Free for love
Series: NO OTHER GOSPEL
Speaker: Debbie Gould
Date: 14th October 2017
Passage: Galatians 5:1-15
00:00:00 --> 00:00:03 But here in today's passage, as Sam has already pointed out,
00:00:04 --> 00:00:09 Paul talks about a freedom that is really very, very different.
00:00:09 --> 00:00:14 This freedom sets us apart from the rest of the world.
00:00:15 --> 00:00:19 It's what is behind discipleship.
00:00:19 --> 00:00:25 It's what will allow Christ's people to reflect the love of Christ
00:00:25 --> 00:00:28 to each other and also to the world.
00:00:28 --> 00:00:36 And if we understand it clearly, it will assist us in growing as disciples of Jesus
00:00:36 --> 00:00:41 and it will transform how we live each day.
00:00:41 --> 00:00:45 And dare I say, it will also make a difference
00:00:45 --> 00:00:49 as to where the Lord takes this church here at Chatswood.
00:00:50 --> 00:00:56 Now, we've been exploring over the last weeks how Paul is challenging the Galatians
00:00:56 --> 00:01:00 to not fall for the wrong teaching by the Judaizers,
00:01:01 --> 00:01:04 not to go back to the way that they were.
00:01:04 --> 00:01:08 They were to remember what they were saved from
00:01:08 --> 00:01:13 and to keep their eyes on Jesus who saves by grace alone,
00:01:13 --> 00:01:17 not by any extra rules or traditions we've seen
00:01:17 --> 00:01:19 where they needed to perform with perfection
00:01:19 --> 00:01:22 because we've also seen time and time again
00:01:22 --> 00:01:25 that to do that you have to be perfect
00:01:25 --> 00:01:30 and it is impossible for any of us to do that.
00:01:30 --> 00:01:34 And we saw in chapter 4 that the Galatians were slaves
00:01:34 --> 00:01:38 but they are now free in Christ,
00:01:38 --> 00:01:44 meaning that everyone who is trusting Jesus is free.
00:01:44 --> 00:01:47 We are no longer slaves.
00:01:48 --> 00:01:52 Colossians 2 tells us that Jesus is no ordinary person.
00:01:52 --> 00:01:54 Many of you will know that already.
00:01:54 --> 00:01:57 He is the Son of God who came to save.
00:01:58 --> 00:02:02 He came from the heavenlies and he broke into this world as a man
00:02:02 --> 00:02:05 because we needed a saviour,
00:02:05 --> 00:02:08 a God who saves us from our sin,
00:02:09 --> 00:02:12 the sin that was taken on himself on the cross
00:02:12 --> 00:02:15 so that we could receive the righteousness
00:02:15 --> 00:02:18 that we did not deserve
00:02:18 --> 00:02:21 and he took the punishment that we did deserve.
00:02:22 --> 00:02:25 This was all to make us free.
00:02:26 --> 00:02:29 Romans 8 tells us that what the law couldn't do,
00:02:29 --> 00:02:35 Jesus did in being a sin offering for us.
00:02:36 --> 00:02:37 And in Corinthians we read,
00:02:37 --> 00:02:40 we implore you as on God's behalf,
00:02:40 --> 00:02:41 be reconciled to God.
00:02:41 --> 00:02:46 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us
00:02:46 --> 00:02:49 so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
00:02:49 --> 00:02:51 Or in verse 17 it says,
00:02:51 --> 00:02:53 therefore if anyone is in Christ,
00:02:53 --> 00:02:54 he's a new creation,
00:02:55 --> 00:02:58 the old has gone and the new has gone.
00:02:59 --> 00:03:00 Tim Keller says,
00:03:00 --> 00:03:03 freedom is both the means and the end
00:03:03 --> 00:03:05 of the operation of liberation.
00:03:07 --> 00:03:08 And in Luke 4,
00:03:08 --> 00:03:09 Jesus says,
00:03:09 --> 00:03:11 the spirit of the Lord is upon me
00:03:11 --> 00:03:17 because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
00:03:17 --> 00:03:21 He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
00:03:21 --> 00:03:23 and recovering sight to the blind,
00:03:23 --> 00:03:26 to set at liberty those who are oppressed
00:03:26 --> 00:03:28 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour.
00:03:28 --> 00:03:31 And in Galatians now,
00:03:32 --> 00:03:33 in verse 1 it says,
00:03:33 --> 00:03:37 it is for freedom that Christ has set us free.
00:03:38 --> 00:03:39 Stand firm then,
00:03:39 --> 00:03:43 and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
00:03:44 --> 00:03:51 Now this verse is really a summary of the entire letter to the Galatians.
00:03:51 --> 00:03:52 For freedom,
00:03:53 --> 00:03:54 Christ has freed you.
