Always by Grace
Series: NO OTHER GOSPEL
Speaker: Debbie Gould
Date: 10th September 2017
Passage: Galatians 3:1-14
00:00:00 --> 00:00:08 Now, many years ago, I drove to Yass to visit my sister, who had recently got married,
00:00:08 --> 00:00:14 and I took along with me a little friend who had been my sister's flower girl.
00:00:15 --> 00:00:21 Now, Michelle would have been in late primary school at the time,
00:00:22 --> 00:00:26 and my sister worked in Canberra, which is a little distance from Yass,
00:00:26 --> 00:00:38 and I volunteered to drive her to work, and the plan was that Michelle and I would have time in Canberra
00:00:38 --> 00:00:40 doing really wonderful things together.
00:00:41 --> 00:00:48 Now, this was my first trip to Canberra, and I really didn't know where I was going,
00:00:48 --> 00:00:56 and I also had this huge responsibility of looking after this young companion of mine.
00:00:57 --> 00:01:06 Now, for those of you who know Canberra, there are these really, really large roundabouts in Canberra,
00:01:06 --> 00:01:12 and when I say large, they go all around Parliament House,
00:01:12 --> 00:01:17 and if I remember correctly, there's two layers, but I'm not absolutely certain,
00:01:17 --> 00:01:22 but I just know that they're big, and they go around in a circle.
00:01:24 --> 00:01:31 And so, you need to know where you are going when you go to Canberra.
00:01:31 --> 00:01:37 You need to know which exit to get off to get to the place that you're going,
00:01:37 --> 00:01:41 and unfortunately, I didn't know that piece of information.
00:01:42 --> 00:01:50 So, I spent a lot of time going around and around and around and around,
00:01:50 --> 00:01:58 not knowing which exit was the one I was needing to get off to take my little companion for a fun day.
00:01:59 --> 00:02:04 Now, my little companion was more and more distressed,
00:02:04 --> 00:02:13 distressed because she saw the same things over and over and over again.
00:02:14 --> 00:02:19 When I say distressed, she was in tears and telling me I want to go home.
00:02:19 --> 00:02:23 So, we were really not in a good place at that moment in time.
00:02:24 --> 00:02:29 But in Galatians, it's a little bit like going around on a roundabout
00:02:29 --> 00:02:36 because we seem to be seeing the same message over and over again,
00:02:36 --> 00:02:46 and yet, it's a message that we too forget over and over as well.
00:02:47 --> 00:02:52 So, we need to try and set a new pattern, I think.
00:02:52 --> 00:03:02 Now, Paul's concentration and his central concern here is that he wants the Galatians to be right with God.
00:03:03 --> 00:03:11 This is of grave importance to Paul, and it's of grave importance to us as well,
00:03:11 --> 00:03:15 that we also know that we are right with God.
00:03:15 --> 00:03:26 We already know from previous sermons that Paul is combating the issue that there are Jewish Christians
00:03:26 --> 00:03:35 who are telling the Gentile Christians that to be saved, they first have to believe Jesus,
00:03:35 --> 00:03:41 then they obey a whole bunch of the laws, and then they are saved.
00:03:41 --> 00:03:48 And Paul's reminding them that what has to happen is that you believe Jesus,
00:03:48 --> 00:03:53 and then you're saved, and then you go on obeying God.
00:03:54 --> 00:04:01 Now, the law, being all the rules, all the regulations that we've spoken of over the last few weeks,
00:04:01 --> 00:04:07 the food restrictions, circumcision, ceremonial ways of doing worship.
00:04:07 --> 00:04:13 So, let's today think of three things.
00:04:13 --> 00:04:19 Now, for my community group people who like to have three points, here's your three points.
00:04:20 --> 00:04:27 The three points are going to be, and mind you, it is only three points because the passage actually does this for us very neatly.
00:04:28 --> 00:04:33 What we're going to look at is what is the gospel from verses 10 to 14?
00:04:33 --> 00:04:38 What is Paul asking of the Galatians in verses 1 to 5?
00:04:39 --> 00:04:45 And what witness does Paul bring in to give us in verses 6 to 9?
00:04:46 --> 00:04:49 So, what's the gospel in verses 10 to 14?
00:04:49 --> 00:04:55 Well, scripture tells us it's all about Jesus' life, death, and resurrection,
00:04:56 --> 00:04:58 that we will be saved if we believe in him.
00:04:58 --> 00:05:06 We are justified, that is, we are made right with God, and we are no longer condemned.
00:05:06 --> 00:05:10 We receive this through grace if we believe in him.
00:05:10 --> 00:05:12 That's what all of the Bible keeps telling us.
00:05:13 --> 00:05:18 And it seems so simple to believe in Jesus.
00:05:18 --> 00:05:24 But the Galatians were being encouraged to believe that it wasn't enough.
