Galatians 3:10-29

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Galatians 3:10–29 ESV

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.” 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” 12 But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. 15 To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. 16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. 17 This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. 18 For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise. 19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. 20 Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one. 21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

SLIDE 2

Galatians 3:10–14 ESV

Gal 3.10-14

Read vs. 10-14

Intro:

You’ve heard the jokes…

How many people does it take, to screw in a light bulb?

Well, I’ve told these before… but you’ve probably forgotten and they are still funny…

Charasmatics – 1 (hands are already in the air)

Pentecostals – 10 (One to change the bulb, 9 to pray against the spirit of darkness)

Presbyterians – None (Lights will go on and off at predestined times)

Roman Catholic – None (Candles only)

Baptists – At Least 15 (1 to change the bulb, and three committees to approve the change and decide who brings the potato salad and fried chicken)

Episcopalians – 3 (One to call the electrician, one to mix the drinks and one to talk about how much better the old one was)

Mormons – 5 (One man to change the bulb, and 4 wives to tell him how to do it) ++

Unitarians: (We choose not to make a statement either in favor of or against the need for a light bulb. However, if in your own journey you have found that light bulbs work for you, you are invited to write a poem or compose a modern dance about your light bulb for the next Sunday service, in which we will explore a number of light bulb traditions, including incandescent, fluorescent, 3-way, long life and tinted, all of which are equally valid paths to luminescence.)

Methodists - Undetermined: ( Whether your light is bright, dull or completely out, you are loved. You can be a light bulb, turnip bulb, or tulip bulb. Bring a bulb of your choice to the Sunday lighting service and a covered dish to pass.

Nazarene – 6 (One woman to replace the bulb while 5 men review church lighting policy.)

Lutherans - None (Lutherans don’t believe in change)

Amish – (What’s a light bulb?)

We humans have a hard time… agreeing about anything..

If the automobile manufacturers were only putting out one model of car..

and every one was brown..

It wouldn’t take long.. and someone would make a change.. ++

Pretty soon, you’d be driving down the road..

And there.. would be a red car..

Pretty soon, you’d be cruising down the highway at maximum speed..

And there.. would be someone rocketing by you with a souped up.. turbo-charged engine.. ++

Then.. someone would tint their windows..

Then, there would be chrome rims..

Next thing you know.. there would be little shops opening up..

Not the standard garage where the oil is changed and the zerks are greased.. ++

No.. these will be custom shops..

There will be shops dedicated to paint..

Shops for those who want their car red.. shops for those who want their car blue.. shops for those who want their cars to be plaid..

Then there will shops for cars that want hydraulic suspension..

Then there will be shops for cars that want to have bigger, more powerful engines.. ++

And shops for those who think that their car will save the environment.. so they will have smaller, wimpy engines that are powered by a mixture of:

Sunlight, ethanol and Duracel Batteries.

Some will come with a removable panel on the floor.. for the Flintstone Propulsion system.. ++

Then, there will be shops for cars that really want to be pick-up trucks..

They’ll invent the El Camino..

Which will eventually evolve into a custom shop.. to specifically make pick-up trucks.. ++

Pretty soon.. you’ll be on the road.. and there will be vecilcles.. of all makes.. all models.. all colors..

And that old brown car that everyone used to drive..

Well, it will still be around..

But.. it will just be another car.. ++

This is our nature..

this is simultaneously.. what is so wonderful, and what is so terrible.. about human beings..

We are not easily brought into a place of contentment..

We are not easily brought.. to a place of common understanding..

We are not easily coerced into a place of philosophical unity.

And sometimes… that’s wonderful..

For we have so many options for food.. for music.. for clothing.. for housing..

And sometimes… that ‘s terrible..

As we look around our world..

We see nations and governments that are labeled as being: oppressive.. or tyrannical..

Why?

Because one view.. one opinion.. one philosophy..

Is in charge..

Which.. would be fine if every human being under that leadership..

Was in complete agreement with the philosophy..

But this is never the case.. ++

The reasons these governments draw our attention..

Is because of their harsh behaviors upon their people.. and others.. ++

Why is there harshness?

Because humans will naturally veer, by nature… from that hard-line opinion..

