Galatians 5:1-15

Read Galatians 5:1-15

Intro:

Did you know that every state has its own motto. It has a slogan, and it has a motto. Slogans are pretty basic…

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My home state of Iowa is, The Hawkeye State. Our neighbor to the south is the Tarheel State. And right here in Virginia, we are the Old Dominion State.

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Those are the slogans… But, when it comes to our mottos… things are not so straight forward.

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Sometimes, our mottos aren’t even in English. Hawaii’s motto is something I can’t pronounce, Virginia’s motto is Sic Semper Tyrannis

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But, maybe the most random state motto is that of Maryland. It’s not in a classical language like Latin… it’s not in a native language, like Hawaii..

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But instead, Maryland has picked a motto that is in Italian.

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Fatti Maschii, Parole Femine- which means: ‘Manly Deeds, Womanly Words”

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Maryland was founded by the Calvert family in 1632, and this was their family motto. Maryland has decided to hold on to this one now for 388 years.

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My two favorite mottos are in somewhat of a contrast. My favorite, belongs to Rhode Island.

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Their motto is, “Hope” - The first settlers to Rhode Island were a people who were expelled from Massachusetts by the Puritan church.

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When the pilgrims first came to American, they wanted religious freedom. They wanted a church that was not ruled and dominated by the government.

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But, they didn’t hold to this conviction fully, and they created a government that was essentially ruled and dominated by the church.

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So, a new set of pilgrims set off, under the persecution of a united church and state (which, historically, always is a bad thing)… and settled Rhode Island.

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The motto is hope and the seal bears the image of an anchor… which is a reference to .

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Rhode Island was the first place where Americans were guaranteed freedom of conscience and established an early version of the separation of church and state.

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Rhode Island’s motto, is an inspiration.

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On the other end of the spectrum, my second favorite motto belongs to New Hampshire.

Live Free or Die!

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This phrase was penned by General John Stark, on July 31, 1809.

He was New Hampshire’s most famous soldier of the American Revolutionary War..

On this date, he was s’posed to attend an anniversary reunion of the Battle of Bennington..

But, because of poor health, he was unable to make it..

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So, in his physical absence.. he sent this toast..

And there, at that reunion.. it was read:

“Live Free or Die: Death is not the worst of evils.” ++

The freedom mottos are common to our nation..

“Land of the Free, home of the brave.”

We have the “Liberty” (freedom) bell..

Patrick Henry said: “Give me liberty, or give me death!” ++

We love the idea of freedom, even if, we so often are willing to vote it away… it is at the root of who we are. Freedom, liberty, and grace. ++

We, as Americans… more than anyone else.. should rally around the message of Galatians..

For this is what we’re all about..

We are about freedom..

We are about “Liberty”

We don’t want to be under an oppressive leader..

No.. we don’t want a king..

We don’t want a dictator..

We want liberty.. we want.. freedom… ++

Or.. so we say..

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We can sing songs about liberty..

But.. when it comes down to it..

Are we.. really free?

The anarchist will say, that there is only freedom, in the complete and total absence of law..

But logic tells us.. that this doesn’t work either..

For in the absence of guidelines and structure..

There will, inevitably be.. bondage..

For by nature.. this is what man chooses for himself.. The person who does as he wishes, will make decisions that put others in bondage, and will do things that bring on consequences, that put themselves in bondage. ++

And if man is not given law..

Man will do what pleases himself..

And by his own choice..

He will put himself under all kinds of bondage..

And, by his own choice..

He will put others, under bondage..

True freedom.. is found, in a delicate balance of external law.. and internal integrity.

For if the external law is forced by compulsion..

.. then there is no freedom.. ++

But, IF.. in the absence of law.. there is no integrity to make decisions of:

corporate consideration..

..personal welfare..

And common good..

Again: there will be no freedom. ++

This is the balance.. that our lawmakers have tried to create.. here, in the land of the free..

But still.. our own nation.. is still plagued by slavery, not just in the past, but also in the present..