00:05:24 --> 00:05:34 And we too fall into that same trap of thinking that it cannot be that simple.
00:05:35 --> 00:05:42 You see, doing good is a natural default setting for all humans.
00:05:43 --> 00:05:50 Many believe that God will love you more if you are busy doing good things,
00:05:50 --> 00:05:55 or that by doing good things, that's the way that you get to God.
00:05:55 --> 00:05:59 It's either about your place in heaven or God loving you.
00:06:00 --> 00:06:04 Now, remember in the first sermon that Sam did on this Galatians,
00:06:04 --> 00:06:10 he mentioned the two diagnostic questions that Evangelism Explosion talks about.
00:06:10 --> 00:06:16 The first one being, if you were to die tonight, where would you wake up?
00:06:16 --> 00:06:23 And the second one being, if you were to die and you wake up in heaven and God says to you,
00:06:23 --> 00:06:26 why should I let you into my kingdom, what would you say?
00:06:27 --> 00:06:34 Now, I've been around using those two questions in actual fact for many years,
00:06:34 --> 00:06:36 for about 40 years.
00:06:36 --> 00:06:38 I have used those same questions.
00:06:38 --> 00:06:44 And I can tell you there is a massive percentage of answers that I have received over the years
00:06:44 --> 00:06:51 that most people would actually say, well, I've actually been pretty good
00:06:51 --> 00:06:52 and I've tried to do the right thing.
00:06:53 --> 00:06:57 And, you know, and it's about how good I have been as a person.
00:06:58 --> 00:07:02 And that comes from Christian people too, let me say.
00:07:02 --> 00:07:07 So we all fall into this trap that we're talking about today.
00:07:08 --> 00:07:13 Now, the law or obedience to the law won't get you to God
00:07:13 --> 00:07:20 and doing good deeds for salvation won't get you to God either.
00:07:21 --> 00:07:22 Why is that?
00:07:22 --> 00:07:24 Well, verse 10 says,
00:07:24 --> 00:07:28 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse.
00:07:29 --> 00:07:30 As it is written,
00:07:31 --> 00:07:37 cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything that is written in the book of the law.
00:07:38 --> 00:07:40 Now, those who live by the law,
00:07:41 --> 00:07:45 who are relying on their obedience to the law,
00:07:46 --> 00:07:51 their own moral achievements to make them right with God
00:07:51 --> 00:07:53 are under a curse.
00:07:55 --> 00:07:58 And it is as bad as it sounds.
00:07:59 --> 00:08:03 It means devoted to damnation
00:08:03 --> 00:08:07 or devoted to destruction.
00:08:08 --> 00:08:15 And Paul is saying the very law that you Galatians are looking to
00:08:15 --> 00:08:17 to make you right with God
00:08:17 --> 00:08:23 actually teaches that you are in big, big trouble.
00:08:24 --> 00:08:26 So Paul is warning them,
00:08:26 --> 00:08:27 do not do it.
00:08:29 --> 00:08:31 Verses 11 to 12 says,
00:08:31 --> 00:08:37 Clearly, no one who relies on the law is justified before God
00:08:37 --> 00:08:40 because the righteous will live by faith.
00:08:40 --> 00:08:43 The law is not based on faith.
00:08:43 --> 00:08:45 On the contrary, it says,
00:08:46 --> 00:08:49 the person who does these things will live by them.
00:08:50 --> 00:08:54 Obeying the law can't do enough to save you.
00:08:55 --> 00:08:59 Notice Paul assumes that they're going to fail in this.
00:09:00 --> 00:09:05 And he points out that it has always been God's intention from the beginning
00:09:05 --> 00:09:09 that one is saved by faith.
00:09:09 --> 00:09:12 Faith is about trust.
00:09:13 --> 00:09:16 It's about entrusting yourself to another.
00:09:18 --> 00:09:20 So he's saying we are only made righteous,
00:09:21 --> 00:09:26 we are only rescued from the curse and God's wrath
00:09:26 --> 00:09:29 through putting our faith in the one
00:09:29 --> 00:09:34 who has perfectly obeyed and fulfilled the will of God.
00:09:34 --> 00:09:36 That is Jesus Christ.
00:09:37 --> 00:09:38 Think about it.
00:09:38 --> 00:09:44 Jesus is the only one who has never been under a curse
00:09:44 --> 00:09:48 and Paul is saying that's where you look.
00:09:49 --> 00:09:50 You look to Jesus.
00:09:51 --> 00:09:53 That's where you put your faith.
00:09:53 --> 00:09:55 If you put your faith in him,
00:09:55 --> 00:09:58 you will be forgiven of your sins.
00:09:59 --> 00:10:02 You will be declared innocent by God.
00:10:03 --> 00:10:05 You will be made right with God.
00:10:05 --> 00:10:07 The curse will be lifted.