Causing.. a severe repercussion upon that individual.. ++

Sometimes humans veer from the leadership philosophies of their country..

Simply by being born into a different race..

Simply by having.. a different religion..

Simply by dressing the wrong way.. ++

Whether it’s our clothes.. our car.. our government, our religion.. or, our denomination..

There is always going to be.. difference.. and distinction.. ++

In some areas.. it’s not as important..

My favorite sport is fishing.. beyond that.. I’m not much of a sports fan.

But I can still have a close.. solid friendship with sports fans..

I don’t judge. Get excited about multimillionaires playing ball… I don’t get it, but hey, you like it and I respect that. ++

I don’t have a lot of close friends..

But of the ones I do..

One is way into Nascar

One is way into baseball

One is way into bicycling.

I don’t want to watch anything on TV that remotely resembles..

.. any of these activities..

But.. amongst a few of my closest friends..

These are passions.. that I don’t share. And you know what?

It doesn’t affect my life.. negatively.. in any way..

Sometimes.. it’s not important..

And sometimes it is..

In life.. we need to learn how to make that distinction..

In some things.. you can take it, or leave it..

and it won’t affect you negatively or positively..

it’s just a neutral thing..

Take it or leave it..

Blue car? Red Car?

Pargo flooring? Tile flooring?

Acoustic guitar? Electric Guitar?

Whatever! ++

But.. when it comes to the issues of faith..

opinion and feeling need to take a smaller role..

politics needs to take a smaller role…

traditions need to take a smaller role..

the influences of family and friends… need to take a smaller role..

the mandates of your government.. need to take a smaller role..

desire needs to take a smaller role..

personal ambition.. needs to take a smaller role

pride and arrogance….

In the direct circle of our faith.. Christianity..

these things I have just listed..

have taken substantial roles.. in defining the simple faith that is communicated in the Bible.. ++

in defining the simple faith that is communicated in the Bible..

thousands of different ways. Thousands of different denominations..

It becomes very difficult for us.. to receive and practice what God intended..

For if we aren’t interjecting the many mutations of our humanity..

We are trying.. instead.. to interpret God’s instruction..

With partial information.. ++

Or even worse…

We are receiving partial instruction.. from segments of the Bible.. while simultaneously.. interjecting our: variant preferences..

And what I’m telling you right now..

is not new information..

This is who we are.. this is the way we are.. this is the nature.. of our being..

And sometimes.. we need a fresh reminder of this..

Especially, in light of our current study.. ++

The book of Galatians..

It’s one big lesson.. on grace..

Over and over again..

We have been.. we are.. we will be..

Talking .. about grace.. ++

And of the many ways.. that we can make our lives more difficult..

By setting grace aside.

The biggest enemy of grace.. is Gospel-lacking view of the Law..

And it’s not that the law is bad..

No.. the principles of the law.. are designed to teach us and instruct us..

On how we can live healthy, productive and spiritually positive lives.. ++

The law itself is not the enemy..

It’s the “mis-application” of the law..

It’s.. when we ascribe meaning and purpose to the law..

That is beyond God’s intention.. ++

We’ve talked in great detail about the common struggle that we humans have with grace..

We are okay with getting stuff.. if, we feel like we’ve earned it or paid for it..

But to get something freely..

Well, that’s not as easy.

Our pride gets in the way.. ++

Even when it comes to gifts..

We rarely.. just receive a gift..

No.. normally..

We end up paying for it..

Since that person gave us a gift.. we are then compelled to give them a gift..

And that inward compulsion.. is rooted in our need to “pay for” what we get. ++

That’s why we struggle with grace..

Because God has given us.. the greatest gift of all time..

Greater.. than the biggest lottery prize ever.

Greater.. than any game show victory..

Greater.. than any monetary-type inheritance..

God has given us the gift of redemption.. and the government hasn’t even figured out how to tax that gift yet… so it’s all ours.

On the surface.. it might not look like much..

But when we look at it.. and begin to discover what we have.. and we begin to discover.. the price that was paid for us get it..

Then.. wow! It becomes the biggest deal of all time.. ++

The bible says:

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..

We hear that word sin.. and we think..

