What Counts
Sermon Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: Faith, Hope & Love
Galatians 5:1-15 (ESV)
1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
2 Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. 3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. 4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
7 You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion is not from him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. 11 But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. 12 I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
Sermon Outline
Grace is the only way to get and maintain freedom, and we stand firm when faith is working through love (v6).
1. Opportunity
v13 “do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh”
v15 “watch out that you are not consumed by one another”
2. Obligation
v3 “who accepts circumcision… is obligated to keep the whole law”
v6 “in Christ, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love”
3. Calling
v8 “this persuasion is not from him who calls you”; v13 “you were called to freedom”
2:20 “the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me”
v4 “severed from Christ… fallen away from grace”; v5 “through the Spirit, by faith”
obligation: v7 “obeying the truth”
opportunity: vv13-14 “through love serve one another” (whole law fulfilled)
Prayer of Confession
Our gracious God, you owe us nothing but have given us everything. We cut ourselves off from you through sin, but you have joined yourself with us through Christ. Forgive our lack of faith. Who are we to question the one who loved us? Forgive our hopelessness. Should we accuse you in our misery while we hope in the wrong things? Forgive our insufficient love. Have you not warned us that giving in to sinful desires forfeits our freedom? We need grace. We call on the name of Christ, the one who calls us by name and gave himself for us, trusting that through faith in him alone we are justified in your sight. Amen.
Questions for Reflection
If you were free to do anything you like, what would you do?
What role should discipline play in dealing with problematic desires? Why is discipline needed? Why is it not enough?
What do strict religious systems offer? Why are they appealing to some? What do you find appealing in them? What do you find off-putting?
Does Christian freedom mean you can do whatever you want? Are there no consequences for our actions?
How is grace challenging? What do you feel you need that grace doesn’t provide? Are there ways that grace make you feel vulnerable (and vulnerable to what)?
Why is it important to understand God’s sacrificial generosity to us? How does this change us?
What counts is “faith working through love”. What do you place too much importance or focus on? What does it look like to make faith working through love a priority in your life?
How is sacrificial love for others an opportunity? How can you use your freedom to serve others? How is freely loving different from obligation?