For millions.. are enslaved to drugs and alcohol..

Millions are enslaved to pornography..

Millions.. are enslaved to guilt.. and feelings of worthlessness.. ++

There are people.. who continually put themselves in abusive and controlling relationships..

There are people.. who go back to prison.. on purpose..

There are people.. who can only gain a sense of accomplishment.. if they have suffered.. ++

There are people.. who feel that it’s necessary to make themselves out to be some kind of a martyr..

.. in front of other people..

So that they can feel like they’ve earned respect..

And we.. are the people. We are the slaves.. we are the ones who are in bondage.. we... who live.. in the land of the free..

And all of this happens, with people… IN THE LAND OF THE FREE. ++

The Apostle Paul.. in the book of Galatians.. – He’s talking to people like us..

People who live… w/in that fine balance..

Of external law.. and internal integrity.. ++

So many of us.. .. are willingly submitted to bondage..

And that’s what Paul is addressing here..

The Galatian church.. these free believers..

They have willingly.. submitted themselves..

To bondage.. ++

Jesus Christ, has granted them, internal integrity.. by the leading of the H.S..

To live lives..

Of corporate consideration..

Of personal welfare

And.. of common good… ++

The law continued to exist..

As a guideline..

But not.. as a compulsive dictator..

Not as a means by which a person, gains justification. ++

And yet.. that is the bondage that the Galatian church was choosing..

They were putting aside.. the internal work of the Spirit..

In exchange.. for the external.. letter of the law.. ++

Jesus granted them merit.. freely by grace..

But they chose rather..

To find merit.. by adhering to the law.. ++

Paul has just wrapped up an illustration..

and now.. he’s brining the point.. that was made in that illustration..

home.. ++

Abraham had a wife.. a legal wife.. who was free..

And that’s what she represented in his life..

Freedom.

Abraham had another wife..

And she.. was a slave..

And she represented..

Slavery.. ++

Abraham had a son, miraculously.. by his free wife..

Isaac..

And he represents.. the spirit..

He is the miraculous child of promise.. ++

Abraham had a son.. naturally and explainable..

By the slave woman..

Ishmael..

He represents.. the flesh.. ++

What did Abe do?

He cast out.. from his life..

The slavery.. and the flesh..

He chose.. rather.. to live.. freely, in the spirit.. ++

Just as Isaac was unexplainable.

So is the freedom that we have in the spirit..

We don’t gain merit w/God.. by adhering to the law..

We gain it.. miraculously.. unexplainably..

And Freely.. through the grace.. that is in JX. ++

By this analogy..

Paul told the Galatians.. that they were doing the opposite of Father Abraham..

They, as free believers.. living in the Spirit..

Were inviting Hagar and Ishmael back into their lives..

Now.. in chapter 5… he’s brining it home..

SLIDE 2

Galatians 5:1 ESV

1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

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Stand FIRM.. therefore..

Because of what we’ve just concluded, with the illustration from Abraham..

STAND FAST! ++

I like the way the NLT puts it..

So Christ has really set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law. ++

Christ has really set us free..

so.. let’s make sure we stay free.

By not.. going back.. again.. to the yoke.. the slavery.. of bondage.. ++

So you might ask:

Is there no longer a yoke?

Are we no longer slaves?

The answer to the first question is:

“There is still a yoke”

The answer to the second question is:

“We are still slaves” ++

But.. it’s a different kind of yoke.. and: it’s a different kind of slavery..

SLIDE 3

Turn to:

(NKJV)

Matthew 11:28–30 ESV

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

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28 Come to cMe, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you dand learn from Me, for I am 6gentle and elowly in heart, fand you will find rest for your souls. 30 gFor My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

There is still a yoke..

Why?

Because that’s what freedom is..

It’s the fine balance.. between external guidance.. and internal integrity.. ++

What do we know about this new yoke?

Well, Jesus is claiming ownership of it..

And by this yoke.. we will learn from Jesus..

We will learn of His gentleness and His humility..

