As You Really Are
An Excursion Into The Tension of Paul’s ‘Are vs Do’ statements (Indicative in tension with
linked Imperatives)
Cleanse out the leaven…since you really are unleavened!!
ESV 1 Corinthians 5:1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife. 2 And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. 3 For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. 4 When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. 6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Let us therefore celebrate the festival, anot with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Cancer Illustration
Our Chromosomes are corrupted…and the corrupted cells are sometimes cancer
Cleansing yourself from cancer involves getting rid of all the cells in your body that
Are growing to a different chromosomal order.
Your DNA is Christ. Your chromosomes are now from Christ (the new man in Christ Jesus...no longer the old man)
Your union with Christ is the Cross.
Your union with Christ is symbolized by water baptism. One Time
Your union with Christ is symbolized by communion. Ongoing
These two symbols are like bicycle pedals
One pedal is called ‘Once and For all’. The other pedal is called…’Ongoing’.
One represents who we are….and one represents what we are gaining in Christ right now…the extension of who we are into a present growing reality.
5:1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
Romans 6:2 & 11
The Kingdom Is The Rule of Christ
Christ is our life
Christ is our DNA
Anything that is contrary to Christ in us is like spiritual cancer
Paul writes to the Corinthian church, which was struggling with abuse of spiritual gifts, abuse of their freedom in Christ (condoning sexual immorality worse than the world around them). He calls them ‘saints’.
ESV 1 Corinthians 1:1 Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, 2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:
Note their sanctification is not within themselves. NO it is in Christ Jesus.
So our DNA is Christ.
We are sanctified in Christ.
Seems so confusing that some people who have a hold of what our DNA is, turn around and reject the pressing in for more of Christ. The paradox fights human logic.
More Love, More Power story
Other people, understanding the need to press in for more of Christ, cannot grasp the fact that we have all we will ever need already in Christ.
These paradoxes are spoken of in nature. Every child is born with a full set of dna explaining who and what they are to be. Yet they must grow into maturity.
So it is in the Kingdom.
This truth drives our worship. It is part of the essence of Kingdom Theology, and what has been Vineyard’s distinctive theological contribution to Evangelicalism worldwide.
So we minister to people in the presence of the Spirit…AND we ask for more of the Spirit. We minister in love AND we ask for more love.
It is like standing in a rain storm without an umbrella and crying out for rain.
In the middle of a rain shower, we ask for more rain.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Glory in the Cross (Galatians 6:11-18)
The Cross: Our boast & our new start!
ESV Galatians 6:11 See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand.
Paul finishes Galatians with 8 verses written in his own handwriting. Normally writing was done by a slave who could write (Romans 16:22 I Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord.
Amanuensis-a personal secretary who was able to write…usually a trustworthy slave in Roman times. To authenticate a document often the author (Paul in this case) would write a little bit in his own handwriting which contained an interpretive key to the whole letter or document.
12 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16 And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. 17 From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.
“What had probably happened was this: According to his usual custom, Paul had dictated most of this epistle to his amaneunsis, or secretary. But he finished the document in his own handwriting, personally adding his autograph in order to give his letter to the Galatians the stamp of his apostolic authority. And he wrote his signature in large letters to underscore his conclusion.
The last section of Galatians, therefore, is more than a hastily written postscript, the after thought of an apostle. Instead, these verses constitute a summary of the entire letter. They place circumcision over against the cross, showing that justification by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ Jesus means boasting in the cross alone. To understand this is to understand Galatians. More than that, it is to understand the Gospel.” Ryken
And the goal of all of this is love. For it is God’s love which is the beat of the heart of the Gospel. ESV Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. The real goal of Galatians is not simply faith in Christ Jesus as so many commentators insist. No the real goal is faith working through love.
1) Compelled to be circumcised
Gal. 6:12 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.
a. Jewish Christian missionaries from Jerusalem insist on keeping the law of Moses, adding that all men who want to enter into true Chrsitianity must become real Jews by being circumcised as Moses required in the law. The entire insistence rested on confusion, not only with the law of Moses, but with the purpose and nature of circumcision. Circumcision had been made the sign of the covenant of Moses (it started with Abraham).
b. They taught Jesus was Lord…he died on the cross…he rose from the dead..and that you must keep the Sabbaath, the law of Moses’ requirement
to be circumcised.
c. Their real motive was to avoid persecution from the Jews. Because of personal security they obscured the gospel message…they mixed it with the law of Moses.
Stephen (Acts 7)
d. Of all the early church leaders, because Paul had persecuted the church, he was probably the most sensitive to detecting fear of persecution in the hearts of church leaders.
e. It horrified the Jews to see the law of Moses violated. To see the boundaries God had set for them between them and the gentiles obliterated in Christian circles. Their ‘good-faith’ effort was to establish bible
Boundaries.
f. Since the New Testament probably was not yet written, the entire bible the
Disciples and the early church were reading from at that time was from
Genesis to Malachi. There was not a single epistle or gospel written yet
that we know of. So the ‘Jewish Christian’ missionaries from Jerusalem
were saying…’the bible says’…and using that to establish their position.
g. Paul has taught that the righteous (believers in Christ) are not under law.
He has taught that the law was not made for us. That Christ is the end of the law for those who believe. This is the root. It is not simply about circumcision and the cross. Circumcision stands for the way of the law of Moses. The cross stands for the way of Jesus. The new creation in Christ which includes the death and resurrection of Christ. It is about the way of our fleshly nature vs the way of the Spirit of God.
