Live Sent: Look to Jesus Our Ultimate Example

Welcome to Fellowship Espanol! We are glad you are here today as we start a new series called Live Sent.

Our mission as a church, the reason why Fellowship exist is “to make disciples who live by God’s Grace and for his Glory at home and across the world.” How we try to accomplish this is through

Connection - we want to connect people to God through his son Jesus Christ and we want to connect people to the church.

Transformation - the reason why is so people can be transformed by God through his word in safe communities like D-Groups, Bloom, FSM, Fellowship YA

Multiplication - so that together we can live sent and disciple others to connect, transform and multiply.

Through the summer we want to look at what it means to live sent, we will look at different people in Biblical History like Paul. Esther, Jonah and others to see how they have lived sent. To start our series we are going to look at Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, our ultimate example of some one who lived sent. Open your Bible to Gal 4:1-7.

We are jumping in the middle of Paul’s argument to the Galatian church. The Galatian church was deceived by some false teachers known as the Judaizers, they taught that you needed the Law + the Gospel to be saved. Paul is making the argument that the function of the Law was to point us to Jesus, it was a temporary guardian until Jesus came, who is the offspring of Abraham, if /when you place your faith in Christ you become one of Abraham’s offspring and heir according to the promise. What promise? All the way back in Genesis 12 & Genesis 15, God promised that Abraham’s offspring will be like the stars of heaven and the sands of the earth.

Paul writing to the church in Galatia wants them to understand why Jesus was sent because they have fallen into false doctrine which is enslaving them. In our passage today we will see why Jesus was sent, why the Spirit is sent and how we should live sent.

Galatians 4:1–5 (ESV)

I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

Digo, pues: Mientras el heredero es menor de edad[a], en nada es diferente del siervo[b], aunque sea el dueño[c] de todo, 2 sino que está bajo guardianes y tutores[d] hasta la edad señalada[e] por el padre. 3 Así también nosotros, mientras éramos niños, estábamos sujetos a servidumbre bajo las cosas elementales[f] del mundo. 4 Pero cuando vino la plenitud[g] del tiempo, Dios envió a su Hijo, nacido de mujer, nacido bajo la ley, 5 a fin de que redimiera a los que estaban bajo la ley, para que recibiéramos la adopción de hijos.

I. Jesus Was Sent To Redeem and Adopt His Children - (Gal 4:1-5)

A. The Example of an Heir

Paul begins with the example of an heir, someone set to receive an inheritance. Paul says their is no difference between the child who is set to receive an inheritance and a slave. Why does Paul say this? Because neither has possession of the inheritance. Although the son will be, one day the owner of everything, until that day comes, a day set by his father, he is under guardians and managers, just like the slave.

B. In The Same Way

In the same way we were enslaved to what Paul calls the “elementary principles of the world”. What does this mean? Based on the context Paul is saying we as human beings our bound by sin, we are sinners because we sin, we rebel against God, we chose our own ways even though they go against God’s revelation, God’s law which is our guardian our manager. Because we sin we, God’s law condemns us, so we are bound by sin and judgement from God’s law. But God…

C. But when the Fullness of Time had come...

At just the right time, God sent forth his Son, which is Jesus. Now here is where we have to pay attention, and see how Jesus lived sent. What is the first thing Paul says?

1. Born of a woman

Think about that for a minute, The Father, The Son and the Spirit are communing in eternity past, before the foundation of the world and set a plan in motion where God, who is eternal, who created everything, would be born of a woman. The uncreated becomes part of creation, sent on a mission by the Father.

We learn from Philippians 2 that Jesus being born of a woman does’t mean he gave up his divinity, but that he took on a human body and listen here, because I think this is very crucial to understanding how Jesus lived sent, taking the form of a servant. Jesus himself says “the Son of Man came to serve, not to be served”. We see this throughout his life;

a. Jesus Lived Sent by loving and serving others regardless of who they were. We see this through his interactions with people, especially to those society would throw away as an outcast, sinners, prostitutes, tax collectors, the demon possessed.

b. Jesus lived sent by being obedient to the will of His Father.

c. Jesus lived sent by having the right attitude and motivations, humbling himself. Jesus becomes a man and goes through the human experience, he sweats, bleeds, gets tired, gets hungry, goes to the bathroom, suffers, is tempted by satan, experiences the death of loved ones, experiences grief and sadness, experiences loneliness.

d. Jesus lived sent by setting free those held captive by sin.

e. Jesus lived sent by doing good.

