Sermon Tone Analysis

WHEN YOU KNOW WHOSE YOU ARE YOU CAN BECOME WHAT YOU ARE.

WHEN YOU FORGET WHOSE YOU ARE YOU BECOME WHAT YOU WERE.

SPIRITUAL IDENTITY REQUIRES CONSTANT REINFORCEMENT.

Know (ginosko) involves experiential knowledge, not merely the accumulation of known facts.

Know (oida) to know by perception or intuition.

The idea is to know intimately, experientially and personally.

Knowledge gained by experience, by an active relationship between the one who knows and the person or thing known.

The Galatian believers had chosen rather than to walk in the fullness of the promises, rather than to enjoy the full adult privileges of being intimate with the Father, and walking daily with Him, they have chosen to go back to what their flesh has come up with.

They have chosen what can give them nothing but despair, frustration.

Paul has been there before himself and he says, why, why would you go back to a slavery that you have been set free from?...Let me ask you a question.

Are you living as a slave or are you living as a son?

If you are living as a son, the character of Jesus is being manifested in your life.

He’s motivating your life.

He’s moving your life.

He’s presenting His presence in your life.

If you are not, you’ve got something you have attached yourself to and chosen to become its slave.

And it’s what is driving you.

It’s what is framing your mindset.

Are you living as a slave or are you living as a son?

That’s what Paul is trying to get across to the Galatians.

He’s not down on them, he’s frustrated.

He’s trying to get them back to the place that God would have them to be.

Why would you go back to religion which requires performance, and performance is nothing that God accepts?

The word for “weak” means it has no strength; it has no inherent power.

Have you ever tried to go back to some religious performance mentality and realized there’s nothing here?

You can have your quiet time till you fall over in the floor, but if you’re not there to meet God out of love for Him, it’s not going to do a thing in the world for you, but just suck some time out of your life.

That’s all it’s going to do.

It’s weak.

It’s not in the doing.

He said the doing isn’t the key.

It’s the becoming.

Why have you committed yourself to going back to the very thing Jesus has freed you from?

Spiritual identity requires pastoral care.

The idea being that their essence would be Christ-like and speaks of inner not outward shape.

In short it speaks of the formation of Christ-like character.

Spiritual identity requires personal commitment.