Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
The sermon text is from Galatians 5:1, 13-25.
Our text seems fitting as we approach Independence Day on July 4. We are so blessed to live in the United States. We may sometimes take for granted that the freedoms we enjoy aren’t enjoyed by all peoples. Any civics student knows that our nation’s Founders believed freedom was endowed by God. Those who framed the Constitution were convinced that the greatest threat to freedom didn’t come from tyrants on the outside, but the natural impulse of government to grow and assert itself more and more.
Taking that into account, they devised a system of checks and balances to limit the federal government’s size and scope. The Constitution was finally ratified only after adding a Bill of Rights that placed strict limits on the scope of government, concluding with the 10th Amendment which said that all powers not expressly stated devolved to the state governments and the people themselves. They wisely recognized that enemies of freedom on the inside could be as dangerous as foreign enemies.
St. Paul taught that Christ came to fulfill God’s Law for us, and that justification, or forgiveness and salvation, before God was a free gift because of His perfect keeping of the Law in our place. When Jesus died on the cross for our sins, those who received Him through faith were covered in His perfect righteousness. Last week our verses said, “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus; for as many of you who were baptized in to Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ… And if you are children of God you are heirs.”
Our text reminds us: “For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be bound again by a yoke of slavery. You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.”
Paul recognizes freedom in Christ is a precious gift. We are sons and daughters of the King of Kings through faith in Christ Jesus, but freedom is not to be taken for granted. The devil is an ever-present enemy lurking to snatch us back into slavery to sin and death, but the bigger problem is the enemy within us – our old sinful flesh.
When the Holy Spirit calls us to faith we are reborn children of God. 2 Corinthians 5 says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” Until the Holy Spirit changes our hearts and re-claims us, we are lost, sinful creatures. Until the Holy Spirit sets us free in Christ, we are damned in hopeless, helpless bondage to sin, death and the devil. When God through His Word or through the watery Word of Holy Baptism creates faith in our hearts, we are free and forgiven children in God’s family.
At the same time, two things are true for God’s baptized children through faith. We are free and forgiven children with a new nature. Our hearts are reborn in true righteousness and holiness. 1 Corinthians 6 says, “Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.” But at the same time, until the day we die this nasty, old sinful nature clings to us. At the same time, we are new natures in Christ, our biggest enemy still lies within – it’s that selfish, sinful flesh that only cares about me, me, me, me…
Understand this is only a temporary condition. In our resurrection bodies this sinful flesh will be done away with, but here and now it’s a real problem. We’re fighting a war and part of us is a traitor, holding onto our pride, lusting after our own evil desires and selfish ends. So Paul’s words for today are teaching us how to live our identity as children of God without slipping back into the obvious acts of the sinful nature: “sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like.”
That sinful nature in us lusts after all these things biting and devouring other people hatefully, pride-fully putting ourselves over others. The sinful flesh looks at the dying sinful world and thinks, “That looks fun. I wish I could be doing that.” It looks at others and puffs up in pride and bitterness. The sinful flesh glamorizes the Hollywood morality or treats people as trash to be trampled under foot, fighting and quarreling and gossiping. The sinful flesh lusts after money, is jealous of those who have more, is never content, never trusting that God will give what we need. The sinful flesh leads to hell. Paul says, “I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Most disturbing of all, our dying world and our corrupt sinful flesh somehow believes that’s what freedom is all about. Luther wrote: “Freedom that seeks its own end is no freedom at all, but the devil’s tyranny.”
This traitor within us, this sinful flesh, is our worst enemy, because we always look great in our own eyes. Philippians 3 says, “Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.”
Many of you remember a point in your life when mom or dad or both put their arm around your shoulder and said, “Son/Daughter, I love you and always will. You’re mine. Wherever you go, you carry my name and whatever you do reflects on me and your family. Remember who you are.”
In our text, God through His Spirit-inspired Word, is putting His arm around your shoulder. Jesus said, “You didn’t choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you to bear fruit.” You and I don’t deserve it, but by God’s grace He sent His Son to die and rise from the dead. Jesus purchased your freedom at the price of His life. You are free – no longer under the devil’s tyranny – but free from condemnation and damnation – freely forgiven and freely loved for Jesus’ sake. Romans 9 says, “It doesn’t depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.” God set you free from the Law’s accusation. You are free from the death sentence that doomed you to hell. In Christ through faith, you are a child of God – an heir of His heavenly mansion. Romans 8 says, “There is no longer any condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” God be praised! That’s His Word, and all His words are true.
But don’t forget whose child you are and squander eternal life with Christ. Don’t listen when the enemy within, the old sinful flesh, wants you to become a prodigal son or daughter, squandering the inheritance in a foreign place. Remember you were clothed in Jesus in Baptism. Remember His Word: “I have called you by name; you are mine.”
This poem says it well: “Two natures beat within my breast; the one is cursed, the other is blessed. The one I love, the other I hate. The one I feed will dominate.” Since that’s how it is for us who are free in Christ this side of heaven, how do you fight the enemy within? Our text says, “Don’t use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature.” Don’t feed the beast within. The friends you choose, the movies you watch, the music you listen to, the websites you surf can either build you up or destroy you.
God’s Word and Sacraments are the means God chooses to build you up and make you strong and free men and women in Christ. God’s Word and Sacraments are how the Holy Spirit waters and cares for you, making you living, fruitful branches off of Christ the Vine. Jesus said, “I am the Vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me, and I in him, he will bear much fruit. Apart from Me, you can do nothing.” In His Word and at His altar, God reminds you and strengthens you in your identity, forgiving and freeing you from the tyranny of false freedom. Romans says, “Faith comes from hearing the Word of Christ.”
Prayer is God’s gift of constant contact, running back to our heavenly Father in our failures, and asking God’s strength as free people to serve others. Prayer draws on God’s strength and claims His promises to hear and answer us in our need.
God set you free. Jesus, God’s eternal Son, was free, yet He selflessly became your servant to save you. In Jesus, we are free, loved and forgiven before God, yet God doesn’t call us to a life of serving ourselves, but bearing fruit in service to others. Just as you get no credit for being set free in Christ – it’s all by grace! The good works that God will do through you aren’t your own – as though you could take some credit. The Holy Spirit lives in you, daily crucifying your lusts and desires in repentance and daily reminding you whose you are.
God has set you free to stop trying to buy your way out of a jam with Him – Jesus is your freedom. In gratitude to God, the Holy Spirit causes us to bear fruits of love for God and each other: “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.”
In our national policy there is vigorous debate about whether our nation should be in the business of spreading freedom. For we who are free in Christ, there is no such debate. Our freedom in Christ is a joyous, privilege. What an honor that we who are truly free – eternally free in Jesus – are called by God prayerfully to bear fruit in our families and church, with our friends and neighbors, even with our enemies. We are living branches off Christ the Vine, letting God’s love work through us for the good of our neighbor. By God’s grace, as the Spirit waters us through His Word, may we echo Paul’s words from Galatians 2: “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 up for me.” Amen.
And now may the peace of God which surpasses human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.