Jesus showed what it was to be truly human, the way God intended, before Adam sinned. Jesus also humbled himself to live the human experience, to be 100% God, yet 100% man, obedient to the Father. Jesus is the ultimate example of what it looks like to live sent in a sinful and fallen world.

2. Born Under the Law

The second phrase Paul uses here is “born under the law”. Which is another astounding statement because the God who created the law, now submits himself to live under the law. This is very important for the church in Galatia to understand and very important for us to understand. Jesus had to be born under the law, to live under the law, and to fulfill the law. That is bring the law to completion because no one else, but Jesus, can live God’s law perfectly.

Jesus born of a woman and born under the law lives the law to perfection. Why? Why does Jesus do this?

to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

a fin de que redimiera a los que estaban bajo la ley, para que recibiéramos la adopción de hijos.

Jesus Was Sent To Redeem and Adopt His Children

Jesus was sent to redeem, which means to purchase and make a way for us to be adopted into the family of God, therefore we are no longer strangers but sons, we are no longer slaves but free. How is this possible? Because Jesus lived the perfect life under the law and died a death that we deserve, in our place, so that when we put our faith and trust in what Jesus did for us, we are adopted into the family of God.

This is why Jesus was sent, this is how Jesus lived sent, in humble submission to the Father’s will and God’s word to fulfill all righteousness, so that he can redeem people from every nation tribe and tongue to become sons and daughters of God.

Now that you are a son/daughter of God, God sends , the Holy Spirit, which in this passage is called the Spirit of His Son.

Galatians 4:6 (ESV)

And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”

Y porque sois hijos, Dios ha enviado el Espíritu de su Hijo a nuestros corazones, clamando: ¡Abba! ¡Padre!

II. The Spirit of Christ, The Holy Spirit, Was Sent To Conform Us to be like Christ (Gal. 4:6)

I find it interesting that when we put our faith and trust in Christ, when we tell him I want you to be the boss of my life, and we repent and submit to Jesus as Lord. We are given the Holy Spirit, Paul describes it here as the Spirit of His Son. Why?

The Holy Spirit is given to us so transform us into the image of His Son, so that we can be more like Jesus everyday. 2 Cor 3:18 says “we are transfromed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For This comes from the Lord who is the Spirit” Paul is saying the Spirit of God uses the Word of God to transform us to be more like Jesus. This week some time I would like you to go home and read Romans 8 and think and learn about the work of The Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. Many have made the work of the Spirit a mystical experience, what Paul describes is that the work of the Spirit in the life of a believer is to make him more like Jesus, to help the believer live out the Word in this world and put to death the sinful nature in us.

Paul says the Spirit is given into our hearts and it is crying out to God “Abba! Father! While I say the work of the Spirit is not a mystical experience, it is something we experience. Let me explain, Pauls says the Spirit is given into our hearts, what is the heart? Is it the organ pumping blood into my body, is that what Paul is talking about? When the Bible talks about the heart, it is talking about the place where thinking and feeling happen, the place where we process and make decisions. Now here is the connection, God sends the Spirit of His Son into your heart? Why? Because your heart is where your desires of life are, it is where you decide what is going to guide your life. When God sends the Spirit of His Son into your heart, God is giving you the desire to live for him. He is opening up your heart to understanding so you can find satisfaction in the Father, joy in the Father’s love, and satisfaction in the mission he has given us to live sent.

We read that word “crying” and we think tears of sadness or grief. But that is not what that means, this word crying is the same word used on palm Sunday when the people were crying and shouting Hosanna, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. The crying is a shout of Joy. God is my Father, My Father loves me , my father redeemed me, my father gives me the Spirit, he protects me and provides for me. Abba! Father! I will do anything you ask me to.

