A Consideration Of Christ

a consideration of christ

INTRODUCTION:

1.     Read text:  Galatians 1:1-5.

2.     Regarding text:

(1)         Of this Celtic race of people, Julius Caesar wrote, “The infirmity of the Gauls is that they are fickle in their resolves and fond of change, and not to be trusted.”

(2)         For the most part, the Galatians were pagans of the grossest sort.

(3)         Paul and Barnabas went throughout Phyrgia and the region of Galatia (Acts 16:5-6).

A.       Judaizing teachers began persuading / teaching that before one became a Christian, he must become a Jew (i.e. circumcision).

B.       Evidently, the Christians at Galatia responded by telling their newfound teachers that this “new gospel” was not what they were taught by the apostle Paul.

(a)       The Judaizers then began a campaign to deny Paul’s apostleship.

(b)       They taught that at best, Paul was an unfaithful messenger of “the twelve.”

(4)         Paul, begins his letter immediately with a defense of his apostleship, and continues writing to set the record straight on the relation of Christianity and Judaism.

A.       “Through Jesus Christ and God the Father.”

3.     From a position of the highest possible authority, Paul paves the way for a discussion of justification by faith in Jesus Christ, by hanging all further discussion on the reality of the resurrection of Jesus (v. 1).

(1)         Jesus is raised, but the story does not end there.

(2)         Jesus Christ seeks to deliver you from the chains of death.

(3)         Nearly 2000 years ago a child was born – raised in obscurity and poverty.

(4)         His birth startled a king and his knowledge in youth puzzled professors of Law.

(5)         As a man – He walked upon the waters and calmed the seas.

(6)         He healed the sick, fed the multitudes… The world could not contain the volumes.

(7)         Never wrote a song, but has had more songs written about Him than there are songwriters combined.

(8)         Nearly 2000 years stands between us and time of His ldeath, burial, and resurrect.

A.       He still lives.

B.       Human hands could not destroy Him.  The grave could not hold Him.

4.     The Galatians were fickle and quick to forget.

(1)         Jesus Christ nailed the Old Law to the Cross (Col. 2:14-16; Mt. 5:17).

(2)         “If righteousness is through the law, Christ died in vain” (Gal. 2:21).

(3)         Gal. 5:4 – “…you who attempt to be justified by law, you have fallen from grace.”

(4)         Acts 3:21-23.

DISCUSSION:

I.            he gave himself.  (wholly voluntary)

1.      “Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” (Titus 2:14).

(1)           Idea of “ransom” – price paid to recover one from captivity.

(2)           1 Tim. 2:6 – “Gave Himself a ransom for all.”

2.      “And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” (Eph. 5:2)

(1)           Heb. 10:4; Micah 6:6-8.

(2)           Jesus did not offer God silver, gold, bulls, goats, or rivers of oil.  Jesus offered His precious blood  (cf. 1 Pet. 1:18-19).

3.      Jesus, wholly, humbly, and voluntarily offered Himself – “poured out His life unto death and was numbered with the transgressors; and bore the sin of many” (Isa. 53:12).

4.      No one else in existence could do for you what the Lord Jesus Christ did and will do for you!  How much then do you owe in return?

II.          he gave himself for our sins.

·       No denying that Jesus gained great notoriety and fame in His death.

1.      Jesus did not die for earthly fame.

2.      Jesus did not die for an earthly crown or kingdom (John 18:36).

3.      Jesus did not die because of our strength or goodness (Rom. 5:6-7).

4.      Reason Jesus did die:

(1)           Greater love has no man… (Jn. 15:13).

(2)           He gave Himself for our sins (i.e. “on account of our sins

(3)           Illustration:  We look at some criminals in the news, and cry “lock em up and throw away the key!!!”  BUT, God does not want even the most monstrous of sinners to perish in extreme eternal punishment!

(4)           Jesus died to give you delivery / freedom from punishment of your sins.

III.        he gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil age.

1.      Deliver = to “pluck” or “rescue” from danger / bondage.  To effect separation.

(1)           Not removal in the sense of death or removal to another world.

(2)           Separation in the sense of moving us into a position of no longer wandering aimlessly.

(3)           Live eternally?  Yes, BUT Jesus came to deliver you from bondage of sin right NOW!

2.      This present evil age.  (Evil = poneros = evil that seeks to cause damage, pain, sorrow and corrupt.

(1)           An age without religion.

(2)           A world filled with perverted passions.

(3)           A world full of unsubstantiated opinions.

(4)           A world where truth, righteousness, duty, and morality don’t seem to matter.

(5)           A world that seeks all it can get and sells God short.

(6)           THAT / THIS WORLD = OBJECT OF JESUS GIVING SELF = TO SEPARATE US FROM.

A.         Confusion of the world (Jn. 8:32).

B.         Condemnation of the world (Jn. 3;16-17).

CONCLUSION:

1.     Jesus came to this world and, “gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present age.”

2.     Jesus will return again to receive the delivered / separated unto Himself (Jn. 14; 1 Cor. 15:24.

        (1)     A delivery and separation is available.

        (2)     A delivery and separation is coming (Jn. 5:28-29).