Boast in Christ Alone

Galatians  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  52:49
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Intro:
Humility and grace are two concepts that are the key to understand being a Christian. They also compliment each other. When I am humble I am that way because I remember the grace that has been poured out on me. I remember this grace by being humble enough to pour it out on others. We can be humble because of Grace and Grace dishes out humility so we can love others kind of what Paul says here in Gal 6:1
Galatians 6:1 NIV
Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.
Silly example of boasting about what I did not create. For me to claim I am the creator of this is the same as the Church claiming that because of what we have done we have salvation. Pride is the instigator of our claims that we have done anything as Christians. No, as Paul closes out Galatians here, we are reminded that in humility that stems from grace, it is only by our Savior Jesus Christ that we are anything at all. In that humility is where we can find the strength then to remember that we need each other, especially when we are caught in sin.

Burdens

A. Restoration
Galatians 6:1 NIV
Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.
1. Sin is not the end
a. Look to our family
b. Bring them back in love
Luke 15:20 NIV
So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
2. We ought to have discipline - Matt 18
a. But is should be tempered with 1 Cor 13
b. Two great commands and what Paul is saying here
Galatians 6:2 NIV
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
c. Love each other
i. enough not to be harsh
ii. enough not to let them be in sin
Galatians 5:14 NIV
For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
My kids - My daughter missed her prom because I had to discipline her. And many think I was too harsh, but as compared to the trespass it may have not been enough. However, in love I still held my daughter and loved her through it. It was for loves sake that I disciplined her.
B. But Beware
Galatians 6:3–4 NIV
If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else,
1. My limitations
a. Don’t go running headlong into temptation
1 Corinthians 6:12 NIV
“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything.
b. Know your Spiritual strengths - refer if necessary
One of the greatest dangers of rescuing a drowning person is that in their panic they will pull you down too. You must know what you are doing, lest you both drown.
2. Stand in confidence
a. Know the help you can provide
b. Know you are doing it out of love, not from the flesh and so deceive yourself
3. For each one is responsible for themselves
a. I will not be saved because of someone else
b. I will not be condemned for someone else
Romans 14:12 NIV
So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
c. But make no mistake I am my brother’s keeper
d. I should in love show them the way out of sin and so to Christ.

Reap the Spirit

A. Test What You Learn
Galatians 6:6 NIV
Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.
1. Discern what is good
a. This is discipleship 101
b. How we love one another
c. Encourage one another
2. In this we will hold each other to account
Galatians 6:7–8 NIV
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
a. Making sure we are sowing from good soil
I learned a lot about farming in western Kansas. I had a lot of good folks out there who farmed, one of my friends is a crop scout. He goes into the fields to discern what is needed to keep the crop healthy. He then reports back to the farmer what is needed. This is the same for us, we want to sow good fruit, then we out to check with each other to makes sure our crop is from God.
b. Produces good fruit
c. Keeps the Spirit healthy
d. Grows each other - not simply relying on self- which is deceptive
Jeremiah 17:9 NASB95
“The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?
c. Why we have elders in the Church
B. Don’t Get Weary
Galatians 6:9–10 NASB95
Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.
1. This is a marathon not a sprint
a. It takes time to master things
i. Gotta put in the hard work
ii. Put in the hours
b. Reading and praying
Hebrews 12:1–3 NIV
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
i. this is how we stay in the race
ii. How we don’t grow weary
2. Especially for the Family
a. God’s family comes first
b. We ought to focus outward - Mission statement - Growing Out & Elevating Within
c. Not at the cost of the family
We get stuck in the mindset of numerical growth that we forget the Spiritual growth. Check to see how many programs we have going out to reach the lost verses how many we have to elevate within. For many congregations, including ours, it is unbalanced and not in favor of the family of God - a point we are trying to reconcile for sure.

Boast Only in Christ

A. What Big Letters
Galatians 6:11–12 NASB95
See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.
1. Just like us, super important
a. It was relevant then as it is today
b. The World will continue to persecute the Church
i. We must stand firm
1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
i. Rejoice in persecution do not avoid it
James 1:2–3 NIV
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
2. The world wants to boast
a. In your fall
b. The book of Job
i. Lost everything
ii. Satan couldn’t wait to boast about his victory
c. All we need do is stay strong in Christ
i. yell at God
ii. ask Him why
iii. But stay steadfast in faith
Ephesians 6:13 NIV
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
B. Boast Only in Christ
Galatians 6:14–15 NIV
May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation.
1. For nothing can touch us
a. Take us from him
b. Even when we sin we love each other back gently
c. Satan has no hold or power because of Jesus
i. Took away the only power he ever had - death
1 Corinthians 15:55 NIV
“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”
2. Now boast in the Cross
a. For it is by Christ’s death I am freed
b. No longer bound by the Law or by sin
c. And I have peace in Christ alone

Closing

Galatians 6:16–17 NASB95
And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus.
A. Important
1. Walk in boasting about Christ
a. Frees me from responsibility to save
b. Gives me freedom to have peace on my life
God has already seen all of my life and chose me anyway, gives me great comfort and hope that I will continue to grow in Him and He will continue to work in me. Like watching my kids make the same mistakes I did and knowing that I was OK and they too will be OK.
2. Don’t Cause trouble for others
a. Remember it was Christ’s work that set you free
i. Not yours
ii. Not of you you
b. So remain humble in service
James 4:6 NASB95
But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
B. Grace
Galatians 6:18 NASB95
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.
1. In all things
a. Grace fills the gaps
b. Reminder of humility
i. We got what we did not deserve
ii. It costed our Christ everything (At least how we see it)
2. Grace is where peace is found
a. Both for the trespass and trespassee
b. Learn to love in grace
i. use it as our measure
Matthew 7:2 NIV
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
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