00:03:55 --> 00:03:56 And then Paul says,
00:03:56 --> 00:03:59 because you have been set free in Christ,
00:03:59 --> 00:04:01 stand firm.
00:04:01 --> 00:04:04 Well, stand firm is a military term.
00:04:05 --> 00:04:07 It means to guard your post,
00:04:08 --> 00:04:09 keep alert,
00:04:09 --> 00:04:10 be strong,
00:04:10 --> 00:04:12 resist attack,
00:04:12 --> 00:04:13 and stay together,
00:04:13 --> 00:04:15 hold the line.
00:04:15 --> 00:04:21 And we do this by Christ-centred Bible saturation,
00:04:22 --> 00:04:24 a core value here at St. Paul's,
00:04:24 --> 00:04:27 and for very, very good reasons it's a core value.
00:04:28 --> 00:04:29 It is standing on,
00:04:29 --> 00:04:30 advancing with,
00:04:31 --> 00:04:32 fighting for,
00:04:32 --> 00:04:33 and resting in God's word,
00:04:33 --> 00:04:37 the word that saves and rescues.
00:04:37 --> 00:04:40 The word sets us free.
00:04:40 --> 00:04:45 Now I know about this truth that we're talking about now.
00:04:46 --> 00:04:48 I know that Jesus has set me free,
00:04:49 --> 00:04:54 and I'm sure many of you also know this with all of your heart as well.
00:04:55 --> 00:04:56 I love the Lord.
00:04:57 --> 00:04:58 I have a good idea,
00:04:59 --> 00:05:00 be it not a complete idea,
00:05:01 --> 00:05:04 that my sin was taken on the cross.
00:05:05 --> 00:05:06 What I have done wrong,
00:05:07 --> 00:05:08 Jesus suffered for it.
00:05:08 --> 00:05:14 My heart's desire is to serve the Lord until my dying breath.
00:05:15 --> 00:05:18 My heart's desire is to be very flexible
00:05:18 --> 00:05:21 and to hold very loosely to any ministry
00:05:21 --> 00:05:24 that I have the pleasure of being part of.
00:05:24 --> 00:05:29 My heart's desire is to see others grow
00:05:29 --> 00:05:32 into being better at any of the ministries,
00:05:33 --> 00:05:36 ministry roles that I am currently involved in.
00:05:36 --> 00:05:40 My heart's desire is to always shine for Jesus
00:05:40 --> 00:05:41 in my thoughts,
00:05:42 --> 00:05:42 in my actions,
00:05:43 --> 00:05:44 in my deeds.
00:05:45 --> 00:05:45 Hmm.
00:05:46 --> 00:05:48 But I don't.
00:05:49 --> 00:05:54 I fail on all of those accounts at various times,
00:05:54 --> 00:05:57 and I'm absolutely certain that you would also.
00:05:57 --> 00:06:01 Now, let me explain something.
00:06:01 --> 00:06:04 Many of you know the word sanctification.
00:06:05 --> 00:06:06 It's a great word.
00:06:06 --> 00:06:08 It rolls off your tongue very nicely.
00:06:08 --> 00:06:09 I like saying it.
00:06:11 --> 00:06:17 But sanctification is that process of being made new in Christ.
00:06:17 --> 00:06:21 And when we acknowledge that we need a saviour
00:06:21 --> 00:06:24 and we repent of our sins
00:06:24 --> 00:06:26 and become part of the family of God,
00:06:26 --> 00:06:29 a great miracle occurs.
00:06:29 --> 00:06:32 We're taken from spiritual darkness
00:06:32 --> 00:06:35 of this world into the light of God.
00:06:36 --> 00:06:39 Our spirits are brought to life in Jesus,
00:06:39 --> 00:06:42 where we were once spiritually dead.
00:06:42 --> 00:06:47 That is called personal sanctification.
00:06:48 --> 00:06:50 This aspect of sanctification
00:06:50 --> 00:06:54 speaks to our being set apart
00:06:54 --> 00:06:58 from the world for God.
00:07:00 --> 00:07:03 It's an instantaneous act of grace.
00:07:04 --> 00:07:06 And we're declared right before God
00:07:06 --> 00:07:10 and we are set apart for God to use.
00:07:10 --> 00:07:12 Ephesians 1.4 says,
00:07:13 --> 00:07:15 For he, God, chose us in him
00:07:15 --> 00:07:17 before the creation of the world
00:07:17 --> 00:07:20 to be holy and blameless in his sight.
00:07:20 --> 00:07:22 1 Corinthians 6 says,
00:07:22 --> 00:07:24 And that is what some of you were,
00:07:24 --> 00:07:27 but you were washed and you were sanctified.
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29 You were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus
00:07:29 --> 00:07:31 and by the Spirit of our God.
