The Gospel Sets You Free (Galatians 2:1-14)
It might surprise us that the world around us feels this way. Our statements about sin sound like this friend's statement about ice cream. They wonder, "Why do you care what I eat, drink, or watch? Why do you care about who I sleep with or who I marry? What does this have to do with you being my friend?"
We have been studying how the world around us struggles to accept the gospel. They have many reasons for doing so. Some believe that the gospel is too exclusive. But we say that of all religions (secularism, humanism, and materialism included), Christianity is exceptionally inclusive. Some believe the gospel and Christianity bring suffering into the world instead of taking it out. But the truth is that the gospel is the only real solution to suffering. The Bible reveals a God who loves us and never wants us to suffer. He provides an open door for us to enjoy eternity without suffering.
Today, we will look at another significant struggle our society has created, the struggle of restriction. That is, the gospel is too restrictive. People around us want to be free to live out whatever life they choose. They don't want to be told what to do or how to live their life. Would it surprise you that the gospel sets us free instead of restricting us?
Free In Christ?
Our primary text this morning is found in Galatians. Paul is writing to the Galatians about believing the true gospel. But this text is fascinating because Paul is trying to help the Galatians see that the gospel is not as restrictive as men are making it out to be. The problem in Galatia is the opposite problem we have today. That makes it an excellent text for us to study.
Galatians 2:1--5 (ESV) --- 1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. 2 I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain. 3 But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. 4 Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in---who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery--- 5 to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.
To prove that he is speaking the truth, Paul lets the Galatians know that he received it directly from Jesus in Chapter 1. In this text, he also tells them that he checked his gospel by comparing it to the other apostles' teachings. Everything checked out. But, more importantly for our study, look at verse 4. Paul says that "false brothers... slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ." This is a fascinating statement. How could men spy out our freedom in Christ? Isn't Christianity more about restricting people's freedoms than giving people freedom?
Spying Out Freedom
To answer this, we need to think about the truth. Truth and freedom are connected. Some believe that calling one thing true is too restrictive. It can be a proud thing. Philosophers over the years have made some interesting claims along these lines. They say that claiming anything to be true is a power play. We can see that in the ice cream illustration and these false brothers of Galatia. There seems to be a power play going on in these situations. Did you know that Jesus agreed with this to some extent? The Pharisees constantly made truth claims about Jesus to discredit and gain power over him. It's a common practice in society. If you believe that one thing is true and try to convince me of it, you might be trying to show your superiority over me and enslave me. But is that necessarily the case? Do all truth claims do this? Also, does that necessarily make what you say untrue?
This is a very suspicious point of view. Furthermore, whenever someone tries to prove there can't be one truth, they contradict themselves because they claim to have the one truth. It's not restrictive to believe that there is one truth, but we must be careful not to assume that we know the one truth without careful consideration, and we must never become proud because we did not come up with it. God gave it to us. These Jewish Christians were making that claim, and they were wrong. They believed that men needed to be circumcised to be saved. Notice what Paul says in verse 5, "We did not yield in submission even for a moment." They were speaking one authoritative truth, but they were wrong. They were wrong, like the person who says chocolate ice cream is from the devil. Their truth was false because they got their information from the wrong source. That false information resulted in slavery.
Being Set Free
What about Paul's claim that the gospel given to him gives us freedom in Christ. Did you ever wonder what that means? Paul says that we have freedom in Christ. That means we are no longer enslaved to something. What is the thing? The answer can be found in 1:3-4, "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age..." Paul says that Jesus gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age. In other words, Jesus set us free from the condemnation we deserve because of our sin. The truth is that we are all sinners and worthy of death, but Jesus died to set us free from condemnation. That's the gospel truth that sets men free.
Paul doesn't say that as some power play. He's as guilty as you are, but he wants to help you. Can you imagine someone telling you the building is on fire, and you were saying, "That's a power play?" Maybe this person wants to get you outside so they can kill you. Or maybe this person wants to save your life. You choose. If you don't leave, you will die.
The Bible says we are all slaves of sin, and the truth sets us free. We want to act like rebelling against God sets us free, but Jesus tells us that we are just serving sin, our master.
John 8:31--38 (ESV) --- 31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. 38 I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”
It's the same thing that Jesus says in John 8. His disciples will know the truth, and the truth will set them free. Our lives are built around truth from a very young age. Our parents told us about the dangers of a hot stove, a busy street, and riding with strangers. This truth might seem like it restricts us, but it frees us from suffering and danger. It helps us live the best life. That's what truth does, and love compels us to share it, not hunger for power.
