Bible Study - Freedom - Personal Relationship - Galatians 4 and 1 John 1 and 1 John 3 - July 17,2011

Bible Study – Freedom – Personal Relationship – July 17, 2011
This is lesson three (3) in our series entitled “Freedom: Making It Personal.”
Our scripture is Galatians 4:1-7; 1 John 1:5-9; 3:1-3.

In our first two (2) lessons in this series of study, we have seen that doing as we please (libertinism) or legalism (strictly following the law) does not bring freedom but brings slavery/bondage. Our lesson this week focuses on true freedom that is found by having a personal relationship with CHRIST.

As you recall, Paul had established the church in Galatia. He knew that the Christians in Galatia knew the truth yet they had allowed Judaizers to come into their midst and teach a false gospel. The Judaizers were teaching that in order for a Gentile to become a Christian, after having received CHRIST by faith, they had to be circumcised and follow the Jewish laws, rules and regulations. When Paul heard this he was livid.

Paul had told his readers that the law was given to reveal their sin and the victory over sin was faith in CHRIST. CHRIST alone conquered sin and death. Faith in HIM frees those who believe in HIM from the bondage of the law to obediently and freely serve GOD through CHRIST because of the indwelling HOLY SPIRIT.

The goal of every human is to be pleasing and acceptable to the true GOD of the universe. Humans have a basic instinct, urge and desire to have a relationship with GOD, thus humans use various ways to reach GOD, which Paul referred to as rudimentary or elemental. GOD has revealed that the way to HIM is through being justified and being righteous – sinless, perfect. When they are acceptable/perfect according to GOD’S requirement, they receive GOD’S Spirit WHO indwells them forever. Humans try to live a sinless, perfect life but fail.

GOD revealed HIS plan for salvation and perfection to Abraham long before the law came into the world. Faith was the way to GOD. GOD ordered the law through a mediator, Moses. HE allowed the law as a standard to reveal the wickedness of humans. The law was a type of master to guide all humans, especially the Jews to the truth. It allows all to see that they miss the mark of perfection when trying to follow the law. GOD had promised Abraham that the SAVIOR, the Messiah, CHRIST would come through his lineage at just the right time to fulfill the law. Until the Messiah came, faith in HIS coming would serve as a placeholder. CHRIST would fulfill the law and deliver those of faith from the slavery/bondage of the law. GOD’S grace extends to those looking forward to the cross and those looking backward to the cross.

GOD gave CHRIST permission to come to earth at just the right moment in time – Greek language was common, good transportation system and peace (Roman rule). CHRIST chose to come to earth and live as a human. HE was tempted in every way as humans, yet without sin. CHRIST represented GOD. JESUS disciples wanted to see GOD and JESUS told them in John 14:9 - 9 Jesus said to him (Philip), “Have I been among you all this time without your knowing Me, Philip? The one who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

CHRIST was 100% human but also 100% divine. CHRIST gave HIS sinless, perfect life on the cross and became sin for all who believe in HIM to be set free from sin and death. GOD’S plan was in place before HE created the world. GOD revealed HIS plan to Abraham through his life of faith, and completed HIS revelation through the life, death, resurrection and ascension of CHRIST. The way to GOD is faith in CHRIST.

GOD called Abraham to follow HIM. Abraham responded by faith to HIS call. As a result of Abraham’s faith, GOD revealed the path back to HIM. Let’s go back to the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve had a personal relationship with GOD. They walked with GOD and talked with HIM but when they sinned they lost that fellowship. Sin and its consequences came into earth, which is eternal separation from GOD and resulted in physical as well as Spiritual death. GOD’S plan is to restore that original relationship HE had with HIS children through faith in the promise of the coming Messiah, JESUS, through the lineage of Abraham. Those living in Old Testament times were looking forward to the cross and the promised Messiah. Since the passion of CHRIST and HIS resurrection, Christians are looking back to the cross. Abraham had faith such that if he had sacrificed Isaac, GOD would have raised him from the dead. That is powerful faith. GOD honored that faith by equating it to righteousness. Faith in GOD resulted in GOD declaring Abraham righteous. Faith in CHRIST makes Christians righteous such that they can be indwelled by the HOLY SPIRIT. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Paul builds on this message to help the Christians in Galatia to see the fallacy in having the Gentile converts follow the law. Faith in CHRIST was all that was needed for salvation.