“Oh, that’s a horrible deed. A sin.. is murder.. or rape.. "

We hear that word.. and we’re repulsed..

And we agree.. if you’re bad enough to sin..

Then you are too bad.. to have a relationship with God.. ++

So.. when we hear..

That all have sinned..

Sometimes.. we might get a little offended..

Hey.. wait a minute.. I haven’t sinned..

I haven’t killed anybody..

I haven’t done anything vile or evil... ++

But the real meaning of sin.. is “missed the mark”

Or.. “falling short”..

If you’re playing horse-shoes.. and you miss the pole..

You sinned..

If you’re throwing a dart..

And it doesn’t hit the bullseye..

You sinned..

But I tried to hit the bullseye..

I tried to do it perfectly..

You can’t call my good try a sin.. ++

Yes I can..

Because that’s what the word means..

All of us have done that.. in our lives, we have missed the mark… fallen short… of perfection… ++

And that.. is what keeps us from the presence of God..

And if we can’t be in the presence of God..

That is apart from the presence of God..

But God..

Has offered us a way.. to have this whole problem fixed..

All these times that we fell short..

All these sins..

.. they will be wiped off of our record..

God offers us that option..

And if we take it..

We can have an everlasting relationship with God.. ++

How?

How do I make up for this great void between me and God..

Holiness cannot bear the presence of sin..

God is holy..

I fall short.. I’m imperfect.. I’m missing the mark..

How?

God requires a payment for sin.. ++

We can’t make that payment..

But.. Jesus Christ.. made it on our account..

And He wants to extend.. an invitation.. to be eternally welcomed into the presence of God..

… to you… ++

So.. we receive by faith.. the forgiveness that God offers.. for our sins..

And we make a pledge..

That we are turning.. from the life we lived for ourselves..

To a life that is lived for God..

This is the part that many in the church miss. They believe in some fantasy myth that “accepting Jesus in our hearts” is our golden ticket and we get to go to heaven.

Listen up… repentance is not just a bunch of words… it’s a commitment to be a disciple.. a follower… a student of Jesus.

Not a student or follower of feeling and self gratification. not a student of self empowerment. Not a student of astrology… Not a student of human centered philosophy...

But… a student of Jesus.

So we repent… and we believe… and we commit…

And by this process..

We are redeemed..

A word that literally means..

“bought back”

Who bought us?

Jesus… ++

And this is the greatest.. most incredible gift that we will ever receive..

Because it extends.. beyond the amazing benefits of this life..

Into.. the life eternal.. ++

Paul taught this to the Galatians..

They were saved.. by grace.. not by works..

But.. over time..

This idea began to change.. ++

In came the feelings.. the opinions.. the traditions..

And suddenly..

The simple truth that they had once embraced..

Well.. now it has baggage..

Now.. they are told.. that there are certain aspects of the law..

That they must practice..

If.. they want their salvation to be valid.

Paul continues.. w/this argument.. in vs. 10..

SLIDE 3

Galatians 3:10–12 ESV

SLIDE 4

Galatians 2:13–14 ESV

13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

Here is the gist of Paul’s argument..

A religion that is based on the law..

Meaning.. a religion.. that requires a person to perform works of the law for salvation..

That religion… lies under judgment. ++

The only exception to this verdict..

Would be the person.. who performs every point of the law..

Perfectly..

But.. as we know.. this doesn’t and can’t happen unless you are Jesus, God the Son..

If you fail in one point of the law..

And yet.. you performed exceptionally with all the others..

You’re still cursed.

Law oriented religions.. create frustration on both sides..

for those who fail.. and for those who are perfect..

for those who fail..

they are frustrated.. because they try and try and try..

but still fail..

and then they feel like big loosers.. ++

But, for those who are perfect..

There is another frustration..

For inevitably..

The one who is successful to obey the disciplines of the law..

They will ultimately struggle with pride… they will feel inclined to judge… and usually have little patience or compassion. ++

About his.. Paul speaks from personal testimony..

In .. he gives us insight into his pride.. as a zealot who performed well..

SLIDE 5

ali

Philippians 3:6 ESV

6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

He felt blameless..

And this led to his persecution of the church..

These frustrations.. reflect the curse of the law..

