Living in Freedom

Paul has just finished giving the Galatians a gentle rebuke. They were doing so well and running so excellently in grace until the Judaizers came along and hindered them in the race. The idea is that believers need to have more discipline in their lives to go far for God, but they also need to have discernment about what is hindering them from living in freedom and grace. We are building to some very practical things in the rest of the book (“This I say then” in verse 16) so these are some last reminders before we finally get to the real deal of walking in the Spirit and what that looks like. How can we have the discipline and discernment we need to live free in grace?

I. Stay doctrinally. (7-9)

• The illustration changes from athletics to .
• is a picture of permeating sin and false doctrine. 
• Things like legalism start small and then a church.
• Watch out for the of doctrinal error.

II. Stay intentionally. (10-12)

• Being and narrow-minded is actually encouraged in some areas.
• The is going to be offensive to many people.
• Paul wishes that those who twisted the gospel would be and mutilated.

III. Stay relationally. (13-15)

• There are three methods of trying to live the Christian life and two won’t work:
• is love without truth.
• is truth without love.
• is truth balanced with love and is the best way.
• The real test of our faith is how much we obey the law of .