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== Freedom & the Book of Galatians ==

== Freedom & St Paul's Letter to the 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]].

John Hanneman wrote, "Inner freedom has to do with the very essence of our being." This "inner freedom" is the theme of [[St Paul]]'s letter to the [[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 the [[Holy Spirit|Spirit]] replace the [[Torah]] in our lives.

The [[Greek]] words for freedom appear 36 times in the [[New Testament]]. Paul uses them 28 times in his letters, and 10 times in Galatians alone. The purpose of this letter is clear: to explain how [[Christians]] have been released from the law and been given freedom in [[Christ]], how the [[Holy Spirit|Spirit]] has replaced the [[Torah]] in our lives.

Galatians reveals why we struggle so much with law. It identifies the key ingredient to becoming free, and how people can enjoy freedom in Christ day in and day out.  The theme of the book is freedom.

Galatians reveals why people struggle so much with law. It identifies the key ingredient to becoming free, and how people can enjoy freedom in Christ. Paul writes: {{Bible quote|It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.|book=Galatians|chap=5|verses=1|version=NIV}}

In his word of greeting in the introduction, he says: {{Bible quote|Grace to you and peace from [[Father God|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}} Here 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 the power of [[sin]]. This is the great doctrine of [[justification]]. We are born into sin, separated from God, but this separation can be overcome because God sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. Through this [[atonement]], all of our sins, past, present, and future, have been paid for - all we need do is put our [[faith]] in Christ. 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."<ref>http://www.speraindeo.org/julread.html</ref><ref>http://www.pbcc.org/sermons/hanneman/968.html</ref>

 

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."<ref>http://www.speraindeo.org/julread.html</ref><ref>http://www.pbcc.org/sermons/hanneman/968.html</ref>

== Two Ideas of Freedom ==

== Two Ideas of Freedom ==