00:07:32 --> 00:07:35 This is positional sanctification.
00:07:36 --> 00:07:37 It's set.
00:07:37 --> 00:07:39 It doesn't change.
00:07:39 --> 00:07:44 But then there is progressive sanctification.
00:07:44 --> 00:07:47 And as the word suggests, it moves.
00:07:48 --> 00:07:52 It is living out what that positional sanctification,
00:07:53 --> 00:07:56 it's about living that out.
00:07:57 --> 00:08:00 It's the process whereby we daily
00:08:00 --> 00:08:03 become more and more like Jesus Christ
00:08:03 --> 00:08:07 through the death of our sin in our lives
00:08:07 --> 00:08:12 as we endeavour to live according to the grace in the gospel.
00:08:14 --> 00:08:16 But we're aware that we all fail.
00:08:18 --> 00:08:20 Romans 7, this is a famous passage
00:08:20 --> 00:08:22 that you would all have heard most probably,
00:08:22 --> 00:08:24 where Paul shares,
00:08:24 --> 00:08:27 I do not do what I want to do,
00:08:28 --> 00:08:29 but what I hate to do.
00:08:30 --> 00:08:32 And if I do what I do not want to do,
00:08:33 --> 00:08:35 I agree that the law is good.
00:08:35 --> 00:08:36 As it is,
00:08:37 --> 00:08:39 it is no longer I myself who do it,
00:08:39 --> 00:08:41 but it is the sin living in me.
00:08:42 --> 00:08:44 So this sounds a bit like a riddle.
00:08:44 --> 00:08:47 But if Paul is confessing that he struggles with sin,
00:08:48 --> 00:08:53 I take it that it's really okay for us also to confess
00:08:53 --> 00:08:57 that we too struggle with sin.
00:08:58 --> 00:09:00 The third sanctification,
00:09:00 --> 00:09:01 I'll come back to the other,
00:09:01 --> 00:09:04 but the third sanctification is perfect sanctification.
00:09:04 --> 00:09:09 It's the glorification of which happens
00:09:09 --> 00:09:10 when Jesus returns
00:09:10 --> 00:09:13 and he makes us perfect to be with him.
00:09:14 --> 00:09:17 And oh, how good will that day be
00:09:17 --> 00:09:18 when Jesus returns
00:09:18 --> 00:09:22 and we are made perfect to live eternally with him.
00:09:23 --> 00:09:25 So we have positional sanctification,
00:09:26 --> 00:09:27 we have progressive,
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 and we have perfect.
00:09:29 --> 00:09:33 We live in this progressive section here.
00:09:34 --> 00:09:36 The Galatians were saved by grace
00:09:36 --> 00:09:39 and now they are needing to live out
00:09:39 --> 00:09:41 what that looks like.
00:09:41 --> 00:09:44 That's what this middle section is all about.
00:09:45 --> 00:09:47 For the Galatians to obey the law
00:09:47 --> 00:09:52 as being encouraged,
00:09:52 --> 00:09:54 they would be turning away from Christ,
00:09:54 --> 00:09:58 as Paul is suggesting in verses one to four.
00:09:59 --> 00:10:00 But does it mean
00:10:00 --> 00:10:03 that if they obeyed the law,
00:10:04 --> 00:10:05 does that mean
00:10:05 --> 00:10:07 that they would lose their salvation completely,
00:10:07 --> 00:10:09 as it might suggest in verse four,
00:10:09 --> 00:10:10 where Paul says,
00:10:10 --> 00:10:12 if you follow the wrong teaching,
00:10:13 --> 00:10:16 you have fallen away from grace.
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 Now, interestingly,
00:10:19 --> 00:10:21 Paul knows these Galatians really well
00:10:21 --> 00:10:24 and he has great confidence
00:10:24 --> 00:10:26 that they are not going to turn
00:10:26 --> 00:10:28 their backs away completely.
00:10:28 --> 00:10:31 because we see in verse five,
00:10:31 --> 00:10:32 he says,
00:10:32 --> 00:10:33 but by faith,
00:10:34 --> 00:10:35 we eagerly await
00:10:35 --> 00:10:36 through the spirit,
00:10:36 --> 00:10:37 the righteousness
00:10:37 --> 00:10:38 for which we hope.
00:10:39 --> 00:10:41 He knows that they're going to be
00:10:41 --> 00:10:43 to turn back to Christ.
00:10:43 --> 00:10:45 He has such a confidence
00:10:45 --> 00:10:47 in the Galatians
00:10:47 --> 00:10:49 that they will follow
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 the gospel of Jesus.
00:10:51 --> 00:10:53 Now, this is a situation
00:10:53 --> 00:10:55 that many of us know
00:10:55 --> 00:10:56 only too well.
