Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled with the yoke of bondage. – Gal. 5:1
Here is something enjoyed, the danger of being deprived of it, and the necessity of standing fast in it. Let us consider these three points, looking unto Jesus.
What is enjoyed? Liberty: one of the most precious blessings in life; but this, of all liberties, the most precious; for Christ hath made us free in our consciences, from the guilt and power of sin; from the condemnation of the law; and given us access to God as righteous persons. He hath washed away the guilt of our sins by his blood, and subdued the power of them by his Spirit; "He hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us." Gal. 3:13. So that there is now no condemnation to us, being in Christ Jesus. Rom. 8:1. He presents us before his Father in his perfect righteousness. We are "accepted in the beloved," as righteous, "to the praise of the glory of his grace." Eph. 1:6 Thus Christ hath freed us from the law, sin, death and hell: he has brought us into this blessed liberty by his Spirit. We enjoy this precious freedom in our consciences by faith. O brethren, let us glory in our inestimable privilege: let us ever rejoice in Christ Jesus, and give him the glory of our hearts, lips and lives.
See your danger of being entangled again with the yoke of bondage. We who now enjoy the precious liberty of Christ, were once slaves to the law a most dreadful yoke it was. We felt wrath working in our consciences, and dread and terror hung over our guilty heads from day to day. O how did we then pant and cry for Christ to set our souls at liberty. We were tied and bound with the chain of our sins, fettered by the law, shut up in unbelief. My soul deeply felt this distress. O beware of bondage again. There is danger on the right hand and on the left. The pleasures of sin, and the pride of our hearts seeking, either in whole or in part, justification by the law of works, are both equally contrary to our freedom in Christ.
Let us therefore stand fast in the liberty of Christ Oppose your happiness in Christ to all the pleasures of sin, which are but for a season. Stand fast in your freedom in Christ, against all the corrupt notions of self-righteous men, who are under the law, seeking to be justified, in whole or in part, by their own works. Stand fast against all the accusations of Satan: we overcome him by the blood of the Lamb. Stand fast against all the legal workings of your flesh: for we are the Lord's freemen: we are no more under bondage.