The Book of Galatians - Set Free…Live Free
Galatians 4:12, NLT
Dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to live as I do in freedom from these things,
for I have become like you Gentiles—free from those laws.
Galatians 4:28, NLT
And you, dear brothers and sisters, are children of the promise, just like Isaac.
Galatians 4:31, NLT
So, dear brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman; we are children
of the free woman.
Galatians 4:19, NLT
Oh, my dear children! I feel as if I’m going through labor pains for you again, and they
will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives.
1. God, show us how to walk in Your grace
Recap through three different lenses:
• How we got here…
Galatians 4:8, NLT
Before you Gentiles knew God, you were slaves to so-called gods that do not
even exist.
Galatians 4:7, NLT
Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child,
God has made you his heir.
Galatians 4:22-26, NLT
The Scriptures say that Abraham had two sons, one from his slave wife and one
from his freeborn wife. The son of the slave wife was born in a human attempt to
bring about the fulfillment of God’s promise. But the son of the freeborn wife was
born as God’s own fulfillment of his promise. These two women serve as an
illustration of God’s two covenants. The first woman, Hagar, represents Mount
Sinai where people received the law that enslaved them. And now Jerusalem is
just like Mount Sinai in Arabia, because she and her children live in slavery to the
law. But the other woman, Sarah, represents the heavenly Jerusalem. She is the
free woman, and she is our mother.
Galatians 4:28-31, NLT
And you, dear brothers and sisters, are children of the promise, just like Isaac.
But you are now being persecuted by those who want you to keep the law, just
as Ishmael, the child born by human effort, persecuted Isaac, the child born by
the power of the Spirit. But what do the Scriptures say about that? “Get rid of the
slave and her son, for the son of the slave woman will not share the inheritance
with the free woman’s son.” So, dear brothers and sisters, we are not children of
the slave woman; we are children of the free woman.
• Who we are…
Galatians 4:8-10, NLT
Before you Gentiles knew God, you were slaves to so-called gods that do not
even exist. So now that you know God (or should I say, now that God knows
you), why do you want to go back again and become slaves once more to the
weak and useless spiritual principles of this world? You are trying to earn favor
with God by observing certain days or months or seasons or years.
• Where we’re going…
Galatians 4:25-26, NLT
And now Jerusalem is just like Mount Sinai in Arabia, because she and her
children live in slavery to the law. But the other woman, Sarah, represents the
heavenly Jerusalem. She is the free woman, and she is our mother.
2. God, help us to trust in Your Word
Galatians 4:12-16, NLT
Dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to live as I do in freedom from these
things, for I have become like you Gentiles—free from those laws. You did not
mistreat me when I first preached to you. Surely you remember that I was sick
when I first brought you the Good News. But even though my condition tempted
you to reject me, you did not despise me or turn me away. No, you took me in
and cared for me as though I were an angel from God or even Christ Jesus
himself. Where is that joyful and grateful spirit you felt then? I am sure you would
have taken out your own eyes and given them to me if it had been possible.
Have I now become your enemy because I am telling you the truth?
• Help us to live it when it’s not easy.
Galatians 4:29, NLT
But you are now being persecuted by those who want you to keep the law, just
as Ishmael, the child born by human effort, persecuted Isaac, the child born by
the power of the Spirit.
• Help us to hear it when it’s not popular.
Galatians 4:16, NLT
Have I now become your enemy because I am telling you the truth?
3. God, give us great zeal for your purpose
Galatians 4:17-19, NIV
Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to
alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them. It is fine to be zealous,
provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you.
• Give us passion to be conformed to the image of Christ.
Galatians 4:19, NLT
Oh, my dear children! I feel as if I’m going through labor pains for you again, and
they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives.
• Give us a passion to see others transformed for the glory of Christ.