Promoting deliberate MINISTRY to the world

Exegesis

7 You ran well. Who hindered you from the truth?

So Paul is talking to christians. His words are that of reprimanding them for something. They were once running the christian life well, but apparently not now. It must be pretty bad because they are not obeying the truth. At this point, we arent sure what truth that is.

8 This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you.

Whatever they are doing didnt come from Jesus. He has called them to real truth.

9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump.

It doesnt take too much to mess up the whole bunch. Apparently its not everyone, but a couple of people teaching false doctrine has created a situation where everyone has backed off the truth.

10 I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.

Paul is confident that they will not stay deceived and that the one who is leading them astray with get what is coming to him from God. Paul doesn’t know who that person is.

11 And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased.

We thought the creeping sin was something from a past life, before Christ. Something old and bad. But it’s just getting circumcised. Apparently, it sounds like the liar is saying that even Paul is preaching circumcision for salvation. Paul says that if he was doing that, then he wouldnt be persecuted anymore, because he is being persecuted because of Jesus’ free grace. It removes the need of the cross, if he did that.

12 I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off! 13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Paul says that he wish that those pushing said circumcision would just go ahead and not only cut the foreskin but also the whole set. That’s pretty strong language. Hes saying that is what we need if we can’t live free. God has called us to be free so it’s better to live without the issue than to live in bondage. This sounds really similar to Jesus when he says pluck out your eye.

14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

It seems that the author is saying, What in the world! You have become so narrow focused on pursing “holiness and the law” that you missed love to your fellow man. He also warns, dont swing the pendulum too far the other way. You were set free to live in freedom but dont let the pursuit of freedom distract you from loving others either.

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SERMON SCRIPT

Play good samaritan modern video before I go up.

Promoting deliberate MINISTRY to the world

Galatians 5:7–14 NKJV

You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is. And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off! For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

PRAY

Walk through the Galatians 5 text

compare to the good samaritan (video)

What are some positive and negative effects from loosing the gospel to our own rules? Negative

1. We begin to determine who should be worthy of our ministry. 2. We share the gospel in order to pad our numbers instead of to see dead people come alive. 3. We won’t send out our best.

How can we stay true to ministry? How can we not become so focused on the letter of the law that we miss the love of our fellow man? 1. Keep our eyes on Jesus 2. Look where he was looking 3. Step out in boldness

4. Let love drive you.

I need to apply this well