Let’s read Galatians 3:27-29: Sons and Heirs
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise.

Paul used the words “put on CHRIST” to show that those in CHRIST had taken off their old clothes of following the law or paganism and had put on their new clothes provided by the passion of CHRIST - forgiveness from sin, which is salvation, eternal life, the miracle of the rebirth into the family of GOD, citizenship in heaven, being justified, made righteous and indwelled by the HOLY SPIRIT. In essence Paul was saying, “So why in heavens name would you revert back to telling these Gentile converts that they have to follow the law when GOD has given all of this plus Grace!”

Paul continued by saying, that being a descendant of Abraham is not the result of physical descent, it is by faith. Abraham was obedient to GOD’S call, as a result of his faith in GOD; GOD promised him that HE would:
- HE would make him into a great nation. We generally think of the Jews being this great nation, which physically it is but GOD was referring to the nation of believers – Christians – Jews, Gentiles, slaves, free, male, female, all races, all people having faith in CHRIST are one in CHRIST.
- GOD would bless him and his Spiritual descendants – Christians.
- GOD would make his name great.
- As a result Abraham would be a blessing.
- GOD will bless those who bless him.
- GOD will curse those who curse him.
- All peoples on earth will be blessed through him because CHRIST will be a physical descendant of Abraham.

All of GOD’S promises belong to Christians. All of these promises require faith and come as a result of people of faith being born from a common Spiritual seed (GOD), through faith in CHRIST. These are promises the law cannot provide. GOD is the FATHER and because HE is the FATHER of all who believe in CHRIST, those born-again through CHRIST are heirs to all GOD has for them. Before they accept CHRIST as their SAVIOR, they are controlled by the basic things people use to find a relationship with GOD – the law, worshiping graven images, satisfying the flesh and the list goes on and on. These things can lead to GOD/CHRIST but each person must decide whether or not to accept CHRIST when their Spiritual eyes are opened. It is GOD’S job to reveal truth in every person’s heart but GOD leaves the choice to that person. GOD never sends a person to Hell; the person chooses Heaven or Hell.

Paul continued his discussion on the importance of faith in CHRIST for salvation versus the law in our next scripture.

Let’s read Galatians 4:1-7:
1 Now I say that as long as the heir is a child, he differs in no way from a slave, though he is the owner of everything. 2 Instead, he is under guardians and stewards until the time set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elemental forces of the world. 4 But when the completion of the time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman,[1] born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our[2] hearts, crying, “• Abba, Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.

Paul used the subject of inheritance to make his point of what it means to be a child of the promise. Even though a child’s father is wealthy, as long as he is a child, what his father has does not belong to him. He is treated like a slave. The child is under the influence of those who will develop him and prepare him for the moment that his father gives him his inheritance. What does this mean from a Spiritual point-of-view?

The Israelites or people in general are like children who need to be tutored, disciplined and guided to the point the father sees that the children have been prepared to receive the inheritance/salvation. Paul said that the law can guide a person to the point of him/her seeing the need of salvation but the law cannot provide salvation. It takes a step of faith for a person to receive salvation through CHRIST. Only GOD knows the heart of a person and HE issues the invitation for that person to take that step of faith. The sad thing is that a person may reject CHRIST. GOD gives freedom to every person who has or will ever live the right to accept or reject HIS invitation of salvation.