00:10:57 --> 00:10:58 We have friends
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 and we have loved ones
00:10:59 --> 00:11:01 who have declared
00:11:01 --> 00:11:03 a saving faith in Jesus
00:11:03 --> 00:11:06 at some stage in their life,
00:11:06 --> 00:11:08 but they have lost their way
00:11:08 --> 00:11:10 and seemingly lost their faith
00:11:10 --> 00:11:12 and they are far away
00:11:12 --> 00:11:13 from Jesus today.
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 We want to know,
00:11:15 --> 00:11:17 are they saved?
00:11:17 --> 00:11:19 When Jesus returns,
00:11:19 --> 00:11:20 will Jesus know their name
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 and call their name
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22 to be his own.
00:11:23 --> 00:11:24 Now, let me say,
00:11:24 --> 00:11:25 first of all,
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26 nobody knows
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 what really is in the heart
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 of any individual.
00:11:29 --> 00:11:31 Only God knows that.
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 But what we do know
00:11:33 --> 00:11:35 is in Romans 8,
00:11:35 --> 00:11:37 for I am convinced
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 that neither death
00:11:38 --> 00:11:38 nor life,
00:11:39 --> 00:11:39 neither angels
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 or demons,
00:11:41 --> 00:11:41 neither the present
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 nor the future,
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 nor any powers,
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 neither height
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 nor depth,
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 nor anything else
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 in all creation
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 will be able
00:11:49 --> 00:11:52 from the love of God
00:11:52 --> 00:11:54 that is in Christ Jesus,
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 our Lord.
00:11:56 --> 00:11:58 But scripture also tells us
00:11:58 --> 00:12:00 that we have a purpose.
00:12:01 --> 00:12:03 Our progressive sanctification,
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 that middle bit
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 that I told you about,
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 will indeed confirm
00:12:07 --> 00:12:09 if the first bit,
00:12:10 --> 00:12:13 the positional sanctification,
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 was real.
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 Okay, so it's important.
00:12:16 --> 00:12:18 What we're living in right now
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 is really important.
00:12:20 --> 00:12:20 That is,
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 the way we live
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 reflects
00:12:23 --> 00:12:25 if we are truly saved.
00:12:26 --> 00:12:28 Now, let me state
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 very, very clearly
00:12:29 --> 00:12:31 that that does not mean
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 that a person
00:12:32 --> 00:12:35 cannot turn back
00:12:35 --> 00:12:37 to the gospel
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 they heard once
00:12:38 --> 00:12:40 when they were younger
00:12:40 --> 00:12:40 or whenever
00:12:40 --> 00:12:43 and that stops them
00:12:43 --> 00:12:43 from repenting
00:12:43 --> 00:12:45 of living far away
00:12:45 --> 00:12:45 from God.
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 That can happen.
00:12:46 --> 00:12:48 The story of the prodigal son
00:12:48 --> 00:12:51 is a typical case in point.
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 That son,
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 he turned away
00:12:54 --> 00:12:54 from his father,
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 you'll remember.
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 He lived a wild life,
00:12:57 --> 00:12:59 but he realised
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 he was foolish
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 and he returned
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 to the father
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 with a heart
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 filled with repentance
00:13:04 --> 00:13:07 and was welcomed
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 with open arms.
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 You see,
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 there are many
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 who live
00:13:12 --> 00:13:14 as if it doesn't matter
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 what they do.
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 They believe
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 that once
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 they said a prayer
00:13:18 --> 00:13:20 to Jesus,
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 a prayer of repentance,
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 and because Christ
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 offers forgiveness
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 and freedom,
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 they think
00:13:28 --> 00:13:28 it's okay
00:13:28 --> 00:13:30 to live
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 in any way
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 they would like to
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 from that moment on.
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 I certainly have friends
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 who live that way.
00:13:36 --> 00:13:38 I have friends
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 who believe
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 that they are Christians
00:13:40 --> 00:13:42 because they said a prayer
00:13:42 --> 00:13:44 and they were baptised,
00:13:44 --> 00:13:46 but they choose
00:13:46 --> 00:13:48 not to fellowship
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 with any other Christian people.
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 They choose
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 not to actually
00:13:51 --> 00:13:51 read their Bible.
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 They choose
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 to live a promiscuous life,
00:13:54 --> 00:13:57 and yet
00:13:57 --> 00:13:59 they still
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 are living
00:14:00 --> 00:14:00 under
00:14:00 --> 00:14:03 the wrong
00:14:03 --> 00:14:05 attitude
00:14:05 --> 00:14:05 of thinking
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 that the grace
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 that God
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 actually had given them
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 that that will cover
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 all of their sin
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 for all times.