Freedom Includes Restriction
As we continue to read this text, we find out that those who are trying to force the Gentiles to be circumcised are being overly restrictive. Jesus did not set people free from sin to enslave them to the Old Testament law. His law is different from that law. Instead of sin and death, he provides grace and forgiveness. But this incredible freedom does not come without any expectations.
Galatians 2:6--14 (ESV) --- 6 And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)---those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. 7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised 8 (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), 9 and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. 11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. 13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”
Notice in this text that two restrictions are placed on Christians in general. The first is evident from verse 10. The apostles agree that the free in Christ must remember the poor. They are not free concerning how they use their money. They cannot use it only for themselves and be selfish. Of course, that is not the only way the law of Christ would restrict believers. But that shows us that Paul is not saying freedom is a blank check. Jesus doesn't set us free without expectations. Like anything we want in life, it comes at some cost. If you want to be free to play a professional sport, you must sacrifice or restrict yourself in what you eat, how you spend your time, and who you hang around. The benefit does not come without a cost. Here Paul says that those free in Christ can have their own money but can't neglect and ignore the poor. They can't be selfish.
The second restriction is in the story of Paul condemning Peter. This is a fascinating story. Peter is condemned because he believed that the Gentiles were saved without changing their diets, but he refused to eat with them when the Jews came. Paul points out that those who are free in Christ are not free to practice hypocrisy. They are not free to reject brethren based on opinions.
So, we can see that freedoms come with restrictions. If you want to enjoy the freedoms of this country, you need to abide by its laws. You want to be a member of the body of Christ, you cannot continue to be selfish with your money, and you cannot be prejudiced. Many other things like lust, anger, and lying are also restricted, but Paul doesn't focus on them until later in the letter.
Slavery Vs. Freedom
People who believe Christianity is too restrictive don't realize that they are enslaved. They believe they are free to do what they want but are trapped in the web of sin and death. They are restricted to only doing what their bodies crave and cannot become like Christ. They are forced to endlessly pursue empty and vain things that are temporary and will never satisfy. When you are enslaved to your passions and desires, you hurt people and make yourself miserable.
God sets us free from slavery to sin and lets us choose to live an obedient life. The book of Romans has a whole section devoted to that idea. Paul's writings from Romans 5-8 describe how God set us free from slavery to the law, sin, and death. We have transitioned from being enslaved against our will to sin to willfully submitting to God. Now we choose to let God reign in our lives because our eyes are open to the truth about our sin and the truth of the grace he has shown. God has taken his enemies and allowed them to be his sons and daughters. God's restrictions on us are the restrictions he places on himself and his son. They are excellent and good for us. Those in Christ "reign in life" and are free to store treasure in heaven by living obedient lives.
Freedom with restriction is a good thing when the restrictions are proper. We all understand when we get married. Marriage is, in a way, placing restrictions on our freedoms. We are expected to stop making unilateral decisions in our lives. Now we have another person to consider before we do anything. Why would we choose to limit our freedom like that? It creates greater freedom inside of that relationship. The gospel is about entering into a relationship with Christ. This relationship is so unique that men and women joyfully accept suffering. They joyfully accept the total loss of freedom and imprisonment to show their love and appreciation for Christ. As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:14, "The love of Christ controls us."
We might say we don't want to be boxed in, but why not? There is comfort and peace in the box. The walls keep the bad out and provide a feeling of peace, comfort, and safety from the dangerous elements. Freedom is not experienced outside of the box because you are too busy worrying about leaving the safety of God's help.
Are You Experiencing Freedom?
The gospel gives us the freedom to live the best possible life because it connects us with the truth about ourselves, our creator, and our savior. Freedom is more than indulging in chocolate ice cream; it is more valuable than any sin that we think will satisfy our lust for this world's goods. Freedom is about experiencing peace, hope, and joy when everything in life is going the wrong way.
If you are listening and you still believe that Christianity restricts you, I hope you will consider the truth. You were made for more than what this world has to offer you. God created each person here to bear the image of God by living like Christ for eternity. Refusing that truth is like a fish refusing to live in the water. It's like trying to swim on dry land. It doesn't work. But if you live following who you truly are, you will find the ultimate freedom. In some ways, life becomes more difficult when you choose to follow Christ, but life becomes much more manageable in many ways. You enter into a relationship with eternal benefits. God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit will be with you, and we, as the body of Christ, will be with you.