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Sunday Worship 21 March 2021 : “Our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus”

Text: Galatians 2
21 March 2021

INTRODUCTION

1. The liberty (freedom) that the Lord gives

a) And you shall know the truth   (John 8:32a)
b) And the truth shall make you free   (John 8:32b)
c) Therefore, if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed   (John 8:36)

2. The problem of being in bondage

a) In bondage to sin
b) This bondage
i) Deep
ii) Deadly

THE MINISTRY OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

1. Six aspects of ministry clearly declared

18 “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”   Luke 4:18-19
a) To preach the gospel to the poor
b) To heal the broken-hearted
c) To proclaim liberty to the captives
d) Recovery of sight to the blind
e) To set at liberty those who are oppressed
f) To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD

2. In bondage because of ignorance of the truth

a) Separation from sinful people   (Mark 2:13-17)
b) The practice of fasting   (Mark 2:18-22)
c) The Sabbath law  (Mark 2:23-28)

3. In bondage because of man-made laws

a) They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders   (Matthew 23:4)
b) The danger of hypocrisy   (Matthew 23:15, 23, 25)
c) The danger of spiritual blindness
i) Fools   (Matthew 23:17)
ii) Blind guides   (Matthew 23:16, 24)

4. The power of the Gospel

a) Liberty to the captives
b) Liberty to the oppressed   (Luke 4:18)

THE MINISTRY OF THE APOSTLE PAUL

1. The problem of false brethren

a) They were brought in   (Galatians 2:4a)
b) They came in by stealth   (Galatians 2:4b)
c) To spy out the liberty that is in Christ   (Galatians 2:4c)
d) To bring believers back into bondage   (Galatians 2:4d)

2. The power given to the Apostle Paul

a) He refused to yield submission   (Galatians 2:5a)
b) He refused to bow to those who seemed “to be something”   (Galatians 2:6a)
c) He did not regard them
i) “Whatever they were”
It makes no difference to me   (Galatians 2:6a)
ii) No personal favouritism from God   (Galatians 2:6b)
iii) Added nothing to me   (Galatians 2:6c)

3. Personal conflict with the Apostles Peter and Barnabas

a) In Antioch
b) A delegation from the Apostle James to Galatia   (Galatians 2:12a)
c) The people withdrew from the Gentiles   (Galatians 2:12b)
d) Two leaders who left the Gentiles
i) Peter
ii) Barnabas
iii) The Jewish quarter   (Galatians 2:13)
e) Paul rebuked Peter for
i) Hypocrisy   (Galatians 2:13)
ii) For inconsistency (“not straightforward”)   (Galatians 2:14a)
f) The problem in its essence
i) Jewishness
ii) Compelling Gentiles to live as Jews   (Galatians 2:14b)
iii) Jewish insistence of keeping the Law   (Galatians 2:16-20)

CONCLUSION

1. The Law

a) The works of the law will not bring about justification   (Galatians 2:16)
b) We are dead to the law   (Galatians 2:19)

2. Christ and the Gospel

a) We are justified by faith   (Galatians 2:16)
b) We are alive to God   (Galatians 2:19)
c) We are crucified with Christ   (Galatians 2:20a)
d) Christ lives in us   (Galatians 2:20b)
e) Christ the Lord loves us   (Galatians 2:20c)

3. Our Liberty in Christ is to be deeply treasured

a) We are not bound to the law
b) We are certainly not bound to man-made laws
c) We are free in Christ
i) This is the grace of God   (Galatians 2:21a)
ii) We are made righteous because of God’s grace   (Galatians 2:21b)