00:10:08 --> 00:10:10 But the question comes how.
00:10:11 --> 00:10:16 How is putting my faith in this man Jesus going to save me
00:10:16 --> 00:10:20 and do what the law cannot do?
00:10:21 --> 00:10:23 And Paul tells us in verse 13,
00:10:24 --> 00:10:25 excuse me,
00:10:26 --> 00:10:28 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law
00:10:28 --> 00:10:32 by becoming a curse for us.
00:10:32 --> 00:10:37 For it is written, cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.
00:10:38 --> 00:10:41 Now friends, as I look around the room,
00:10:41 --> 00:10:43 there should be great smiles on your faces
00:10:43 --> 00:10:46 because this is the best news ever.
00:10:47 --> 00:10:50 This is the message of the Christian faith.
00:10:50 --> 00:10:55 This is what God is inviting you to believe and to be saved by.
00:10:55 --> 00:10:56 How did he do it?
00:10:57 --> 00:10:59 He did it by going to a tree,
00:10:59 --> 00:11:01 by going to the cross,
00:11:01 --> 00:11:03 by being crucified.
00:11:04 --> 00:11:07 After having lived a sinless life,
00:11:07 --> 00:11:10 he did this to ransom us.
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 On the cross,
00:11:12 --> 00:11:14 he became our substitute.
00:11:14 --> 00:11:16 He took our place.
00:11:16 --> 00:11:18 He made atonement.
00:11:18 --> 00:11:22 He made payment for the debt that we owed God.
00:11:23 --> 00:11:28 He substituted himself and paid what we could not pay.
00:11:29 --> 00:11:32 Being crucified is horrific.
00:11:32 --> 00:11:37 But what is worse and what is more scandalous
00:11:37 --> 00:11:44 is the wrath of God that was put on Jesus
00:11:44 --> 00:11:48 instead of putting it on us.
00:11:50 --> 00:11:53 God did not withhold anything.
00:11:54 --> 00:11:56 Jesus redeemed us from the curse
00:11:56 --> 00:12:00 by becoming a curse for us.
00:12:00 --> 00:12:03 And do you know what is quite stunning here?
00:12:04 --> 00:12:07 If we put our faith in Christ to save us
00:12:07 --> 00:12:10 in the same supernatural way,
00:12:10 --> 00:12:12 he takes away our sin
00:12:12 --> 00:12:15 and the eternal punishment we deserve
00:12:15 --> 00:12:17 because we've disobeyed him.
00:12:18 --> 00:12:20 He gives us his righteousness.
00:12:22 --> 00:12:24 He gives us his moral perfection
00:12:24 --> 00:12:28 so we are declared as seen as innocent
00:12:28 --> 00:12:30 before God the Father.
00:12:32 --> 00:12:34 He doesn't just take away our sins.
00:12:34 --> 00:12:36 That would be enough.
00:12:37 --> 00:12:40 He then gives us his perfect record.
00:12:41 --> 00:12:44 The one who obeyed perfectly says,
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 now what I've done,
00:12:46 --> 00:12:48 it's as if you have done it.
00:12:48 --> 00:12:51 If you put your faith in me.
00:12:51 --> 00:12:56 He clothes us with robes of righteousness.
00:12:56 --> 00:12:59 Now Athanasius,
00:12:59 --> 00:13:01 who is one of the early church fathers
00:13:01 --> 00:13:03 in the fourth century,
00:13:04 --> 00:13:08 he called this the glorious exchange.
00:13:09 --> 00:13:12 That Christ, the Son of God,
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 got the punishment
00:13:13 --> 00:13:16 and took the punishment of an enemy of God
00:13:16 --> 00:13:21 so we, who are the enemies of God,
00:13:21 --> 00:13:26 could receive blessings of sons and daughters of God.
00:13:26 --> 00:13:29 It's the glorious exchange that occurs.
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 Believing in this,
00:13:32 --> 00:13:34 putting your hope in this
00:13:34 --> 00:13:36 and living by this
00:13:36 --> 00:13:40 is at the heart of what it means to be a Christian.
00:13:41 --> 00:13:45 So the gospel that Paul taught the Galatians
00:13:45 --> 00:13:47 was one of grace.
00:13:47 --> 00:13:50 It has always been
00:13:50 --> 00:13:53 and it always will be
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 about grace.
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 Now,
00:13:58 --> 00:14:00 having seen what the gospel is,
00:14:00 --> 00:14:02 what does Paul ask
00:14:02 --> 00:14:04 of the Galatians
00:14:04 --> 00:14:06 in verses one to five?
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 He says this,
00:14:08 --> 00:14:10 you foolish Galatians,
00:14:10 --> 00:14:12 who has bewitched you?
00:14:12 --> 00:14:14 Before your very eyes,
00:14:14 --> 00:14:17 Jesus Christ was portrayed as crucified.
