Freedom in Christ Communion Study 7/25/04

Galatians 5:1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

Summary 5:1a

1. Jesus Christ's work on the cross was designed to set us free!

- Free from condemnation of spiritual death, eternal separation from God and free from slavery to the OSN

- free from any and all systems of law performance living, man devised legalism.

2. This statement totally rejects the possibility that the means of this freedom that we have in Christ lies within the realm of our own ability or capacity therefore it is not by works.

- this freedom is potential to any and all mankind because of the work of Christ.

- it is actualized by the individual through faith in Christ.

3. As freed slaves we must develop the capacity for freedom.

- Christ accomplished everything needed to provide for us positional freedom in Christ at salvation when we believed in Christ.

- Plus everything we need to realize the full potential of this freedom in our life after salvation, f2, subject of much of the rest of the epistle. Tied to the Word and the Spirit.

4. Doctrine resident in you is the basis for the capacity to enjoy and appreciate this freedom. John 8:31-32, 36; James 1:25; 2:12

Romans 8:2 "The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death."

The reason that the believer is not condemned to a life of servitude to the sin nature is that the enabling power of the Holy Spirit has set him free from the ruling power of the sin nature.

Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.