III. As Children Who Are No Longer Slaves but Sons and Heirs - Live Sent (Gal. 4:7)

Galatians 4:7 (ESV)

So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

7 Por tanto, ya no eres siervo, sino hijo; y si hijo, también heredero por medio de Dios.

Listen to what Paul is saying here, you’re not a slave anymore, you are a son and if a son also an heir. So what does that mean? Your inheritance is the Lord and we will be able to rejoice in all he is and all that he has one day when we will be with him for eternity. That is awesome and an incredible blessing!

But until then, we are called and transformed to be like Jesus. If we are sons and heirs, shouldn’t we have the mind of Christ and live sent on this earth? We talked about how Jesus lived sent, but can we follow Jesus’ example and live sent on this earth?

Paul gives us many examples, but let me give you five from the book of Galatians, the passages are there so you can look them up when you get home and read them. When we live sent in these 5 ways we are being like Jesus we are living like Jesus.

1. Live Sent by loving and serving one another – Galatians 5:13-15

Galatians 5:13–15 (ESV)

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

3 Porque vosotros, hermanos, a libertad fuisteis llamados; solo que no uséisla libertad como pretexto para la carne, sino servíos por amor los unos a los otros. 14 Porque toda la ley en una palabra se cumple en el precepto: Amarás a tu prójimo como a ti mismo. 15 Pero si os mordéis y os devoráis unos a otros, tened cuidado, no sea que os consumáis unos a otros.

2. Live Sent by living the fruit of the Spirit and putting your sinful desires to death – Galatians 5:16 – 24

Galatians 5:16–24 (ESV)

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

16 Digo, pues: Andad por el Espíritu, y no cumpliréis el deseo de la carne.17 Porque el deseo de la carne es contra[d] el Espíritu, y el del Espíritu escontra la carne, pues estos se oponen el uno al otro, de manera que no podéis hacer lo que deseáis. 18 Pero si sois guiados por el Espíritu, no estáis bajo la ley. 19 Ahora bien, las obras de la carne son evidentes, las cuales son: inmoralidad, impureza, sensualidad, 20 idolatría, hechicería, enemistades, pleitos, celos, enojos, rivalidades, disensiones, sectarismos[e], 21 envidias, borracheras, orgías y cosas semejantes, contra las cuales os advierto, como ya os lo he dicho antes, que los que practican tales cosas no heredarán el reino de Dios.22 Mas el fruto del Espíritu es amor, gozo, paz, paciencia, benignidad, bondad, fidelidad[f], 23 mansedumbre, dominio propio; contra tales cosas no hay ley. 24 Pues los que son de Cristo Jesús han crucificado la carne con sus pasiones y deseos.

3. Living Sent by having the right motivations and attitudes– Galatians 5:25-26

Galatians 5:25–26 (ESV)

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

25 Si vivimos por el Espíritu, andemos también por el Espíritu[g]. 26 No nos hagamos vanagloriosos, provocándonos unos a otros, envidiándonos unos a otros.

Galatians 6:3–5 (ESV)

For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.

3 Porque si alguno se cree que es algo, no siendo nada, se engaña a sí mismo. 4 Pero que cada uno examine su propia obra, y entonces tendrá motivo para gloriarse solamente con respecto a sí mismo, y no con respecto a otro. 5 Porque cada uno llevará su propia carga.

4. Live Sent by helping those enslaved to sin – Galatians 6:1-2

Galatians 6:1–2 (ESV)

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Hermanos , aun si alguno es sorprendido en alguna falta, vosotros que sois espirituales, restauradlo en un espíritu de mansedumbre, mirándote a ti mismo, no sea que tú también seas tentado. 2 Llevad los unos las cargas de los otros, y cumplid así la ley de Cristo.

5. Live Sent by doing good, especially to those in the church – Galatians 6:9-10

Galatians 6:9–10 (ESV)

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

9 Y no nos cansemos de hacer el bien, pues a su tiempo, si no nos cansamos, segaremos. 10 Así que entonces, hagamos bien a todos según tengamos oportunidad, y especialmente a los de la familia[c] de la fe.

God sent his son to redeem and adopt his children, God sent his Spirit so that those who become sons will become more like Jesus everyday. Now that we are sons and heirs it is our mission to live sent in this world like Jesus.