Galatians 5:1 (NIV) It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.

Free!

• Freedom – patriotic, love of country, military service
• Advertising – Buy 2 get 1 free. Eye attracting.
• Politics – The promise of FREE

 

We love the word free, but is it really free?

Free?

The patriotic slogan says free… but we know there is a heavy cost for our freedom as Americans.
-People have given their lives.
-People have lost their loved ones.
-Some who have fought still suffer post traumatic stress disorders and physical pain.

The commercial said free but is it really free?
-A free gallon of milk at Win-co… but I had to spend $30 for the free $2 gallon of milk.  So I spent more money than I planned and more time than I planned.

The politician said this governmental service would be free, but is it really free?
-Every dollar the government spends is coming out of taxes, and do you know where taxes come from? YOU!
-Be warry when the politician promises something for free…

“No such thing as a free lunch.” – Milton Friedman

World renown economist and Nobel prize winner, Milton Friedman once gave us this well known quote.

Free lunch? Somewhere there is a cost

-purchase the ingredients
-make the sandwich
-transport the sandwich
-distribute the sandwich.

-The cost of the “free sandwich” is you sitting through a 1 hour high pressure sales pitch.

 

You have heard it said that freedom isn’t free.

Freedom isn’t Free

You may receive something freely, but someone paid the cost.

THE GOSPEL

• Receive Freely
• Cost Jesus everything

We love the word free, but we aren’t so wild about cost.

 

How are we to understand this scripture?

Galatians 5:1 (NIV) It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.

 

Jesus paid the cost for us to be free. He did this so that we would live in the freedom he purchased.

 

Why would Paul need to write this scripture? It seems redundant. Set free for freedom.

People in Paul’s day were receiving the Gospel freely, yet not living in the freedom.
WE COULD BE DOING THE SAME!

• Believing in Jesus, but bowing down to religious rules and tradition.
• Claiming the cross and His righteousness, yet comparing ourselves to others.
• Set free from our past, yet living in shame from our mistakes.
• Chains broken, but still living a slave to fear and sin.

 

Christ set us free for freedom.

Free for Freedom

Jesus paid the cost for your freedom, but you may not be living in that freedom.

 

What is it that you should be free from but are not?

-Bitterness and unforgiveness?

-Bad sinful habits and lifestyles?

-Fear?

 

Christ paid the cost so that you could be free. Are you free?

 

John 8:34 (NIV) Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.

When we sin we become slaves to sin.  Slaves are not free.

SIN IS A BIG DEAL!

FREEDOM FROM SIN IS EVEN A BIGGER DEAL!

John 8:36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

The word for “indeed” is “ontōs” and it means REALITY.

Christ wants the freedom He purchased for you to become REALITY.

• Not a story…
• Not a fairy tale…
• Not make believe…
• Not figurative…
• REALITY!!

 

The Cost of Free

No such thing as a free lunch. That sandwich cost something.

 

The Gospel is all about the cost Jesus paid.

• Death… COST
• Burial… COST
• Resurrection… COST

 

Galatians 5:1 (NIV) It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.

 

Matthew 10:7-8 (NIV) 7As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, a drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

 

Christ paid the cost. Christ set them free.
Christ then asks them to go proclaim the message…

Christ says “Freely you have received; FREELY GIVE.”

Will you pay the cost for others to be free?

Jesus paid the cost, but Jesus also asks us to pay the cost.

 

-Open your home
-Volunteer your time
-Share your finances
-Give a Bible study
-Risk embarrassment/Risk your pride
-Bear someone’s burden

 

 

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free?

• He set us free so that we could be free.
  • COME BE SET FREE
• He set us free so that we could help free others.
  • Freely you received – Freely give.