An Empty Boast
Not only did these Jewish Christian Missionaries from Jerusalem desire to avoid persecution…but they also wanted to boast back home of the conversions they received. Their missionary newsletters were not about conversions to Christ, but about solidifying the conversions of Christ to Moses’ law....imagine a newsletter that reads…’All Galatia Churches Commence a New Circumcision Program’ with 3,000 circumcised in three weeks!
The problem with circumcision was that it obligated all who went through the Jewish rite to observe Jewish law in total. Unfortunately, not even the Jewish Christian missionaries were able to do that!
It was not just about coming into the Kingdom, but about how to live in the Kingdom. For we live the same way we come in. If we come in by our own effort, then we live that way. But if we come in by faith in Christ through the Spirit of God, then we walk that way. And there is only one of these two options that is the way of Jesus.
ESV Galatians 3:10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them." 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for "The righteous shall live by faith." 12 But the law is not of faith, rather "The one who does them shall live by them." 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us--for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree"-- 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
The Jewish Christian Leaders from Jerusalem were probably using this passage as a key point in their teaching…
ESV Genesis 17:9 And God said to Abraham, "As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. 10 This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, 13 both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. 14 Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant."
Paul interacts with their teaching by using these scriptures to clarify.
ESV Leviticus 18:5 You shall therefore keep my statutes and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the LORD.
ESV Deuteronomy 21:22 "And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, 23 his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile your land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance.
Something to boast about..actually to obsess over
Louw & Nida-Kaukethesthai--to express an unusually high degree of confidence in…
1 Cor 1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart." 20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."
Gaining confidence in the cross comes from the Holy Spirit’s work in us.
Gaining confidence in the cross comes not from human wisdom or human words…or from a man made presentation…but from the wisdom of God.
Attitudes about the gospel…
Is it a type of music?
Is it the story of Jesus being born in a manger?
Is it basic Christianity we study when we become a Christian?
The exclusive centrality of the Cross
A Whole New World
ESV Romans 8:20 For the creation awas subjected to futility, not willingly, but bbecause of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that athe creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that athe whole creation bhas been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.
ESV Galatians 6:15 For aneither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but ba new creation.
We are in the epoch of the Old and New Creation….
Caterpiller & Butterfly
Womb of Eternity
Already have been made a new creation…and are eagerly awaiting
The new creation….
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you the Cross and it's glory!
The outline is adapted from Ryken's commentary on Galatians.
Much input for the Galatians series was gathered from Bruce, Fung, and several other commentators. Please see my recommended list at www.amazon.com for more information.
Sunday, December 24, 2006
The Incarnation
The Incarnation: What is it? Could it really be true?
ESV John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Fairest Lord Jesus
Text: Munster Gesangbuch; trans. by Joseph August Seiss
Introduction (outline adapted from 'Systematic Theology' by W. Grudem)
Definition
1. Direct Scriptural Claims
a. The Word God (Theos) Used of Christ (Reserved for God the Father normally)
John 1:1; 18
When Thomas believed he responded with:
ESV John 20:28 Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"
NIV Romans 9:5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! {5 Or Christ, who is over all. God be forever praised!
NIV Titus 2:12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope-- the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
NIV Psalm 45:6 Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
NIV Hebrews 1:8 But about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.
NIV 2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:
NIV Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, {6 Or Wonderful, Counselor} Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Calming the stormy sea, multiplying the loaves and fish, transforming real water into real wine….ctonext shows the manifested Glory of God in Jesus-not just the work of the Holy Spirit through a man.
2. Did Jesus Give Up Some of His Divine Attributes While on Earth?
Phil. 2:7 emptying Himself…means to become a humble servant (not to lay aside His divine attributes…) It was His manifest status in heaven that was laid aside, not Himself.
Emptying Himself is defined in the verse itself...it means to embrace humanity...to lay aside His throne. He could not deny Himself, He is still Divine. So He is God dwelling in Mary's womb...born in a manger.
No Jesus did not give up His divine attributes. He did give up His throne position in heaven and embraced humanity in full.
3. Is the Doctrine of the Incarnation Helpful Today?
ESV 1 John 4:1 Beloved, ado not believe every spirit, but btest the spirits to see whether they are from God, for cmany dfalse prophets ehave gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: aevery spirit that confesses that bJesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit athat does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and bnow is in the world already.
4. Three Inadequate Views of Jesus
a. Apollinarianism-Zombee view
Human body, but a divine mind & spirit
b. Nestorianism-'Star Trek View' or an Alien & Human spirit battle each other
Human & Divine Natures are completely separate in Christ.
c. Monophysitism-Freak View
Human & Divine natures fused to form a completely new nature
Jesus is God. Jesus is a man. We call Him Saviour because as God he became a man
In order to save us! We worship Him because Jesus is more than a man!
Think of Jesus as more like us than we have in the past. He is a man!
Strengthen your ability to resist temptation knowing Jesus also faced temptation. Jesus was tempted, but never sinned.
Think of Jesus as fully divine. He is God.
Develop anticipation of meeting Jesus face to face.
Cultivate the hope of direct worship of Jesus!
If I put things between me and Christ it is idolatry. If I put Christ between me and things, it is victory! (Adrian Rogers)
SO FOCUS YOUR ATTENTION ON JESUS! PUT HIM BETWEEN YOURSELF AND THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD. YOU WILL HAVE VICTORY OVER MATERIALISM!
ESV John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Fairest Lord Jesus
Text: Munster Gesangbuch; trans. by Joseph August Seiss
1. Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of all nature,
O thou of God and man the Son,
Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor,
thou, my soul's glory, joy, and crown.
2. Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands,
robed in the blooming garb of spring:
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer
who makes the woeful heart to sing.
3. Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight,
and all the twinkling starry host:
Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer
than all the angels heaven can boast.
4. Beautiful Savior! Lord of all the nations!
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor, praise, adoration,
now and forevermore be thine.
Introduction (outline adapted from 'Systematic Theology' by W. Grudem)
Definition
1. Direct Scriptural Claims
a. The Word God (Theos) Used of Christ (Reserved for God the Father normally)
John 1:1; 18
When Thomas believed he responded with:
ESV John 20:28 Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"
NIV Romans 9:5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! {5 Or Christ, who is over all. God be forever praised!
NIV Titus 2:12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope-- the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
NIV Psalm 45:6 Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
NIV Hebrews 1:8 But about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.
NIV 2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:
NIV Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, {6 Or Wonderful, Counselor} Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Calming the stormy sea, multiplying the loaves and fish, transforming real water into real wine….ctonext shows the manifested Glory of God in Jesus-not just the work of the Holy Spirit through a man.
2. Did Jesus Give Up Some of His Divine Attributes While on Earth?
Phil. 2:7 emptying Himself…means to become a humble servant (not to lay aside His divine attributes…) It was His manifest status in heaven that was laid aside, not Himself.
Emptying Himself is defined in the verse itself...it means to embrace humanity...to lay aside His throne. He could not deny Himself, He is still Divine. So He is God dwelling in Mary's womb...born in a manger.
No Jesus did not give up His divine attributes. He did give up His throne position in heaven and embraced humanity in full.
3. Is the Doctrine of the Incarnation Helpful Today?
ESV 1 John 4:1 Beloved, ado not believe every spirit, but btest the spirits to see whether they are from God, for cmany dfalse prophets ehave gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: aevery spirit that confesses that bJesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit athat does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and bnow is in the world already.
4. Three Inadequate Views of Jesus
a. Apollinarianism-Zombee view
Human body, but a divine mind & spirit
b. Nestorianism-'Star Trek View' or an Alien & Human spirit battle each other
Human & Divine Natures are completely separate in Christ.
c. Monophysitism-Freak View
Human & Divine natures fused to form a completely new nature
Jesus is God. Jesus is a man. We call Him Saviour because as God he became a man
In order to save us! We worship Him because Jesus is more than a man!
Think of Jesus as more like us than we have in the past. He is a man!
Strengthen your ability to resist temptation knowing Jesus also faced temptation. Jesus was tempted, but never sinned.
Think of Jesus as fully divine. He is God.
Develop anticipation of meeting Jesus face to face.
Cultivate the hope of direct worship of Jesus!
If I put things between me and Christ it is idolatry. If I put Christ between me and things, it is victory! (Adrian Rogers)
SO FOCUS YOUR ATTENTION ON JESUS! PUT HIM BETWEEN YOURSELF AND THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD. YOU WILL HAVE VICTORY OVER MATERIALISM!
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Christmas Message 2006
(Galatians 4:8-11 & 5:22-24)
Introduction:
The Puritans thought it was wrong to celebrate Christmas. They even banned Christmas in the early days of America in some places. They said it was a pagan holiday. I imagine they quoted from the bible…to abandon the observing of special days…like the Jewish Sabaath. Those who study the gospel know that the observing of special days during the year was abandoned by the early Church…as Paul says in reaction to the Galatians…who had resumed observing special days.
ESV Galatians 4:8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature care 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.
Have we simply traded ancient Mosaic law and the observances of it for the observing of special days in our modern culture?
If Christmas is a way for you to alleviate guilt and to try to earn favor with God by doing things He will approve of...then you have simply traded ancient Mosaic law for modern cultural religiosity....but if it is a time of joy in the Holy Spirit...then you are free to enjoy whatever God leads you to do this time of year!
Why I decided to emphasize special days in our Church…
Dreams of poinsetta & corn stalks interpreted…certain days are not more holy than others. Our culture has an emphasis that makes people more open to Christianity during this season more than any other season. Starts with Halloween and goes through the New Year. I believe the Holy Spirit has led us to do special things as a church during this season. So we are not saying Christmas is a more holy day than others…no every day is holy for those of us in Christ. Christmas represents an opportunity to present Christ to the world.
So why did Christ come? What did He achieve by sacrificing His life?
What Christmas represents in essence is two things:
1) Jesus is God in human flesh
ESV Philippians 2:7 but amade himself nothing, taking the form of a bservant,1 cbeing born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by abecoming obedient to the point of death, beven death on a cross.
a) Miracle conception
ESV Matthew 1:23 a"Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name bImmanuel" (which means, God cwith us).
b) Signs at His birth
ESV Luke 2:15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."
c) Signs at His death
ESV Matthew 27:54 abWhen the centurion and those who were with him, bkeeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, c"Truly this was the Son1 of God!"
d) Resurrection
NIV John 20:27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
2) Jesus presents THE gift of life
a) We have eternal life in Christ
NIV 1 Corinthians 1:30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God-- that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
ESV Romans 6:23 aFor the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
b) We have the Holy Spirit now who brings three kinds of gifts into our lives.
Gal 5:16 But I say, awalk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify bthe desires of the flesh. 17 For athe 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, bto keep you from doing the things you want to do.
1. The Fruit of the Spirit
ESV Galatians 5:22 But athe fruit of the Spirit is blove, joy, peace, patience, ckindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 agentleness, bself-control; cagainst such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus ahave crucified the flesh with its bpassions and desires.