00:14:17 --> 00:14:21 I would like to learn just one thing from you.
00:14:21 --> 00:14:24 Did you receive the spirit by observing the law
00:14:24 --> 00:14:26 or by believing what you heard?
00:14:27 --> 00:14:29 Are you so foolish?
00:14:30 --> 00:14:32 After beginning by the means of the spirit,
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 are you now trying to finish
00:14:34 --> 00:14:36 by the means of the flesh?
00:14:37 --> 00:14:40 Have you experienced so much in vain,
00:14:40 --> 00:14:43 if it really was in vain?
00:14:44 --> 00:14:44 So again,
00:14:45 --> 00:14:45 I ask you,
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 does God give you his spirit
00:14:47 --> 00:14:49 and work miracles among you
00:14:49 --> 00:14:51 because you observe the works of the law
00:14:51 --> 00:14:53 or by what you heard?
00:14:54 --> 00:14:56 So many questions
00:14:56 --> 00:14:58 in that one paragraph.
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 So much concern
00:15:00 --> 00:15:02 from Paul to the Galatians.
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 So brash
00:15:04 --> 00:15:06 was Paul
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 that he calls
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 the Galatians,
00:15:08 --> 00:15:10 whom he loves,
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 he calls them fools.
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 Now we've already seen
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 what Paul had taught
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 the Galatians,
00:15:19 --> 00:15:21 that the gospel is by grace alone
00:15:21 --> 00:15:23 through faith alone.
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 But there's
00:15:25 --> 00:15:27 an important premise
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 that Paul is pointing out here.
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 That is,
00:15:30 --> 00:15:32 once you have become
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 a Christian,
00:15:33 --> 00:15:35 how do you then move ahead?
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 Did you see that?
00:15:38 --> 00:15:38 He says,
00:15:39 --> 00:15:39 after beginning
00:15:39 --> 00:15:41 by the means of the spirit,
00:15:41 --> 00:15:43 are you now trying
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 to finish
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 by means of the flesh?
00:15:47 --> 00:15:49 So the way you become,
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 the way you come
00:15:50 --> 00:15:52 into faith
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 is exactly
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 the same way
00:15:54 --> 00:15:56 that you advance
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 in the Christian faith.
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 We don't change
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 the message.
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 Remember the two orders
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 that Steve mentioned
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 last week
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 and I mentioned
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 right at the beginning
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 of this.
00:16:07 --> 00:16:09 There's a religious order
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 that says
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 that you start
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 with belief
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 in Jesus,
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 you obey the commandments
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 and then you are saved.
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 This isn't a gospel
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 at all.
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 And then there is
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 the gospel order
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 that says
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 that you believe
00:16:24 --> 00:16:24 in Jesus,
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 you are saved
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 and then
00:16:27 --> 00:16:29 you obey
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 and you follow Jesus.
00:16:30 --> 00:16:32 the Galatians
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 had it back
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 to front
00:16:34 --> 00:16:36 and are being
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 reminded
00:16:37 --> 00:16:39 to remember
00:16:39 --> 00:16:41 what they had
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 first heard.
00:16:43 --> 00:16:45 But let me remind you,
00:16:46 --> 00:16:48 we are not saved
00:16:48 --> 00:16:50 to then just
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 please ourselves.
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 Ephesians 2.10
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 says,
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 for we are God's
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 handiwork
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 created in Christ
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 Jesus
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 to do good works
00:16:59 --> 00:17:01 which God prepared
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 in advance
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 for us to do.
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 One of our core values
00:17:05 --> 00:17:07 here at St. Paul's
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 is servant,
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 to be servant-hearted,
00:17:10 --> 00:17:10 servant leadership.
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 That isn't because
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 we just want to fill
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 rosters,
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 let me tell you.
00:17:15 --> 00:17:18 it's because
00:17:18 --> 00:17:21 it sends a message
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 and the message
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 is all about
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 your heart.
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 It's about our heart
00:17:26 --> 00:17:28 when we want to serve.
00:17:28 --> 00:17:30 It tells us something
00:17:30 --> 00:17:32 of what is going on
00:17:32 --> 00:17:32 within you.
00:17:33 --> 00:17:35 Now what is fascinating
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 in our Galatians verses
00:17:36 --> 00:17:39 is that Paul reminds them
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 that it was before
00:17:40 --> 00:17:42 their very eyes
00:17:42 --> 00:17:44 that they saw Jesus
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 crucified.
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 But we know
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 that that wasn't
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 the case at all.
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 The Galatians
00:17:51 --> 00:17:53 didn't see physically
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 the crucifixion
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 of Jesus.
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 But the interesting
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 thing is
00:17:58 --> 00:18:00 what the Bible does,
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 the Bible actually
00:18:01 --> 00:18:03 uses sensory language.
