Staying the Course

I. Welcome & Opening Prayer

Turn to Gal. 4.

Open in prayer.

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II. Introduction

WE’VE PROBABLY ALL HEARD— “DEFINITION of INSANTIY—

— DOING the SAME THING OVER & OVER—EXPECTING a DIFFERENT RESULT

Funny Experience: ROBIN on PORCH—KEPT TRYING, STRAW KEPT FALLING **SEE PIC**

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IN LIFE—WHEN YOU SEE,, WHAT YOU’RE DOING ISN’T WORKING—YOU CHANGE.

RELATIONSHIPS

HEALTH

WORK-LIFE BALANCE

FINANCES

——————————————— **Key Area: COMING to FAITH**

STRUGGLING W/ SIN??

STRUGGLING/ FINITENESS,, SURETY of DEATH??

STRUGGLING W/ MEANINGLESSNESS??

COME to END of OURSELVES—WE TURN to GOD.

Repentance: CHANGE of MIND—RESULTS in CHANGE of DIRECTION

**HAVE to FIRST RECOGNIZE WHAT YOU’RE DOING ISN’T WORKING**

Challenge: & IF WE REALIZED OUR WAY WASN’T WORKING—

— WHY WOULD WE EVER THINK of TURNING BACK??

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Focus: SAD REALITY—WHAT PAUL FACES in TODAY’S TEXT…

GOING to SEE: CALL for PERSEVERANCE—THROUGH the FOLLY of TURNING BACK.

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Transition ➡ INVITE,, LOOK @ PASSAGE

GAL. CH. 4… VS. 8-11

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III. Passage Reading

Galatians 4:8–11 ESV

8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years! 11 I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.

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Transition ➡ Church this is God’s Word for us this morning…

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IV. Context Recap: Adoption as Sons

Recent Weeks: SUPREMACY of GOSPEL of GRACE & HOPE of PROMISE — OVER the LAW

LAW BROUGHT ABOUT CAPTIVITY— ((DUNGEON LIGHT))

CHRIST BRINGS SONSHIP

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Framework: LAW = TEMPORARY—UNTIL “FULLNESS of TIME”

Last Week: WHEN REDEMPTIVE HISTORY “CAME of AGE” GOD SENT HIS SON…

REDEEMED US FROM BONDAGE to LAW!

Passage Idea: The believer in Jesus Christ is no longer a slave but a son.

Setting/Problem: SLAVERY = PAST TENSE REALITY…

… BUT STILL TEMPTING to SOME DEGREE

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Transition ➡ LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 8

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V. Passage Exposition

Thought 1: The Galatians’ Past Enslavement (v8)

Galatians 4:8 ESV

8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods.

GALATIANS NO LONGER SLAVES…

… BUT DEFINITELY USED to BE.

Scholar, Clinton Arnold: This is a clear indication that the Galatians were pagan before entering God’s family in Christ.

Recap Last Week: ENSLAVED to “ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLES/SPIRITS”

SOME PAGAN DEITIES TIED to ELEMENTS/STAR WORSHIP— “ELEMENTAL SPIRITS” —

=> PARODIES of the LIVING GOD.

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(v8) Explaining “Not gods”

**WE WANT to BE CAREFUL**

Clear: NOT “GODS” in the SENSE of TRUE GOD…

**DOESN’T MEAN THERE WAS NO SPIRITUAL ENTITY INVOLVED**

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ANOTHER PLACE—TALKING ABOUT FOOD SACRIFICES in PAGAN WORLD:

1 Corinthians 10:20 ESV

20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons.

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Problem: MODERN BELIEVERS = QUICK to DISMISS SPIRITUAL REALM…

BIBLE = FULL of ANGELS & DEMONS…

BELIEVER HAS REAL ADVERSARY— & HE’S NOT ALONE.

Ephesians 6:12 ESV

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

MODERN BELIEVERS WONDER: “WHY IDOLS?!?!” —

Response: THEIR “GOD” MIGHT NOT BE REAL…

… BUT DOESN’T MEAN THERE WASN’T ANYTHING REAL ABOUT IT…

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GALATIANS = FORMERLY PAGAN—ENSLAVED to IDOLS of DEMONS…

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Transition ➡ THANK GOD—NOT the END of the STORY!

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Thought 2: Being Known By God & Turning Back? (v9)

Galatians 4:9 ESV

9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?

FORMERLY PAGAN

**NOW** in COVENANT W/ TRUE GOD…

“KNOWING GOD” = COVENANT LANGUAGE — NOT MERELY INTELLECTUAL KNOWLEDGE

Focus: BUT PAUL WANTS to GIVE CREDIT to WHOM CREDIT is DUE…

Quote, Scholar, Frank Thielman: “Paul is always sensitive to any hint that human beings take the initiative in their relationship with God.”

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Exhortation: ONLY REASON WE CAN KNOW GOD — BECAUSE HE MADE HIMSELF KNOWABLE!

