Freedom: Clear and Present Danger
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Concerned heart
Concerned heart
Paul in dealing with the churches of Galatia comes from a place of love, admonishment, correction, and concern. In our passage tonight we will see a clear and present danger portrayed to the church then and it is easily seen in the church today and we too need to be concerned.
(Fatherly advice)
When Paul is writing to the churches of Galatia he has concerns and you can see it from the wording he uses.
He describes them as foolish (Gal3:1; Gal3:3)
They were seeking to perfect in the flesh what could only be done in the spirit (circumcision of flesh vs. spirit)
They were suffering many things in vain (Gal5:4-8)
I was going to hold off on passage from Gal5 regarding the suffering, but then thought about it and thought it would be better to bring in.
4 You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness.
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love. 7 You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?
8 This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you.
Can you see a clear and present danger here?
Had they been bewitched (Gal3:1)?
In Strong’s it shows the Greek word “baskaino” meaning to be fascinated or charmed.
Paul, as a loving father seeks to reason with them (Gal3:1-5)
His reasoning is clear, had they not seen Christ clearly portrayed as crucified?
Had they not received the Spirit by faith rather than by works?
Did not the faith come by hearing?
In today’s world there could be some of the same issues. Might someone come and peddle a different gospel and people become bewitched through deception?
(Clear and present danger picture)
We may easily find ourselves bewitched if we are not careful for there is clearly a clear and present danger today just as there was then.
1 You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? 2 This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?
4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?
Clear and present danger
Clear and present danger
This is not a Harrison Ford movie, this is real life with a real threat, a threat to salvation.
Danger declared through scriptures:
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Jesus and John both declared about false prophets (Mt7:15; 1Jn4:1)
Paul warned about false apostles even (2Cor11:13-15)
Danger of being mislead, deceived through philosophy, etc. . . (Col2:8)
Danger causing some to leave their faith (1Tim4:1-3)
Others turning to fables (2Tim4:3-4)
Then there is Peter’s harsh words on the subject (2Pt2:1-3)
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Jesus and John both declared about false prophets (Mt7:15; 1Jn4:1)
15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
Briefly tell me what these false prophets look like?
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
To ensure we are protected against the clear and present nature we need to test every spirit.
Jesus and John both declared about false prophets (Mt7:15; 1Jn4:1)
Paul warned about false apostles even (2Cor11:13-15)
13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.
What do the false apostles look like here?
Jesus and John both declared about false prophets (Mt7:15; 1Jn4:1)
Paul warned about false apostles even (2Cor11:13-15)
Danger of being mislead, deceived through philosophy, etc. . . (Col2:8)
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.
What is the clear and present danger here in this passage? - traditions of man, principles of this world
Danger causing some to leave their faith (1Tim4:1-3)
1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron,
3 men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude;
What is the clear and present danger here (v.1-3)? - deceitful spirit, doctrines of demons, hypocrisy of liars, forbidding marriage and certain foods.
Danger causing some to leave their faith (1Tim4:1-3)
Others turning to fables (2Tim4:3-4)
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.
So, bet you know the question now? What is the clear and present danger here? - leaving sound doctrine, seeking man pleasing vs. God pleasing messages, turning to myths vs the gospel of truth.
Danger causing some to leave their faith (1Tim4:1-3)
Others turning to fables (2Tim4:3-4)
Then there is Peter’s harsh words on the subject (2Pt2:1-3)
1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. 2 Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned;
3 and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
Where does the clear and present danger show up in this passage? -among the people, among you.
What do they do? - bring in destructive heresies, follow sensuality vs. the truth
So, with our eyes wide open and our eyes fixed on the truth it makes it harder to be bewitched or befooled doesn’t it?
Danger clearly Present: Don’t be bewitched or befooled!
Beleaguered by traditions of men
By denominationalism vs. one church
By traditions of men elevated to the level of the word of God
Assaulted by philosophies of men
Humanism, secularism, postmodernism
Humanism: relying on humanity vs. divine
Secularism: Separation of state from religious institutions
Postmodernism - general distrust of general theories and ideologies
Allured by false teachers of men
false teachers who proclaim gospel without all elements (i.e. repentance)
Health, wealth gospel
Challenged by false doctrines of men
False doctrines like denying deity of Christ
False doctrine like evolution
And assailed by changing trends of men
Divorce made easy
Same sex marriage just to name a few of things. I’m sure you can add many more.