What is the curse?

The law does not curse us..

Instead.. it reveals the curse.. that’s w/in us.. ++

By submitting our lives to the laws of the Torah..

Our short-comings.. (our sins) will be revealed

The Jewish Rabbi’s have attempted to define the law in 613 different instructions..

If we just took this Rabbinical commentary..

And used these 613 guidelines..

We wouldn’t make it..

Eventually.. we will fall.. We might get by for an hour or two, but soon, we’ll wake up, and one of those 613 rules is going to be broken ++

You can only walk the tight-rope for so long before we slip and fall..

So the law.. reveals the curse..

The curse is our internal corruption..

Our corruption.. makes sin.. and inevitable behavior..

And by one sin.. by one mark of perfection.. that is missed..

We are judged.. as being cursed.. ++

But look at vs. 13..

Christ has redeemed us from the curse..

He became the curse on our behalf.. ++

SLIDE 6

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

II cor 5:21.. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him..

I challenge you.. this week.. to write down these two verses.. and meditate on them..

Write down.. and .

And take some times.. to read them, prayerfully..

And ponder the reality of those two verses..

And see.. afresh.. just what that means..

He took OUR SIN away..

So that we could stand before God.. and be seen by God.. as being “righteous in Christ”..

In Christ!...

You’ll find that little phrase in vs. 14..

The Gentiles.. who are “in Christ”..

In the cleansing and protective covering of His perfection..

In the cleansing and protective covering of His sacrifice..

In the secure position of righteousness and justification.. ++

.. those who are “in Christ”

Receive the blessing of Abraham..

Which will be defined.. in a moment..

And.. they receive the promise of the Spirit..

Which is received.. how? ++

Through works? Through ceremonial practices? Through circumcision???

No.. through faith….

SLIDE 7

Galatians 3:15–17 ESV

15 To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. 16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. 17 This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void.

SLIDE 8

Galatians 3:18–20 ESV

18 For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise. 19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. 20 Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.

SLIDE 9

Galatians 3:21–22 ESV

21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

The strong proponents of the law.. state.. that the law.. supersedes the promise to Abraham..

For they argue.. that this promise.. was to Abraham’s direct family.. ++

Some centuries later.. God made a covenant w/this family..

With.. Israel.. – through the law..

Therefore.. the law.. supersedes the Abrahamic covenant.. ++

Paul gives a solid: “No Way! No How! That Aint Right At All!”

The promise.. was to Abraham’s seed.. ++

In , , and 24..

This term is repeated..

The promise is to his “seed” ++

A word.. that generally speaks of multiple individuals..

But in this case.. the word “seed” is singular..

Which raises the question..

Who is this one person.. who is the seed..

Through whom.. all the nations of the world will be blessed??? ++

Obviously.. that could only be defined.. in Jesus Christ..

.. the One person.. born from the lineage of Abraham..

Through Whom, there is blessing available..

To all humanity..

Jew and Gentile alike.

SLIDE 10

(NKJV)

1 Corinthians 12:12 ESV

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.

12 For sas the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, tso also is Christ. [1]

Later in .. we learn.. that we are all sons of God through faith in Christ..

Neither is there Jew, nor Greek.. slave nor free.. male nor female..

In Christ.. we are all one..

We are Christ’s..

And we are Abraham’s seed.

And we are heirs.. according the promise. ++

IN SPITE OF… this promise.. this blessing.. they are still being told.. in the Galatian church..

that the law is required.. to receive it..

But Paul argues against this..

“All the nations of the earth are going to be blessed through the seed”.. ++

That’s a promise..

And if it’s a promise..

It can’t be.. according to the law..

This is his argument in vs. 17 and 18..

If you can earn the blessing by doing the prescribed works perfectly..

Then the promise of receiving that blessing.. through the seed.. by faith..

Is no longer a promise.. ++

The law.. does not void the promise..

The law does not trump it..

The promise stands..

We receive our salvation.. by faith in Jesus Christ..

And through the amazing gift of grace..

We are given the blessing.. the promise.. the life eternal with God.. ++

So.. what’s up w/the law?

It serves an amazing.. wonderful purpose..

But it doesn’t sound amazing and wonderful..