2. The Gifts of the Spirit
ESV Romans 12:6 aHaving gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if bprophecy, cin proportion to our faith; 7 if aservice, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; athe one who leads,1 with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with bcheerfulness. 9 aLet love be genuine. bAbhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 aLove one another with brotherly affection. bOutdo one another in showing honor.
3. The Wisdom of the Spirit
ESV Isaiah 11:2 And athe Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.
Conclusion
The whole idea of a real Christian Christmas is to walk in the Spirit during this season. Let the Life of the Spirit flow in your heart. Seek to present Christ to people. If you don’t have the Holy Spirit dwelling in your life, give your life to Jesus and invite God into your heart and soul today!
It’s a life of freedom in the Holy Spirit…not an observance of special days or seasons…but a daily relationship with the God of heaven…our Creator…a life of joy, peace and goodness!
Introduction:
The Puritans thought it was wrong to celebrate Christmas. They even banned Christmas in the early days of America in some places. They said it was a pagan holiday. I imagine they quoted from the bible…to abandon the observing of special days…like the Jewish Sabaath. Those who study the gospel know that the observing of special days during the year was abandoned by the early Church…as Paul says in reaction to the Galatians…who had resumed observing special days.
ESV Galatians 4:8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature care 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.
Have we simply traded ancient Mosaic law and the observances of it for the observing of special days in our modern culture?
If Christmas is a way for you to alleviate guilt and to try to earn favor with God by doing things He will approve of...then you have simply traded ancient Mosaic law for modern cultural religiosity....but if it is a time of joy in the Holy Spirit...then you are free to enjoy whatever God leads you to do this time of year!
Why I decided to emphasize special days in our Church…
Dreams of poinsetta & corn stalks interpreted…certain days are not more holy than others. Our culture has an emphasis that makes people more open to Christianity during this season more than any other season. Starts with Halloween and goes through the New Year. I believe the Holy Spirit has led us to do special things as a church during this season. So we are not saying Christmas is a more holy day than others…no every day is holy for those of us in Christ. Christmas represents an opportunity to present Christ to the world.
So why did Christ come? What did He achieve by sacrificing His life?
What Christmas represents in essence is two things:
1) Jesus is God in human flesh
ESV Philippians 2:7 but amade himself nothing, taking the form of a bservant,1 cbeing born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by abecoming obedient to the point of death, beven death on a cross.
a) Miracle conception
ESV Matthew 1:23 a"Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name bImmanuel" (which means, God cwith us).
b) Signs at His birth
ESV Luke 2:15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."
c) Signs at His death
ESV Matthew 27:54 abWhen the centurion and those who were with him, bkeeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, c"Truly this was the Son1 of God!"
d) Resurrection
NIV John 20:27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
2) Jesus presents THE gift of life
a) We have eternal life in Christ
NIV 1 Corinthians 1:30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God-- that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
ESV Romans 6:23 aFor the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
b) We have the Holy Spirit now who brings three kinds of gifts into our lives.
Gal 5:16 But I say, awalk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify bthe desires of the flesh. 17 For athe 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, bto keep you from doing the things you want to do.
1. The Fruit of the Spirit
ESV Galatians 5:22 But athe fruit of the Spirit is blove, joy, peace, patience, ckindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 agentleness, bself-control; cagainst such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus ahave crucified the flesh with its bpassions and desires.
2. The Gifts of the Spirit
ESV Romans 12:6 aHaving gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if bprophecy, cin proportion to our faith; 7 if aservice, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; athe one who leads,1 with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with bcheerfulness. 9 aLet love be genuine. bAbhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 aLove one another with brotherly affection. bOutdo one another in showing honor.
3. The Wisdom of the Spirit
ESV Isaiah 11:2 And athe Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.
Conclusion
The whole idea of a real Christian Christmas is to walk in the Spirit during this season. Let the Life of the Spirit flow in your heart. Seek to present Christ to people. If you don’t have the Holy Spirit dwelling in your life, give your life to Jesus and invite God into your heart and soul today!
It’s a life of freedom in the Holy Spirit…not an observance of special days or seasons…but a daily relationship with the God of heaven…our Creator…a life of joy, peace and goodness!
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Dealing w/Sin (Four One Another's in Galatians 6:1-6)
Walking in the Spirit will not only stop us from biting and devouring one another.
Walking in the Spirit will cause us to ‘deal with sin’ by one anothering well.
There are four ‘one another concepts in this segment of Holy Scripture.
RESTORE ONE ANOTHER
Galatians 6:1 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.
First…the whole of Galatians is dealing with the same topic that comes up shortly after Galatians was written. The council in Jerusalem calls the law a yoke…a burden that the people of God…natural Israel…could never bear. It is not accidental that Paul now talks about the burdens of Christians. A backdrop of the burden of the law was already hinted at when Paul called it a yoke of slavery just a few minutes ago…remember Acts 15:1-10
Gentleness part of the fruit of the Spirit, is also represented by a spirit here.
Restoring is like broken arm setting.
1) sometimes we ignore sin
2) Sometimes we notice sin, but never get past diagnosis
3) Sometimes we condemn the person in sin for needing to get help
4) Christians overtaken by sin do not need isolation, amputation or condemnation, they need restoration.
Mending: Matthew 4:21
For those who are walking in the Spirit, who have an abundance of
The fruit of the Spirit in their life, restoring one another is crucial.
BEAR OTHER’S BURDENS
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Illustration: Like one who carries a stretcher...bears weight of others inability to overcome whatever weakness they have.
The law of Christ...
Some say this is a reference to the moral law, or to Jesus’ teachings
As a whole. It really is a simple reference to what Paul has already said
That we are to love one another. This is the law of Christ.
