Live Free | For Freedom | Gareth Nicholson
- Free Church
- 5 hours ago
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Live Free | For Freedom | Gareth Nicholson | 23 August 2026
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” — Galatians 5:1
What if following Jesus was never meant to be about trying harder to become good enough for God?
Galatians 5 begins with a statement that goes to the heart of the gospel: Christ has already set us free. Freedom is not something we have to earn. It is something Jesus has already accomplished for us.
That truth is foundational to who we are as Free Church. We want to help people follow Jesus, know their true identity, grow in freedom, and go and live with purpose. All four of these are reflected in Galatians 5:1.
But there is an important distinction: freedom starts in a moment, but growing in freedom takes time.
Freedom Is a Gift, Not a Reward
One of the easiest traps to fall into as a Christian is believing that our relationship with God depends on how well we perform.
We read our Bible, pray, attend church, join a Life Group and serve - and these are all good things. But when we miss a day, fail spiritually or don't live up to our own expectations, guilt can creep in.
Suddenly, the things that were meant to help us grow become obligations we feel we have to fulfil.
Paul warns the Galatians not to return to a “yoke of slavery.” Jesus has already set them free, so they don't need to add religious rules and traditions to what He has accomplished.
The gospel is not Jesus plus our performance.
It is Jesus plus nothing equals everything.
Our spiritual practices aren't ways of earning God's approval. They are invitations to experience the freedom Jesus has already given us.
Free to Serve
Paul then gives us another picture of what freedom looks like:
“Serve one another in love.”
Christian freedom isn't the freedom to live completely for ourselves. It is freedom from ourselves so that we can love and serve others.
We don't serve because we are trying to earn God's favour. We serve because we have already received His grace.
Serving shifts our attention away from ourselves and towards others. It develops humility and becomes part of the process through which the Holy Spirit forms us to become more like Jesus.
Jesus came to serve. If we want to become more like Jesus, serving others is part of the journey.
That might happen through serving at church, but it doesn't have to. It can happen in your family, workplace, neighbourhood, or friendships. Look for someone you can serve. Do something that puts another person's needs ahead of your own.
Freedom isn't simply about what we are free from. It's about what we are now free to do.
Free to Be Led by the Spirit
Galatians 5 also presents a choice:
“Walk by the Spirit, and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh.”
There is a tension within all of us. We can follow the desires of the flesh, or we can learn to listen to and follow the Holy Spirit.
This isn't about finding the perfect balance between doing good and doing bad. It's about spiritual formation.
When we put our faith in Jesus, we are made alive in Him. We are forgiven, made righteous, and adopted as sons and daughters of God. That is our position in Christ.
But while our position is settled, our condition is still being formed.
We are free - and we are growing in freedom.
Over time, as we partner with the Holy Spirit, we should begin to see more of the fruit of the Spirit appearing in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
This doesn't mean we will never have a bad day or never struggle again. It means that our trajectory is changing. We are becoming more like Jesus.
Three Invitations That Help Us Grow
So how do we practically grow in freedom?
The message points us towards three important areas: community, serving, and the presence of God.
1. Community
We become like the people we spend time with.
God never intended us to follow Jesus alone. We need people around us who remind us of who we are, encourage us when we're struggling, and help us become who God has called us to be.
Community can also become the place where healing happens. When we have been hurt by people, our instinct can be to withdraw and put up walls. But freedom grows when we allow ourselves to become vulnerable in safe, loving community.
That's why Life Groups matter.
We need spaces where we can move beyond the Sunday version of ourselves and ask honest questions:
How are you really doing?
What's happening in your marriage?
What's happening in your parenting?
What's really going on in your heart?
Authenticity creates space for transformation.
2. Serving
Paul tells us not to use our freedom to serve ourselves but to serve one another in love.
Serving isn't an obligation. It's an invitation to become more like Jesus.
When we serve, our focus moves away from ourselves. We learn humility, generosity, and compassion. We discover that we have something to contribute to the lives of others.
You don't have to do something impressive. You can start small.
Serve someone in your family. Help a friend. Encourage someone who is struggling. Volunteer in your local church. Find a place where you can use what God has given you for the benefit of someone else.
You are free to serve.
3. The Presence of God
Galatians 5 reminds us that life in the Spirit is essential to growing in freedom.
The presence of God changes us.
When the church gathers, we don't simply come to consume. We come to worship. We bring our voices, our faith, and our praise. We come ready to give something to God and to one another.
Church isn't ultimately about whether the music was good, the message was helpful, or the coffee was great.
It's about Jesus.
When we gather together and lift our attention towards Him, we make space to encounter His presence and be transformed.
The Freedom-Growing Furnace
There is something significant about how these three things work together.
Community. Serving. The presence of God.
If we only have community, we can become a social club.
If we only serve, we can simply become involved in a cause.
If we only pursue the presence of God, we can become spiritually focused but disconnected from the people and mission around us.
We need all three.
When we live in community, serve others, and remain attentive to the presence of God, we create an environment where the Holy Spirit can shape us.
This is how we grow in freedom.
The beautiful thing is that we don't do any of this to earn our freedom.
We do it because we are already free.
Jesus has done what we could never do for ourselves. He has made us alive, forgiven us, restored our relationship with God, and given us a new identity.
Now we get to learn how to live like free people.
So the question isn't simply, “Am I free?”
If you are in Christ, the answer is yes.
The better question is:
“Am I growing in freedom?”
What is your next step?
Maybe it's pressing back into community. Maybe it's allowing the Holy Spirit to bring healing into an area where you've been hurt. Maybe it's finding somewhere to serve. Maybe it's making more space for God's presence. Maybe it's taking the next step of faith, like baptism.
Whatever your next step is, remember this:
It isn't an obligation. It's an invitation.
Christ has set you free.
Now, let's learn to live free.
Life Group Questions
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” What does being truly free in Christ mean to you personally?
What are some religious habits or expectations that can unintentionally become obligations rather than invitations?
How has serving others helped you become more like Jesus, or is there an area where you feel God might be inviting you to serve?
Which fruit of the Spirit do you most want to see growing in your life right now? Why?
The message said, “You are only as free as you are willing to be vulnerable.” What might God be inviting you to become more honest about?
Of the three areas discussed - community, serving, and the presence of God - which one is strongest in your life right now? Which one needs attention?
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