FREEDOM IN CHRIST - REV PETER AMEADAJI (Sunday July 7, 2024)

Apostle Paul and the Churches in Galatia. The infiltration of the Judaizers. I. THE DESCRIPTION OF OUR FREEDOM A. Legalism versus Grace Salvation is by grace through faith in Christ – Galatians 3-4. The true gospel of Christ involves a freedom from the slavery of Jewish legalism. B. Abraham Historical Facts – Galatians 4:19-23 Paul used the events in the life of Abraham as a basis for his argument for Christian liberty (freedom). Sequence the events in Abraham’s life in a chronological order: Genesis 12 - 21 The Old Covenant Law Hagar the slave Ismael, conceived after the flesh Earthly Jerusalem in bondage The New Covenant Grace Sarah the free woman Isaac, conceived miraculously Heavenly Jerusalem, which is free Ismael versus Isaac (Flesh versus Spirit) - Galatians 4:22-29 In Abraham’s home we see the same basic conflicts that we Christians face today: ▪ Hagar versus Sarah = law versus grace. ▪ Ismael versus Isaac = flesh versus Spirit. ▪ You cannot separate these four factors. The Judaizers taught that law made the believer more spiritual, but Paul made it clear that law only releases the opposition of the flesh and a conflict within the believer ensues. (Romans 7:19) There was no law strong enough either to change or to control Ismael, but Isaac never needed any law.