Paul told his readers that all of us have been under the influence of elemental forces – paganism, the law, following rules, regulations, rituals, spiritual forces, Satan, evil spirits, etc. Paul being a Pharisee was under the strict belief that the way to salvation was through the law prior to his encounter with CHRIST. However, once he encountered CHRIST he saw the fallacy in the law and found glorious freedom in CHRIST.

At just the right moment in time, GOD allowed HIS ONLY SON to come to earth to be born of a virgin young lady, to be born under the law, to fulfill the law, live a sinless life and give HIS life by shedding HIS blood to redeem (to buy back) all who would believe in HIM. This removed the sin barrier to usher in the miracle of the rebirth for believers to become HIS Sons or Daughters. Paul referred to adoption. Adoption carries all the privileges of natural birth children. In the adoption process, it is the father’s action that begins the adoption process. The process does not start with the child. The Apostle John referred to the process as rebirth.

JESUS told the Jewish Rabbi, Nicodemus, in John Chapter 3 that a person must be born-again. The process of adoption or rebirth means that a Christian has been restored to the status of the greatest relationship of all – a Son or Daughter of GOD with all the rights and privileges GOD has for HIS children. Now that is something to rejoice about and ponder.

Paul referred to the Trinity – GOD the FATHER, sent HIS ONLY SON, JESUS so that all who believe in HIM by faith can receive the HOLY SPIRIT in their hearts. The HOLY SPIRIT assures and confirms a Christian’s step of faith and leads, guides, enlightens, empowers, teaches, instructs and much more as he/she walks daily with HIM.

A Christian’s relationship with GOD is such that he/she can bebop into HIS very throne room and call HIM Daddy. This is not to trivialize our relationship with GOD but to reveal the intimate and free access we have with GOD through CHRIST. GOD’S children are always welcome to approach HIM regardless of what they may have done because salvation is complete and eternal. Christians are forever justified and righteous before HIM because of HIS marvelous grace.

So why do Christians need to confess their sins? It is to maintain the right relationship with GOD and obediently serve HIM as HE directs through the HOLY SPIRIT. A Christian never looses his/her salvation but their dynamic relationship can be blocked by sin. Remember that we discussed rewards and the Heavenly Treasury. GOD’S desire is for all of HIS children to be made into the image of HIS SON, JESUS and that requires the right relationship with HIM through CHRIST.

GOD’S redemptive plan is to restore relationship and fellowship with HIM through faith in CHRIST. GOD does not force HIS children to obediently serve HIM. HIS desire is that HIS children serve HIM because they love HIM and adore HIM and because HE is their loving FATHER. Since Christians are truly free, what does that mean? Let’s explore in our next scripture.

Let’s read 1 John 1:5-10: Fellowship with God
5 Now this is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in Him. 6 If we say, “We have fellowship with Him,” and • walk in darkness,[4] we are lying and are not practicing[5] the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

The Apostle John was writing to Christians in general. The letter is considered a pastoral letter written to several Gentile congregations. It was written about 85-90 A.D. from Ephesus. This was before he was sent to the Island of Patmos. The temple in Jerusalem had been destroyed in 70 A.D. and Christians had scattered to other areas. Christians had been persecuted and their commitment was declining and they were conforming to the world’s standards. They were blending into society. False teachers had sprung up and created a problem for the Christians who were not on a firm Spiritual foundation. Some false teachers were teaching that they did not sin, they were above sin. Yet they were walking in darkness. John wrote his letter in an effort to put Christians back on track by addressing the light and darkness or truth versus error. Light always reveals things as they are; especially Spiritual light in the midst of Spiritual darkness. By their fruits will you know whether or not they walk the talk.

John told his readers to discern between truth and error by viewing matters in GOD’S light because GOD is light. Apparently some Christians were claiming that they were Spiritually sound and walking with CHRIST but their walk proved differently. John challenged Christians to examine their lives and the lives of fellow Christians in the light of GOD’S Word. Were they fooling themselves and were they being deceived into thinking they were following CHRIST when they were actually following the dictates of the world/flesh?