00:18:04 --> 00:18:06 And the Bible
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 uses it.
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 Once you've actually
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 got the intellectual
00:18:09 --> 00:18:11 knowledge,
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 it then,
00:18:13 --> 00:18:13 that intellectual
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 knowledge
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 and Steve
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 mentioned this
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 in different words
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 last week,
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 it needs to become
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 heart.
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 But it becomes
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 a heart belief
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 and then the Bible
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 uses a sensory language
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 when it becomes
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 a heart belief.
00:18:27 --> 00:18:29 It's so real
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 and it's so vivid
00:18:30 --> 00:18:32 that it's as if
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 you were personally
00:18:33 --> 00:18:35 there at the crucifixion
00:18:35 --> 00:18:37 witnessing what Jesus
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 was doing
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 for them personally
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 and for us
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 personally as well.
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 Hence the sensory language.
00:18:43 --> 00:18:45 Another example
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 of this sensory language
00:18:46 --> 00:18:48 is in Ephesians
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 118
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 where Paul actually
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 says,
00:18:50 --> 00:18:52 I pray also
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 that the eyes
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 of your heart
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 may be enlightened.
00:18:57 --> 00:18:57 Paul wants
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 the Ephesians
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 here
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 to know
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 the hope
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 of the gospel
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 that it doesn't
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 just remain
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 a concept
00:19:04 --> 00:19:06 but it becomes
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 a heart truth.
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 so it's the eyes
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 of their heart
00:19:09 --> 00:19:11 seeing something
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 from the heart.
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 Now how does one
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 become a Christian?
00:19:15 --> 00:19:17 You get the facts,
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 you trust
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 and have faith,
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 that is believe
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 and you become
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 righteous.
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 God sees
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 Jesus
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 in us.
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 Now Paul
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 is pointing out
00:19:28 --> 00:19:30 that when the
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 Galatians
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 became Christians
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 they stopped
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 relying
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 on
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 the law
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 and they trusted
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 God
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 would accept them.
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 That's what happened
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 at the beginning
00:19:39 --> 00:19:41 and God gives
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 his spirit
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 not because
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 you observe
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 the law
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 but because
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 you believe
00:19:45 --> 00:19:47 and the gift
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 of the spirit
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 then leads
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 you through
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 life
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 and how
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 you then
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 obey God.
00:19:53 --> 00:19:55 you don't
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 get into
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 faith
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 and then
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 you turn
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 around
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 and you try
00:19:59 --> 00:20:01 really really
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 hard to stay
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 in the faith.
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 That then
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 would be no
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 gospel at all.
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 Remember
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 verse 10
00:20:09 --> 00:20:09 says
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 that we
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 covered
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 if you want
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 to continue
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 in keeping
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 the law
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 then you are
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 under a curse.
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 So
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 what is Paul
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 asking
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 of the Galatians?
00:20:22 --> 00:20:24 He's asking
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 them to
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 remember
00:20:25 --> 00:20:27 remember
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 the gospel
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 remember
00:20:29 --> 00:20:31 the freedom
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 in Christ
00:20:32 --> 00:20:32 remember
00:20:32 --> 00:20:34 as if you
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 have just
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 become
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 a Christian
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 today
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 remember
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 the joy
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 remember
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 what you
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 saw
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 when the
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 scales
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 dropped
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 from your
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 eyes
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 remember
00:20:46 --> 00:20:48 co-remembers
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 the moment
00:20:49 --> 00:20:51 when they
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 were singing
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 a particular
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 song
00:20:52 --> 00:20:55 alternatively
00:20:55 --> 00:20:59 so just
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 remember
00:21:00 --> 00:21:00 if
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 and if
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 you are
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 here today
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 and you
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 cannot
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 remember
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 a time
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 when the
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 gospel
00:21:06 --> 00:21:08 came alive
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 to you
00:21:08 --> 00:21:10 then just
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 maybe
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 you've never
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 really
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 understood
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 it at all
00:21:15 --> 00:21:18 so today
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 could be
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 your day
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 see
00:21:20 --> 00:21:22 taste
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 hear
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 all
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 the words
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 that
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 Galatians
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 is saying
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 to us
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 today
00:21:28 --> 00:21:30 alternatively
