Standing in Freedom
Notes
Transcript
Welcome & Opening Prayer
Welcome & Opening Prayer
!! Celebrate Baptism!!
Pitch Hike?
!! Open in Prayer !!
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II. Introduction
II. Introduction
SOME THINGS in LIFE CANNOT MIX…
NATURALLY OIL & WATER DON’T MIX.
HEAT WILL ELIMINATE COLD
LIGHT WILL DISPLACE DARKNESS
SO IT IS WITH TRUTH & HERESY…
**MANY AREAS… WHERE GOOD BIBLE BELIEVING CHRISTIANS AGREE to DISAGREE**
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BUT W/ SOME THINGS THERE is NO MIDDLE-GROUND
Serious: BELIEVING SOME THINGS THAT ARE FALSE WILL KEEP YOU FROM HEAVEN.
Focus: THIS MORNING—APOSTLE PAUL MAKE ONE of THESE CLEAR…
TWO APPROACHES to GOD…
THAT ARE as IRRECONCILABLE as LIGHT & DARKNESS…
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Transition ➡ invite… LOOK W/ ME @ PASSAGE…
5:1-6
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III. Passage Reading
III. Passage Reading
1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
2 Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you.
3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law.
4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.
5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
Church this is God’s Word for us this morning...
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IV. Context Recap: Flesh or Promise?
IV. Context Recap: Flesh or Promise?
Larger Context: The GALATIANS are being tempted towards works of the law—desiring to SUBMIT to the LAW.
Background:
FORMERLY— DEVOUT—DEVOUTLY PAGAN.
NOW—RETURNING to “DEVOUT” OBSERVANCE of SPECIAL DAYS, MONTHS, YRS…
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Last Week: PAUL CHALLENGED— W/ EXAMPLE of ABRAHAM’S 2 SONS. = 2 APPROACHES to GOD
Ishmael ➡ the flesh (NATURAL ATTEMPT to FULFIL PROMISE)
Isaac ➡ born according to promise (BY GOD’S INITIATIVE).
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The Analogy:
STRIVING = MAN’S WAY = MISSES PROMISE
FAITH = GOD’S WAY = RECEIVES PROMISE.
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Conclusion: BELIEVER = “CHILD of PROMISE” LIKE ISAAC
THROUGH CHRIST— THE OFFSPRING.
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Transition ➡ PAUL —SHIFTING GEARS
thus FAR— PAUL = BUILDING CASE “JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH”
NOW ISSUE in SIGHTS—CIRCUMCISION
MOVING from “GOD’S WORK” to “OUR RESPONSE”
Transition ➡ LOOK W/ ME @ VS 1
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V. Passage Exposition
V. Passage Exposition
Thought 1: The Call to Stand Firm (5:1)
Thought 1: The Call to Stand Firm (5:1)
1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
Climaxing Argument/Purpose: CHRIST SET US FREE — FOR FREEDOM!
FREE from POWER of SIN
FREE from CONDEMNATION of LAW
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Second Imperative: STAND.
Second Imperative: STAND.
Explain: “THE INDICATIVE & IMPERATIVE”
THEOLOGY B4 ETHICS
Reason: HUMAN “DOING” = RESPONSE to GOD’S SAVING WORK in CHRIST.
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The Command: STAND FIRM (in FREEDOM)
The Command: STAND FIRM (in FREEDOM)
GK WORD: “to be firmly committed in conviction or belief”[1]
Exhort: NECESSARY— WINDS of DOCTRINE WILL TRY to BLOW YOU AROUND…
NEED to BE ROOTED in GOSPEL—SAVED BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH.
Illustration: SHENANDOAH/HAWKSBILL—WINDS BLOWING YOU AROUND.
