More than being good (2)

I - I am a rule follower. The Behave

Rules are comforting

They clear up the grey areas

They tell you where you stand

they keep you safe

They give you room to do what you want.

Y - The Behave Better Gospel

G - God doesn't want to make us Behave, he wants to make us Be new

WHen we read the bible its like the tip of the iceberg. There is so much going on underneath the surface that is SO easy to miss.

An emergency letter

1:6 - listen to the tone of Paul’s letter.

1:6 - listen to the tone of Paul’s letter.

Paul is worried

This letter reads like the blinking red check engine light. (stop immediately pull over, ENGINE DAMAGE)

When something bad is happening far away and you dont know what to do… So you write a quick email, make a quick call.

this reads like “DONT TOUCH THAT LIVE WIRE”

but when you read the rest of galatians it can be kind of confusing what the big deal is and why it really matters, what is Paul so worried about?

So what is Paul so worked up about?

The Debate of Galatians - Who belongs in God’s family.

Paul says - Everyone who know CHrist.

Judiazers say - Everyone who knows Christ and you cant really know christ unless you belong to the Jewish people (circumcision, diet, sabbath, and torah)

So what if a few gentiles get circumcised? Whats the big deal?

Paul believes Jesus/His Sacrifice and the Holy Spirit are ENOUGH. AND if you deny it

THe problem of a Jesus + Gospel. The problem of a Checklist Gospel.

A Checklist gospel undermines the grace of Jesus.

Is Jesus grace sufficient or not.

Paul says, when you start checking things off you start to

Even the most expansive checklist cant cover everyhting. Its the difference between meeting an expectation

Sort of like the difference between an owner, and an employee

Jews are giving the gentiles an easier way- doing something

Rather than letting god change all of them - they change their bodies (this lie is always like this) - gIVE GOD THIS INSTEAD - But it cant justify us, becaues righteousness comes form God, no matter how hard we try, or not.

righteousness comes by faith As does transformation.

, ;

But anything you DO always falls short. Because the law cant do it.

We are incapable to producing righteousness. INstead, we wait in faith for righteousness to come from GOD. NOt in what we do

But yes bearin fruit of acitons

God doesnt want us to Behave, he wants us to Be New(be his)

We do a lot of things in an attempt to avoid transformatoin. We justify, we hide, we do other things really well. That sinful part of us, that unyeliding part of us will do whatevet it can to hang on. To prevent us from giving up and letting God be the driving. Letting God transform us.

Y - Ask God to make you new, Get in Step with his spirit

resist the urge to put something else in that place. To turn over a new leaf, to try a new version of good enough.

and finally give up the efforts the Jesus + gospels we sometimes adopt. and actually let Jesus come in and transform us. NOt with a new set of laws and tons of effort. But with his very spirit guiding the way.

W - It is so tempting to adopt a gospel of behaviour modification. But God wants to change our lives. It takes time, its messy, but when we do it together it is worth it. We reveal God’s glory.