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 if you
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 are here
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 today
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 and you
00:21:33 --> 00:21:33 give
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 agreement
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 to
00:21:34 --> 00:21:36 the life
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 of Jesus
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 you
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 know
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 something
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 of
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 there was
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 a death
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 and a
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 resurrection
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 but you
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 are choosing
00:21:43 --> 00:21:43 to live
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 life as
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 you wish
00:21:45 --> 00:21:47 to ordain
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 your days
00:21:48 --> 00:21:50 your way
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 then let me
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 tell you
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 this
00:21:52 --> 00:21:54 you have
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 not believed
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 the gospel
00:21:56 --> 00:21:56 at all
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 if you
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 are doing
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 that
00:21:57 --> 00:21:59 just
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 believing
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 God
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 and
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 knowing
00:22:02 --> 00:22:02 that there
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 is a
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 God
00:22:03 --> 00:22:05 is not
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 enough
00:22:05 --> 00:22:07 in James
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 2
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 19
00:22:08 --> 00:22:10 it says
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 you believe
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 that there
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 is one
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 God
00:22:12 --> 00:22:14 good
00:22:14 --> 00:22:16 even
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 the demons
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 believe
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 that
00:22:18 --> 00:22:20 and they
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 shudder
00:22:20 --> 00:22:25 so verse
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 5 says
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 that God
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 gives us
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 his spirit
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 it doesn't
00:22:29 --> 00:22:29 say that
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 God gave
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 his spirit
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 it's not
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 a once
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 only action
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 it's a
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 continuous
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 action
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 we
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 continually
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 need to
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 believe
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 and have
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 faith
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 we can
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 still
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 struggle
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 in life
00:22:44 --> 00:22:46 but in
00:22:46 --> 00:22:46 every area
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 of our
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 life
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 we want
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 to
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 appropriate
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 the gospel
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 message
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 and become
00:22:50 --> 00:22:52 like
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 Jesus
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 it won't
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 happen
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 completely
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 until Jesus
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 returns
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 but we
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 need to
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 be continually
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 repenting
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 and moving
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 toward
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 Jesus
00:23:03 --> 00:23:03 allowing
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 Jesus
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 and his
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 spirit
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 to actually
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 work on
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 us
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 and change
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 us
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 to be
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 like
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 Jesus
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 and
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 struggles
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 come in
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 many
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 different
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 ways
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 sometimes
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 it will
00:23:14 --> 00:23:14 be our
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 pride
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 fears
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 jealousy
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 envy
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 bitterness
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 and
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 unforgiving
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 spirit
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 anger
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 both
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 passive
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 and aggressive
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 and many
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 many more
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 instead of
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 just hoping
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 that God
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 will remove
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 them or
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 simply
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 exercising
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 willpower
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 against
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 them
00:23:34 --> 00:23:36 we
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 might
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 be
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 should
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 be
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 asking
00:23:38 --> 00:23:38 ourselves
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 what
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 do I
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 wrongly
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 believe
00:23:41 --> 00:23:41 in
00:23:41 --> 00:23:43 what do
00:23:43 --> 00:23:43 I
00:23:43 --> 00:23:45 wrongly
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 believe
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 is being
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 held
00:23:47 --> 00:23:49 withheld
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 in order
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 for me
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 to feel
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 complete
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 for me
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 to feel
00:23:53 --> 00:23:53 as if I
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 have hope
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 to be a
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 person of
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 worth
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 what is it
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 that I'm
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 wrongly
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 believing
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 in
00:23:58 --> 00:24:00 for that
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 to occur
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 we might
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 be wanting
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 comfort
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 above all
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 things
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 and someone
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 has made
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 our lives
