The Irony of a Baby: Galatians 4:1 - 3 Sermon

Title: The Irony of a Baby

Text:

Introduction:

Irony: a situation or language that is strange or funny because things happen in a way that seems opposite of what you expected.

Illustration:

The most shoplifted book in America is The Bible.

The founder of AA asked for whiskey on his deathbed. (The nurse refused.)

In a hilarious example of irony, McDonalds’ employee health page, which is now shut down, once warned against eating McDonald’s burgers and fries.

Every year ABC cuts down A Charlie Brown Christmas—a movie about the over-commercialization of the holidays—to make room for more commercials.

This passage is an irony because Paul shows how God uses a baby, the coming of Jesus Christ, to actually mature or cause people to grow up spiritually.

Illustration:

There are few things in life that often force children to mature more rapidly. For example: at the gym the other day, a friend was telling us the story of a young man they recently hired at his place of employment. This young man is known as being a hard and dependable work. This young man is actually currently working two jobs. My friend at the gym mentioned that this young man comes from a background of a turbulent home. He doesn’t live with his parents, he cares for his siblings, and he is finishing school. It seems that this young man has been forced to grow up unusually fast.

Another example:

Another example is when you have your first child. We prepared for our son to be born. We purchased clothes and bedroom furniture. Many things were gifted to us, all in preparation. We took classes at the hospital. We had a “go bag” ready. But all of those things did little to prepare us for the instant level of maturity and responsibility that would be required of us when our son was actually born. In a way, it forced us to grow up in how we thought, in how we lived, in how we used our time…etc

This helps us to understand our passage a little better.

What it means to be a child in verse 1. It does not matter how old you are physically, if you do not have a genuine relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, then you are a child.

Thus, God sent Jesus Christ to take immature "children" spiritually speaking and save them or "mature" them through the reception of eternal life.

It does not matter how old you are physically, if you do not have a genuine relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, then you are a child.

The message to these people was really about the salvation that is found in Christ alone.

Four Types of People:

(1) Spirit-controlled Christians

Today, there are those who genuinely believe this. They lead joyful, Christ-honoring lives. They speak kindly to one another and of one another. They manifest that they are Spirit-filled people. To you, I would encourage you. Choose today that which you have chosen each day - that who you are in Christ is an accepted son of God. You are are no longer a child under the law and you have matured by the life and work of Christ alone!

(2) Spirit in-dwelled, but not Spirit-controlled, Christians

Then, there are those who teach this to others, but their lives do not manifest that they believe in the sufficiency of Jesus Christ's exclusivity. You can tell this by their lack of joy, their constant anxiety over performance, their continual biting and devouring of one another. While they speak of the sufficiency of Christ, their words and actions reveal that they don't really believe this - thus, they need to attempt to find satisfaction by tearing down each other. To you, I would encourage you to awaken from your sinful slumber. Do not merely say that Jesus Christ is the ONLY answer but be honest with yourselves. Don't try to find relief, satisfaction in the verbal destruction of others.

To you, I would encourage you to awaken from your sinful slumber. Do not merely say that Jesus Christ is the ONLY answer but be honest with yourselves. Don't try to find relief, satisfaction in the verbal destruction of others.

(3) Religious unbelievers [same exhortation as next]

(4) Non-religious unbelievers

Then, there are those who are not quite sure what all of this means. [Both religious Jews & non-religious Gentiles] You've just come to church trying to get help because your family is falling apart or because you just lost a job...etc What this means is that God will accept you, but He will only accept you under one condition. God will only accept you if you believe on Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior alone. You mustn't think that your kind good behaviors will make God accept you and make God to give you eternal life. Only by "confessing with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believing in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead" can you be saved.

Proposition:

[Listen to the ironic message] Because Christ is the only One who can bring us eternal life, choose today to accept Jesus Christ ALONE!

WHY?

(1) To become a full inheritor (v. 1 - 2)

Explanation

The primacy of passing from childhood into adulthood in the ancient world

(Jewish - 12)

(Greek - 18) Went from care of father to responsible to the state

The potential of possessing the inheritance

It was only at the time of maturation that the child could be “lord of all”

Principle:

God’s desire is that men and women would become full inheritors. The potential reveals this. Until someone accepts Christ ALONE only the potential is there (he’s created in the image of God and has the potential of being an inheritor). God wants this!

Until someone accepts Christ ALONE only the potential is there (he’s created in the image of God and has the potential of being an inheritor. God wants this!

