SERIES: GALATIANS: BE FREE.
TEXT: GALATIANS 1:1-6.
The truth of the book of Galatians is “Be Free-Never stray from the grace way.”
Slavery was a terrible thing. On 1st January 1863 all persons held as slaves within United States of America were set free through a proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln. After the proclamation, headlines around the world read, “Slavery Legally abolished.” Galatians is a letter that announces “Religious Legalism Abolished.” It is our emancipation proclamation. In Galatians we find freedom, The Gospel of God’s amazing grace-Gal. 1:1-6.
Galatians is Paul’s earliest letters. After preaching the gospel to the Galatians, false teachers had come to the church of Galatia and preached a false gospel of keeping religious rules and following religious rituals. The Apostle Paul is furious, he does not even greet the church in Galatia.
Galatians is a short book, but it is a spiritual dynamite. Galatians was Martin Luther’s charter of liberty during the reformation.
It was John Westley’s heart in the meeting at Alders Gate Street in London. It brought revival in the British Isles-leading to the founding of the Methodist Church.
Today people are moving faster than any other time in history, but they have no idea where they are going. Galatians answers the age-old question, “How can I find real meaning in life?” There are three ways people answer this question.
Let us examine these three attempts:-
LEGALISM: Keep the rules!
- Some people have turned to a religious system of keeping rules to find meaning in life.
- For them life is about keeping rules to please God.
- This is called religious legalism.
- It was not long after Paul started preaching the gospel and Gentiles turned to Christ that legalism raised its ugly head-Acts 15:1-2.
- There was a dangerous movement in the early church to make Christians just a branch of the Jewish faith.
- They taught that to be a Christian one must also follow the Jewish law.
- They taught that men who became Christians, no matter what their age, had to undergo the painful surgery of circumcision.
- They taught that the only way someone could be saved was first become a good Jew.
- Legalism teaches Jesus Christ plus good works equals salvation.
- The problem with legalism is that it sets up an impossible standard of keeping rules and laws that could not be kept.
- Legalists are believers who believe they have to keep the rules to be more accepted by God.
HEDONISM: No rules!
- Hedonism (Antinomianism) is the opposite of legalism. It is living with no boundaries.
- Hedonism is as old as the human race.
- One of the earliest poems ever written was written 4,200 years ago.
- It is entitled “Egyptian Hedonism.” It says “Follow your desire as long as you shall live, fulfill your needs upon earth after the command of your heart. Behold, it is not given to man to take his property with him. Behold, there is not one who departs who comes back again.”
- Today Americans say, “You only go around once in life, so grab for all the gust you can get.” That is hedonism.
- The book of Ecclesiastes which we just studied was written by Solomon, that time he practiced hedonism.
- He had 1,000 wives and 1,000 mother-in-laws.
- King Solomon concluded his hedonism practice by saying “vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”
- He says there is no satisfaction to the human heart “Under the sun.”
- After long desperation in Ecclesiastes 12, he says “Remember your creator in the days of your youth.” He concluded, “Fear God, keep His commandment for that is the chief duty of man, under the sun”-Eccl. 2:10-11.
- Hedonism leads to destruction-Gal. 6:8.
GRACE: A relationship that sets me free!!
- Galatians teaches us that our purpose for living is not keeping rules, it is not pleasure but it is all about a relationship with Jesus Christ.
- Jesus Christ said, “Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free”-John 8:32.
- The key verse in Galatians is “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free, stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery”-Gal. 5:1.
- President Abraham Lincoln emancipation proclamation was read on January 1st 1863 (1/1/1863). But slaves in Texas kept working as slaves under bondage for another two years. They did not know they were set free until General Gordon Granger read the Emancipation proclamation in Galveston. Slaves realized they were free on June 19th 1865.
- Today African American in Texas celebrate “Juneteenth.”
- As Christians, born again, saved in the blood of Jesus Christ, we have been set free by the gospel of grace.
- Like slaves in Texas, millions of so called Christians are still laboring under the laws of Sabbath, rituals to earn acceptance before God.
- So what does it mean to be free under the Gospel of Grace?
- Freedom from guilt.
- Guilt is a healthy God given emotion that shows us our need for God.
- The reason we feel guilty for sin is because we are guilty.
- We are sinners and need God’s forgiveness.
- But once we have placed our sin under the blood of Jesus Christ, He has forgiven all our sins, past, present and future.
- Lingering guilt over forgiven sins is a tool of the devil-Rev. 12:10.
- Legalism tries to put you back under the curse of guilt, but grace sets you free.
- Freedom from fear:
- A legalist is afraid he hasn’t done enough to please God.
- A legalist feels that 200 “hail Mary is better than 100 and 20% tithe is better than 10%.
- When you understand grace, you don’t have to fear.
- Salvation is not “Don’t” or “Do”, salvation is “DONE”-1st John 2:2.
- Christ chose you before you chose Him-John 6:44.
- Freedom from doubt.
- There are “Hope so Christians” and “I am not sure Christians.”
- We must be sure of salvation-1st John 5:11-13.
- Of all religions, only Christianity guarantees salvation to its followers.
- Hindus believe salvation is finally attained through transmigration of the soul or reincarnation. No one really wants the rebirth, especially if you are reincarnating in the wrong direction.
- The Buddhists believe if you do everything right, think right, talk right, act right, then you can attain Karma.
- In Buddhism, motives count more than actions. So, what if you die before you purify your motives?
- Muslims are in the same boat of insecurity.
- They teach if you faithfully observe the five pillars of Islam-(Shahada/faith, Salah/prayer, Zakat/Alms, Sawm/Fasting, Hajj/pilgrimage) you will be judged worthy.
- But no one is sure that he/she is good enough before the mighty Allah.
- Mohamed himself says, “Save yourselves from hell fire, as I cannot save you from Allah’s punishment…….. No do I know what will be done with me or you-Sura 46:9.
- As for us Grace gives us salvation and then grace gives us assurance-Luke 23:43.
CONCLUSION
- Legalism; Keep the rules; Hedonism; No rules.
- Grace: A relationship with Jesus Christ that set us free.
- We are free from guilt, fear and doubt.
- Do you love Jesus Christ, when, how and where did you get saved?
- If not sure, please come to Christ now.
Latest posts by Rev, DR. Willy Mutiso (see all)
- LEVELS OF THE ANOINTING. - October 22, 2025
- UMETAKASWA KUPOKEA KIBALI. - October 19, 2025
- THE GOD WHO SHIFTS THE HEAVENS IN YOUR FAVOR. - October 19, 2025