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 harder
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 we might
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 be worshipping
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 other people's
00:24:10 --> 00:24:10 approval
00:24:10 --> 00:24:13 but let me
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 tell you
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 comfort
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 and control
00:24:15 --> 00:24:17 and approval
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 and many
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 many other
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 things
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 they are
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 functional
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 saviours
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 and when
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 they are
00:24:24 --> 00:24:24 blocked
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 we get
00:24:25 --> 00:24:25 bitter
00:24:25 --> 00:24:27 only
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 when we
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 set our
00:24:29 --> 00:24:29 eyes
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 on Jesus
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 for our
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 everything
00:24:32 --> 00:24:34 and say
00:24:34 --> 00:24:34 there is
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 no better
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 way in
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 life than
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 Jesus
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 will we
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 move ahead
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 and start
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 the journey
00:24:42 --> 00:24:42 of becoming
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 like him
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 it will
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 only
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 be when
00:24:46 --> 00:24:46 we say
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 Jesus
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 is our
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 everything
00:24:48 --> 00:24:52 we fail
00:24:52 --> 00:24:52 in this
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 journey
00:24:53 --> 00:24:53 because we
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 forget
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 what we
00:24:55 --> 00:24:55 heard
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 just like
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 the Galatians
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 had forgotten
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 what they
00:24:59 --> 00:24:59 had heard
00:24:59 --> 00:25:01 so what
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 is Paul
00:25:02 --> 00:25:02 asking the
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 Galatians
00:25:03 --> 00:25:03 to do
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 he's asking
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 them to
00:25:05 --> 00:25:05 remember
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 the gospel
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 and to
00:25:07 --> 00:25:07 walk in
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 obedience
00:25:08 --> 00:25:10 we all
00:25:10 --> 00:25:10 need
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 to preach
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 that gospel
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 to ourselves
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 day by day
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 as well
00:25:15 --> 00:25:18 now we've
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 seen what
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 the gospel
00:25:19 --> 00:25:21 is and
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 we've seen
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 what Paul
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 has asked
00:25:23 --> 00:25:23 of the
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 Galatians
00:25:24 --> 00:25:26 now for
00:25:26 --> 00:25:26 his argument
00:25:26 --> 00:25:28 here in
00:25:28 --> 00:25:28 this letter
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 he has
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 this master
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 stroke to
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 bring in a
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 witness of
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 one who
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 lived by
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 faith and
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 was credited
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 to him as
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 righteous
00:25:38 --> 00:25:40 and who
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 is this
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 person
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 verse 6
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 says
00:25:44 --> 00:25:44 consider
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 Abraham
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 Abraham
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 who was
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 way back
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 not in the
00:25:49 --> 00:25:49 New Testament
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 but right at
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 the very
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 beginning of
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 the Bible
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 Abraham
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 is the
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 witness
00:25:55 --> 00:25:55 he's going
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 to call
00:25:56 --> 00:25:56 in
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 Abraham
00:25:57 --> 00:25:59 no less
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 by using
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 Abraham
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 Paul
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 will show
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 these Gentiles
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 why they
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 have been
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 bewitched
00:26:06 --> 00:26:08 so from
00:26:08 --> 00:26:08 Genesis
00:26:08 --> 00:26:11 chapter 12
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 1 to
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 3
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 it says
00:26:14 --> 00:26:14 the father
00:26:14 --> 00:26:16 of Jews
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 is Abraham
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 the people
00:26:18 --> 00:26:20 of Israel
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 began
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 when God
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 promised
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 Israel's
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 ancestor
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 Abraham
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 that he
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 would make
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 his descendants
00:26:28 --> 00:26:28 into a
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 great nation
00:26:29 --> 00:26:31 living in a
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 God given
00:26:32 --> 00:26:32 land
00:26:32 --> 00:26:34 and blessed
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 by God
00:26:34 --> 00:26:36 this is a
00:26:36 --> 00:26:36 man who
00:26:36 --> 00:26:38 lived 430
00:26:38 --> 00:26:38 years
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 before
00:26:39 --> 00:26:41 the law
00:26:41 --> 00:26:41 that the
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 Galatians
00:26:42 --> 00:26:42 are being
00:26:42 --> 00:26:42 told that
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 they have
00:26:43 --> 00:26:43 to actually
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 obey
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 before that
00:26:45 --> 00:26:45 law was
00:26:45 --> 00:26:46 even given
00:26:46 --> 00:26:48 verse 6
00:26:48 --> 00:26:48 says
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 just as
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 Abraham
00:26:50 --> 00:26:50 believed
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 God
00:26:51 --> 00:26:51 and it
00:26:51 --> 00:26:51 was
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 credited
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 to him
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 as
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 righteousness
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 being
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 credited
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 being
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 an
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 accounting
00:26:57 --> 00:26:59 term
00:26:59 --> 00:26:59 that
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 means
00:27:00 --> 00:27:00 to
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 confer
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 a
00:27:02 --> 00:27:02 status
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 or a
00:27:03 --> 00:27:03 status
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 on
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 something
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 that
00:27:05 --> 00:27:05 wasn't
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 there
00:27:06 --> 00:27:06 before
00:27:06 --> 00:27:08 so what
00:27:08 --> 00:27:08 does it
00:27:08 --> 00:27:08 mean
00:27:08 --> 00:27:08 that
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 Abraham's
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 faith
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 was
00:27:11 --> 00:27:11 credited
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 to him
