Picture of the Gospel Driven Church

Introduction

So far throughout the book, we have seen Paul’s frustration with the church in Galatia.

He is frustrated with them because they are questioning his authority and calling as an apostle.

They are beliving a counterfeit gospel...

They are moving away from

Galatians 4:8–31 ESV

8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years! 11 I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain. 12 Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong. 13 You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, 14 and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. 15 What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17 They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. 18 It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you, 19 my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you! 20 I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you. 21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. 23 But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. 24 Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written, “Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband.” 28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” 31 So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.

Gospel Driven Churches Preach Gospel Truth Before they Teach Godly Principles

I feel like Ive got to explain this some...

What is the Gospel… The gospel is the good news that God saves sinners by faith in Christ Jesus...

John 3:16 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Gospel Driven Churches preach this truth…we never move past this truth.

We believe that the Gospel is the power to save and sanctify.

And Paul did too…

You see, we dont find one single command in the book of Galatians until chapter 4 v.12

Galatians 4:12 ESV

12 Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong.

That means for 3 and a half chapters of the book…Paul writes 85 verses about the truth of the gospel before he gets to a single command.

And this isnt just true in Galatians...

In Ephesians…the whole first half is dedicated to gospel truth…then Paul says “I urge you therefore…walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.”

In Romans....Paul writes for 11 chapters on the nature of the gospel....and them Godly principles to live by...

And in Galatians that is exactly what we see…Godly principles dont save us…God’s gospel does...

Our hope is not in our observance to Godly principles for life...

Our hope is in the Gospel of God...

So how much more should we teach the gospel before we get to Godly principles for living? ---apparently about 85x more...

Gospel Driven Churches Preach Gospel Truth Before they Teach Godly Principles

Gospel Driven Churches Have Compassion Toward Recovering Sinners...

Let me explain what I mean by the term “Recovering Sinner....”

All of us…when we trusted in Jesus to save us…every single one of us had this great intention of going all in for Jesus. We saw the wickedness of our sin...and we hated it…we began to long to never sin again...

Have you ever had these moments? Where you genuinely fall under conviction, you have real contrition of heart, you feel deeply sorrowful that you sinned against God…then you confess. You lay those sins down at the foot of the cross. You repent, you turn from your sin, and you walk away feeling empowered to never return to it again?

And then…before long…you look up…and there it is…your holding the very sin that you layed down…Paul describes it this way in this letter...

Here’s what Paul is saying, all people…before God saves them are enslaved to idolatry...

This is what Paul means when he says in verse 8

Galatians 4:8 ESV

8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods.

All people are slaves to some form idolatry…even atheists.

Some worship the idol of money, the idol of success, the idol of the perfect family, they idol of self…it might look a little different…but what all of these things have in common are that they consume you.

When you worship money…it consumes you

When you worship success…it consumes you…You become enslaved to it.

You will sacrifice whatever is neccessary to have it…

if it’s money…you will sacrifice your integrity, your dreams, you passions, your family, your time and resources…you will sell your soul for it....if money is the thing you love, then you will become enslaved to it....

And this is what Paul is describing here...

Before God saves people and sets them free in Christ....people are enslaved to things that by nature are not gods...

But when God saves you…there is a transformation that occurs...

When God saves a person…he frees them from their enslavement to idolatry

Remember back to last week (v.7)

Galatians 4:4–7 ESV

4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

When God saves you he sets you free from slavery…and adopts you into Sonship...

But the truth is…we still struggle…We are Recovering Sinners....just like the Galatians...

Galatians 4:8–11 ESV

8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years! 11 I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.

Just like the Galatians we turn back to our former ways of entanglement to sin dont we...

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But look at Paul’s Compassion toward them...

Martin Luther said commenting on this portion of Galatians…that when we read this portion of the letter…we breath in Paul’s tears...

Just look at his tone...

v. 10— “I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain...”

v. 12— “Brothers…I entreat you, become as I am...”

Entreat— δέομαι— “to beg”

“Im begging you...”

This is the Apostle Paul we are talking about…why would he beg?

v. 19— “My dear children…I am once again suffering labor pains....

Now, ladies…I want to be clear here…there is no way that Paul understood exactly what labor pains felt like… Men, if you ever want to get a sideways look from you wife…just tell her you are suffering like she was when she gave birth...

Paul didn't know what labor pains quite felt like…but what he is saying here is powerful. He is using the most intense pain imagery imaginable. He is hurting on the deepest level for the Galatians.

The Galatians struggle over the idolatry of religion is bringing pain to Paul…When they struggle he struggles...

Paul was not indifferent, he wasnt simply angry toward their sin…he had heart felt compassion…why? Because they were recovering sinners....

So let me ask you a question....when you find someone in the church that is struggling....do you have the same heart felt compassion that Paul shows here...

When you encounter a recovering sinner…do you draw near to them…do you hurt with them...

God has not given us his church to become accusers…the devil is able to do that enough on his own…we dont bring conviction…only God can.

We dont make accusation…the devil does...

As a Gospel Driven Church....when we encounter a Recovering Sinner in our midst…the first thing we need to do is look in the mirror...

We need to hear the words of Jesus,

Matthew 7:3–5 ESV

3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

We need to see ourselves as recovering sinners first…and then we can show compassion toward someone else who is on the journey with us....

Then we can say with Paul...

“Im begging you....”

“Become like me...”

“I feel your pain...”

God didnt make me the Pastor or you the member of this church to be it’s accusser…he put you here to be a compassionate enourager...

And the truth is…we all want that encouragement...

Authentic Christian Community

Galatians

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