Because we’re seeing bad words like: sin, confined and transgressions..

But this is actually good stuff.. ++

When the plumber comes to your house and finds the leak..

… the one.. that if it were left un-noticed..

It would eventually rot the floor of your bathroom.. ++

And eventually.. one day..

You’d be taking a bath..

And you’ll hear a bad creaking.. ripping crunching noise..

You’ll experience a strange sinking feeling..

And you’ll take part in a damaging and destructive force that will take you down fast into the pits of your basement..

Where you will scream in painful agony..

And experience great shame in your nakedness as you lie there in the rubble.. ++

Change a couple words of that plumber analogy..

And you have the story of death and hell for the individual..

… who never heeded the instruction of the law.. ++

Ultimately.. we learn.. that the instruction of the law isn’t about us earning favor with God..

The instruction of the law.. is to teach us something very specific about ourselves…

The law points out the flaws.. the failures.. the weak points..

The law defines us..

It doesn’t make us bad..

It shows us.. that we already are bad.. ++

SLIDE 11

(NKJV)

Romans 3:20 ESV

20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

20 Therefore tby the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

[2]

SLIDE 12

(NKJV)

Romans 4:15 ESV

15 For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.

15 because othe law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression.

The law is a light..

It reveals the reality that is w/in us..

And we are responsible.. for the things we know..

And the law let’s us know..

That we can’t do it..

We can’t gain it..

We can’t work for salvation.

We can’t maintain perfection..

And we are confined..

Categorized..

Brought into a place of definition..

So that..

We will realize.. that Jesus Christ.. is our only hope..

And that receiving freely.. our salvation..

Is our only option.. ++

SLIDE 13

Galatians 3:23–25 ESV

23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian,

SLIDE 14

Galatians 3:26–27 ESV

26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

SLIDE 15

GAL 3.26

Galatians 3:28–29 ESV

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

The word used here for guardian… or tutor”.. is from the Gk word that describes a slave who had a very specific responsibility. ++

This wasn’t a tutor.. as we would have now a days..

This was actually, a slave who had a very specific responsibility.

This slave.. was a guardian and a teacher of children..

This slave’s responsibility ended.. when the child reached the age of maturity.. ++

In Paul’s analogy.. this is what the law does

It shows us the principles of holy living..

It shows us beneficial steps.. the practices.. the mentalities…

That are good.. right and pleasing to God..

And it also tells us..

That God requires perfection.. in all these points..

If.. we want to earn His favor.. ++

But.. if we fail in one point.. we fail in them all..

This is the greatest lesson that our tutor, our guardian is trying to show us..

We can’t earn His favor..

We can’t win our salvation.

We can’t.. succeed in all points of the law.. ++

The law shows us our imperfection.. by holding us up to the standards of perfection.

The law shows us how we miss the mark.. by teaching us what the mark really is..

And this is not a despairing lesson..

No.. this is actually a glorious journey.. ++

For we are born into this world.. thinking that we can do anything..

.. thinking that we can earn anything..

Thinking that we can attain any goal.. ++

This life teaches us, and bad teacher teach us… .

That God helps those who help themselves..

That if we want something.. we need to go for it, and get it ourselves..

That nothing is free. ++

If it sounds too good to be true.. it probably is..

These are the mentalities that are hard-wired into us..

Which.. is why we need to be led.. to that place.. where we understand..

There is one thing.. that we cannot get ourselves..

There is one thing.. that is free..

There is one thing.. that is too good to be true..

And yet.. it’s still true.. ++

Most of us.. have come to this realization..

by the simple conviction of the Holy Spirit..

We realized.. that we are weak and incapable..

We realized.. that we can’t always be good.. and perfect..

We realize.. that our best intentions.. aren’t good enough..

And we are confined with the knowledge..

That we need Jesus to set us free. ++

The Jews had a really big.. really long.. really intense lesson..

The law.. is a good thing.. for it teaches healthy principles for life.. and ultimately.. it teaches us.. that we cannot live up to it perfectly.. ++

If it could be lived up to.. perfectly.. then favor with God could be earned…

But it can’t.. and this is the lesson..

It’s a lesson.. that we don’t really understand..

