THAT THE TRUE BELIEVER HAS IF HE IS WALKING IN THELOVE OF JESUS CHRIST?
v MEMORY VERSE: GALATIANS 6:2
