September 13, 2026
TEXT:  I John 3:16-19

Introduction: Galatians 5:13-14
* We are free to choose to believe what we want to believe.
* We are free to choose how we vote.
* We are free to choose the kind of work we want to do to make a living.
* We are free to choose if we will live our life for ourselves, for the approval of others, or for God’s glory.

I. Liberty is to be used to serve my fellow man (Galatians 5:13-14)
A. We have been given liberty as Christians and Americans from God (v. 13a)
B. We have been called to use our liberty to serve others by love (v. 13b)
C. We have been called to love our neighbor as our self in our liberty (v. 14)

II. Serving my fellow man is loving my fellow man (I John 3:16-17)
A. Not merely love that is heard with words, but seen in actions (v. 16a)
B. Not merely feeling compassion for others, but showing compassion (v. 16b)
C. Not merely seeing the need of others, but using what you have to help (v. 17)

III. Loving my fellow man is giving of myself to them
A. We can see the love of God in His giving His Son to save us (John 3:16)
B. We can see the love of Jesus in His laying down His life for us (v. 16)
1. For the debt of sin that we owed unto God for breaking His Law
2. Taking our place in death to pay our wages of sin that we committed
C. We can show our love for our fellow man in our loving deeds unto them
1. “we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (v. 16)
2. “let us … love… in deed and in truth.” (v. 18)
3. If we are truly born again as a child of God people should see God’s love being shown from our lives in our loving service to others (v. 19)