SERMON NOTES

Hard Questions

Too Strict?   

Text: Galatians 5:1-25 (p.974)

When the question is asked, "Is Christianity too restrictive," we must confess that sometimes Christians have fallen prey to the spirit of  and made things stricter than what is revealed in the Scripture by God. 

Throughout the centuries, when Jesus followers have discovered we are being unbiblically strict, there has been a tendency to swing the pendulum to the other extreme and say there are no . 

Every community has . 

And no person   that freedom means that every individual has the right to decide for his or herself what is right or wrong. 

Does Christianity have restrictions? Absolutely. Restrictions are  to be free. 

Freedom is the power to live as God . 

Living as we were  is what brings satisfaction and joy in life. 

We know from experience the works of the  (vv. 19-21) keep us from the best God designed us to have because they violate the way were made. 

Our Father prohibits things for our . Our Father commands things for our . 

Does Christianity have restrictions? Absolutely because we have a Father who  us so deeply. 

When it comes to our existence, no one knows how to lead us to life like the Spirit of God. He designed it all, and He showed His  for us through what He did on the cross. 

Freedom comes as we day by day yield to His more than capable leadership and simply "keep  with the Spirit." (vv. 24-25)