00:14:14 --> 00:14:14 Now,
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 earlier I mentioned
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 the older brother
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 of the prodigal son.
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 Well,
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 the younger brother
00:14:19 --> 00:14:19 equally
00:14:19 --> 00:14:21 fell for the trap
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 of living
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 how he wanted to.
00:14:23 --> 00:14:26 he had a hard heart
00:14:26 --> 00:14:28 and had
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 an expectant heart
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 of having everything
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 come to him.
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 He too
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 was under sin,
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 and he took advantage
00:14:35 --> 00:14:37 of the grace
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 that was given
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 to him
00:14:39 --> 00:14:39 by his father
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 as well.
00:14:41 --> 00:14:41 This
00:14:41 --> 00:14:43 taking advantage,
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 this living
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 as if it doesn't
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 matter
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 what I do,
00:14:48 --> 00:14:48 this is called
00:14:48 --> 00:14:50 living by licence.
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 It's
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 by rejecting
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 the call
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 to live
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 a holy life.
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 Verse 13
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 in our passage
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 says,
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 you, my brothers,
00:15:01 --> 00:15:01 were called
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 to be free,
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 but do not
00:15:04 --> 00:15:04 use your freedom
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 to indulge
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 the sinful nature,
00:15:07 --> 00:15:07 rather serve
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 one another
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 in love.
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 Freedom
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 in Christ
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 is not
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 a freedom
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 to sin
00:15:15 --> 00:15:17 as we saw
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 before,
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 but it's a freedom
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 from sin.
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 It's not
00:15:21 --> 00:15:21 a freedom
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 to ignore
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 Christ
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 and his word.
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 John 14
00:15:25 --> 00:15:25 says,
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 if you love
00:15:27 --> 00:15:27 me,
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 you will
00:15:28 --> 00:15:28 keep my
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 commandments.
00:15:29 --> 00:15:29 Anyone
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 who loves
00:15:30 --> 00:15:30 me
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 will obey
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 my teaching.
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 My father
00:15:33 --> 00:15:33 will love
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 them,
00:15:34 --> 00:15:34 and we
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 will come
00:15:35 --> 00:15:35 to them
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 and make
00:15:36 --> 00:15:36 our home
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 with them.
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 Anyone
00:15:38 --> 00:15:38 who does
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 not love
00:15:39 --> 00:15:39 me
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 will not
00:15:40 --> 00:15:40 obey
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 my teaching.
00:15:41 --> 00:15:41 These
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 words
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 you hear
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 are not
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 my own.
00:15:44 --> 00:15:44 They
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 belong
00:15:45 --> 00:15:45 to the
00:15:45 --> 00:15:45 father
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 who sent
00:15:46 --> 00:15:46 me.
00:15:47 --> 00:15:47 The
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 Galatians,
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 on the
00:15:49 --> 00:15:49 other
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 hand,
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 were being
00:15:51 --> 00:15:51 encouraged
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 to live
00:15:52 --> 00:15:54 by legalism
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 and add
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 rules
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 and regulations
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 to the
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 gospel.
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 Licence
00:16:00 --> 00:16:02 and legalism
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 are different
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 sides of
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 the same
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 coin.
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 They are
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 both enemies
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 of the
00:16:10 --> 00:16:10 gospel of
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 freedom.
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 Living
00:16:13 --> 00:16:13 either by
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 license
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 or by
00:16:15 --> 00:16:15 legalism
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 will not
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 save you.
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 There
00:16:19 --> 00:16:19 is only
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 one
00:16:20 --> 00:16:20 sure
00:16:20 --> 00:16:20 way
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 to
00:16:21 --> 00:16:21 live.
00:16:22 --> 00:16:22 It
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 is the
00:16:23 --> 00:16:23 gospel
00:16:23 --> 00:16:23 of
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 freedom.
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 That
00:16:26 --> 00:16:26 is freedom
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 from our
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 sin but
00:16:28 --> 00:16:28 it is
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 also
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 freedom
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 to
00:16:31 --> 00:16:31 something.
00:16:33 --> 00:16:33 What
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 is this
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 freedom
00:16:35 --> 00:16:35 to?
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 Well,
00:16:37 --> 00:16:37 it's a
00:16:37 --> 00:16:37 freedom
00:16:37 --> 00:16:39 to love.
00:16:40 --> 00:16:40 Verse
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 6 says,
00:16:41 --> 00:16:41 for in
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 Christ
00:16:42 --> 00:16:42 Jesus
00:16:42 --> 00:16:42 neither
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 circumcision
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 nor
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 uncircumcision
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 has any
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 value.
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 The
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 only thing
00:16:47 --> 00:16:47 that counts
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 is faith
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 expressing
00:16:49 --> 00:16:51 itself
00:16:51 --> 00:16:51 through
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 love.