We also find.. that this yoke.. will provide rest.. for our souls..

And that the labor is easy.. and.. that the burden.. is light.. ++

Here’s the image..

Jesus isn’t strapping a yoke onto us..

And following behind us.. whipping us all along.. hollering continually..

“Yah Mule!” ++

No.. that’s not the image..

A young ox.. doesn’t learn to use the yoke…

Under the direction of the whip wielding master..

The young ox.. learns to use the yoke..

By being teamed up.. with a bigger, stronger, knowledgeable and experienced ox.. ++

The big ox is doing all the work..

The little ox.. is just learning how to walk along side of him..

Yes.. there is still a yoke..

But it is not unto compulsion and hard labor..

No.. it’s God’s way.. of teaching us.. to walk along side of Jesus..

Jesus is going to do the work…

He just wants us.. to learn how to walk w/Him..

And to be there..

To be part of it..

SLIDE 4

As the work is being done..

Now.. FOR THE SLAVERY PART… let’s turn to:

Romans 6:18 ESV

18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.

18 And zhaving been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. [1]

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Yes.. we are still slaves..

But now.. we serve.. the righteous One..

And.. we serve.. in righteousness.. ++

On our own.. we have no righteousness.

Yes.. it is given to us freely..

We walk in it.. continually..

God ascribes it to us.. and sees us, as being.. “righteous”..

As a believer in Jesus Christ..

You serve.. in righteousness..

As.. you serve the righteous One… ++

It’s interesting to note.. that whenever Paul was writing to those who questioned his authority..

He called himself.. and “apostle”

But.. whenever he was writing to those who understood.. who he was..

He called himself.. a slave.. or, a bondservant.. ++

This is Paul.. the guy who is pushing.. grace.. liberty.. freedom.. down the throats of the Galatian church..

And he is calling himself..

A slave. ++

There is a yoke of slavery to the law for righteousness.. that is left behind..

We no longer seek to earn merit with God.. through our strict adherence to the law..

But.. there is a yoke of slavery..

That is taken up..

And in this one.. we find.. true freedom..

By being yoked with Christ.. ++

We learn how to walk.. by His side..

And go.. the way He’s going..

To be led.. in the paths of righteousness.

To experience.. His strength and power..

By calling Him Lord.. and serving Him gladly..

We benefit.. from all that He has to offer..

SLIDE 5

Galatians 5:2–3 ESV

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.

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SLIDE 6

Galatians 5:4–6 ESV

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.

gal 5.4-6

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Among issues of diet and tradition.. this was one of the most prominent things that the Judiasers were telling the Galatians that they needed to do..

That their men.. needed to succumb to a little minor surgery..

And by doing so.. they will be found, w/favor.. before God..

And apparently.. some were doing it.. ++

And as different folks were adhering to the law in different ways..

There arose.. an attitude of superiority..

Because... that’s what legalism tends to produce in people.. ++

You try to become more spiritual.. by adhering to more rules..

And by doing so.. inevitably.. pride and arrogance manifests itself.

Paul is letting these folks know.. the ones.. who feel better about themselves because of their works..

He’s letting them know..

That their law.. profits them nothing w/Jesus.. ++

Paul tries to lay the logic of their actions out before them..

If you’re going to go the path of the law.. then that’s your path…

It’s one way, or the other..

It’s either law.. or it’s grace..

And.. if you’re choosing law..

… even in part.. you are essentially.. choosing it all.. ++

And by doing so..

.. you are becoming estranged from Christ..

.. and.. you are fallen from grace.. ++

Now.. that’s a familiar term to us..

“fallen from grace”..

And we usually think.. that refers.. to those who have fallen into immoral behavior..

Those.. who have walked away from the spiritual disciplines..

.. and have embraced worldly living.. ++

No.. those aren’t the ones who have fallen from grace..

The ones.. who have fallen from grace.. have not abandoned the spiritual disciplines, they are not walking in immorality..

No way.. they have, in fact.. taken those disciplines to a new level..

