Free Indeed - Galatians 5:1-15

1 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. 2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. 7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? 8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9"A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough." 10 I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be. 11 Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. 12 As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves! 13 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. 14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 15 If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. - Galatians 5:1-15

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS:
1) Why did Christ set us free? (v.1)
2) Since Christ did this for us, what should we not be burdened by? (v.1)
3) What will bondage to the law do for us? (v.2-3)
4) From what, and whom, has a bound Christian fallen away and been alienated? (v.4)
5) What does a Christian hope for and by what does (s)he receive it? (v.5-6)
6) How had perversion of the Gospel impacted the Gospel, the Galatians and the Judaizers? (v.7-12)
7) What were the Galatians called to and why? (v.13-15) 

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
1) Has any pastor, or other church leader, insisted that you observe religious rituals to prove your faith?
2) If so, did you grow as a result of following their teachings? Please explain.
3) How does religious ritual (i.e., tradition) help us to grow in grace and the knowledge of God?

LIFE LESSONS:
1) Once a believer is liberated from bondage to the law, (s)he is to remain free.
2) Christ did not call us to freedom to live a sinful life, but to be led by His Spirit.
3) The law of love frees us from the law of sin and death.