To love one another is not like the burden of the law of Moses. It is the fruit of the Spirit.
Paul does not go from contrasting the law to suddenly implying a fulfillment of Moses' law...no he is continuing his contrast. The law of Christ (love) is another contrast to the law of Moses as represented by circumcision.
Burdens includes all kinds of weaknesses. Romans 15:1.
1 Peter 5:7
Psalm 55:22
1 Cor 9:21
CONSIDER OTHERS MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOURSELF
1) HUMBLE YOURSELF
3 For aif anyone thinks he is something, bwhen he is nothing, he deceives himself.
2) ELIMINATE COMPETITIVENESS
4 But let each one atest his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 1Peter 1:7; 1 Cor 11:28
3) DON’T BURDEN OTHERS UNNECESSARILY
5 For each will have to bear his own load. Rom 14:12; 2 Cor 5:10
SHARE WITH OTHERS
BLESS YOUR BIBLE TEACHERS
6 aOne who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches.
The one who teaches is a specific term probably coined by Paul to represent Christian Church teachers. It is the first reference to a fixed position of teaching in the local church-rather than the itinerant minister-Paul was not self serving in this comment.
The idea of a local pastor or elder who devotes himself to preaching the word and living off the support of the people he ministers to is the basic idea here. It is popular in some circles to attack the idea of a local pastor/bible teacher who draws his income from the ministry. This popular idea is contradicted here by Paul’s specific instruction. He may mention this right after the point about each one bearing his own load specifically so that local church leaders who live from the tithes and offerings of the flock do not suffer from a misapplication of the previous verse. 1 Cor 9:11, 14; 1Tim 5:17f..
Paul waived his right to receive income from those he ministered to…but insisted it was the right of those who give themselves wholly to preaching the Word.
(outline from Ryken “Galatians REC”-although the specific points match up more with Fung’s comments on this passage in “Galatians NICNT”)
Walking in the Spirit will cause us to ‘deal with sin’ by one anothering well.
There are four ‘one another concepts in this segment of Holy Scripture.
RESTORE ONE ANOTHER
Galatians 6:1 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.
First…the whole of Galatians is dealing with the same topic that comes up shortly after Galatians was written. The council in Jerusalem calls the law a yoke…a burden that the people of God…natural Israel…could never bear. It is not accidental that Paul now talks about the burdens of Christians. A backdrop of the burden of the law was already hinted at when Paul called it a yoke of slavery just a few minutes ago…remember Acts 15:1-10
Gentleness part of the fruit of the Spirit, is also represented by a spirit here.
Restoring is like broken arm setting.
1) sometimes we ignore sin
2) Sometimes we notice sin, but never get past diagnosis
3) Sometimes we condemn the person in sin for needing to get help
4) Christians overtaken by sin do not need isolation, amputation or condemnation, they need restoration.
Mending: Matthew 4:21
For those who are walking in the Spirit, who have an abundance of
The fruit of the Spirit in their life, restoring one another is crucial.
BEAR OTHER’S BURDENS
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Illustration: Like one who carries a stretcher...bears weight of others inability to overcome whatever weakness they have.
The law of Christ...
Some say this is a reference to the moral law, or to Jesus’ teachings
As a whole. It really is a simple reference to what Paul has already said
That we are to love one another. This is the law of Christ.
To love one another is not like the burden of the law of Moses. It is the fruit of the Spirit.
Paul does not go from contrasting the law to suddenly implying a fulfillment of Moses' law...no he is continuing his contrast. The law of Christ (love) is another contrast to the law of Moses as represented by circumcision.
Burdens includes all kinds of weaknesses. Romans 15:1.
1 Peter 5:7
Psalm 55:22
1 Cor 9:21
CONSIDER OTHERS MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOURSELF
1) HUMBLE YOURSELF
3 For aif anyone thinks he is something, bwhen he is nothing, he deceives himself.
2) ELIMINATE COMPETITIVENESS
4 But let each one atest his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 1Peter 1:7; 1 Cor 11:28
3) DON’T BURDEN OTHERS UNNECESSARILY
5 For each will have to bear his own load. Rom 14:12; 2 Cor 5:10
SHARE WITH OTHERS
BLESS YOUR BIBLE TEACHERS
6 aOne who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches.
The one who teaches is a specific term probably coined by Paul to represent Christian Church teachers. It is the first reference to a fixed position of teaching in the local church-rather than the itinerant minister-Paul was not self serving in this comment.
The idea of a local pastor or elder who devotes himself to preaching the word and living off the support of the people he ministers to is the basic idea here. It is popular in some circles to attack the idea of a local pastor/bible teacher who draws his income from the ministry. This popular idea is contradicted here by Paul’s specific instruction. He may mention this right after the point about each one bearing his own load specifically so that local church leaders who live from the tithes and offerings of the flock do not suffer from a misapplication of the previous verse. 1 Cor 9:11, 14; 1Tim 5:17f..
Paul waived his right to receive income from those he ministered to…but insisted it was the right of those who give themselves wholly to preaching the Word.
(outline from Ryken “Galatians REC”-although the specific points match up more with Fung’s comments on this passage in “Galatians NICNT”)
Friday, December 08, 2006
Flesh vs Spirit
Notes from my sermon on Galatians 5:15-26
ESV Galatians 5:16 But I say, awalk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify bthe desires of the flesh.
Flesh here means sinful nature…not simply physical body. The physical body is not evil.
God created our flesh. This refers to our physical bodies. Genesis 2.
Jesus Christ came in the flesh…that is in a real physical body.