They have become more committed..

Not necessarily to God..

But.. to the works.. the traditions.. and the laws..

These are the ones.. who have fallen from grace. ++

SLIDE 7

Turn to:

(NKJV)

Romans 9:31–32 ESV

31 but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. 32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone,

31 but Israel, upursuing the law of righteousness, vhas not attained to the law 4of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, 5by the works of the law. For wthey stumbled at that stumbling stone. [2]

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Paul told the Galatians.. because of their desire to be under the law.. that they were estranged from Christ..

Paul told the Romans.. because of their desire.. to gain righteousness through the law..

.. that they were.. stumbling.. at the stumbling stone..

What does this stone speak of?

It speaks of Christ.. ++

SLIDE 8

Luke 20:17–18 ESV

17 But he looked directly at them and said, “What then is this that is written: “ ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’? 18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”

(NKJV)

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17 Then He looked at them and said, “What then is this that is written:

l‘The stone which the builders rejected

Has become the chief cornerstone’ ?

18 Whoever falls on that stone will be mbroken; but non whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”

The stone.. the corner-stone..

.. causes some.. to stumble..

Not.. stumble upon..

But rather.. stumble because of.. ++

Jesus told his disciples.. that on the night of His betrayal and arrest..

That they would stumble..

For, until the resurrection.. that whole situation.. was quite gloomy.. it was quite.. discouraging.. ++

And Peter said:

Lord.. if they all stumble.. I won’t stumble..

And Jesus told him.. “Yes you will.. three times.. this very night.” ++

On that side of the resurrection..

It was hard to understand..

On this side of the resurrection..

Folks.. it’s still hard.. ++

It’s hard.. to truly apply unmerited forgiveness to our lives..

Some folks.. can’t do it.. they have too much guilt..

It’s hard.. knowing, that God gives us favor.. freely,

And we can’t earn it.. ++

That’s contrary to logic..

And by it.. we are easily stumbled..

But.. if we stumble..

may it not be.. away from Christ..

If we struggle.. if we are confused.. if we are in the dark..

May we choose.. by faith.. to fall on Christ.. ++

To fall on the rock of our salvation.

To fall.. and be broken..

Trusting Him.. and His wisdom..

Giving His Word.. and His Wisdom..

Precedence over ours.. ++

SLIDE 9

Jesus said.. in:

Luke 16:1 ESV

1 He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions.

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The reason.. He gave the teaching.. the reason he gave the instruction.. the reason.. He told them what he told them..

is so.. they would not stumble..

There’s a whole world out there trying to understand who Jesus is.. and what the Bible means..

And they are trying to understand these things..

Through sources.. that are outside of, and contrary to..

The Bible.. ++

And as they read these other stories..

These other manuscripts..

These limited revelations of unfounded contradiction..

.. they come to conclusions.. about Jesus.. about God.. about the Bible..

That are totally.. wrong. ++

The simple truth.. the basic information.. the biography of Jesus..

This stuff.. that we get.. from the Word..

Causes.. those who are trying to turn Jesus into a mere man..

To stumble.. ++

Why?

Because they aren’t getting it. they aren’t seeing or understanding who Jesus really is.

The Bible might not satisfy us, intellectually.. in every minor point..

But it does a pretty good job.. with the majority.. ++

In some areas.. I’m totally lost.. I’m totally confused..

And of course.. when I was in Bible School..

I knew everything..

But since then, I have progressively come to the conclusion..

..that I know less and less and less..

And sometimes.. I don’t understand.. ++

I occasionally get stumbled.. over a small issue..

I don’t fully understand what the NT says, about divorce and remarriage in every possible way.. ..

In my flesh, and in my own sympathies.. I don’t like what it says..

And I could really stumble.. ++

But.. instead of falling away.. over one issue that confuses me..

I stumble.. not away..

But rather.. upon.. Christ..

And I fall, upon the fact..

That He is smarter than me..

He knows better than me.. ++

And it doesn’t matter, if I don’t understand everything..

