Embrace the Truth, Experience Freedom!
TITLE: Embrace the Truth, Experience Freedom!
TEXT: Galatians 5:1-15
TONE: Encouragement
TARGET: Believers
TASK: To encourage believers to stand firm and embrace gospel truth.
TEACH: Composer of Music, Daniel B. Towner (1850-1919) was the music leader during one of Dwight L. Moody’s famous revivals. He wrote, “Mr. Moody was conducting a series of meeting in Brockton, Mass, and I had the pleasure of singing for him there. One night a young man rose in a testimony meeting and said, “I am not quite sure -but I am going to trust, and I am going to obey.’ I just jotted that sentence down and sent it with a little story to the Rev. J.H. Sammis, a Presbyterian minister. He wrote the hymn and the tune was born.”
“Trust and obey—for there’s no other
way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”
Biblically speaking what is the relationship between trust and obedience. Or faith and works? This is an important question that we must answer.
TRUTH: The relationship between trust and obedience is foundational to understanding how believers live out their faith. Trust, or faith, in God is the belief in His character, promises, and the work of Jesus Christ for salvation. This trust forms the basis of a believer’s relationship with God, as it acknowledges that salvation is a gift from God, not something earned by human effort. Obedience, on the other hand, is the active expression of that trust; it is the response to God’s love and grace.
When a person trusts in Christ, that trust leads to a transformation of the heart and mind. As believers grow in their understanding of God’s love and grace, their desire to live in accordance with His will increases. Of course, the enemy has his false gospels; therefore, we must embrace the truth.
The universe turns upon God’s truth and will not tolerate falsehoods of men. Where truth is sought, known, proclaimed and abided by, only there is freedom…Christianity is truth. It is the truth about God, about man, and human relationships (Raymond T. Stamm, The Epistle to the Galatians, pg. 544-545). Our lives are to be established upon the truth. For this reason, Paul wrote, “stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.” This is the truth for which we are to stake our lives.
The term stand is taken from those who can either stand firm and fight in the line of battle or else fall and perish in the final struggle. Therefore, the opposite of standing is falling, being defeated and perishing. The faithful apostle diligently exhorts his Galatians to resist the false apostles firmly, lest they should fall away and perish (Wolfgang Musculus, Commentary on Galatians).
Truth to embrace
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First truth to embrace…
I. Legalism is a Real Threat (5:2-4).
Explanation: In this passage, Paul directly addresses the Galatians about the danger of legalism -specifically, the belief that one can achieve righteousness through adherence to the law rather than through faith in Christ. He emphasizes that if they accept circumcision as a requirement for salvation, they are effectively rejecting the grace of God and the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice. “Law and grace were mutually exclusive ways of salvation. Reception of circumcision would prove that the Galatians did not have full confidence in Christ” (Stamm, pg. 546).
The basic doctrinal error of the Judaizers was works righteousness, the same error that is the heart of every other man-made righteous system. Instead of seeing circumcision as a symbol of covenant promise, they saw it as a requirement for salvation.
Behold I, Paul, say to you ungirds the apostolic authority by which Paul makes this serious assertion. The atoning sacrifice of Christ, perfect and complete it was and is, cannot benefit a person who trusts in anything else. The work of Christ does not need supplementation. It is sufficient to save whosoever will all by its self. A second consequence of trusting in circumcision is that a person who does so obligates himself to keep the whole law. A third consequence of seeking to be justified by the law or any other form of human effort is that it causes a person to be severed from Christ and thereby fallen from grace. “Paul is not dealing with the security of the believer but with the contrasting ways of grace and law, works and faith, as means of salvation. He is not teaching that a person who has once been justified can lost his righteous standing before God and become lost again” (John McArthur, Galatians).
Simply stated a person cannot live by both law and grace. To attempt to justified apart from faith alone, grace alone, in Christ alone is in essence a denial of the sufficiency of Christ’s atoning work, which ultimately is a denial of biblical salvation. Throughout the letter Paul has been adamant the law and grace cannot mix. To embrace one is to deny the other.
This warning remains pertinent today; many Christians can fall into the trap of legalism, believing that their actions, rituals, and moral behavior can earn them favor with God.
Application: Regularly examine your motivations for faith and practice. Are you relying on Christ’s work for our salvation, or are you subtly shifting back to a performance-based mindset?