This world has been bewitched and befooled, but we can have that happen to us personally too, can’t we?
The Solution
The Solution
Solution, who doesn’t want to have a solution? Here is the definition: a means of solving a problem or dealing with a difficult situation. Solution to a clear and present danger is portrayed and empowered so now let us look together.
Remember what has been clearly portrayed
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Jesus and Him crucified (Gal3:1)
Proclaimed by Apostles (1Cor1:23-24; 1Cor2:2)
Proclaimed in Lord’s Supper (1Cor11:26)
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Jesus and Him crucified (Gal3:1)
1 You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?
Jesus and Him crucified (Gal3:1)
Proclaimed by Apostles (1Cor1:23-24; 1Cor2:2)
23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
and
2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
Jesus and Him crucified (Gal3:1)
Proclaimed by Apostles (1Cor1:23-24; 1Cor2:2)
Proclaimed in Lord’s Supper (1Cor11:26)
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
May we never forget Jesus was crucified for our sins. He fulfilled the law of Moses and its works (strict adherence, etc; circumcision). May we also remember the clear and present danger of people giving some doctrine that denies the deity and necessity of Christ and the resurrection.
May we remember there is no other gospel, no other way to be saved (Rom1:16; Gal1:8-9)
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
and then look what Paul says about other gospels
8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!
Remember how we received the Spirit
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By faith (Gal3:2)
By repentance and baptism (Jn7:37-39; Act2:38)
Given to those who become children of God (Gal4:6)
Spiritual life begins in the spirit (Gal3:3)
We are born of the Spirit (Jn3:3; Tit3:5)
We are strengthened by the Spirit (Eph3:16)
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By faith (Gal3:2)
2 This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
Faith comes by hearing and as it says in Romans, by the word of God
By faith (Gal3:2)
By repentance and baptism (Jn7:37-39; Act2:38)
37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38 “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ ”
39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
You know another one about repentance and baptism (Act2:38)
By faith (Gal3:2)
By repentance and baptism (Jn7:37-39; Act2:38)
Given to those who become children of God (Gal4:6)
6 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”
Spiritual life begins in the Spirit (Gal3:3)
3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
Spiritual life begins in the spirit (Gal3:3)
We are born of the Spirit (Jn3:3; Tit3:5)
3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
and add
5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
Spiritual life begins in the spirit (Gal3:3)
We are born of the Spirit (Jn3:3; Tit3:5)
We are strengthened by the Spirit (Eph3:16)
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,
Solution may we remember what has been presented, portrayed and the power that is given when we surrender to Him. Now, just a few minutes longer for we need to briefly look at the supplier of the power
Supplier of the Spirit
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It was God (Gal3:5; Tit3:6; Heb2:4)
God bore witness to Christ and His apostles (Heb2:3; Mk16:19-20)
Know the supplier for there is no other way (1Jn4:5-6)
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It was God (Gal3:5; Tit3:6; Heb2:4)
5 So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
God poured out his Spirit and worked miracles
6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
He poured out his Spirit through Jesus Christ our Savior
4 God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.
He poured out his Spirit according to His will and confirmed with signs, wonders and various miracles.
It was God (Gal3:5; Tit3:6; Heb2:4)
God bore witness to Christ and His apostles (Heb2:3; Mk16:19-20)
3 how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard,
and then look at this passage
19 So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed. And they promptly reported all these instructions to Peter and his companions. And after that, Jesus Himself sent out through them from east to west the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation.
It was God (Gal3:5; Tit3:6; Heb2:4)
God bore witness to Christ and His apostles (Heb2:3; Mk16:19-20)
Know the supplier for there is no other way (1Jn4:5-6)
5 They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
There is a clear and present danger, there is a spirit of error out there that can bewitch and befool. We need to know it, be watchful and careful so not to be bewitched or befooled. Be sure we know the truth for it is the truth that makes us free.
(Set you free slide)
below not on a slide
31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
You want to be protected from the clear and present danger? Hide God’s word in your heart and do what it says. Freedom is what Christ came, lived, died and rose for, so we can have freedom from the clear and present danger of this world.
(set you free slide 2 ) prayer, (exit slide)