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== Freedom & the Book of Galatians ==

== Freedom & the Book of Galatians ==

Inner freedom has to do with the very essence of our being. This "inner freedom" is the theme of the book of [[Galatians]].

John Hanneman wrote, "Inner freedom has to do with the very essence of our being. This "inner freedom" is the theme of the book of [[Galatians]].

The [[Greek]] words for freedom appear 36 times in the New Testament. Paul uses them 28 times in his letters, 10 times alone in Galatians. The purpose of this book is clear: to get Christians out from under the law and into freedom in Christ, to have Spirit replace Torah in our lives.

The [[Greek]] words for freedom appear 36 times in the New Testament. Paul uses them 28 times in his letters, 10 times alone in Galatians. The purpose of this book is clear: to get Christians out from under the law and into freedom in Christ, to have Spirit replace Torah in our lives.

In his word of greeting in the introduction, {{Bible quote|Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us out of this present evil age, according to the will of God the Father.|book=Galatians|chap=1|verses=3-4|version=NASB}} the apostle defines what he means by freedom. Following his wish for "grace and peace," he uses two phrases that capture for Christians the two ways they are free as a result of their relationship with God.

In his word of greeting in the introduction, {{Bible quote|Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us out of this present evil age, according to the will of God the Father.|book=Galatians|chap=1|verses=3-4|version=NASB}} the apostle defines what he means by freedom. Following his wish for "grace and peace," he uses two phrases that capture for Christians the two ways they are free as a result of their relationship with God.

The first phrase is that the Lord Jesus Christ "gave Himself for our sins." Here the apostle is describing our freedom from slavery to, and from the power of sin. This is the great doctrine of justification. We are born into sin, separated from God, but God sent his Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. In the atonement, all of our sins, past, present, and future, have been paid for. John Stott comments: "The death of Jesus Christ was primarily neither a display of love, nor an example of heroism, but a sacrifice for sin."[http://www.speraindeo.org/julread.html]

The first phrase is that the Lord Jesus Christ "gave Himself for our sins." Here the apostle is describing our freedom from slavery to, and from the power of sin. This is the great doctrine of justification. We are born into sin, separated from God, but God sent his Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. In the atonement, all of our sins, past, present, and future, have been paid for." John Stott comments: "The death of Jesus Christ was primarily neither a display of love, nor an example of heroism, but a sacrifice for sin."[http://www.speraindeo.org/julread.html][http://www.pbcc.org/sermons/hanneman/968.html]

[[Category:Bible study]]

[[Category:Bible study]]