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Second truth to embrace…
II. Faith is the Way of Righteousness (5:5-6).
Explanation: Paul contrasts the futility of legalism with the transformative power of faith. He asserts that through the Spirit, believers wait eagerly for the hope of righteousness that comes through faith. This passage underscores the notion that righteousness is not achieved through human effort but is a gift received through faith in Jesus Christ. In practical terms, this means that our daily lives should be characterized by trust in God’s promises rather than anxiety over our performance.
This appears to be a fourth consequence of trusting in works is to be excluded from righteousness. Life in the Spirit is not static and inactive, but it is faith working through love, not the flesh working through self-effort.
Application: Make sure you daily life is characterized by trust in God’s promises rather than anxiety over your performance.
Third truth to embrace…
III. Running Well Means Gospel Faithfulness (5:7-10).
Explanation: Paul uses the metaphor of running a race to illustrate the Galatians initial commitment to the gospel and the importance of maintaining that course. The Galatians had started well in their faith journey but were now being led astray by false teachings. This serves as a powerful reminder that faithfulness to the gospel is not a one-time event but a continuous journey that requires vigilance and perseverance.
You were running well reflects the figure of a race, which Paul frequently used. They were running well until, apparently soon after Paul left, the Judaizers began leading them away from the way of grace and faith back into the way of law and works, which was crippling.
Application: Asses your spiritual journey. Are you staying true to the core message of the gospel in your beliefs and actions? This is how we inspire others.
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Fourth truth to embrace…
IV. False Teachers are Dangerous (5:11-12).
Explanation: In these verses, Paul expresses concern about the influence of false teachers who distort the gospel. He emphasizes that these individuals can lead believers away from the true message of Christ, causing confusion and division within the church. This warning is still relevant in today’s context, where many voices compete for our attention, often presenting a diluted or distorted view of the gospel. Practically, this means we must be discerning about the teachings we accept and the sources we trust.
We see here that it is a normal practice of false teachers to persecute true teachers. Of course, the Judaizers lied about Paul preaching circumcision. However, they are persecuting Paul because he is preaching a different message, the true message of the gospel. The cross today still offends fallen men and women who are prone to trust in themselves.
Application: Regularly engage with Scripture, participate in sound teaching to foster a spirit of discernment.
Fifth truth to embrace…
V. Freedom in Christ has Purpose (5:13-15).
Explanation: Finally, Paul highlights that the freedom Christ offers is not an excuse for self-indulgence but a call to serve one another in love. This freedom is rooted in the understanding that we are called to fulfill the law of Christ, which is to love others as ourselves. We should allow our freedom to manifest in acts of service and compassion.
The apostle makes it very clear again that freedom is at the very heart of the gospel and godly living. It is not a side benefit, but the very heart of our salvation in Christ. What are we free from? We are free from submitting to the OT rituals and regulations represented by the Old Covenant. What are we free to do? Obey. God’s saves us, empowers us, and indwell us to live in obedience to His word.
Application: Move beyond a self-centered view of freedom to one that actively seeks the well-being of others.
Take-Away: Faith, Truth, and Freedom form a perfect chain in the Christians life.
1. Regularly examine your life for gospel faithfulness.
2. Make sure your daily life is characterized by trust.
3. Stay true to the core message of the gospel.
4. Daily engage in the disciplines of scripture and prayer.
5. Move beyond a self-centered view of your freedom.
________________________________________________________________________Tie-Up:
When we walk with the
Lord in the light of His Word
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still
And with all who will trust and obey
Trust and obey, for
there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey
Not a shadow can rise,
not a cloud in the skies
But His smile quickly drives it away
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear
Can abide while we trust and obey
Oh, Trust and obey, for
there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey
Then in fellowship sweet
we will sit at His feet
Or we'll walk by His side in the way
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go
Never fear, only trust and obey
Trust and obey, for
there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey
Oh, Trust and obey, for
there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey
And 'Tis so sweet to
trust in Jesus
Just to take Him at His Word
Just to rest upon His promise
Just to know, "Thus saith the Lord"
Jesus, Jesus, how I
trust Him!
How I've proved Him o'er and o'er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh, for grace to trust Him more
Lord oh, for grace to trust You more
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