INTRODUCTION

1. The liberty (freedom) that the Lord gives

a) And you shall know the truth John 8:32a

b) And the truth shall make you free John 8:32b

c) Therefore, if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed John 8:36

2. The problem of being in bondage

a) In bondage to sin

b) This bondage

i) Deep

ii) Deadly

 

THE MINISTRY OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

1. Five aspects of ministry clearly declared

¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,

Because He has anointed Me

To preach the gospel to the poor;

He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to the captives

And recovery of sight to the blind,

To set at liberty those who are oppressed;

¹⁹ To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” Luke 4:18-19

a) To preach the gospel to the poor

b) To heal the broken-hearted

c) To proclaim liberty to the captives

d) Recovery of sight to the blind

e) To set at liberty those who are oppressed

f) To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD

2. In bondage because of ignorance of the truth

a) Separation from sinful people Mark 2:13-17

b) The practice of fasting Mark 2:18-22

c) The Sabbath law Mark 2:23-28

3. In bondage because of man-made laws

a) They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders Matthew 23:4

b) The danger of hypocrisy Matthew 23:15, 23, 25

c) The danger of spiritual blindness

i) Fools Matthew 23:17

ii) Blind guides Matthew 23:16, 24

4. The power of the Gospel

a) Liberty to the captives

b) Liberty to the oppressed Luke 4:18

 

THE MINISTRY OF THE APOSTLE PAUL

1. The problem of false brethren

a) They were brought in Galatians 2:4a

b) They came in by stealth Galatians 2:4b

c) To spy out the liberty that is in Christ Galatians 2:4c

d) To bring believers back into bondage Galatians 2:4d

2. The power given to the Apostle Paul

a) He refused to yield submission Galatians 2:5a

b) He refused to bow to those who seemed “to be something” Galatians 2:5b

c) He did not regard them

i) “Whatever they were” It makes no difference to me Galatians 2:6a

ii) No personal favouritism from God Galatians 2:6b

iii) Added nothing to me Galatians 2:6c

3. Personal conflict with the Apostles Peter and Barnabas

a) In Antioch

b) A delegation from the Apostle James to Galatia Galatians 2:12a

c) The people withdrew from the Gentiles Galatians 2:12b

d) Two leaders who left the Gentiles

i) Peter

ii) Barnabas

iii) The Jewish quarter Galatians 2:13

e) Paul rebuked Peter for

i) Hypocrisy Galatians 2:13

ii) For inconsistency (“not straightforward”) Galatians 2:14a

f) The problem in its essence

i) Jewishness

ii) Compelling Gentiles to live as Jews Galatians 2:14b

iii) Jewish insistence of keeping the Law Galatians 2:16-20

 

CONCLUSION

1. The Law

a) The works of the law will not bring about justification Galatians 2:16

b) We are dead to the law Galatians 2:19

2. Christ and the Gospel

a) We are justified by faith Galatians 2:16

b) We are alive to God Galatians 2:19

c) We are crucified with Christ Galatians 2:20a

d) Christ lives in us Galatians 2:20b

e) Christ the Lord loves us Galatians 2:20c

3. Our Liberty in Christ is to be deeply treasured

a) We are not bound to the law

b) We are certainly not bound to man-made laws

c) We are free in Christ

i) This is the grace of God Galatians 2:21a

ii) We are made righteous because of God’s grace Galatians 2:21b