“FOUND JESUS”

“DECIDED to FOLLOW JESUS”

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Transition ➡ **ALL TRUE… BUT PART of the STORY**

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Gospel Invitation

SCRIPTURE SAYS:

Isaiah 53:6 ESV

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

HUMAN BEINGS —BORN W/ CONDITION of SIN— GUARANTEED to STRAY

**IT’S in OUR NATURE as SHEEP to STRAY** IT’S WHAT SHEEP DO.

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GOOD NEWS: “THE GOOD SHEPHERD SOUGHT US OUT”

LEAVING 99 to FIND the ONE

MOST of ALL—HE GAVE HIS LIFE for the SHEEP.

**ALL the CONSEQUENCES of OUR WANDERING WERE LAID UPON the SHEPHERD**

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Gospel Presentation:

HE WILLINGLY GAVE HIMSELF for US—TO PAY FOR OUR SINS

WE DESERVE DEATH for OUR REBELLION— WE DESERVE to BE LEFT to OUR OWN DEVICES… WANDERING FOREVER…

Romans 6:23 ESV

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

… BUT the GOOD SHEPHERD MADE a WAY FOR US…

Invitation: **THROUGH FAITH in CHRIST—YOU CAN RECEIVE the GIFT of ETERNAL LIFE**

TALK to ME AFTER SERVICE…

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Slavery Again:

PAUL = SHOWCASING UTTER FOLLY of RETURNING to SLAVERY…

Problem: RETURNING to “ELEMENTS of the WORLD”

SPIRITS

PRINCIPLES

Contextually: “SPIRITS” THEY USED to WORSHIP as gods… — DEAD IDOLS.

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Contrasting Living God w/ Dead Idols:

WEAK — CONTRASTING “ALMIGHTY GOD”

WORTHLESS—CONTRASTING HOLY, AWESOME, WORTHY CREATOR.

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**Conclusion: WHY TURN BACK to THAT?!?!

Recap: Definition of Insanity— YOU KNOW THIS DOESN’T WORK!

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Great Scandal & Explanation:

REMEMBER the PROBLEM in GALATIA…

**THEY WEREN’T ACTUALLY RETURNING to PAGANISM**

Focus: THEY WERE ADDING WORKS of the LAW to the GOSPEL of GRACE

Clarifier: Keener, “South Galatians were known for their strict and moralistic religion” (p. 533).

BEFORE CHRIST— GALATIANS = VERY DEVOUT,, DEVOUTLY PAGAN

Conclusion: **ADDING JEWISH LAWS = RETURNING to “ELEMENTAL PRINCIPLES” of EARNING YOUR WAY to GOD!!

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Transition ➡ WE’LL SEE THIS MORE CLEARLY in VERSE 10-11

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Thought 3: Works-Religion & Vain Labor? (v10-11)

Galatians 4:10–11 ESV

10 You observe days and months and seasons and years! 11 I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.

Issue: GALATIAN RETURN to “WORKS-BASED” RELIGION = WHERE THEY CAME FROM.

Cultural Background: PAGANS OBSERVED SPECIAL DAYS— FEAR of “STAR DEITIES” THAT RULED THEIR LIVES…

… OBSERVED SPECIAL DAYS—GOOD LUCK

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**NOW** JEWISH WORKS

CIRCUMCISION

OBSERVING DAYS, MONTHS, SEASONS, YEARS (SABBATH, APPOINTED FEASTS))

REVERTING BACK to OLD WAYS WHEN THEY FOLLOWED FALSE TEACHERS!!

Shocking Reality, Quote: Schreiner: “Apparently Paul equates living under the law with a reversion to paganism”

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Essential Clarifier: O.T. LAW = GOD-ORDAINED

“ALL SCRIPTURE” = GOD-BREATHED & PROFITABLE

=> NOT JUST “MOSES’ IDEA”…

FEASTS

SABBATH

SPECIAL MONTHS/YEARS…

**THESE THINGS AREN’T WRONG**

=> USING THESE THINGS … to EARN YOUR WAY to GOD = WRONG.

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Historical Background: Saved-By-Grace People

REMEMBER GOD’S SOVEREIGN CHOICE of ISRAEL

& GOD’S DELIVERANCE of ISRAEL FROM EGYPT.

Takeaway: GOD’S LAW = INSTRUCTIONS… for WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE to BE “GOD’S SAVED-BY-GRACE PEOPLE”

Problem: BECAME a MATTER of SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS… LADDER to CLIMB to GOD.

TITHING on MINT & CUMIN—WHILE BEING a JERK.

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Problem in Galatia: RETURNING to WORKS-BASED SYSTEM

Exhortation: Works-Based-Righteousness DOESN’T WORK

UNRIGHTEOUS = PERPETUALLY DISCOURAGED

SLAVERY— “YOU AREN’T GOOD ENOUGH!”

“RIGHTEOUS” = SELF-DECEIVED

**MOVING TARGET

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MANY PEOPLE DESIRE WORKS-RIGHTEOUSNESS … JUST ON THEIR OWN STANDARDS… THEY GET CREDIT!