00:16:52 --> 00:16:52 The
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 saving
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 gospel
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 doesn't
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 give us
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 license to
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 live how
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 we want.
00:16:59 --> 00:16:59 It gives
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 a freedom.
00:17:01 --> 00:17:01 It gives
00:17:01 --> 00:17:03 ability and
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 desire to
00:17:04 --> 00:17:04 live how
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 God wants.
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 As
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 Christians,
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 we do
00:17:08 --> 00:17:10 not attempt
00:17:10 --> 00:17:10 to produce
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 perfect
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 righteousness
00:17:12 --> 00:17:12 in our
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 own lives
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 by our
00:17:14 --> 00:17:14 own
00:17:14 --> 00:17:14 efforts.
00:17:14 --> 00:17:18 hope is
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 not in
00:17:19 --> 00:17:19 ourselves.
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 It is
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 in Christ
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 and Christ
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 alone.
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 More
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 than that,
00:17:26 --> 00:17:26 the
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 Christian
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 life is
00:17:28 --> 00:17:28 hoping for
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 what we
00:17:29 --> 00:17:29 already
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 have.
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 This
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 sounds
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 really
00:17:32 --> 00:17:32 very
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 strange
00:17:33 --> 00:17:33 to the
00:17:33 --> 00:17:33 world
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 because
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 worldly
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 hope is
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 not a
00:17:37 --> 00:17:37 gospel
00:17:37 --> 00:17:37 hope.
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 Worldly
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 hope says,
00:17:40 --> 00:17:40 oh,
00:17:40 --> 00:17:40 I hope
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 this works
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 out.
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 I hope
00:17:42 --> 00:17:42 it doesn't
00:17:42 --> 00:17:42 rain
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 tomorrow
00:17:43 --> 00:17:43 because I
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 want to
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 do
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 something.
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 Gospel
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 hope says,
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 I know
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 that this
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 will work
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 out.
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 It means
00:17:52 --> 00:17:52 that we
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 have total
00:17:53 --> 00:17:55 assurance.
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 Paul uses
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 it in
00:17:57 --> 00:17:57 verse 5
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 simply
00:17:58 --> 00:17:58 meaning
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 that we're
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 awaiting
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 this
00:18:01 --> 00:18:01 righteousness.
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 We don't
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 work or
00:18:03 --> 00:18:05 strive for
00:18:05 --> 00:18:05 it.
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 We know
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 that it
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 is coming
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 so we
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 can wait
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 eagerly
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 and not
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 anxiously.
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 What is
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 it that
00:18:13 --> 00:18:13 we're
00:18:13 --> 00:18:13 awaiting?
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 It is
00:18:15 --> 00:18:15 a
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 completely
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 right
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 record
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 and right
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 relationship
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 with God.
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 Paul is
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 saying that
00:18:23 --> 00:18:23 we can
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 live
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 today
00:18:24 --> 00:18:26 in the
00:18:26 --> 00:18:26 light
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 of our
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 certain
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 hope,
00:18:29 --> 00:18:29 a
00:18:29 --> 00:18:29 guaranteed
00:18:29 --> 00:18:31 future,
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 a
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 glorification
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 and be
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 welcomed
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 by
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 God
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 and his
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 open arms
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 one day.
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 God
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 has
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 made
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 us
00:18:43 --> 00:18:48 heirs.
00:18:49 --> 00:18:49 It
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 doesn't
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 mean
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 that we're
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 left
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 sitting
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 on our
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 hands
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 doing
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 nothing
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 though.
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 By
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 faith
00:18:54 --> 00:18:54 the
00:18:54 --> 00:18:54 Holy
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 Spirit
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 enables
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 us
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 to
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 experience
00:18:58 --> 00:18:58 the
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 presence
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 of
00:19:00 --> 00:19:00 Christ
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 in
00:19:01 --> 00:19:01 the
00:19:01 --> 00:19:01 here
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 and
00:19:02 --> 00:19:02 now.
00:19:03 --> 00:19:03 By
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 faith
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 the
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 Holy
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 Spirit
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 enables
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 us
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 to
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 enjoy
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 the
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 commands
00:19:09 --> 00:19:09 of
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 Christ
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 and
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 these
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 commands
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 are not
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 burdensome
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 but they
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 are free.
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 Freedom
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 in Christ
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 is
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 demonstrated
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 through
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 love
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 and
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 selfless
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 service
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 to
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 others.
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 Gospel
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 truth
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 is never
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 limited.
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 Gospel
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 truth is
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 never
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 intended
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 to
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 only
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 be
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 believed.
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 Gospel
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 truth
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 is
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 always
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 intended
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 to be
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 obeyed
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 and
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 shared.
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 Let me
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 say it
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 again.
