Blessing or Curse
Notes
Transcript
Welcome & Opening Prayer
Welcome & Opening Prayer
Turn to Gal. CH. 3…
Pitch Wednesday night— Bible “things” game night.
!! Open in Prayer !!
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Introduction 🎤 The Credit Phenomenon
Introduction 🎤 The Credit Phenomenon
Interesting Phenomenon: PEOPLE WANT GREDIT for GOOD… DON’T WANT BLAME for BAD…
GROUP PROJECT in SCHOOL— THEY GLOSSED OVER YOUR EFFORTS—FRUSTRATED
NEW IDEA @ WORK — SOMEONE ELSE TAKES CREDIT— FRUSTRATED…
**GOOD THING CAME from US**
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OTHER HAND—MANY STRUGGLE W/ OWNING UP to FAILURES
EASY to RESORT to BLAMING
CIRCUMSTANCES
OTHER PEOPLE
ANYTHING…
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WE DON’T WANT to MISS CREDIT for GOOD…
WE DON’T WANT to TAKE RESPONSIBILITY for BAD…
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Focus: PHENOMENON APPLIES to SPIRITUAL LIVES as WELL…
BOAST in SUCCESSESSES
BLAME/EXCUSES for SIN…
Good News: GOSPEL CLEARS the MUDDY WATERS of HUMAN ACHIEVEMENT & RESPONSIBILITY…
GOSPEL: CANNOT BOAST in the GOOD— OR BEAR the BURDEN of FAILURE…
Takeaway: “CREDIT” GOES ELSEWHERE
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Transition ➡ WE’LL SEE THIS CLEARLY in TODAY’S TEXT.
READ PASSAGE...CH. 3… V.6-14
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Passage Reading:
Passage Reading:
6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?
7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.
8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.”
9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”
11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”
12 But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.”
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—
14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
Church this is God’s Word for us this morning.
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Context Recap: Works or Faith? 🏛️
Context Recap: Works or Faith? 🏛️
Larger Context: PAUL CLARIFYING HIS GOSPEL = “GOD’S GOSPEL”
Problem: GALATIANS BEWITCHED—BELIEVING ANOTHER GOSPEL!
FAITH + WORKS (CIRCUMCISION)
Last Week: PAUL CONFRONTED — “WHERE DID YOUR NEW LIFE COME FROM?!”
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P. Idea: New life comes through God’s message and God’s grace, not human striving.
CHRISTIAN LIFE BEGINS,
CONTINUES
& FINISHES BY GRACE— NOT SAVED BY GRACE & KEPT BY WORKS…
ALL GRACE.
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Focus & Transition ➡
Last Week: APPEALED to THEIR EXPERIENCE
This Week: APPEALS to SCRIPTURE
LOOK W/ ME @ VS 6-7
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Passage Exposition: Galatians 3:6-14 🔍
Passage Exposition: Galatians 3:6-14 🔍
Thought 1: Those of Faith are Sons of Abraham (v6-7) 📜
Thought 1: Those of Faith are Sons of Abraham (v6-7) 📜
6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?
7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.
**TRANSITION FROM LAST WK = TOUGH**
Context (V5): SPIRIT (& MIRACLES) CAME THROUGH FAITH,, NOT WORKS
Now: PAUL APPEALS to ABRAHAM as an EXAMPLE
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Background: GALATIAN JUDAIZERS PROBABLY APPEALED to ABRAHAM TOO
PATRIACH of JEWISH PEOPLE
CIRCUMCISION GIVEN to ABRAHAM— SIGN of COVENANT PEOPLE (GEN. CH. 17)
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Clarifier: Abraham & Moses
Clarifier: Abraham & Moses
CIRCUMCISION SIGN GIVEN to ABRAHAM
“LAW” GIVEN to MOSES HUNDREDS of YEARS LATER
Takeaway: CIRCUMCISION BECAME a PART of LAW — KEY JEWISH DISTINCTIVE in 1ST CENTURY
ISSUE in GALATIA—LARGELY CIRCUMCISION ((MEANING LAW-KEEPING))
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Returning to Context:
Returning to Context:
PAUL BRINGS UP ABRAHAM—GOING FURTHER BACK!
CIRCUMCISION = GEN 17
“BELIEVE GOD & COUNTED to HIM, RIGHTEOUSNESS” = GEN. 15!
