Lets Talk About Freedom!

For freedom Christ has set us free.…

This morning I am going to attempt to unwrap, the Apostle Paul’s talk about, "the flesh.”  I have come to understand that this issue is a point of some confusion for most.  As a matter of fact, most full-blooded humans bulk at Paul’s thoughts on the subject. 

Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. 

Then, after writing about some of the things we are not to do. He writes these qualifying words: 

I am warning you…those who do such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God. 

So now, you finish reading all of Paul’s words.  And then sit there and wonder:  

 

I am “free!   But I am to be a “slave!”

I am “led by the Spirit.”  So, “not subject to the law?”

But!  But, if I do certain things I will not be part of God’s people??????

How are we suppose to understand such conflicting verbiage?   How is this “freedom?”

The problem that seem to get muddy is: That we are to “live by the Spirit” and “not gratify the desire of the flesh.” 

Right!  

And how in the world do we do that?  If the prompting of the flesh cause us to do something non-spiritual.  Like earthly things!  Then are we doomed?

I mean, is this the same Paul who boldly proclaims that we “are saved by grace through faith alone?”  Are we free to be by faith alone!  Or! Or is there a catch?  A small print section in the new-covenant, between God and his children?

I bring this up because, 1. It says so “in the Bible!” And 2.  Because we are a nation that celebrates our freedom with close personal attention.   

And,as a nation, we even have a holiday where the entire nation parties, in celebration, of our God given freedom. It is a time when people in every town, city and state stops!  Stops to celebrate our most precious possession.  Freedom!   Backyards are full of friends and family!   Barbecues are in the ready to cook hotdogs and hamburgers.  Parks and lakefronts boom with fireworks and big bands. There are parades moving down the main street in most towns.  Some people still have egg-throwing, or watermelon-seed spiting, contests.

It is a huge deal!  Huge!  

To be an American is surely something to celebrate big time.  

However have we ever stopped to truly reflect on what this freedom, we celebrate, is all about?  Or, is it just the Birthday of our nation?  A reason for an extra day of?  An excuse for giving a party!   Or is it just one of those things we have been given?  And, except for that one week-end in the year, we take it for granted?  

What are we free from? 

Or what are we free for or for what?

A few years ago I remember having this same discussion with myself.  Not being an articulate historian, I googled our constitution! In hope of some insight into the blessings that brought the this great nation into being.  

We are free, independent persons.  A “nation under God!”  Created equal with certain “inalienable rights.”

I had to look up inalienable; because I wasn’t at all sure what it meant.  It goes like this:   “Inalienable rights are those that can not be given, or taken, away.” 

It occurs to me that our forefathers were basically saying the same thing as the Apostle Paul.  

We are Americans under God!  

We are Christians under God!

As such we have certain inalienable rights 

Inalienable rights that no law, or human, can take from us.  They are ours forever!  Under God!

Very Cool!  As we old Grammas use to say!

The line, in Paul’s letter to the Galatians, that needs our critical attention is verse 13:  

For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. 

The way I understand it, Paul does not use the term “flesh”  in a way that mean wrong, or dirty, or sinful. More, it means not being “self-indulgence.”  Not only thinking of yourself!  It means the human temptation to be arrogant or rude.  Or maybe just being concerned with what you think and what you want. Not considering the other person, or persons!  

In short, not living “under God!”

       

Not living in God’s name! 

The opposite of living in the “flesh,” is a life lived in God’s call to love others as we love ourselves.  A life that takes into consideration the needs of others. Is a life of faith that produces loving works. 

Love is the way to embrace freedom.  Through an expression of Christ’s love.  And Christ’s kind of love was alway, most always, a life of service to others needs.  

Paul is very clear!  We must not abuse or misuse this precious freedom we have been blessed with.  And we can live this way because we have God’s Spirit to keep us on the path of love. 

And so then!  As we strive to live faith-fully -- fully -- as God’s people.  Participating in Jesus’ call to follow.  We find the strength to shed our ego-invested flesh.  And take hold of the presence of the Spirit provided by God’s grace.

Let me end this morning with the reminder that: Freedom, under God, does come with responsibility!  

Let me state that with more grace!  

Freedom comes with the privilege, yes the privilege, of seeing every individual we meet as a child of God. One with the very same, equal, acceptance before God that you and I enjoy.  And thus is to be treated just as we wish to be treated.  

It is really so simple!  The smallest child understands it!

      Don’t treat others in ways that you don’t want to be treated. 

1 For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. 2 Listen! I, Paul, am telling you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 Once again I testify to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obliged to obey the entire law. 4 You who want to be justified by the law have cut yourselves off from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working through love. 7 You were running well; who prevented you from obeying the truth? 8 Such persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9 A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough. 10 I am confident about you in the Lord that you will not think otherwise. But whoever it is that is confusing you will pay the penalty. 11 But my friends, why am I still being persecuted if I am still preaching circumcision? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. 12 I wish those who unsettle you would castrate themselves! 13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. 14 For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 15 If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. 16 Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. 22…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.(Gal. 5)