(2) Until someone accepts Christ ALONE only the potential is there (he’s created in the image of God and has the potential of being an inheritor. God wants this!

Illustration:

Last year, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive player Ryan Shazier was trying to tackle Bengals offensive player Josh Malone. During the attempt Shazier injured his spinal chord and unable to move his legs. Just yesterday, a video posted Shazier able to stand and deadlift weight slowly. It has become apparent that there is the potential there for Shazier to get back to something he loves - maybe not at a professional level.

Application to Unbeliever:

In like fashion, the potential for you to become a full inheritor, to go from death to life, to go from a child who has no right to a son who has full rights is great; but you must believe on Jesus Christ alone.

Colossians 1:12 KJV 1900

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

To the Christian, it is easy to forget how that Jesus Christ ALONE is the One who has made this potential a reality.

TURN TO [NOTE CONNECTIONS]: IT IS GOD’S GOOD PLEASURE

, ,

Ephesians 1:11 KJV 1900

In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Ephesians 1:9 KJV 1900

Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

Ephesians 1:5 KJV 1900

Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

Application to Believer:

To the Christian, it is easy to forget how that [THIS BABY] Jesus Christ ALONE is the One who has made this potential a reality.

Illustration:

In the recent Cinderella movie, Cinderella’s widower father meets a beautiful widow woman and her two daughters. In the movie, the widow woman begins somewhat humbly. She seems to be appreciative of the fact that she is now married and cared for; but this soon changes when Cinderella’s father dies and Cinderella is under the care of her step mother. Soon, Cinderella, who is just as much a part of the family as the step-sisters, is being treated like a slave in her own home. Even though the step-mother was in need of the marriage so that she and her daughters could be cared for and she found her only hope in Cinderella’s father, she turns completely on Cinderella in her own household when her husband dies. Both the wicked step-mom and the sisters see the humble work of Cinderella and they perceive Cinderella to be a threat. They mistreat her over and over again.

Similarly, there are Christian’s today who have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ exclusively. But, even though they believed, they have begun to place confidence in how righteous and how clean and good their works are. Because they have forgotten or taken for granted that Christ is the only reason they are in the family, they perceive other Christians in the family as threats. This leads to a constant critical spirit of those in the same household.

Some of you are so unhappy in the church, and you think that it is because of others and what they are doing; but it is not. In fact, it is because you have forgotten what it is that placed you here. If you would be free to enjoy being an inheritor, REMEMBER that the same Jesus that allows you to be here is the same Jesus that allows others to be here.

Conclusion:

For some faithful, church-going, standard-keeping, self-righteous believers, Christ is become worthless to you.

Illustration:

Many of you have your driver’s license. This is a statement of maturity. This allows for independence. This allows for greater responsibility. This allows for liberty. I remember when I first received my driver’s license. I was looking for a reason to drive. Finally, I found one. We needed milk at home. I joyfully inconvenienced myself for the thrill of exercising my new liberty. Over time, this liberty becomes something we don’t as joyfully exercise. If you have no milk for the cereal at night, we don’t inconvenience ourselves. Rather, we say that we will wait until we do groceries…etc

In the Christian life, when someone realizes that Jesus Christ has done for them what nothing they could do has done, there is a thrill that comes with this. We will often try to exercise this liberty. What is the thrilling exercise of this liberty? It is that we show towards others the love, kindness, and compassion that we realized was shown to us. It does not take long for this to change though.

How can you tell if this is you? How can you tell that even though you have received Jesus Christ alone, Christ has now become worthless to you?

(*) You are consumed with how someone else does or does not measure up. [How you verbally treat one another] -

The irony of “baby Jesus” is that through Christ alone we are made full inheritors of eternal life. Our eternity, our joy, our current happiness is all contingent on belief in this truth.

Illustration:

One of the best phrases in the, often sung, Christmas song “Mary, Did You Know” is the last phrase, “this little child you’re holding is the Great I Am?”

Invitation Questions:

How many of you this morning desire to be the Spirit-controlled Christian who is loving, joyful, peaceful, gentle, patient, self-controlled?

You must take time right now to challenge your heart with the exclusivity of Jesus Christ.

How many of you are Christians but you realize that you are this overly critical person who has allowed yourself to forget the liberty you have in Christ?

How many of you this morning have believed that your good works is why God will receive you into Heaven?

Part II

(2) To become free from imprisonment (v. 3)

Explanation & Principle:

Illustration:

Application:

Transition:

Conclusion:

Invitation Questions: