Sermon Date: 2009/2/8

SCRIPTURE READING: Gal. 5:1-15
SERMON: Faith and Freedom in Christ
讲道题目: 信耶穌，得自由

Paul wrote a letter to the Galatians when Christians there were facing a crisis in the faith. Paul said, “Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.” (Gal. 1:7) These people insisted that although salvation was accomplished by Jesus Christ, Christians still had to follow certain rules and regulations before they would be accepted as completely saved. To denounce such misleading teaching Paul said these words in today’s Scripture lesson, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”(Gal. 5:1)
Misleading teachings occurred in the churches of Paul’s time. Misleading teachings also occur in the churches of our time. We are in the midst of challenges in the faith. We are in the midst of conflicts in the church. This is the tension in which we live. Where do we take our stand? How are we responding?

I. We must really listen to the challenges that are being raised.
(1) The scribes and Pharisees refused to listen to Jesus. He came to them with the truth that would have liberated them from their error and brought them to God and eternal life. They did not like what they were hearing, so they silenced his voice by crucifixion.
(2) Is anybody listening today? Are we listening? Surely not all challenging voices are speaking the truth. Some are vomiting filth that can only be sourced in the Devil himself. Many protest voices are motivated by sheer negative emotions and self-centeredness. But we must keep on listening, discerning as best we can truth from error. By remaining sensitive to the truth, we will repent when sin and hypocrisy are exposed in us; we will be willing to change when change is needed; we will do what is right where injustice prevails; and we will provide enlightened opinion leadership within the circles of our influence. We must listen to the voices that are now being raised, for we know not when nor from where the voice of truth will be speaking.

II. We must live by established principles. These are difficult days in which we live. Time and time again we are confronted with the necessity of making a decision. How do we stand fast in this kind of a world? The principles that brought us to faith and freedom under God have not changed.
(1) There must be a personal commitment to Jesus Christ as personal Saviour. What does this mean? It means we are cleansed, pardoned, and set free from the guilt of all past sins by the virtue of God’s grace and not our own works, no matter how good they may appear. God’s grace is in Jesus Christ, crucified and risen. When our eyes are opened to behold this wondrous love and by faith, we respond to him and accept him as Saviour. Then and only then do we come into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
(2) Lest your commitment to Jesus Christ becomes too subjective and becomes sentimentalized, too easily moulded and adapted to the accepted life styles which are typical of the 21st century, remember that you are committed to Jesus Christ as he is revealed in the Scriptures. The most memorable and the most important legacy for freedom was Martin Luther’s declaration: “My conscience is captive to the word of God. Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise.”
(3) A Christian is called by God to live as a man for others. This is the “universal priesthood of all believers.” This affirms, not only that each Christian believer had freedom to pray to God directly, through Jesus Christ himself, but also to serve others through love. The pastor has no privilege on God when it comes to intercessory prayer, and surely when one intercedes on behalf of another at the throne of grace, he is performing the function of a priest.
(4) As Christian freedom is not license to do as I please in the indulgence of my flesh, so Christian freedom is not freedom to do as I please irrespective of the welfare of my neighbour. Thus Paul said, “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.” (Gal. 5:14) Love cannot exploit a neighbour for selfish or personal reason.

Our faith and freedom under God is established by our commitment to Jesus Christ as personal Saviour, our serious acceptance of the Scriptural norm, our obedience to God’s call to live as a man for others and to live in obedience to God’s will. Amen.


Sermon Synopsis
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”(Gal. 5:1) We are in the midst of challenges in the faith. Where do we take our stand?
I. We must really listen to the challenges that are being raised.
(1) The scribes and Pharisees refused to listen to Jesus.
(2) We must keep on listening, discerning as best we can truth from error.
II. We must live by established principles.
(1) There must be a personal commitment to Jesus Christ as personal Saviour.
(2) You are committed to Jesus Christ as he is revealed in the Scriptures.
(3) A Christian is called by God to live as a man for others.
(4) Christian freedom is not license to do as I please in the indulgence of my flesh.
Our faith and freedom under God is our obedience to God’s call to live as a man for others and to live in obedience to God’s will.

讲道大纲
"基督释放了我们,叫我们得以自由,所以要站立得稳,不要再被奴仆的轭挟制"(加拉太书5:1).我们生活在一个信仰受挑战的时代里.我们怎样才能站立得住呢?
I. 我们要听挑战的声音.
(1) 法利赛人和文士都不肯听耶稣的.
(2) 我们要听下去,才能分辨是非.
II. 我们要建立原则.
(1) 要接受耶稣基督为个人救主.
(2) 要向圣经所启示的耶稣基督委身.
(3) 基督徒被神呼召为别人而活.
(4) 基督徒的自由不是放纵情欲.
信耶稣得自由我们便能够顺服神为别人而活.

Pastoral Prayer:
When the day breaks and the shadows flee away, our hearts awake, O God, in gratitude to you. Your peace is our enduring treasure, and your presence our delight. What are we that you have taken knowledge of us and redeemed us by the gift of your beloved Son! Uphold our strength that we may labor joyfully as children in the free service of the Father’s house. Remember us in your merciful kindness every hour of the day that we may be content in you. Show us yourself in even fuller measure that our peace may flow as a river and our joy endure forevermore. Holy Spirit be the Helper of the friends whom you have given. Make our homes glad with your presence. You have filled our lives with cheer; help us to carry it to others by true witness of your power in cheerful days. And for your love in Jesus Christ our Lord, the love that brightens all our days, our hearts shall bless you evermore.
As election day is coming in one week’s time, we pray for the leadership of this church. We thank God for the faithful service of last year’s church council under the leadership of chairman Brother Frank Pan. We pray for continued wisdom, discernment and intelligence for members in the new council. We pray for economy recovery for our nation as well as for the world. Unemployment rate has risen to an unprecedented high this month. We pray for families whose bread winners are in search of jobs or in between jobs. Eternal God, you knew us before we were born and will continue to know us after we have died. Touch all who suffer in this job market depression time. Anoint them with your grace and presence. As you give your abiding care, assure them of our love and presence. Assure them that our communion together remains secure, and that your love for them is unfailing.
We pray for those who need healing. O Christ, our Lord, in times past many servants of yours brought their friends and loved ones to your side, that they might be blessed and healed. So today we bring to your attention those who need your loving touch. For Sister Yang Yu’s allergy rash, for Elderly Sister Wu Huang Mei Jin’s eye sight after cataract operation, for Sister Amy Yi’s eczema in the fingers, and for Brother Yan’s grand daughter’s heart condition. We lift them up before you. Please look on our faith, small as it is, bring your healing and your peace upon them. Almighty and everlasting God, you can banish all affliction both of soul and of body, show forth your power upon those in need, that by your mercy they may be restored to serve you afresh in holiness of living.
And now teach us how to pray by saying the Lord’s prayer together…