ESV 1 John 4:2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that bJesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,
Paul uses flesh to refer to the desires of our sinful nature sometimes. John does also in
ESV 1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world--athe desires of the flesh and bthe desires of the eyes and pride in possessions--is not from the Father but is from the world.
17 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.
There is a war between your fleshly desires and the Spirit’s desires.
The Law of Moses put that into bold fonts…highlighted the fact in neon lights that we are unable to do what is perfect in our sinful nature, switched the letters into full caps AND italicized it for us all to see. We cannot overcome our flesh by following God’s rules or by making up our own rules to live by.
So there is a better way….
The OLD CONTRAST was the law vs the flesh. The NEW CONTRAST is the flesh vs the Spirit.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
We have changed nations. We no longer are citizens of the nation of Moses’ law. We are now citizens of Christ Jesus and His Spirit’s leading.
The efforts of our flesh are easy to see.
Four categories of flesh works…
Sexual sin, religious deviations, relational sins & wrecklessness.
A) Sexual sins
1) Porneia-fornicatoin, immorality, adultery
2) Akatharsis-Uncleanness, impurity
opposite of holiness
3) Aselgeia-Lasciviousness, licentiousness, indeceny, sensuality, debauchery
B) Religious deviations
4) Idolatry
5) Witchcraft, sorcery
C) Disorders in personal relationships
6) Hatred, enmeities, quarrels
7) Variance, strife, contentious temper, discord
8) Emulations, jealousies, envy
9) Wrath, anger, fits of rage, outburts of anger
10) Strife, factions, selfishness, selfish ambitions,
disputes
11) Divisions, seditions, dissension
12) Heresies, party spirit, factions
13) Envyings, murderous desires, jeallousies
D) Sins of Wrecklessness
14) Drunkenness, Drinking bouts
15) Revellings, Carousing, Orgies
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, adivisions, 21 envy,1 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.
What is the Kingdom of God?
The Kingdom of God is the realm where God is King. It is the realm where God’s power, majesty, authority and rule are recognized and submitted to.
What does it mean to inherit the Kingdom?
To inherit the Kingdom of God is the fruition or completion of our quest to live forever in God’s presence, in friendship with Him and as glorious worshippers of God. To NOT inherit the Kingdom of God is to be destined to an eternal existence apart from Christ, suffering the pain of missing Him and the pain of eternal fire.
The very one thing Paul is NOT saying here is that ‘if you do not do the right things then you are going to hell forever’. What he is saying is that here are features of people who have received the Spirit. Here are features also of people who have rejected the Spirit and are living ‘naturally’. Here to be ‘normal’ is to be destined not to the Kingdom of God.
ESV 1 Corinthians 6:9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: aneither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And asuch were some of you. But byou were washed, cyou were sanctified, dyou were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
In the name of Jesus & by the Spirit refer to coming into Christ Jesus and His covenant. They refer to the reception of the Holy Spirit at conversion.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its bpassions and desires.
These nine fruit of the Spirit are not individually given to each one as the Spirit wills…like the gifts of the Spirit are, but they are all foundational in all believers. The budding of these 9 fruit are resident inside the work of the Holy Spirit in every believer. The king of them is love.
These nine come together as one complete jewel. They are not really nine separate jewels, but nine ‘cuts’ of the same jewel. The jewel is the Holy Spirit. He is love. He grows these qualities in each one who walks by the Spirit.
ESV Romans 6:9 We know that aChrist being raised from the dead will never die again; bdeath no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, aonce for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves adead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
25 If we live by the Spirit, alet us also walk by the Spirit. 26 aLet us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
ESV Galatians 5:16 But I say, awalk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify bthe desires of the flesh.
Flesh here means sinful nature…not simply physical body. The physical body is not evil.
God created our flesh. This refers to our physical bodies. Genesis 2.
Jesus Christ came in the flesh…that is in a real physical body.
ESV 1 John 4:2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that bJesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,
Paul uses flesh to refer to the desires of our sinful nature sometimes. John does also in
ESV 1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world--athe desires of the flesh and bthe desires of the eyes and pride in possessions--is not from the Father but is from the world.
17 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.
There is a war between your fleshly desires and the Spirit’s desires.
The Law of Moses put that into bold fonts…highlighted the fact in neon lights that we are unable to do what is perfect in our sinful nature, switched the letters into full caps AND italicized it for us all to see. We cannot overcome our flesh by following God’s rules or by making up our own rules to live by.
So there is a better way….
The OLD CONTRAST was the law vs the flesh. The NEW CONTRAST is the flesh vs the Spirit.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
We have changed nations. We no longer are citizens of the nation of Moses’ law. We are now citizens of Christ Jesus and His Spirit’s leading.
The efforts of our flesh are easy to see.
Four categories of flesh works…
Sexual sin, religious deviations, relational sins & wrecklessness.
A) Sexual sins
1) Porneia-fornicatoin, immorality, adultery
2) Akatharsis-Uncleanness, impurity
opposite of holiness
3) Aselgeia-Lasciviousness, licentiousness, indeceny, sensuality, debauchery
B) Religious deviations
4) Idolatry
5) Witchcraft, sorcery
C) Disorders in personal relationships
6) Hatred, enmeities, quarrels
7) Variance, strife, contentious temper, discord
8) Emulations, jealousies, envy
9) Wrath, anger, fits of rage, outburts of anger
10) Strife, factions, selfishness, selfish ambitions,
disputes
11) Divisions, seditions, dissension
12) Heresies, party spirit, factions
13) Envyings, murderous desires, jeallousies
D) Sins of Wrecklessness
14) Drunkenness, Drinking bouts
15) Revellings, Carousing, Orgies
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, adivisions, 21 envy,1 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.