**EXACT CHRONOLOGY = TOUGH… AT LEAST 10 YEARS EARLIER!**
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Exhortation on Faith: ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD
Exhortation on Faith: ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD
Background: LOOKING OVER ABRAHAM’S LIFE— GOD GAVE HIM 3 PROMISES
MANY DESCENDANTS (NATION)
PROMISED LAND
THROUGH HIM (OFFSPRING) ALL FAMILIES BLESSED.
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Exhort: ALL GOD’S PROMISES to ABRAHAM HINGED UPON CHILDREN—WHEN HE HAD NONE!
GOD CALLED ABRAHAM @ 75 W/ PROMISES
GOD FULFILLED PROMISE @ 100 W/ ISAAC!!
ABRAHAM = EXAMPLE of FAITH,, WHO BELIEVED the IMPOSSIBLE
GOD SHOWED ABRAHAM STARS—KIDDOS LIKE THAT… (GEN. 15:6
6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
ABRAHAM COUNTED RIGHTEOUS in GOD’S SIGHT— B4 LAW EVEN EXISTED!
11 He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well,
Takeaway: O.T. JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH—NOT WORKS.
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Another Example: Israel Leaving Egypt
Another Example: Israel Leaving Egypt
Exhort: CONSIDER— GOD GAVE LAW to MOSES @ SINAI
**ONLY AFTER BUSTING THEM OUT of EGYPT**
DELIVERED from SLAVERY—BY GRACE
DELIVERED PEOPLE RECEIVE the LAW
Exhort: PEOPLE DIDN’T DESERVE IT— THEY WERE LOUSY TRAVEL-COMPANIONS!
GRACE PRECEDED WORKS
FAITH BROUGHT JUSTIFICATION
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Returning to Context:
Returning to Context:
(v7) PAUL CONCLUDES— THOSE of FAITH = SONS of ABRAHAM
PEOPLE of GOD—NOT JUST ETHNIC HERITAGE—BUT FAITH.
Descendants of Abraham: FOLLOW in HIS FOOTSTEPS...NOT JUST HIS LINEAGE!
Rom. 4:11-12— PAUL CLARIFIES
ABRAHAM = FATHER of BELIEVING UNCIRCUMCISED GENTILES
ABRAHAM = FATHER of BELIEVING CIRCUMCISED JEWS
Situation: GALATIAN JUDAIZERS—REQUIRED CIRCUMCISION
DESCENDANTS of ABRAHAM—CHARACTERIZED BY FAITH—NOT CIRCUMCISION
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Transition ➡ TO BACK HIS CLAIM… PAUL WILL OFFER ADDITIONAL PROOF
LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 8-9
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Thought 2: The Gospel Preached Beforehand (v8-9) 📣
Thought 2: The Gospel Preached Beforehand (v8-9) 📣
8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.”
9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
FURTHER BOLSTER HIS ARGUMENT—PAUL GOES EVEN FURTHER BACK!
GEN 17—CIRCUMCISION
GEN 15—ABRAHAM COUNTED RIGHTEOUS
**GEN. 12— ABRAHAM RECEIVES the PROMISE**
Promise = “GOSPEL”// GOOD NEWS—BLESSING to COME to ALL FAMILIES/NATIONS
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GRACE NOT to BE HARBORED BY ONE PEOPLE GROUP—
BUT FOR ALL WHO BELIEVE…
1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
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Bible Reading Plan: ISAIAH 18-19— GOD’S PLANS for NATIONS…
EGYPT, CUSH, ASSYRIA
JESUS SAID MAKE DISCIPLES of ALL NATIONS
The gospel is for everyone!
NO MATTER ETHNIC BACKGROUND
NO MATTER SINFUL HISTORY
=> WE’RE ALL on EQUAL FOOTING—AS SINNERS in NEED of a SAVIOR <=
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(V9) PAUL CONCLUDES: THOSE of FAITH = BLESSED W/ ABRAHAM (MAN of FAITH)
BLESSING = COUNTED RIGHTEOUS in GOD’S SIGHT
“JUSTIFICATION” — NOT GUILTY!
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ABRAHAM’S BLESSING CAME NOT THROUGH WORKS of LAW—BUT THROUGH FAITH…
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Transition ➡ PAUL HAS WARNING ABOUT the LAW…
LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 10
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Thought 3: The Curse of the Law (v10) ⚖️
Thought 3: The Curse of the Law (v10) ⚖️
10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”
(V6-9) Focus: BLESSING (W/ FAITH)
Now: CURSE.
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Exhort: LAW BRINGS CURSE
Reason: NO ONE COULD KEEP IT!
Illustration: NOT LETTER GRADED—BUT PASS or FAIL.