Many “HOLINESS” CHURCHES MANUFACTURE THEIR OWN STANDARDS

GO to STORE on SUNDAY—GOING to HELL

GO to MOVIES—GOING to HELL

MAN W/ BEARD—SYMBOL of PRIDE

FALSE GOSPEL of WORKS.

INOCULATION to TRUE CHRISTIANITY

CHRISTIANITY = MESSAGE of GRACE… YOU DON’T MEASURE UP—CHRIST MEASURED UP FOR YOU.

Galatians 3:3 ESV

3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

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Clarification: DOESN’T PROMOTE LAWLESSNESS

Exhort: SAME GRACE THAT SAVES is a GRACE THAT SHAPES.

“SAFETY NET—NOT a HAMMOCK”

New Covenant Hope: GOD SHAPES OUR DESIRES—LAW WITHIN!

**WE DON’T EARN OUR WAY,, BUT WE DO LIVE DIFFERENTLY**

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Transition ➡ THIS = SO SERIOUS to PAUL—HE’S WORRIED HIS WORK in GALATIA is ALL FOR NOTHING…

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 11

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Paul’s Pastoral Concern (v11)

Galatians 4:11 ESV

11 I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.

MISSIONS WORK WAS HARD WORK

GK: EXERTION, HARD WORK, TOIL

WE’RE REMINDED for the NEED for CHRISTIAN PERSEVERANCE— PERSEVERANCE in TRUTH

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Eternal Security

At Grace Chapel: WE BELIEVE in ETERNAL SECURITY

**DOESN’T MEAN THERE IS NO NEED for PERSEVERANCE—JUST MEANS BY GOD’S GRACE YOU WILL**

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Helpful Picture: PARABLE of SOWER

Setting Matthew 13…

STORY— FARMER CASTS SEEDS…

FARMER (JESUS, PREACHER) SEED (WORD of GOD)

Four Soils:

PATH — TAKEN BY BIRDS (DEVIL)

ROCKY GROUND — NO ROOT (PLANT DIES in TRIALS)

THORNS — CHOKED BY CARES of WORLD

GOOD SOIL— BEARS GOOD FRUIT

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Conclusion: SOIL NEVER CHANGES

SOME PLANTS DON’T MAKE IT—BUT THEY WERE NEVER GOOD SOIL.

TEMPORARY BUDDING PLANT—BUT NEVER GOING to MAKE IT— (((THORNS, ROCKS)))

Paul’s Pastoral Concern: THESE FOLKS MIGHT BE AMONGST THORNS/ROCKS

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Exhort: I DON’T BELIEVE YOU CAN BE SAVED, UNSAVED, SAVED, UNSAVED.

**THIS = SALVATION BY WORKS**

YES… WE NEED to PERSEVERE

BUT BY GRACE of GOD—WE WILL.

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Reference 1 Peter.…

Inheritance: IMPERISHABLE, UNDEFILED, UNFADING, KEPT in HEAVEN

**BEING GUARDED BY GOD’S POWER THROUGH FAITH**

Conclusion: **STAYING SAVED** IS NOT the RESULT of PERSONAL EFFORT—BUT a WORK of GOD’S GRACE WITHIN

SAVED BY GRACE

SANCTIFIED BY GRACE

ONE DAY: GLORIFIED BY GRACE

Takeaway: WE NEVER MOVE BEYOND GRACE!

Conclusion: SAVED “FOR” GOOD WORKS—BUT NEVER BY THEM… THEY ARE the FRUIT,, NOT the ROOT of OUR SALVATION

JESUS = BOTH the AUTHOR & FINISHER of OUR FAITH…

Philippians 1:6 ESV

6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

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Transition ➡ IN CONCLUSION… THIS PASSAGE is TEACHING US…

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VI. Application

Passage Idea: We cannot return to earning our way if we are saved by grace.

CHRISTIAN LIFE DEMANDS PERSEVERENCE In GOSPEL-TRUTH

SAVED BY GRACE

KEPT BY GRACE

ONE DAY—GLORIFIED BY GRACE.

**ALL OUR GOODNESS = AN OUTWORKING of WHAT GOD WORKED WITHIN**

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Challenge from Passage: IF WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE—WHY WOULD WE EVER WANT to TURN to TRYING to EARN OUR WAY??

YOU HAD to HUMBLY GIVE UP STRIVING… WHEN YOU HUMBLY BOWED YOUR KNEE to CHRIST

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NEVER FALL PREY to THINKING,,, WE NEED to DO… X, Y, Z… to KEEP GOD’S FAVOR or LOVE

CHURCH ATTENDANCE

BIBLE READING

PRAYER

GOOD DEEDS

ALL GOOD— BUT MUST BE the OVERFLOW of a GRATEFUL, GRACE-FILLED HEART.

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LET US NEVER FALL INTO BELIEVING WE COULD KEEP IT/EARN IT BY OUR SUCCESSES…

LET US LIKEWISE NOT FEAR WE COULD LOSE IT BY OUR FAILURES

IT’S ALL of GRACE. AMEN?

!! Close In Prayer !!