What is the Kingdom of God?
The Kingdom of God is the realm where God is King. It is the realm where God’s power, majesty, authority and rule are recognized and submitted to.
What does it mean to inherit the Kingdom?
To inherit the Kingdom of God is the fruition or completion of our quest to live forever in God’s presence, in friendship with Him and as glorious worshippers of God. To NOT inherit the Kingdom of God is to be destined to an eternal existence apart from Christ, suffering the pain of missing Him and the pain of eternal fire.
The very one thing Paul is NOT saying here is that ‘if you do not do the right things then you are going to hell forever’. What he is saying is that here are features of people who have received the Spirit. Here are features also of people who have rejected the Spirit and are living ‘naturally’. Here to be ‘normal’ is to be destined not to the Kingdom of God.
ESV 1 Corinthians 6:9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: aneither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And asuch were some of you. But byou were washed, cyou were sanctified, dyou were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
In the name of Jesus & by the Spirit refer to coming into Christ Jesus and His covenant. They refer to the reception of the Holy Spirit at conversion.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its bpassions and desires.
These nine fruit of the Spirit are not individually given to each one as the Spirit wills…like the gifts of the Spirit are, but they are all foundational in all believers. The budding of these 9 fruit are resident inside the work of the Holy Spirit in every believer. The king of them is love.
These nine come together as one complete jewel. They are not really nine separate jewels, but nine ‘cuts’ of the same jewel. The jewel is the Holy Spirit. He is love. He grows these qualities in each one who walks by the Spirit.
ESV Romans 6:9 We know that aChrist being raised from the dead will never die again; bdeath no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, aonce for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves adead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
25 If we live by the Spirit, alet us also walk by the Spirit. 26 aLet us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Christian Freedom (Galatians 5:1-15)
ESV Galatians 5:1 For freedom Christ has set us free;
stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. 2 Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. 3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. 4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified1 by the law; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly await for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. 7 You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion is not from him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view than mine, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. 11 But if I, brothers,1 still preach circumcision, awhy am I still being persecuted? In that case bthe offense of the cross has been removed. 12 I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves! 13 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. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
I. Why were we set free?
ESV Galatians 5:1 For afreedom Christ has bset us free;
cstand firm therefore, and do not submit again to da yoke of eslavery.
NIV John 8:30 Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him. 31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
Freedom is usually ‘freedom from’….Romans 7:3-4 Freedom from the law.
The Council in Jerusalem will concur that the law is a yoke.
NLT Acts 15:10 So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers1 with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear?
Freedom from….
The law Galatians 3:13
Sin Romans 6:18-22
Self Ephesians 4:22-24 Colossians 3:9-10
Death Romans 8:2
Freedom equals
The Spirit of God In Us 2 Corinthians 3:17
The Christian Life Galatians 2:4
ESV 1 Corinthians 16:13 aBe watchful, bstand firm in the faith, cact like men, dbe strong.
II. What really matters? 5:2-6
When God says something twice in a row, pay close attention.
ESV Galatians 1:8 But even if we or aan angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, blet him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, alet him be accursed.
Can we get any more stunning?
ESV Romans 2:25 For circumcision indeed is of value aif you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.
1 Cor 6:17 Only let each person lead the life athat the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. bThis is my rule in call the churches. 18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? aLet him not seek circumcision. 19 aFor neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but bkeeping the commandments of God. 20 aEach one should remain in the condition in which he was called.
ESV Romans 7:6 But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve not under the old written code but in athe new life of bthe Spirit.
NIV Romans 7:6 But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.
NLT Romans 7:6 But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.
ESV 1 Timothy 1:5 The aim of our charge is love athat issues from a pure heart and ba good conscience and ca sincere faith. 6 Certain persons, by aswerving from these, have wandered away into bvain discussion, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, awithout understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions. 8 Now we know that athe law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9 understanding this, that the alaw is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers,
www.wayofthemaster.com check a msg called ‘Hell’s best kept secret’. Shows how to use the law of Moses to bring people to conviction.
III. Who disrupts our freedom? 5:7-12
7 You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying bthe truth? 8 This persuasion is not from ahim who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view than mine, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. 11 But if I, brothers,1 still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. 12 I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!
There were problems like in Galatia in other cities…not far away in Ephesus
Paul urges Timothy to stop law preachers as well.
ESV 1 Timothy 1:6 Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, 7 desiring to be teahers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.
Leaven reminds us of being cut off from the people of God during the first Passover. Passover is a symbol of Christ’s death and resurrection. So the link to our freedom (Paul’s context in Galatians 5) is a direct link.
ESV Exodus 12:15 aSeven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven out of your houses, for if anyone eats what is leavened, from the first day until the seventh day, bthat person shall be cut off from Israel. 16 On the first day you shall hold a aholy assembly, and on the seventh day a holy assembly. No work shall be done on those days. But what everyone needs to eat, that alone may be prepared by you. 17 And you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for aon this very day I brought your bhosts out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day, throughout your generations, as a statute forever. 18 aIn the first month, from the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread until the twenty-first day of the month at evening. 19 aFor seven days no leaven is to be found in your houses. If anyone eats what is leavened, athat person will be cut off from the congregation of Israel, bwhether he is a sojourner or a native of the land.
Babe Ruth Baseball illustration
IV. How do we leave the law & walk well as Christians? 5:13-15
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. aOnly do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love bserve one another. 14 For athe whole law is fulfilled in one word: b"You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 15 But if you abite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
ESV Leviticus 19:18 aYou shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but byou shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.