I understand enough to know..

I can have faith, for the rest. ++

Now.. before we continue..

Look again..

SLIDE 9

At vs. 6 (read it)

Galatians 5:6 ESV

6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

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It is not the circumcision that avails anything w/Jesus..

Nor, is it the lack of circumcision..

You can have the same pride issue, for not doing the law..

As the one.. who does the law..

And by doing so, you can make your anti-legalistic actions..

A legalism, all unto themselves.. ++

Like.. here at Calvary Chapel..

I used to occasionally wear a suit. I don’t do that anymore, simply because, I don’t want to .. - but when I did....

People ask: “What’s going on? Why you wearing a suit?” ++

Why not?

We are open to a casual atmosphere..

But.. we don’t mandate it..

Nor do we encourage it..

You can dress in whatever manner makes you happy..

And I’m.. going to do the same thing… to a degree.

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I will wear what is comfortable, but hopefully, as one who stands before you, I won’t wear something that is utterly distracting… at least, not on Sunday morning. I’ll dress like a bum on Wednesday, and you’ll just have to deal with it..

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I might restrict my freedom a little, for the sake of being profitable. This isn’t legalism… this is servanthood. Paul says, all things are lawful, but not all things are profitable.

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There’s a fine balance.

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We are not going to let.. an anti-legalistic mentality.. become.. a legalism unto itself.

Neither.. is profitable. ++

What is profitable?

Faith, working through love…

You know.. there are those.. who try to create an accomplishment of faith..

by doing works.. ++

Hey.. look at what I did..

Now, I’m really a faithful person..

I’ve gained it, and merited it, by my works.. ++

But.. in James.. it’s explained differently..

There, we find out.. that faith is not created by works..

But works.. happen.. as a result.. and as a validation.. of faith…

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SLIDE 10

Let’s turn to:

James 2:14–16 ESV

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?

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SLIDE 11

James 2:17–19 ESV

17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

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SLIDE 12

James 2:20–22 ESV

20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works;

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SLIDE 13

James 2:23–26 ESV

23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

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18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” wShow me your faith without 6your works, xand I will show you my faith by 7my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is 8dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works ywhen he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see zthat faith was working together with his works, and by aworks faith was made 9perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, b“Abraham believed God, and it was 1accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called cthe friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

25 Likewise, dwas not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Look at the stuff we’re digging up..

Paul is coming against.. the yoke of slavery..

But, we’ve learned.. that there is still a yoke..

And.. there is still a slavery.. ++

There are the ones.. found in the law..

And, there are the ones.. found in grace..

Paul is also coming against.. the works of the law..

But.. we’re learning..

There are still works.. ++

Not works of menial adherence..

Not works.. which are intended to earn, or gain favor.

But now.. there are works.. of love, and servitude..

Works of compassion and sacrifice..

Works of generosity.. ++

And these works..

Are produced.. they are not fabricated.

These works.. are.. fruits.

These works.. validate, and accompany.. real faith… ++

This passage in , is a hard passage..

For it might cause us, to inspect ourselves a bit..

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.. and hit Delaynie in the shoulder..

Gave here a little bruise..

In the fall, you have to be careful standing around in my yard. You might get hit by a hickory nut. And, that hurts.

And we looked up.. and there was no question about it..

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That’s an oak tree.

So, when that happens, it is confirmed to me again, that the large tree in my front yard, is a hickory tree.

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Go up to Carters Mountain..

And look at the fruit on those trees,

And you’ll conclude..

Yep, that’s an apple tree.. ++

It’s a matter of simple observation. You see it, you feel the affect of it, you taste the flavor of it… you know… just what that fruit is. ++

Then.. read a passage like this.. from ..

And apply the same form of inspection personally…

Whoa.. that’s hard.. ++

Because it says it.. right there, plain and true..

That real faith.. will produce.. real works..

And it’s not talking about the 40 hours you give your boss..

It’s talking about service.. giving.. doing ministry.. independently or w/o the church, works that glorify God in and through our lives. ..