… we don’t really comprehend..

.. we don’t really put the pieces together..

Until the Holy Spirit flips that light on..

And shows us..

We just can’t do this on our own.. ++

We were not intended to be free agents..

A free agent operates according to a set of rules on his own accord..

They are responsible.. for their own success..

They make their decisions..

They comply.. by will power.. by discipline.. to the rules.. ++

A free agent represents himself.. to God..

And is responsible to fulfill God’s rules and God’s prescribed disciplines.. perfectly..

But he can’t.. ++

We need Jesus to represent us..

He takes full responsibility..

For all the rules that God requires..

He fulfills that stuff, perfectly.. on our account..

He brings us.. into His family..

Pulls us in close, under His arm..

Says to His Father..

“I’m vouching for this one… they are with Me.” ++

When we have sufficiently been taught.. that we can’t gain favor with God on our own..

We move.. from that place of instruction.. to that place of maturity..

We finally understand..

That it’s not by works..

No .. it is.. rather.. by faith!!!!

We believe.. we receive..

We become sons and daughters..

Identified w/Christ.. intimately.. ++

Equally blessed.. no matter what we might be in this world..

In Christ.. we are the same..

Equally.. redeemed and considered righteous..

We are equally identified with Him

We are equally forgiven..

We are equally accredited.. w/holiness.. before God..

No one person is more redeemed than another person who is redeemed.

Conclusion.

If you’ve never received JX as your Lord and Savior..

this is where you are at..

you’re in the hands of the tutor/.guardian.

and this life.. your efforts.. your attempts.. your struggles..

they are communicating a lesson to you..

They are trying to teach you..

That you can’t do it on your own.. ++

And if you’re beginning to see that..

Then it’s time to graduate from that school of hard knocks..

It’s time.. to receive your instruction..

And step forward.. by faith.. into God’s favor.. ++

Paul has made it abundantly clear..

It’s not by works..

It’s by faith..

It’s a simple prayer..

And if you realize.. right now.. that you need Jesus..

Then grab a hold of the moment..

And as we close, as people are going back and forth with their communion… come up and pray with one of the folks we have available…

As believers.. we fall back into the hands of the tutor from time to time..

and we start thinking..

that our failures.. have somehow.. outweighed the grace of God..

We feel shameful of ourselves.. disapproving.. and disappointed.. .++

So we think.. that God thinks the same way that we think..

We feel like we are worthless..

So.. we think God feels that way too..

But we forget..

Grace is still abounding more than our sin..

Even today.. ++

And.. we are still.. “In Christ”

We are still.. equal beneficiaries.. of everything He did on the cross..

so, when we fall down.. again and again..

We have a tendency.. to stay down..

Because we think.. we’ve fallen too far..

But the promise of vs. 28 continues..

we are all one in Christ..

we are still.. heirs according to the promise.. ++

If you think that you’ve failed God..

then you’ve put yourself back under a religion based on law..

… back under judgment..

For if you think.. you’ve failed God..

Then you’re thinking .. according to the rules..

Rules that are intended to teach us..

That we can’t actually, follow the rules sufficiently..

In shame, many distance themselves from God, because of this..

So you’re a big fat failure?

So what?

So am I. ++

And it doesn’t matter if you’ve stepped down into the darkness of failure and depravity..

It’s doesn’t matter.. if you’ve gone down.. 100 or 200 steps..

It is still, only one step back up.. ++

Turn from that world.. and experience the grace of God..

Get back on track with Jesus.. right now..

And if you’re feeling like this is you..

Take a hold of the moment..

Don’t let it pass..

Come forward and pray… as we close with a song.

Communion.

If you’ve prayed with me today.. for salvation.. for renewal..

then I want you.. to give me the opportunity.. to encourage you.. in this commitment..

let me know.. let someone know.. so that we can pray for you.. specifically..

After communion.. we will close w/a song..

and we’re going to be here to pray w/you..

I encourage you..

Take advantage of it..

Song..

Communion.

Don’t break the cups…

s , ; ;

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[1] The New King James Version. 1996, c1982. Thomas Nelson: Nashville

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[2] The New King James Version. 1996, c1982. Thomas Nelson: Nashville

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