FREEDOM FROM SELF

It’s Not about the Rules – 40 Days to Freedom

The Rule –

I deserve to be happy and to use my freedom to do whatever helps me get ahead.

FREED TO BE FREE

40 Days to Freedom: Freedom from Self

Gala

tians

5:

1, (N

LT)

“So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.”

How

the

Law

Ensla

ves • By Showing Our Sin,

(Galatians 3:19)• By Multiplying Our Sin,

(Romans 7:7-8)• By Being Unable to Give

Life, (Galatians 3:21)• By Condemning Us

through Disobedience, (Galatians 3:10)

Slav

ery

to

the

Law Basing God’s

acceptance of me, my sense of spiritual confidence, or my ultimate salvation on my ability to live up to the demands of the Law.

Gala

tians

5:

4, (N

LT) “For if you are trying

to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace.”

Lega

lism 1. Living According to God’s

Standards to Earn God’s Favor.

2. Erecting Standards of Moral Conduct Beyond Scripture that Exclude People from Full Participation in the Family of God.

Free

dom

– Je

sus’

Miss

ion “Jesus replied, “I tell you

the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free,” (John 8:34–36, NLT)

Jesu

s Set

s Us

Free

Fr

om…

• Sin, (Romans 6:22)• Law of Sin and

Death, (Romans 8:2)

Titu

s 2:1

4,

(NLT

) “He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.”

FREED TO LOVE

40 Days to Freedom: Freedom from Self

Gala

tians

5:

6, (N

LT) “For when we place

our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love.”

Rom

ans

14:1

7, (T

he

Mes

sage

) “God’s kingdom isn’t a matter of what you put in your stomach, for goodness’ sake. It’s what God does with your life as he sets it right, puts it together, and completes it with joy.”

Rom

ans 7

:4,

(NLT

) “So, my dear brothers and sisters, this is the point: You died to the power of the law when you died with Christ. And now you are united with the one who was raised from the dead. As a result, we can produce a harvest of good deeds for God.”

Freedom from the Law Does not Mean Freedom from a Path of Moral Conduct.

Faith

Ex

pres

ses “For when we place

our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love,” (Galatians 5:6 NLT).

Faith

Exp

ress

es

Love

“For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love,” (Galatians 5:6 NLT).

Gala

tians

5:

14, (

NLT)

“For the whole law can

be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.””

Love

Ser

ves

“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.” (Galatians 5:13, NLT)

John

13:

15,

(NLT

)“I have given you an

example to follow. Do as I have done to you.”

Mat

thew

20

:28,

(The

M

essa

ge)

“That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not be served—and then to give away his life.”

Vide

o

FREED FROM MUTUAL SELF-DESTRUCTION

40 Days to Freedom: Freedom from Self

“But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one

another,” (Galatians 5:15)

• There is no greater testimony of faith than love expressed in acts of service.

• There is no greater evidence of legalism than critical, judgmental attitudes expressed in biting words.