Law Versus Liberty

Hello men, I am posting the study outline we used for the REAL Men Thursday sessions for you to read and think about. The basic message is that God wants to seek hard after becoming like Him in His character and not to just live by a powerless set of religious rules. Go get 'em tigers!

R.E.A.L. Men Bible Study

Galatians

Law versus Liberty

10/1/09

I. Choice must be made! Do we choose the apparent safety and confinement of the law?

Or, do we choose the radical freedom found only in a life of faith and love in Christ?

Galatians 2: 15 "We who are Jews by birth and not 'Gentile sinners' 16 know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.

II. Man tends to default to spiritual checklists/law, as did the Pharisees.

Ø Deadly consequences!

Galatians 5: You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

III. The law has its purpose

Galatians 2: 19 For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"

Galatians 3: 19 What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come…v. 23 Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. 24 So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith.

IV. Rules have been replaced by relationship

Galatians 2:9 For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"

V. What difference does the choice produce?

You receive many of the benefits of eternity now!

Galatians 5: 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.