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 Gospel
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 truth
00:19:48 --> 00:19:50 is never
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 intended
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 to just
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 be
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 believed,
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 to just
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 be head
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 knowledge
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 that you
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 hold on
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 to
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 for
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 yourself.
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 Gospel
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 truth
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 is always
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 intended
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 to be
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 obeyed
00:20:03 --> 00:20:03 and
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 shared.
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 Love
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 for God
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 shows
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 itself
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 in our
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 love
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 for
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 others.
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 The
00:20:12 --> 00:20:12 two
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 are
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 inseparable.
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 Verse
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 14 says
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 the entire
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 law
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 is summed
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 up in
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 a single
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 command,
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 love your
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 neighbour
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 as
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 yourself.
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 How do
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 we do
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 this?
00:20:27 --> 00:20:27 Living
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 in freedom
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 to
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 love,
00:20:30 --> 00:20:33 loving
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 others
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 is
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 serving
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 others.
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 It's
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 about
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 not
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 wanting
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 everything
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 to be
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 about
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 me.
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 Now
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 many of
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 you know
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 that I
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 have a
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 six-year-old
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 grandson,
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 gorgeous
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 Lincoln,
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 and I
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 had the
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 joy of
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 having
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 Lincoln
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 stay with
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 me for
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 a couple
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 of days
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 in the
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 holidays.
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 Now
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 Link
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 is a
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 typical
00:20:55 --> 00:20:57 six-year-old.
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 His
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 world
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 revolves
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 around
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 him.
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 He
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 wants
00:21:03 --> 00:21:03 everything
00:21:03 --> 00:21:03 for
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 himself,
00:21:05 --> 00:21:05 be it
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 food,
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 be it
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 time,
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 be it
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 goods,
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 be it
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 anything,
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 he's a
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 typical
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 six-year-old.
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 He's a
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 gorgeous
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 boy,
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 but he's
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 a typical
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 six-year-old.
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 The sad
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 thing is
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 many of
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 us
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 adults
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 want to
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 live like
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 the
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 six-year-old.
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 I want
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 to live
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 like a
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 six-year-old
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 sometimes.
00:21:25 --> 00:21:27 I want
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 to
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 actually
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 but that's
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 not what
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 this is
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 about.
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 Gospel
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 freedom
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 actually
00:21:33 --> 00:21:33 helps us
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 to grow
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 up to
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 be the
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 adult,
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 not the
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 six-year-old.
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 Our
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 world
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 doesn't
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 revolve
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 around
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 just
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 us.
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 Now
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 being
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 free in
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 Christ
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 calls for
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 something
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 radically
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 different.
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 Christ
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 empowers
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 a change
00:21:54 --> 00:21:54 in us
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 to love
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 in such
00:21:56 --> 00:21:56 a way
00:21:56 --> 00:21:56 that is
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 counter
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 cultural
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 to what
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 society
00:21:59 --> 00:21:59 thinks.
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 Christian
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 freedom
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 is about
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 discipleship.
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 It allows
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 the world
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 to see
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 Jesus
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 in us
00:22:08 --> 00:22:10 because of
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 the way
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 that we
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 love each
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 other and
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 the way
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 that we
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 love the
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 world.
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 That is
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 an awesome
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 responsibility
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 my friends
00:22:15 --> 00:22:17 but let me
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 say the
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 great thing
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 is that
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 God doesn't
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 leave us
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 to do it
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 all on
00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 our own.
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 We have
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 the Holy
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 Spirit to
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 help us.
00:22:23 --> 00:22:25 Christian
00:22:25 --> 00:22:25 love is
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 saying that
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 you would
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 deny
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 yourself
00:22:28 --> 00:22:30 and give
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 whatever is
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 needed to
00:22:32 --> 00:22:32 another
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 person.
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 There are
00:22:35 --> 00:22:35 plenty of
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 ways that
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 we can
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 do this.
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 It can
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 range from
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 a simple
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 smile that
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 you might
00:22:41 --> 00:22:41 give to
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 somebody who
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 serves you
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 morning tea.
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 It might
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 be a smile
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 for a
00:22:46 --> 00:22:46 shopkeeper.
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 That's
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 Christian
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 love.
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 But it
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 might be
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 bigger than
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 that.
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 It might
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 be offering
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 to provide
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 a meal to
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 somebody who
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 is having
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 a tough
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 time and
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 just to
00:22:58 --> 00:22:58 give them
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 a little
00:22:59 --> 00:23:01 special treat.
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 It might
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 actually be
00:23:03 --> 00:23:03 coming and
00:23:03 --> 00:23:05 helping with
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 kids here
00:23:06 --> 00:23:08 at Kids
00:23:08 --> 00:23:08 Church.