**KNOWING the FORCE of the WINDS,, YOU PREPARE YOUR FOOTING**
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Exhortation: False Doctrine Abounds
Exhortation: False Doctrine Abounds
INTERNET AGE: GREAT BENEFIT… SOMETIMES
GOOD BIBLE TEACHING ACCESSIBLE
HERETICAL TEACHING ACCESSIBLE
SOMEONE WILL TELL YOU WHAT YOUR FLESH WANTS to HEAR
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Issue in Galatia:
Issue in Galatia:
WORKS VERSUS GRACE
**EARNING YOUR WAY = FALSE GOSPEL**
**FALSE GOSPEL = ABANDONING GOD**
Paul’s Appeal: DON’T SUBMIT to YOKE of SLAVERY
Background: JEWISH TEACHERS— REF “YOKE” POSITIVELY…
PAUL: YOKE = ENSLAVES
Peter: 10 Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?
Great Contrast: CHRIST’S YOKE = EASY… BURDEN = LIGHT.
CHRIST DIDN’T SAVE US BY GRACE ,,
SO WE COULD TRY to EARN OUR WAY FROM HERE.
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Issue in Galatia: Circumcision
Issue in Galatia: Circumcision
Today: LEGALISTIC CHURCHES (DO THIS/DON’T DO THAT)
SOME BELIEVE: SAVED BY GRACE… KEPT BY WORKS.
YOKE of “GOOD CHRISTIAN THINGS” to STAY SAVED
THAT’S NOT the GOSPEL.
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IN CHRIST—WE WORK FROM ACCEPTANCE… NOT FOR ACCEPTANCE.
IF OUR SALVATION DEPENDED ON US—WE’D BE WITHOUT HOPE.
FALL too FAR TOMORROW??
DON’T DO ENOUGH RIGHT THINGS TODAY??
o How can you be secure in your salvation,, if it is up to you to keep it?
Comfort: SALVATION = NOT the PAY-CHECK for a LIFE WELL-LIVED… BUT a GIFT, of OUR GRACIOUS GOD.
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Illustration: WAGES VS GIFT
Illustration: WAGES VS GIFT
WORK = WAGES…
GIFT = GRACE/FREE.
Conclusion: PAUL CALLS: “STAND FIRM” in GOSPEL of GRACE…
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Transition ➡ PRIMARY SUBJECT in QUESTION = FINALLY BROUGHT UP…
LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 2
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Thought 2: The Problem with Accepting Circumcision (5:2)
Thought 2: The Problem with Accepting Circumcision (5:2)
2 Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you.
Previous Weeks: FALSE TEACHERS—PULLING GALATIAN BELIEVERS TOWARDS ANOTHER GOSPEL
*OBSERVING DAYS,, MONTHS,, SEASONS,, YEARS…
False Teacher’s Goal: CIRCUMCISION
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Background on Circumcision:
Background on Circumcision:
CIRCUMCISION = ESSENTIAL to JEWS
Background:
ESTABLISHED BETWEEN GOD & ABRAHAM — GENESIS 17!!
CODIFIED into MOSAIC LAW—LEVITICUS 12
N.T. TIMES — KEY JEWISH DISTINCTIVE—REQUIRED of PROSELYTES…
Jewish Historian, Josephus: A Gentile’s acceptance of circumcision was a sign of full conversion to Judaism and of a willingness to submit to the Jewish law as a way of life
**IT SEALED the DEAL for JEWS**
NECESSARY for 1000+ YRS… WHY SUDDENLY an ISSUE???
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Understanding Promise & Fulfillment:
Understanding Promise & Fulfillment:
LAW—GOVERNED PEOPLE BETWEEN PROMISE & FULFILLMENT.
GAL 3: “GUARDIAN” // BABYSITTER — UNTIL CHRIST CAME.
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Exhort: WE CANNOT READ the O.T. AS IF CHRIST DIDN’T COME!
**Disclaimer** O.T. = VERY GOOD.
BUT MISINTERPRETING SCRIPTURE IF WE AVOID JESUS’ LIFE, DEATH, & RESURRECTION
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(v2) Paul’s Appeal: “IT’S ME… PAUL… COME CLOSE… LISTEN…”
➡ IF… ACCEPT CIRCUMCISION
➡➡ THEN… CHRIST = NO ADVANTAGE.
