Keep Running Your Race | Walking Free, Part 10

Walking Free, pt 10 – “Keep Running Your Race”

Galatians 5:1-15

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 theLord 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.

Galatians 5:7

You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?

Hebrews 12:1-2

let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith,

“let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles”

Legalism was causing the Galatians to break stride

Chapters 1-2: Paul’s story

Chapters 3-4: The OT Scriptures

Chapters 5-6: The individual believer

How do we continue running our race well:

1. Stand firm in your freedom

1. Idolatry

2. Religious rule-keeping

Since you have been set free, then live free.
Your ticket is already paid for!

Galatians 5:2

Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you.

Grace is canceled when works are added.

2. Separate yourself from false teaching

Galatians 5:4

You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.

Harmful results:

1. Christ is made insufficient

v. 2 – “Christ will be of no advantage to you”

2. You have to keep the whole law

v. 3 – “every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law”

3. You fall away from grace

v. 4 – “You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.”

4. You lose hope in an awesome future

v. 5 – “we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.”

5. You accept rituals that have no benefit to you

v. 6 – “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.”

Warning about false teachers: 

1. False teachers contaminate others

v. 9 – “A little leaven leavens the whole lump”

2. False teachers persecute true teachers

v. 11 – “But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that casethe offense of the cross has been removed.”

Galatians 5:12

I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!

3. Show your faith by loving and serving others

James 2:18

I will show you my faith by what I do?

Galatians 5:6a

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

Galatians 5:13-14

…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.