One measure of a Christian’s walk is the fellowship he/she has with GOD and with fellow Christians. Do you have fellowship with CHRIST? If so, do you have fellowship with fellow Christians? If you are not in fellowship with CHRIST, why not? Is it sin in your life? Sin blocks fellowship with CHRIST and with fellow Christians. Remember that the shed blood of CHRIST cleanses a Christian from all sin. Have you been misled by false teaching? If you say you have no sin, then you have been deceived and you need to confess it before GOD.

Verse 9, is a verse every Christian must memorize. Yes, Christians are forgiven of all sin – past, present and future - by the shed blood of CHRIST but we still sin. We are still GOD’S children and nothing will ever change that fact but sin breaks our fellowship with HIM. Confession is agreeing with GOD that we have allowed something to come into our lives, which is contrary to HIS desire for us and it is interfering with our relationship with HIM. We must keep in mind that GOD’S Spiritual goal for HIS children is to be made in the image of JESUS. Notice, a Christian’s part is to confess, repent (stop doing it) and GOD’S part is to forgive, cleanse and restore.

We live in a physical world and are surrounded by a spirit world. Satan’s desire is to defeat every Christian. When a Christian fails to confess their sin, it is a flag that he/she is trying to hide it. That is all Satan needs to attack the Christian and try to lure him/her into deeper sin. Christians are in spiritual warfare. Do hot give the enemy any opening to compromise your relationship with CHRIST. Be up front with GOD and hide nothing. Confess all thoughts and acts of commission or omission that are contrary to HIS will. Make your life an open book before HIM. Often, it is not pretty but you place it in the light and you do not hide it in your heart. GOD already knows, be honest with HIM because HE cares for you. How much does HE care - Enough to send HIS SON to die for your sins!

John was very clear in verse 10 – “If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”

Let’s read 1 John 3:1-3:
1 Look at how great a love[1] the Father has given us, that we should be called God’s children. And we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it didn’t know Him. 2 Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself just as He is pure.

John addressed the love GOD has for HIS children. GOD’S love extends to all people and HIS desire is for all to come to a saving knowledge of HIM through CHRIST. HIS desire is that all people will be restored to their rightful place as HIS children through the redemptive process which is provided by the shed blood of HIS ONLY SON JESUS. But Adam and Eve chose to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil as recorded in Genesis 2:15-17:
15 The LORD God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden,[16] 17 but you must not eat[17] from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.”[18]

Sin came into the world and its consequences are death. Fellowship was broken with GOD. Since individuals, Adam and Eve, sinned the decision to be saved from sin and death is up to each individual. Do you accept CHRIST as your SAVIOR or reject HIM?

Those who have accepted HIM as their SAVIOR are HIS children. Christians have this assurance by the indwelling HOLY SPIRIT at the moment they are saved. They have been transformed through the miracle of the rebirth. But what they will appear like when CHRIST returns for the second time, it is yet to be determined. Other scripture tells us that we will be like CHRIST and at HIS return we will receive our Glorified bodies like CHRIST’S resurrected body. Christians who have this hope are to remain focused on the promises of GOD and not deviate from the true gospel. GOD keeps HIS promise; just look at the promise HE made to Abraham, which extends to all Christians.

Every Christian has this hope. Hope includes moral and Spiritual development through the ongoing process of sanctification. Christians are grafted into the vine of CHRIST. It is through this vital connection that they receive their Spiritual nourishment, grow and mature into the image of CHRIST.

Are you walking in the light as HE is the light? If not, ask CHRIST to reveal to you what you need to do to walk as HE desires for you to walk. Do not be misled by false teaching or false notions or assumptions. Seek the truth and build a solid relationship with CHRIST. Walk in personal Spiritual freedom. You live and die as an individual. Do not let others cause you to miss the joy of walking in the light of GOD’S presence in your life. Blessings!!!