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TWO WAYS to LIVE:
RELYING on GOD in FAITH
HUMAN STRIVING— (SUMMED UP W/ CIRCUMCISION)
Exhort: YOU CANNOT BE SAVED BY BOTH GRACE & WORKS… OR WORKS,, THEN GRACE…
WE EITHER RELY FULLY on CHRIST…
… OR FULLY on OURSELVES
**NO MIDDLE GROUND**
OIL/WATER
DARKNESS/LIGHT
HEAT/COLD.
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Transition ➡ GALATIANS HEADING WRONG WAY— PAUL DOES EVERYTHING to PULL THEM AROUND…
CONTINUING ARGUMENT
LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 3
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Thought 3: The Circumcised’ Obligation to Keep the Law (5:3)
Thought 3: The Circumcised’ Obligation to Keep the Law (5:3)
3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law.
Issue: NOT CIRCUMCISION ITSELF—BUT WHAT it REPRESENTED—APPROACHING GOD on SELF-EFFORTS…
**REF. JOSEPHUS AGAIN**
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PAUL = NOT CONDEMNING JEWS ACROSS the BOARD
GOSPEL WENT 1ST to CIRCUMCISED
CHRIST CAME to HIS OWN PEOPLE
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PAUL CONDEMNS SELF-JUSTIFICATION
Problem: **IF YOU RELY on WORKS/CIRCUMCISION/ETC.… YOU MUST KEEP the WHOLE LAW.
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.”
5:3 “OBLIGATED” — FINANCIAL TERM— INDEBTED…
DEBT THAT CANNOT BE PAID on YOUR OWN—
KEEP TAKING OUT LOANS…
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Transition ➡ PAUL WILL MAKE CONTRAST EVEN MORE CLEAR…FAITH VS WORKS
LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 4
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Thought 4: Justification by the Law = Severance from Grace (5:4)
Thought 4: Justification by the Law = Severance from Grace (5:4)
4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.
SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT TERMS,, SAME TRUTH
JUSTIFIED BY LAW = NOT JUSTIFIED BY GRACE
MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE
POLAR OPPOSTIES
IRRECONCILABLE as APPROACHES to GOD…
Ref. Last Week: TWO SEPARATE PATHS W/ DIFFERENT DESTINATIONS…
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Transition ➡ PAUL — BRING FUTURE HOPE INTO FOCUS
LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 5
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Thought 5: Where Righteousness Comes—Faith (5:5)
Thought 5: Where Righteousness Comes—Faith (5:5)
5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.
Theology Point: SPIRIT = DOWN-PAYMENT, PROMISE of HEAVENLY INHERITANCE…
Believer @ Present—AWAITS FUTURE HEAVENLY INHERITANCE
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Understanding Salvation:
➡SAVED—TODAY.
➡RIGHT W/ GOD —TODAY.
➡➡ BUT FINAL VERDICT “NOT GUILTY” — “RIGHTEOUSNESS” — AWAITS FINAL DAY.
**Disclaimer** DOESN’T MEAN IT’S NOT CERTAIN… JUST AWAITED.
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the Good News: Secure Salvation
BELIEVER CAN “EAGERLY AWAIT” that FINAL DAY!!
**STANDING B4 GOD in JUDGMENT = FEARFUL… UNLESS YOU ARE in CHRIST…
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Gospel Invitation: The Hope of Righteousness
Gospel Invitation: The Hope of Righteousness
DAY of the LORD = FRIGHTFUL CONCEPT… UNTIL CHRIST COMES on the SCENE…
Good News: YOU CAN KNOW YOU HAVE ETERNAL LIFE…
13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.
NO GUESSWORK in SALVATION
Relate: SOME PEOPLE “HOPE” THEY WERE GOOD ENOUGH…
I DON’T HAVE to HOPE—BECAUSE I’VE TRUSTED in CHRIST.