YOU COULDN’T GET a C+ or D- & STILL GET BY…
YOU COULDN’T GET an A+
YOU HAD to GET 100%
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C.C.… EVER FIND it SCARY to KNOW SOME PEOPLE BARELY GOT THEIR DEGREES
MISSED 3/4 QUESTIONS—BUT PASSED
WHAT IF MY ISSUE = MISSED QUESTION??
Joke: “What do you call the person who graduated last in their class at med school? Doctor.
**EVEN PEOPLE WHO GOT 99/100** SAME PROBLEM APPLIES!
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Scripture Quotation: The Curse
Scripture Quotation: The Curse
Paul appealed to Deut...
26 “ ‘Cursed be anyone who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
CLIMAX of “CURSING” PASSAGE
**SIMILAR to JAMES: DOER of the WORD,, NOT a HEARER ONLY**
KNOWING MORE = MORE ACCOUNTABILITY
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LAW REQUIRED 100%
NOT ENOUGH to KNOW—BUT to DO
SACRIFICES COVERED the DIFFERENCE
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Illustration: LAVA TILE GAME
Illustration: LAVA TILE GAME
—NO ONE COULD REACH GOD BY LAWKEEPING ALONE
BIG: DON’T KILL, ADULTERY, STEAL
SMALL: HONOR PARENTS,
DON’T COVET
Even Smaller:
DON’T GRUMBLE…
“LOVE GOD W/ HEART, SOUL, MIND...”
HOW FREQUENTLY DO I NOT LOVE GOD W/ MY MIND?
Sermon on the Mount: CUTTING TILES SMALLER— “SPIRIT” of the LAW,, NOT JUST the “LETTER”
ADULTERY BECOMES LUST
MURDER BECOMES ANGER
NO OATHS BECOMES “YES is YES,, NO is NO”
LOVING NEIGHBOR BECOMES LOVING ENEMY…
SPIRITUAL DEATH = WAGES of SIN
EVERY TIME YOU FELL in—YOU DESERVE to DIE/SEPARATED from GOD—BUT a SUBSTITUTE WAS PROVIDED…
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SACRIFICIAL SYSTEM COVERED PEOPLES SINS
NO ONE COULD KEEP the LAW PERFECTLY.
Conclusion: RELYING on LAW for RIGHTEOUSNESS BEFORE GOD = CURSED.
YOU’RE in the LAVA.
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Transition ➡ PAUL HAS MORE SCRIPTURAL PROOF to BACK HIS ARGUMENT…
LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 11-12
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Thought 4: The Righteous Live by Faith (v11-12) 📖
Thought 4: The Righteous Live by Faith (v11-12) 📖
11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”
12 But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.”
First: PAUL APPEALED to ABRAHAM’S EXAMPLE
Now: PAUL APPEALS to PROPHETIC BOOKS—HABAKKUK
BOTH TORAH & PROPHETS CONCLUDE: RIGHTEOUSNESS is LINKED to FAITH!
Righteous One’s LIFE = CHARACTERIZED BY FAITH — MORE IMPORANTLY— BY FAITH HE WILL LIVE.
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(V12) PAUL FURTHERS the ARGUMENT W/ MORE SCRIPTURE
5 You shall therefore keep my statutes and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the Lord.
LAW SAYS YOU’LL LIVE BY DOING—ESSENTIALLY IF YOU KEEP the LAW—YOU’RE GOOD
Problem?? PAUL ALREADY SHOWED US— WE CAN’T KEEP the LAW…
EVEN MORE—LAW ISN’T of FAITH—IT’S NOT SOMETHING PASSIVELY RECEIVED BUT ACTIVELY DONE…
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PAUL HAS SHOWN THROUGH:
PATIARCH ABRAHAM
PROPHETIC WITNESS
LAW ITSELF
WE CANNOT BE JUSTIFIED BY LAW-KEEPING
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Transition ➡ GOOD NEWS: THIS ISN’T the END of the STORY
LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 13-14
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Thought 5: Redeemed from the Curse (v13-14) ✝️
Thought 5: Redeemed from the Curse (v13-14) ✝️
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—
14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
IF YOU RELY on the LAW—YOU’RE CURSED
BUT YOU DON’T HAVE TO.
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CHRIST HAS REDEEMED US
Word Study: REDEEMED—BOUGHT/FREED from BONDAGE/SLAVERY—DELIVERED
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Exhort: EARNING YOUR WAY to GOD = BONDAGE/SLAVERY
WORKS RIGHTEOUSNESS = BONDAGE
REF LAVA ILLUSTRATION
LAW’S MESSAGE: “YOU AREN’T GOOD ENOUGH”
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NOT END of the STORY—CHRIST WAS.