00:27:12 --> 00:27:12 as
00:27:12 --> 00:27:12 righteousness
00:27:12 --> 00:27:14 of course
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 faith in
00:27:15 --> 00:27:15 God's
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 word
00:27:16 --> 00:27:16 and promise
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 results
00:27:17 --> 00:27:17 in
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 righteousness
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 if we
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 believe
00:27:20 --> 00:27:20 God
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 exists
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 and that
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 we owe
00:27:23 --> 00:27:23 him
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 our
00:27:24 --> 00:27:24 obedience
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 and
00:27:25 --> 00:27:25 worship
00:27:25 --> 00:27:27 then out
00:27:27 --> 00:27:27 of that
00:27:27 --> 00:27:27 will
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 flow
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 righteous
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 living
00:27:29 --> 00:27:31 but here
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 we have
00:27:32 --> 00:27:32 something
00:27:32 --> 00:27:32 more
00:27:32 --> 00:27:34 when the
00:27:34 --> 00:27:34 Bible
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 tells us
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 that God
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 credits
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 Abraham's
00:27:38 --> 00:27:38 faith
00:27:38 --> 00:27:38 as
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 righteous
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 it means
00:27:40 --> 00:27:40 that God
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 is treating
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 Abraham
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 as if
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 he were
00:27:44 --> 00:27:44 living
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 a righteous
00:27:45 --> 00:27:45 life
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 the lesson
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 here is
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 that when
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 someone
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 is credited
00:27:50 --> 00:27:50 righteous
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 by God
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 he is
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 conferring
00:27:53 --> 00:27:53 this legal
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 status
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 on him
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 he treats
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 them as
00:27:57 --> 00:27:57 actually
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 righteous
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 and free
00:27:59 --> 00:27:59 from
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 condemnation
00:28:00 --> 00:28:02 even though
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 they are
00:28:03 --> 00:28:05 still unrighteous
00:28:05 --> 00:28:05 in their
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 heart and
00:28:06 --> 00:28:06 behaviour
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 they have
00:28:07 --> 00:28:07 not been
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 made perfect
00:28:08 --> 00:28:08 at this
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 stage
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 but they
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 are justified
00:28:11 --> 00:28:13 Paul and
00:28:13 --> 00:28:13 Abraham
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 are showing
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 that it
00:28:15 --> 00:28:15 is possible
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 to be
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 loved
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 and accepted
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 by God
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 while we
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 ourselves
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 are still
00:28:22 --> 00:28:22 sinful
00:28:22 --> 00:28:24 and imperfect
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 and we
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 know from
00:28:26 --> 00:28:26 scripture
00:28:26 --> 00:28:28 that Abraham
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 made some
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 really foolish
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 mistakes
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 and decisions
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 whilst waiting
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 for God's
00:28:34 --> 00:28:34 promise
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 to be
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 fulfilled
00:28:36 --> 00:28:38 so here
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 in Galatians
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 Paul is
00:28:40 --> 00:28:40 saying to
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 do what
00:28:41 --> 00:28:41 Abraham
00:28:41 --> 00:28:42 did
00:28:42 --> 00:28:42 first
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 believe
00:28:43 --> 00:28:43 the gospel
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 message
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 believe
00:28:45 --> 00:28:46 God
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 and second
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 have faith
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 in God's
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 provision
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 not in
00:28:51 --> 00:28:51 our
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 performance
00:28:52 --> 00:28:54 live
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 knowing
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 that God
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 provides
00:28:57 --> 00:28:59 what else
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 does Abraham
00:29:00 --> 00:29:00 teach the
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 Galatians
00:29:01 --> 00:29:01 and us
00:29:01 --> 00:29:03 we are
00:29:03 --> 00:29:03 spiritual
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 children of
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 Abraham
00:29:05 --> 00:29:05 we become
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 part of a
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 spiritual
00:29:07 --> 00:29:07 family
00:29:07 --> 00:29:09 of Abraham
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 by faith
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 the gospel
00:29:11 --> 00:29:13 was preached
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 beforehand
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 to Abraham
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 and it
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 echoes
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 all the way
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 into eternity
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 from the
00:29:20 --> 00:29:20 beginning of the
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 Bible to the
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 very end of the
00:29:22 --> 00:29:22 Bible
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 is this
00:29:23 --> 00:29:25 whole story
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 so ultimately
00:29:26 --> 00:29:28 the good news
00:29:28 --> 00:29:28 in the Old
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 Testament
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 is the good
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 news of
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 Jesus Christ
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 and this
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 gospel message
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 is for the
00:29:35 --> 00:29:35 nations
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 we have a
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 global God
00:29:37 --> 00:29:37 and a
00:29:37 --> 00:29:38 global
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 message
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 Abraham
00:29:40 --> 00:29:42 has much
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 to say
00:29:43 --> 00:29:44 to us
00:29:44 --> 00:29:44 here in
00:29:44 --> 00:29:45 Galatians
00:29:45 --> 00:29:45 but we'll
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 hear a lot
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 more about
00:29:47 --> 00:29:47 Abraham
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 next week
00:29:48 --> 00:29:50 so what
00:29:50 --> 00:29:50 have we
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 covered
00:29:51 --> 00:29:52 we've seen
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 the glorious
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 exchange
00:29:54 --> 00:29:55 that is the
00:29:55 --> 00:29:56 gospel message
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 we've been
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 told to
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 remember
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 this gospel
00:30:00 --> 00:30:00 message
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 remember
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 remember
00:30:02 --> 00:30:02 when Christ
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 came to
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 you
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 and we
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 have shared
00:30:06 --> 00:30:06 in the
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 witness
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 of Abraham
00:30:08 --> 00:30:08 clarifying
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 that it
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 is through
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 faith
00:30:11 --> 00:30:11 that one
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 is saved
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 and made
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 righteous
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 men
00:30:15 --> 00:30:43 can