Pursuit of Righteousness Part 2: Jesus is my Freedom

Pursuit of Righteousness

Part 2: Jesus is my Freedom!
Pastor Ray-ann Dela Fuente
July 5, 2026

Opening Verse:
“But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses.”
1 Timothy 6:11-12 NLT

Introduction:
Welcome to an amazing Sunday here at River of Faith! Today we are in week two of our brand new series I entitled "The Pursuit of Righteousness." You have probably heard the phrase that says "The Pursuit of Happiness?" There is no mentioned ever in the Scriptures that we should pursue "happiness". As a matter of fact everything that makes us happy is temporary and easily replaced and forgotten. The Bible actually commanded us to pursue "righteousness" instead because it is what really leads us closer to God! Part 2 is entitled "Jesus is my Freedom!"

Main Pointers:
“So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.”
Galatians 5:1 NLT

“But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us. For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love. You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? It certainly isn’t God, for he is the one who called you to freedom. This false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough! I am trusting the Lord to keep you from believing false teachings. God will judge that person, whoever he is, who has been confusing you.”
Galatians 5:5-10 NLT

1. Be careful not to get tied up again.

A. Paul in this chapter addresses the false teachings that were spreading around that says circumcision is still needed for salvation. Paul was very heartbroken for those who listened to this false doctrine and reminded them of the real freedom they have received from Christ.
B. “You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!”? Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self- denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.”
Colossians 2:20-23 NLT

2. The freedom we received in Christ is for the benefit of serving others.

“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.”
Galatians 5:13-15 NLT

A. Legalism focuses on outward looks and shallow expressions of faith but not necessarily genuine or filled with much substance. Real freedom in Christ should empower us to love one another and serve each other in love. That is the true manifestation of our freedom in Christ not self gratification.
B. “But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble.”
1 Corinthians 8:9 NLT

3. Pursue the Spirit-led life.

“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self- control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.”
Galatians 5:16-26 NLT

A. What is the solution to this legalistic and a very critical behavior? Let the Holy Spirit lead your life. To apostle Paul it cannot be any simpler than that. A person who is led by the Spirit does things that only the Spirit of God can do but those who do not live by Spirit it is obvious through their actions.
B. “Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.”
1 John 3:7-10 NLT

Conclusion:
As we start the middle of the year, it is good to re-calibrate our minds and ask if we are truly pursuing the right things in life? Are we pursuing Righteousness? Are we letting the Spirit lead our lives? We should always focus on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith! It's time to re- calibrate! It's time to pursue righteousness!!