LAW BRINGS CURSE—BUT CHRIST SUFFERED the CURSE
23 his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile your land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance.
CHRIST UNDERWENT the CURSE for US—SO WE CAN BE FREED from BONDAGE to the LAW
21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
HE TOOK the CURSE—SO WE COULD RECEIVE the BLESSING
HE PAID the DEBT—SO WE COULD WALK FREE
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IN CHRIST— WE HAVE the BLESSING of ABRAHAM & PROMISED SPIRIT — WE ARE JUSTIFIED BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH…
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Transition ➡
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Gospel Invitation: None Righteous 🕊️
Gospel Invitation: None Righteous 🕊️
PAUL = AT PAINS—to SHOWCASE… “WE DO NOT WANT to EARN OUR WAY!!”
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.
LAW-BREAKER = LAW-BREAKER...NO MATTER WHICH LAW!
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ALL of US HAVE ENDED UP in the LAVA… NONE of US CAN REACH GOD BY OUR OWN GOODNESS/WORKS…
TRY to ARRIVE WITHOUT ATONEMENT—IT’S IMPOSSIBLE.
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Gospel Presentation:
Gospel Presentation:
BUT CHRIST DID IT.
HE STAYED on EVERY TILE
HE OBEYED PERFECTLY
HE NEVER ERRED—EVER.
ONE WHO DESERVED BLESSING—UNDERWENT the CURSE
the RIGHTEOUS SUFFERED for the UNRIGHTEOUS.
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HE PAID the PRICE FOR OUR SINS—SO THAT WE COULD BE FORGIVEN…
REDEEMED from SLAVERY to the LAW
FREED from SLAVERY to SIN
WHEN WE COULDN’T REACH HEAVEN—HEAVEN CAME DOWN.
OUR ONLY HOPE IS CHRIST—JUSTIFIED BY FAITH—PUTTING TRUST in CHRIST AS LORD & SAVIOR…
Invitation: TALK to ME AFTER SERVICE…
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Transition ➡ NOW,, FOR the BELIEVER:
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Application: Blessing vs. Earning 🛠️
Application: Blessing vs. Earning 🛠️
Passage Idea: Faith brings blessing in salvation whereas the law brings a curse.
Exhort: WE CANNOT—NOR SHOULD WE WANT TO.… EARN OUR WAY.
SAVED BY WHAT WE DO/BRING??? = DON’T UNDERSTAND the GOSPEL.
LAW-KEEPING = BONDAGE WE CANNOT BEAR.
CHRIST HAS FREED US.
GOSPEL IS NOT: YOU’RE GOOD ENOUGH
GOSPEL IS: CHRIST WAS GOOD ENOUGH.
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WE ALL END UP OFF the TILES:
**REMEMBER** LAW = PASS or FAIL… NOT LETTER GRADE.
LAVA is LAVA—DOESN’T CARE ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS.
BUT in CHRIST—OUR DEBTS HAVE BEEN PAID.
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**Disclaimer** THAT DOESN’T MEAN I WALK THROUGH LAVA on PURPOSE.
**I’M JUST FREED from the BONDAGE of TRYING to EARN MY WAY.**
I STRIVE to LIVE a GOD-PLEASING LIFE—KNOWING THAT in CHRIST, I’M ENOUGH.
IN LIGHT of GOD’S MERCIES—I PRESENT MYSELF as a LIVING SACRIFICE...
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I JUST SIMPLY WORK FROM ACCEPTANCE… NOT FOR ACCEPTANCE.
I DON’T HAVE the RELIGIOUS BURDEN of TRYING to BE GOOD ENOUGH—CHRIST ALREADY WAS.
MY LIFE is a BIG “THANK YOU!” to MY GOD WHO RANSOMED ME… MAKING ME PART of HIS PEOPLE BY GRACE.
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REST in CHRIST TODAY.
PLACE YOUR HOPE in CHRIST TODAY.
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Conclusion:
Conclusion:
YOUR STANDING BEFORE GOD DOESN’T DEPEND UPON YOUR SUCCESSES...
and it LIKEWISE DOESN’T UNRAVEL WITH YOUR FAILURES.
IF YOU WERE GOING to BE YOUR OWN SAVIOR—YOU’D HAVE to BE PERFECT…
THE GOOD NEWS IS NOW YOU DON’T HAVE to BE…
YOU CAN REST in the ONLY ONE WHO IS. AMEN?
!! Close in Prayer !!
