Thursday, August 18, 2011

Sons Of Freedom 自由の子供たち


Galatians 5:1, 4-6, 7, 13-14
ガラテヤの信徒への手紙 / 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. この自由を得させるために、キリストはわたしたちを自由の身にしてくださったのです。だから、しっかりしなさい。奴隷の軛に二度とつながれてはなりません。
 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.
律法によって義とされようとするなら、あなたがたはだれであろうと、キリストとは縁もゆかりもない者とされ、いただいた恵みも失います。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.
わたしたちは、義とされた者の希望が実現することを、により、信仰に基づいて切に待ち望んでいるのです。キリスト・イエスに結ばれていれば、割礼の有無は問題ではなく、愛の実践を伴う信仰こそ大切です。
 7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?
  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.
兄弟たち、あなたがたは、自由を得るために召し出されたのです。ただ、この自由を、肉に罪を犯させる機会とせずに、愛によって互いに仕えなさい。
 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.


Flying back from Russia about 16 years ago, we were carrying two boys who we had adopted. It was the end of February and it had been ever so cold in Moscow. As we looked out the window, we caught a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty.  What a feeling filled my heart. Both our Grandparents had seen that same statue as they arrived in their new country back in the early 1900’s. Now, my wife and I were bringing in two more Sons of Freedom and it felt great!

In my personal background, I can’t find any military leaders or followers. As far back as I can go in my family line, we can find painters, writers, silversmiths and sailors. All of them came from someplace else in Europe. There is evidence that some came to the Colonies to gain a better life. Now, I am living in another country but every once in a while, when I see our national flag, I get emotional. 

I remember watching the Tienanmen Square event in China. I watched with great interest as some of the people in the crowds were calling for Liberty.  When asked what that meant to them, they said, “I don’t know what Liberty means…but I want it!”  Very moving TV footage.

Paul is reminding the Believers in the churches in the Galatian areas of their freedoms as well. They did not have a Statue of Freedom to look at but a clear understanding of the Freedom given to them by Jesus when He died for them on a Cross for their sins. 

Paul reminds them to remember that and to stand firm. Stand firm and don’t allow anything to take away the joy that was placed there by God’s Amazing Grace. There are many things and issues that might interfere with that joy. We need to bath our minds in the things of the Lord to combat those evil intrusions.  Is it worth it? I would say YES as we are to put all thoughts under the control of the Lord.  He will hold us accountable for those idle thoughts.  There is a battle. It is not always in the Heavenliest. It is as close as your nearest relationship!

What do we have to use to combat these attacks? God in His wisdom has given His Children weapons. Are you ready to use them? Are you ready to go into battle for His Glory to be realized in your life? 

Here is a list of such weapons: 

Divine Weapons: 2 Cor 10:4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
Prayer: Eph 6:18  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Salvation: Eph 6:17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
In the Name of The Lord: 1 Samuel 17:45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied."
The Word: Hebrews 4:12  For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
 The Blood of the Lamb: Rev 12:11 They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
Light: Romans 13:12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.


Because of the Victory we have in Christ, we are Sons of Freedom. That means we are not to be slaves to our past any more. Again, as we have said a number of times before, our past is not only forgiven but forgotten by the Lord. When it comes up in our minds, we are to remember that we are free from that guilt. Set free by His sacrifice on the Cross. “do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

Paul is rather strong here in verse 4. “you have fallen away from Grace.” This is a point of where you continue in your Faith. Falling away is not where He wants us to be. The situation Paul describes is one that is self-started. Beware where you go with your freedom. If you are trying to justify yourself—you poor attitude or actions—that will only “alienate” you “from Christ.” Stand firm therefore on the THINGS you know to be true—and be strong.

Verse 5 suggests a better way: “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.”

Faith is central to this relationship we have with Christ. By Faith, so many things can happen in our life. It is by Faith that we even have a relationship with Him. It was a Gift from God…not of our own making. Faith is the center of everything we have in Christ. Are you eagerly waiting? Waiting for WHAT? An afterlife that is free from the attacks of the evil one.  A life with the Master of our Salvation. It is the Gospel at it’s fullest. All that we have in Him! All that is found in Him! 
In that, we do have HOPE.  Kiboo.  希望Hope/ambition.

Which now, brings us to verse 13 this morning:  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.  Here is the final call to holiness. There is a battle over our souls and over our lives. There is call to enter into what the World would call freedom from authority. The Scriptures call it slavery. We are called to be Free. As one French philosopher once said: We are everywhere in chains.  And that is true—when it comes to being outside of Christ.  But being part of the Family of God through Faith in His Son Jesus, real freedom is found. How do I know this? Because once the Lord sets you free, you are free indeed!

We who have Christ have Hope!