It’s talking about the stuff we do..

That is not about us..

But rather.. it’s all about Jesus.. ++

Are we letting our faith.. do in us.. what it’s intended to do…

Or, are we holding it back?..

Stifling it.. suffocating it.. ??

Are there… works? Or, are there not?

That’s the hard question.. and I’m gonna hand that one off to you..

And move on…

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SLIDE 14

9

Galatians 5:7–9 ESV

7 You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion is not from him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump.

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SLIDE 15

Galatians 5:10–12 ESV

10 I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. 11 But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. 12 I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!

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SLIDE 16

Galatians 5:13–15 ESV

13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

GAL 5

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A little leaven.. leaven’s the whole lump..

leaven.. is a pretty standard type.. for sin..

and in this case.. he lets them know..

Just a little bit, of dangerous theology..

Just a little bit.. of legalism..

Just a little bit.. of adherence to the Word..

Can spread.. and, can affect.. the whole group.. ++

If, at this point, the legalists were a small faction..

It didn’t matter..

The threat.. remained big.. and it’s negative impact.. was eminent. ++

The wisdom of this tiny parable.. is another thing.. that needs to be before us.. often..

Right now.. we are allowing, a little bit, of the bad stuff..

And we think.. “oh, it’s just a little here, and a little there..”

But wisdom cries out..

That little bit..

Can.. and eventually will.. affect.. everything.. ++

In vs. 11.. Paul is letting them know.. that he’s not preaching to itching ears..

I’m not preaching the message that Jewish leaders want to hear..

I’m not modeling my message, in a way, that is going to be acceptable to the influential people..

No way.. Paul’s not going to compromise..

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He’s brave enough.. to offend..

And by telling the truth.. the truth that offends..

He’s also willing.. to endure persecution.

The cross.. is still offensive..

Christ.. is still, a stone of stumbling..

And there’s no need, to disguise that fact.. ++

If the truth offends.. then let it..

For when it comes down to convincing hearts..

It’s not my job.. it’s not your job..

It’s the job, of the H.S. ++

In vs. 12.. Paul speaks very harshly about those who are spreading this legalism..

literally.. he is wishing.. that they would.. mutilate themselves..

Paul, in a graphic way, is wishing, that these men.. would.. cut-off.. their manhood.. ++

Some commentators try to spiritualize this..

And say, that Paul does not want these heretics.. to be able to multiply.. their heresy.. or have, religious.. offspring..

And this is what he meant.. ++

Personally..

I think Paul was just mad..

And he meant what he said. ++

Paul was a man.. and men sometimes say things like that.. ++

As we look at vss 13-15, I think that we can easily conclude..

that the introduction of legalism..

brought on, an unhealthy atmosphere..

relationally, amongst this fellowship.. ++

Paul reminds them..

They are free..

And then he encourages them… to use that freedom.. for the benefit of others..

And not.. for the satisfaction.. of self.. ++

There must have been.. a little .. biting and devouring going on..

Legalism produces this kind of behavior..

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You naturally look upon others..

Who are less than pious..

In a negative.. and sometimes hateful light..

The church I was attending, when I first became a Christian..

was very legalistic..

If someone did something questionable..

They weren’t approached in love..

Nope.. ++

They were judged.. and hated..

They were talked about, like a dog..

They were cut off.. and condemned..

It was part of the atmosphere.. ++

And this mentality.. bred church split after church split..

Division.. strife.. and hatred..

Right there, in the body of Christ.. ++

Conclusion:

May it not be so.. in our midst..

May we extend.. love.. compassion.. patience.. and understanding..

To those.. who have fallen..

To those.. who do not live as we live..

To those.. who think differently..

To those.. who have not embraced.. our convictions.. ++

may we.. do our best.. to fulfill the law.. by loving one another.. the way we love ourselves..

availing.. for Christ.. those things we do..

.. by faith.. working through love..

Band..

Before we close… (gospel invitation)

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