Text: Galatians 5:1

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

NIV

Introduction:

Freedom comes at a cost. The freedom that we enjoy as Americans has come at great cost. Our Spiritual freedom has come at a great cost.

1 Peter 1:18-19

18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

David Barrow was pastor of the Mill Swamp Baptist Church in Portsmouth, Virginia. He and Edward Mintz, were conducting a service in 1778, when they were attacked. Then they took to plunging both of the preachers. They plunged Mr. Barrow twice, pressing him into the mud, holding him down, nearly succeeding in drowning him. His companion was plunged but once.

1.      Christ hath made us free   

a.       Free - NT:1659 ‎e)leuqero/w ‎eleutheroo (el-yoo-ther-o'-o); from NT:1658; to liberate, i.e. (figuratively) to exempt (from moral, ceremonial or mortal liability):

KJV - deliver, make free.

b.     NT: 1658 ‎ e)leu/qero ‎ eleutheros (el-yoo'-ther-os); probably from the alternate of NT: 2064 unrestrained (to go at pleasure ), i.e . (as a citizen) not a slave (whether freeborn or manumitted ), or ( genitive case ) exempt ( from obligation or liability ):
KJV - free (man, woman), at liberty.

c.       True freedom in Christ

John 8:32-36

32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.

36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

John 3:5-6

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

John 1:12

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Romans 8:2

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

2.      Stand fast therefore in the liberty (wherewith Christ hath made us free)

a.       Liberty - NT:1657 ‎e)leuqeri/a ‎eleutheria (el-yoo-ther-ee'-ah); from NT:1658; freedom (legitimate or licentious, chiefly moral or ceremonial):
KJV - liberty.

b.      Use your Liberty

Galatians 5:13

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

James 1:25

But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

1 Peter 2:16

As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

3.      And be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage

a.        Entangled - NT:1758 ‎e)ne/xw ‎enecho (en-ekh'-o); from NT:1722 and NT:2192; to hold in or upon, i.e. ensnare; by implication, to keep a grudge:
KJV - entangle with, have a quarrel against, urge.

b.      Bondage - NT:1397 ‎doulei/a ‎douleia (doo-li'-ah); from NT:1398; slavery (ceremonially or figuratively):
KJV - bondage.

NT:1398 ‎douleu/w ‎douleuo (dool-yoo'-o); from NT:1401; to be a slave to (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary):
KJV - be in bondage, (do) serve (-ice).

c.       Don’t choose entanglement and bandage

Romans 8:15

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Hebrews 12:1

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

d.      The many ways we get entangled

Matthew 13:18-23 (Matthew 13:3-9)

18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

4.      Closing

Matthew 11:28-30

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.