ESV 1 John 4:8 aAnyone who does not love does not know God, because bGod is love.
ESV 1 John 4:16 So awe have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. bGod is love, and cwhoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
God is love & God is light. The reason the law is summed up as loving is because God is love. Therefore, if we are led by the Spirit, love will be our hallmark. Therefore we are called to serve each other, not to devour each other.
The moral principles in the law reflect the nature of God. Jesus Christ is God. Therefore, the moral principles in the law will match what Christ’s Spirit leads us to do. We draw our life from our relationship with the Holy Spirit living inside us, and from careful meditation in God’s word. Therefore, we can apply all of scripture, but we must divide it rightly.
stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. 2 Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. 3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. 4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified1 by the law; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly await for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. 7 You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion is not from him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view than mine, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. 11 But if I, brothers,1 still preach circumcision, awhy am I still being persecuted? In that case bthe offense of the cross has been removed. 12 I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves! 13 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. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
I. Why were we set free?
ESV Galatians 5:1 For afreedom Christ has bset us free;
cstand firm therefore, and do not submit again to da yoke of eslavery.
NIV John 8:30 Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him. 31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
Freedom is usually ‘freedom from’….Romans 7:3-4 Freedom from the law.
The Council in Jerusalem will concur that the law is a yoke.
NLT Acts 15:10 So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers1 with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear?
Freedom from….
The law Galatians 3:13
Sin Romans 6:18-22
Self Ephesians 4:22-24 Colossians 3:9-10
Death Romans 8:2
Freedom equals
The Spirit of God In Us 2 Corinthians 3:17
The Christian Life Galatians 2:4
ESV 1 Corinthians 16:13 aBe watchful, bstand firm in the faith, cact like men, dbe strong.
II. What really matters? 5:2-6
. 2 Look: I, Paul, say to you that aif you accept circumcision, bChrist will be of no advantage to you. 3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that ahe is obligated to keep the whole law. 4 You are asevered from Christ, byou who would be justified1 by the law; cyou have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly await for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus aneither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but bonly faith working through love.
When God says something twice in a row, pay close attention.
ESV Galatians 1:8 But even if we or aan angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, blet him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, alet him be accursed.
Can we get any more stunning?
Paul is inspired to repeat himself here also.
2 Look: I, Paul, say to you that aif you accept circumcision, bChrist will be of no advantage to you. 3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that ahe is obligated to keep the whole law.
ESV Romans 2:25 For circumcision indeed is of value aif you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.
1 Cor 6:17 Only let each person lead the life athat the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. bThis is my rule in call the churches. 18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? aLet him not seek circumcision. 19 aFor neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but bkeeping the commandments of God. 20 aEach one should remain in the condition in which he was called.
ESV Romans 7:6 But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve not under the old written code but in athe new life of bthe Spirit.
NIV Romans 7:6 But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.
NLT Romans 7:6 But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.
ESV 1 Timothy 1:5 The aim of our charge is love athat issues from a pure heart and ba good conscience and ca sincere faith. 6 Certain persons, by aswerving from these, have wandered away into bvain discussion, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, awithout understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions. 8 Now we know that athe law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9 understanding this, that the alaw is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers,
www.wayofthemaster.com check a msg called ‘Hell’s best kept secret’. Shows how to use the law of Moses to bring people to conviction.
III. Who disrupts our freedom? 5:7-12
7 You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying bthe truth? 8 This persuasion is not from ahim who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view than mine, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. 11 But if I, brothers,1 still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. 12 I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!
There were problems like in Galatia in other cities…not far away in Ephesus
Paul urges Timothy to stop law preachers as well.
ESV 1 Timothy 1:6 Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, 7 desiring to be teahers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.
Leaven reminds us of being cut off from the people of God during the first Passover. Passover is a symbol of Christ’s death and resurrection. So the link to our freedom (Paul’s context in Galatians 5) is a direct link.
ESV Exodus 12:15 aSeven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven out of your houses, for if anyone eats what is leavened, from the first day until the seventh day, bthat person shall be cut off from Israel. 16 On the first day you shall hold a aholy assembly, and on the seventh day a holy assembly. No work shall be done on those days. But what everyone needs to eat, that alone may be prepared by you. 17 And you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for aon this very day I brought your bhosts out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day, throughout your generations, as a statute forever. 18 aIn the first month, from the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread until the twenty-first day of the month at evening. 19 aFor seven days no leaven is to be found in your houses. If anyone eats what is leavened, athat person will be cut off from the congregation of Israel, bwhether he is a sojourner or a native of the land.
Babe Ruth Baseball illustration
IV. How do we leave the law & walk well as Christians? 5:13-15
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. aOnly do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love bserve one another. 14 For athe whole law is fulfilled in one word: b"You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 15 But if you abite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
ESV Leviticus 19:18 aYou shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but byou shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.
ESV 1 John 4:8 aAnyone who does not love does not know God, because bGod is love.
ESV 1 John 4:16 So awe have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. bGod is love, and cwhoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
God is love & God is light. The reason the law is summed up as loving is because God is love. Therefore, if we are led by the Spirit, love will be our hallmark. Therefore we are called to serve each other, not to devour each other.
The moral principles in the law reflect the nature of God. Jesus Christ is God. Therefore, the moral principles in the law will match what Christ’s Spirit leads us to do. We draw our life from our relationship with the Holy Spirit living inside us, and from careful meditation in God’s word. Therefore, we can apply all of scripture, but we must divide it rightly.
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