7-Continuing in the Spirit
Notes
Transcript
Galatians 3:1-5
Few things are more tragic or disappointing than a Christian who deserts the purity of the gospel for a false form of Christianity especially when it presumes to improve the finished work of Christ.
I have had converts leave our church and go to a church that is works based.
Yet that is what many believers in the Galatian church had done or were in danger of doing because of the Judaizers.
Galatians 1:6-7
6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
I. The Problem of the Galatians (v.1)
I. The Problem of the Galatians (v.1)
A. They Were Foolish
A. They Were Foolish
Paul was incredulous, hardly able to believe what the Galatians had done.
The Galatians had been lazy and undiscerning.
They had foolishly fallen in to Judaistic legalism because they had stopped believing and applying the basic truths of the gospel Paul had taught them and by which they had been saved.
By sinful neglect of their divine resources, they compromised the gospel of grace.
Ephesians 5:15-16
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
The obedient Christian experiences joy and satisfaction beyond measure, far exceeding that of superficial believers who constantly seek spiritual “highs.”
B. They Were Fooled
B. They Were Fooled
The word bewitched means that the Galatians were charmed.
Essentially, they had trusted feeling over fact.
What happened with the Galatians is still Satan’s goal today.
He wants to seduce believers to follow false doctrine.
2 Corinthians 11:3-4
3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
Galatians 5:7
7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
C. They Were Fickle
C. They Were Fickle
This error led them away from Jesus – that is the true tragedy!
The Galatians had clearly seen the truth set forth before their very eyes (v.1c).
However, they were fickle in their beliefs, changing from what they knew to be true back to a ritual religiosity.
There are two major enemies of the truth of the gospel:
The New - the allure of something new.
The Old - going back to the old life.
The truth they turned from was that they needed nothing other than Jesus Christ to gain salvation.
Paul spoke of the importance of the preeminence of Christ when he said to the Corinthians
1 Corinthians 2:2
2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
Even today, the power of the cross is enough.
No ritual, ceremony, regulation, or any other thing devised or accomplished by men can pick up where the cross leaves off—because the cross never leaves off.
The cross is the continuing and eternal payment for all sin, and every sinner who puts his trust in the cross is forever and continually forgiven.
However, the person who puts his trust in the law obligates himself to keep the entire law, which is humanly impossible.
These Galatians were listening to false teaching and passively drinking it in.
Chapel message in College - heresy
II. The Priority of Faith (vs. 2-4)
II. The Priority of Faith (vs. 2-4)
Which kind of faith was it?
Historical
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Dogmatic (factual)
Acts 8:13, 23
13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
His was a a belief in the facts only.
Belief from the mind rather than the heart.
Temporary
The Bible talks about those who believe but fall to temptation
13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
Like the followers of John the Baptist.
35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
Miraculous
This kind of faith allowed the Apostles to do miracles.
Matthew 17:20
20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Luke 17:6
6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
1 Corinthians 13:2
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
Saving
Romans 10:10
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Acts 16:31
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
1 Peter 2:6
6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
What is “hearing of faith” in verse 2?
hearing the Word of God
Read
Expounded
Preached
How does the Word bring faith?
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
The ears of the hearer take in what is spoken, and conveys it to the understanding.
But our understanding cannot receive it
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
therefore-
The Spirit goes along with the Word and enables the understanding to receive it.
The Spirit inclines the will to embrace the Word
Philippians 2:13
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Romans 7:15
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
Hebrews 4:12
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
So faith is the Priority!
It is important because...
A. By Faith We Are Saved (v.2)
A. By Faith We Are Saved (v.2)
The Galatians received the righteousness of Christ and His Holy Spirit at the time of their salvation.
They must have known the Holy Spirit’s unmistakable presence.
So why would they revert to the law, something that left man with a lack of peace and hope?
Romans 8:16
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
1 John 4:13
13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
Just as we do not receive the Spirit by works, we do not remain saved through works.
B. By Faith We Continue in the Spirit (vs. 3-4)
B. By Faith We Continue in the Spirit (vs. 3-4)
1. in growth v.3
1. in growth v.3
We are given the Holy Spirit at salvation, and then we are to mature spiritually through the work of the Holy Spirit.
A believer does not become spiritually mature by focusing on the flesh, or upon what he can do…
His efforts
His works
His goodness
His discipline
His morality
His just behavior
Focusing on your flesh, or on your strength and work only causes the believer to concentrate on himself.
The emphasis is on self…not Spirit…human and physical…not spiritual and heavenly.
We must keep our mind and thoughts upon Christ, casting down imaginations and making every thought obedient to Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:5
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
The genuineness of good works in God’s sight depends on whose power they are done in and whose glory they are done for.
We are saved by the Spirit, and the Bible commands us to walk in the Spirit.
If we walk in the Spirit, our good works will be solely for God’s honor and not our own validation.
Galatians 5:16-17
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
2. in groaning v.4
2. in groaning v.4
a believer suffers by faith.
When the Galatians accepted Christ they suffered ridicule, abuse, isolation and persecution from their neighbors;
and apparently the persecution had continued for some time.
Acts 14:1-7, 19, 22
1 And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.
2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.
3 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
4 But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.
5 And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them,
6 They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:
7 And there they preached the gospel.
19 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.
22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
I think of groanings, we don’t suffer the persecution that they suffered.
I often think of so many who feel they are too old to do anything for the Lord.
Push toward the end! Forget your age, just keep serving the Lord!
The philosopher, being asked in his old age why he did not give over his practice, and take his ease, answered, "When a man is to run a race of forty furlongs, would you have him sit down at the thirty-ninth, and so lose the prize? We do not keep a good fire all day, and let it go out in the evening, when it is coldest; but then rather lay on more fuel, that we may go warm to bed." He that quenches the heat of his zeal in old age will go cold to bed, and in a worse case to his grave.
III. The Power of the Lord (v.5)
III. The Power of the Lord (v.5)
Continuing growth and spiritual service in our Christian life is not possible through our own power;
it is only by the power of the Lord that we continue in Him.
A. The Reception of the Spirit Is by Christ.
A. The Reception of the Spirit Is by Christ.
John 16:13
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
B. The Revelation of the Miraculous Is by Christ.
B. The Revelation of the Miraculous Is by Christ.
Fruit that is reaped such as souls being saved, or even fruit of repentance is not our fruit to claim.
They are the fruit of the Spirit.
We as believers are only commanded to abide in Christ, and in Him we will bear much fruit.
John 15:5
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
1 Corinthians 2:4
4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
Paul’s message was that only through Christ could powerful and wonderful things be done.
Through the law, man had no hope.
Through Christ, man had eternal hope, the promise of salvation, and the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Galatians foolishly and lazily abandoned the truth of the gospel for a message of condemnation and hopelessness.
Paul reminded them that their hope through Jesus Christ was still alive and ready to be reclaimed.