— I WON’T BE APPEALING to SERMONS I’VE PREACHED
— PEOPLE I’VE SERVED
— BOOKS I’VE WRITTEN
BUT CHRIST.
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Relate: SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE THEY’LL GET a BIT MORE CLEANED UP in PURGATORY…
CHRIST HAS PAID for MY SINS in FULL—I DON’T NEED to PAY FOR THEM ANYMORE.
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IN CHRIST YOU CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE for the DAY of JUDGMENT
YOU AREN’T GOOD ENOUGH—BUT CHRIST WAS.
YOU DESERVE to PAY FOR YOUR SINS—BUT CHRIST ALREADY HAS.
BELIEVER in JESUS CHRIST — CAN EAGERLY HOPE for FINAL DAY
Invitation: IF YOU DON’T HAVE THIS HOPE—SPEAK W/ ME AFTER…
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Transition ➡ APOSTLE HAS ONE FINAL CONSIDERATION for US REGARDING OUR STANDING B4 GOD…
LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 6
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Conclusion: The Insignificance of Circumcision (5:6)
Conclusion: The Insignificance of Circumcision (5:6)
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
WHAT WE BRING to the TABLE DOESN’T MATTER.
**Exhort: OUR BOASTING = IRRELEVANT to the DISCUSSION**
CIRCUMCISION
UNCIRCUMCISION
NONE of IT MATTERS!
➡ CAN’T BOAST of WORKS
➡ CAN’T BOAST/ABUSE FREEDOM
IT’S ALL CHRIST.
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PAUL ENDS SECTION W/ HELPFUL CLARIFIER
NOT UNDER the LAW— DOESN’T MEAN WE LIVE LAWLESSLY
Clarifier: MY “DOING” DOESN’T FACTOR INTO MY RIGHT STANDING W/ GOD.
BUT GOD MAKES US NEW—DESIRES WE WALK in NEWNESS of LIFE
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Faith Works Through Love
Faith Works Through Love
GENUINE FAITH in CHRIST PRODUCES GENUINE RESULTS…
Primary Distinctive: JOHN 13:35
35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
**NOT as ROOT… BUT as FRUIT of SALVATION**
SEED on “GOOD SOIL” PERSEVERES…
… ALSO BEARS FRUIT.
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Exhort: NOT SAVED BY GOOD WORKS… BUT FOR GOOD WORKS…
4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,
5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.
WORKS AREN’T EXCLUDED… MERELY NOT OUR APPROACH to GOD.
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Clarifying Conclusion:
Clarifying Conclusion:
FAITH & WORKS ARE IRRECONCILABLE as APPROACHES to GOD…
BUT ARE INSEPARABLE in the CHRISTIAN LIFE
Apostle James: FAITH WITHOUT WORKS DOESN’T WORK.
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God has not freed us from the law so that we could live lawlessly.
If your freedom causes sin to abound you aren’t actually free.
WE SIMPLY WORK FROM ACCEPTANCE...NOT FOR IT…
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Transition ➡ ALL in ALL…
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Application
Application
Passage Idea: We must stand firm in the freedom of the gospel of grace, against salvation by works.
Yet at the same time, if our faith is genuine…
Yet at the same time, if our faith is genuine…
… it will be proven through works of love.
… it will be proven through works of love.
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MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE as APPROACHES to GOD—OIL & WATER… DARKNESS & LIGHT…
BUT SHOULD BE INSEPARABLE in the LIFE of the BELIEVER…
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STANDING FIRM on GOSPEL HILL…
BUT REMEMBER—IF DOCTRINE MAKES US UNKIND—WE’VE MISSED IT.
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Challenge in Closing:
Challenge in Closing:
EXAMINE YOURSELF
WHAT DIFFERENCE HAS CHRIST MADE in MY LIFE?
WHY DO YOU DO WHAT YOU DO?
ALL OUR CHRISTIAN “DOING” MUST BE a GRATEFUL RESPONSE…
… to WHAT CHRIST HAS ALREADY DONE. AMEN?
!! Close in Prayer !!
