Freedom
Galatians 5:1,4-6 (NIV) — 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. —4 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith 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.
Genesis 2:8–9 (NIV) — 8 Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 9 The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Genesis 2:16–17 (NIV) — 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”
Genesis 3:1–7 (NIV) — 1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ” 4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Here are three different looks at these 2 trees compared side by side:
The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil says: Do more to get to God.
The Tree of Life says: Receive the fact that Jesus has already done it.
John 5:39–40 (NIV) — 39 You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life.
The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil says: Keep trying to get God’s approval.
The Tree of Life says: Receive the fact that He already loves you.
Romans 5:8 (NIV) — 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil says: Obey out of duty.
The Tree of Life says: Obey out of delight.
1 John 5:3 (NIV) — 3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.
2 Application Points:
1. Fall in love with Jesus.
- Deuteronomy 6:4–6 (NIV) — 4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.
2. Serve God through relationships not rules.
- Galatians 5:13–14 (NIV) — 13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.