Sermon Tone Analysis

Heaven Can’t Be Brought

Rev. Thomas A. West, Sr.

April 3, 2022

Galatians 2:17-21 (NLT)

INTRODUCTION:

Surely we are all to seek food and clothing by working, as God has ordained.

That is true, of course, which means that it is not the point Jesus is making.

Jesus is adding two further dimensions, the spiritual and the moral, to the quest for food and clothing, which is normally undertaken through our work.

It is perhaps easiest understood when we think of it in the context of our motivation for doing that work.

One common motivation is simply to work in order to get money to live.

On the other hand, Jesus says that the believer should “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” in the process of gaining the wherewithal to live.

The things necessary for living will be added as well, and here is the point—they are no longer the main motive for doing the work.

For the believer, the main motive is to experience God’s kingdom, that is, his rule in our everyday lives.

In practical terms that will mean seeking his righteousness.

Every job, every kind of work, whether paid or not, whether in a hospital, a factory, or a church, gives rise to moral problems, issues of personal and corporate probity.

Think of it this way: There are two aspects to work for a believer, not just one.

First, the goal of work (as just mentioned): seeking God’s rule; and then the by-products of work: food, clothing, housing, etc.

The sad tragedy is that many people confuse the goal of work with the by-product of work.

For them the main goal of work is food, clothing, housing, and all the rest of an inexhaustible list of private possessions, up to private aircraft, yachts, palaces, and even football clubs.

Their prime motivation is to get these things.

The danger is that their desire to possess them may overrule moral qualms, and they may give in to the temptation to acquire them by dishonesty, cheating, corruption, theft, and a thousand other different ways of manipulating the system.

Some believe that their hard work and giving will get them into the Kingdom of God.

But I am here t tell you that you cannot, let me say tat again, you cannot buy your way into Heaven.

Title:

Our Title for today is “Heaven Can’t Be Brought”

Scripture:

Galatians 2:17–21 (NLT)

17 But suppose we seek to be made right with God through faith in Christ and then we are found guilty because we have abandoned the law.

Would that mean Christ has led us into sin?

Absolutely not!

18 Rather, I am a sinner if I rebuild the old system of law I already tore down.

19 For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me.

So I died to the law—I stopped trying to meet all its requirements—so that I might live for God.

20 My old self has been crucified with Christ.

It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.

So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

21 I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless.

For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.

Main Text:

There are some things that don't mix.

Oil and water

drinking and driving

taxes and our wallets

Frugality and government

Honesty and politicians

gas and fire

Republicans and Democrats

peace and war

in Christianity, there are two other things that don't mix: justification by works and justification by faith.

Catching Up: (2:11-16)

For context, let's look at the incident when Paul confronted Peter in Galatians 2: 11 - 14.

The incident highlights two different claims, justification by works (keeping the law) and justification by faith in Christ alone (2:15-16).

Justification by faith is the instantaneous act of God whereby he legally declares the Sinner, who solely believes in Christ, as forgiven and righteous in His sight.

The Jewish Leaders say that it is a combination of faith and works.

But Paul makes it clear that it is an either-or situation.

So the questions is why don’t the two mix?

The Jewish leaders tried to blend the two together.

That is what people do today.

It is called syncretism.

Syncretism Is the reconciliation or fusion of differing belief systems.

so you pick a little of this and a little of that infuse them together and you have a new religion.

People still try to mix law and grace together.

People and evangelical churches will profess their faith in Christ while still believing that there is something they have to do in addition to having faith in order to go to heaven.

His answer to religious syncretism is that the law and grace don't mix.

He further explained why the two don't mix in verses 17 through 21.

First you can't mix the law and grace because it is hypocritical and revolting (2:17).

it is hypercritical because you are saying one thing and doing another.

Peter professed justification by faith in Christ, but by his action said that we are justified by faith plus our works.

Combining the two is revolting because, by combining them, you are saying that Christ is a sin promoter.

Who was the one that told Peter to go and eat with Cornelius and the gentiles?

Jesus in Acts 10 verses 9 through 23.

Now follow this.

if the Jewish leaders are right in that you have to keep the law to be right with God, and thus, in this case, or not eat with the gentiles, then Jesus told Peter to do something that was sinful, and this Jesus is a sin-promoter

Jesus taught that we are justified by faith so, if we are really justified by the law, then Christ promoted sin by teaching the wrong way.

Secondly, You can't mix the two because, in doing so, you become a law breaker (2:18).

Paul had spent his Christian life tearing down the system of justification by works.

The Greek word translated destroy – Kataluo - is a strong word meaning to demolish or totally raze to the ground.

Notice that in verse 17 Paul changes from the plural we to the singular I in verse 18.

If he builds up what he tore down, it means that he, the apostle Paul, is a law breaker.

The Greek word translated lawbreaker or transgressor – parabates - means to transgress or violate the law.

For example if a police chief takes down the Crime Mob in town but then personally rebuilds it, he is nothing more than a lawbreaker like the people he took down.

The same thing happens when a person professes justification by faith in Christ alone, but then rebuilds the false notion of justification by the law through his actions.

Furthermore, you can't mix the two because the Christian is dead to the law and alive to God (2:19) Christ liberated us from the condemnations of the law (2:19a) the law does not save us, but it does condemn.

It does declare that we are guilty, but it does not absolve the guilt.

It does show us God's standards, but it can't empower us to live it perfectly.

it tells us since penalty, but it can't do anything about our penalty.

The law has no authority over the Christian because Christ fulfilled completely the demands of the law through his death on the cross.

The law can't condemn us or judge us.

Doctor Grant C Richardson in his book Verse by Verse Commentary, illustrates it this way:

“The law has no remedy for sin.

It has a double power: one it declares us sinners and secondly it states our penalty for being sinners.

suppose a person committed a terrible crime of murder.

He deserves the death penalty or life in prison.

The authorities arrest him, bring him before a judge, and arraign him for murder.

They called the witnesses 1 by 1.

They all testify with one accord to the man's guilt.

There seems to be no defense for him at all.

The jury finds him guilty.

He is guilty according to the law and the law requires he be put to death.”

“Now, before the judge pronounces the sentence, something suddenly happens to the accused.