Galatians (Part 14)

Sep 8

Sermon Notes: Galatians (Part 14)

Speaker: Austin Helm | Risen Church, Santa Monica
Text: Galatians 5:13–15

Austin shared how Pacific Point feels like a second home to him.
Reflected on the growth of the church from a small gathering to today, highlighting God’s faithfulness.
The series in Galatians centers on “Christ plus nothing”—salvation is through Jesus alone, not by adding rules or rituals.

Paul reminds the church that the Christian life is about freedom in Christ—not legalism, not license to sin, but life in the Spirit.

Paul uses family language: “brothers and sisters, you were called to be free.”
Freedom means release from the burden of 613 Old Testament laws.
Confidence in God doesn’t come from law-keeping or spiritual checklists (Bible reading, prayer times, serving, etc.), but from Christ alone.
Key idea: It’s Christ plus nothing. Live free with your eyes fixed on Jesus.

Freedom is not a license to indulge the flesh.
Illustration: kids home alone—freedom doesn’t mean chaos.
Sin’s goal isn’t inconvenience—it wants to kill, steal, and destroy.
John Chrysostom (church father): “Do not abuse your liberty… it is given to you not that you may sin, but that you may receive a more abundant reward.”
Key idea: Flee sin. Don’t be “sin-curious.”

Freedom in Christ frees us to serve one another humbly in love.
Example: “Eat This, Not That” book → Christian freedom isn’t just “don’t do this,” but “live this way for your flourishing.”
Augustine: freedom is given so we might love, cherish, and choose righteousness.
Practical applications:
- Husbands serve wives by cherishing them.
- Wives serve husbands by honoring them.
- Children obey and serve parents.
- Believers serve their church by praying and joining in ministry.
Key idea: True freedom is lived out in humble service.

Judaizers complicated faith with rules; Paul simplified it: Love your neighbor as yourself.
John Calvin: “The rule of a holy, godly, righteous life is short and complete.”
Loving your neighbor includes both affirming and correcting them.
Illustration: letting someone drive off a cliff isn’t love—real love warns and corrects.
Key idea: Fulfill the law by loving others with truth and grace.

Warning from Paul: “If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.”
Gossip, pride, and division ultimately consume the one spreading them.
Titus 3:10–11—warn a divisive person twice, then have nothing to do with them.
Application:
- Husbands/wives—don’t tear each other down.
- Believers—don’t mask gossip as “prayer requests.”
- Instead, build up, encourage, affirm, correct, and warn in love.
Key idea: Use your words to strengthen, not destroy.

We all fail in these five areas.
But the good news is Christ bore our sins so we could live in righteousness.
1 Peter 2:21–25: Jesus suffered in our place, committed no sin, and carried our sins on the cross.
By His wounds, we are healed and brought back to the Shepherd of our souls.

Seth Seneca