Our Sermons

Bible Passage: Galatians 5:1, 13-25
Pastor: Pastor Berg
Sermon Date:  July 21, 2019

It’s an iconic scene. The battle lines are drawn. Independence is on the line. With one word, William Wallace spurs the Scottish into the fray to fight to the death. That one word…Freedom. That scene from Braveheart captures the emotions generated by the idea of freedom. The idea of freedom has led countless to take up arms and fight. Freedom is one of the things we value most as citizens of the United States. It’s what makes us the envy of many around the world. As Christians, however, we have an even greater freedom. We enjoy that freedom that Christ has won for us: freedom from guilt and from sin’s permanent consequences. Because of Jesus, we are Free to Live by the Spirit. Today, Paul is going to show us how easy it is to abuse that freedom, but more importantly we are going to see the wonderful blessings that freedom brings into our lives and the blessing we can be in the lives of others. May the Holy Spirit bless us to learn how we can embrace the freedom Christ has won for us!

Remember, throughout this letter, Paul has been fighting against those who wanted to add obligations to the gospel. Instead, he’s made clear that Christ has done everything. Our relationship with God is based solely on what Christ has done, based solely on the gift of faith we’ve received from the spirit and not based on anything we do. That’s wonderful news. However, as sinful people are prone to do, instead of walking the narrow middle path and basking in that freedom, we tend to veer to the opposite side of the road, toward that ditch on the other side which says that this forgiveness and freedom that we enjoy means that we can do whatever we want, that we have a license to sin. Certainly, that’s not what Paul is saying! So he says: “What I am saying is this: Walk by the spirit, and you will not carry out what the sinful flesh desires. For the sinful flesh desires what is contrary to the spirit, and the spirit what is contrary to the sinful flesh. In fact, these two continually oppose one another, so that you do not continue to do these things you want to do. But if you are led by the spirit, you are not under the control of the law.”

Sometimes, I think we’ve been led to believe that the conflict between our sinful flesh and the new man that Paul calls the “spirit” here is us is nothing more than a little argument. Maybe it’s the cartoons depicting an angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other that make light of his conflict. Maybe it’s just society’s downplay of sin or a general unwillingness to talk about sin. But whatever the case, I fear we don’t take this conflict seriously. Paul is not describing a pillow fight. This is war! Our independence is on the line. And our sinful nature is not going to go down easily. Listen to Paul’s description of the works of the sinful flesh and notice how they are completely opposite to what our new man wants to do. 

“Now the works of the sinful flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, complete lack of restraint, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, discord, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things similar to these. I warn you, just as I also warned you before, that those who continue to do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” We might be tempted to quickly scan this list and think that this doesn’t apply to me. This is only for the “Antifas” an the “Jeffery Epsteins” of this world. But let’s slow down and look carefully. Does “hatred, discord, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition,…envy,” sound like things only criminals do? Or are there several items in this list that show up in your lives and come out of your lips and flow out of your heart?

I can’t say this seriously enough, friends this is war! We dare not take this battle lightly! Not only do we have spiritual enemies on the outside trying to drag us down, but also on the inside. Jesus has indeed already won the eternal war for us at Easter’s empty tomb, but we still have daily battles with sin! So walk by the spirit. Equip that new man inside of you with the only weapon needed: the Word of God. Feed your faith with Christ’s Sacrament. Take heart in the freedom and forgiveness that Jesus’ cross and resurrection have won for you. And then, with sincere and repentant faith in Jesus, take up the weapons he gives you to fight this battle for your soul.

There is a positive side to this freedom we enjoy! We are Free to Live by the Spirit! Because we are free, we can do things that are pleasing to God, not because we need to impress God, but because that’s who we are, it’s who God has made us to be! Paul says: “After all, brothers, you were called to freedom. Only do not use your freedom as a starting point for your sinful flesh. Rather, serve one another through love. In fact, the whole law is summed up in this one statement: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you keep on biting and devouring one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.” Christian freedom is the privilege to live in love toward our neighbor. We don’t have to worry about holding back love for ourselves because Jesus has given us his love. No, we can love our neighbor always and in everything. It’s the natural response of God’s grace in our lives, to reflect that love to our neighbor. So what does that look like? 

When you go to Woodmans or Hy-Vee, where do you find the fruit? You find it in the produce section. Fruit is produced by a tree or bush. Vegetables are produced by the seeds in the ground. That’s why they are called produce. In fact, it’s only natural for a fruit tree to produce fruit. Anything less suggests that there’s something wrong.

Just as it’s natural for a fruit tree to produce fruit, so it’s natural for a Christian to produce love in his life. That’s what we mean when we talk about fruits of faith or fruits of the spirit. These are the things our new man automatically does. Look at Paul’s memorable list: “But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live by the spirit, let us also walk in step with it.” 

Love considers the other person before me. It always puts someone else first. Joy delights in the blessings of God, not just in things that make us happy. We can have peace with one another because we have peace with God because of what Jesus has done. We can be patient with others because our God has been so graciously patient with us. The same can be said about goodness and kindness. These things naturally flow from the believer because they have received these to overflowing from our God. Because God has been faithful in his promises to us, we can be faithful in our callings, faithful to our promises. Because of God’s great love we can be gentle with one another. We can show courtesy and humility knowing that God has provided our every need. We can even say no to the desires of the flesh because of what God has done for us. 

Notice that every item on this list is a product of our new man, our Christian spiritual nature. Every item on this list is empowered by a Savior who loved us to death and will raise us to life. And every item on this list is an exercise of our Christian freedom! We are free to honor God, to love our neighbor, to produce these fruits of the spirit without force or fear, simply because that’s what Christian people are happy to do!

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not allow anyone to put the yoke of slavery on you again.” Isn’t Paul stating the obvious? Of course it’s for freedom that anyone would be set free. Why would anyone go back to slavery? Before you answer that, why are there so many inmates who, when released, reoffend and get thrown back in prison? There’s no one universal reason, but it’s been discovered that they reoffend because they actually are afraid of freedom. They don’t know how to handle a life of freedom. Perhaps you’ve felt the same way? What sin in your life has so controlled you, that you’re almost afraid to be free of it? In your own mind, fill in the blank: “The struggle in my life is _______? Is it gossip or spiritual apathy? Is it laziness at work or is work becoming your god? Is it lust or lying or alcohol or anger? Is it something else? Thanks to Jesus, whatever you used to fill in the blank no longer defines you. Jesus has freed you from hell’s prison. He’s filled your life with a freedom like no other, and filled your heart with a faith that is eager to take up the fight against sin and produce the fruits of godly living. You can walk in your life today knowing that you have been cleansed and declared forgiven. You can walk in your life today, this week, every moment with the complete freedom that Christ has given you. Don’t toss away that freedom! Instead, celebrate it, cherish it, and use it to propel your Christian life forward! We are Free to Live by the Spirit! Amen