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 It might
00:23:09 --> 00:23:09 be helping
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 with kids
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 at ESL
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 or even
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 helping with
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 ESL.
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 And let me
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 just plug,
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 ESL desperately
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 needs a
00:23:17 --> 00:23:19 helper on
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 Friday mornings
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 because we've
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 now got
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 two families,
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 so three
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 children,
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 coming to
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 ESL and
00:23:25 --> 00:23:27 we cannot
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 actually have
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 the second
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 mum come
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 if we don't
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 have a second
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 person looking
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 after the
00:23:33 --> 00:23:33 kids.
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 So that
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 would be
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 terrible if
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 we had to
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 tell that
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 mum that
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 she can't
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 come.
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 But we
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 can do
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 things that
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 would actually
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 help in
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 many and
00:23:43 --> 00:23:43 different ways.
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 Here at
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 St Paul's,
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 you will find
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 in our
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 vision series
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 an abundance
00:23:48 --> 00:23:50 of ways in
00:23:50 --> 00:23:50 which you
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 can serve
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 here at
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 church.
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 But it's
00:23:53 --> 00:23:53 not just
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 serving here
00:23:54 --> 00:23:54 at church
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 and loving
00:23:55 --> 00:23:57 here at
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 church,
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 it's about
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 loving out
00:23:59 --> 00:23:59 in the
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 world also.
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 So there's
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 many,
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 many ways.
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 Might I
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 also say
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 that we
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 are also
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 encouraged
00:24:08 --> 00:24:10 to love
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 and to
00:24:11 --> 00:24:11 love means
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 that we
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 will resolve
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 any conflict
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 quickly so
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 that sin
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 does not
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 fester and
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 we do
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 not get
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 a bitter
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 heart.
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 Now,
00:24:21 --> 00:24:21 we have
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 set as
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 one of
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 our core
00:24:23 --> 00:24:23 values,
00:24:24 --> 00:24:24 humble
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 authenticity,
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 where we
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 want to
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 deal with
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 hurt quickly
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 and appropriately
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 and with
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 the appropriate
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 people.
00:24:34 --> 00:24:34 And so
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 that is
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 another way
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 that we
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 actually show
00:24:37 --> 00:24:37 that we
00:24:37 --> 00:24:37 love.
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 If we
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 cannot
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 resolve
00:24:39 --> 00:24:39 conflict
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 here in
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 our church
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 at St Paul's,
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 we have
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 absolutely no
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 chance of
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 being able to
00:24:46 --> 00:24:46 reflect how
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 to solve
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 conflict out
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 in the
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 world.
00:24:49 --> 00:24:49 So we
00:24:49 --> 00:24:49 need to
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 do it
00:24:50 --> 00:24:50 well here.
00:24:51 --> 00:24:51 That's
00:24:51 --> 00:24:51 humble
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 authenticity,
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 one of
00:24:53 --> 00:24:53 our core
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 values.
00:24:55 --> 00:24:55 And,
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 you know,
00:24:56 --> 00:24:56 sort of,
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 there is
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 no end
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 to how
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 we can
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 love and
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 serve,
00:25:02 --> 00:25:02 my friends.
00:25:03 --> 00:25:03 We need
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 to understand
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 that this
00:25:05 --> 00:25:05 freedom we
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 have is
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 because we
00:25:07 --> 00:25:07 serve a
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 new king.
00:25:09 --> 00:25:09 We are
00:25:09 --> 00:25:11 not obligated
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 to return
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 to our
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 old ways
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 of living.
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 to be
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 fooled into
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 living by
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 license or
00:25:18 --> 00:25:20 by legalism
00:25:20 --> 00:25:20 as the
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 Galatians were
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 being encouraged
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 to do is
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 just truly
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 foolishness.
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 We need to
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 understand that
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 we are going
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 to be tempted
00:25:29 --> 00:25:31 because Jesus
00:25:31 --> 00:25:33 hasn't returned
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 just yet
00:25:34 --> 00:25:36 to take us
00:25:36 --> 00:25:36 home.
00:25:37 --> 00:25:37 And so in
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 the meantime,
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 when we're in
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 this middle
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 section, we are
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 going to be
00:25:41 --> 00:25:41 tempted.
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 and when
00:25:42 --> 00:25:44 Jesus
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 returns, he
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 will make us
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 totally new,
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 he will make
00:25:48 --> 00:25:48 us totally
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 perfect,
00:25:50 --> 00:25:50 he will
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 sanctify us.
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 But for
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 now, we
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 live in this
00:25:55 --> 00:25:55 world where
00:25:55 --> 00:25:57 temptation exists
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 and at the
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 same time, we
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 live with the
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 hope of
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 heaven.
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 But we
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 cannot stop
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 that temptation,
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 but we
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 can choose
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 what we do
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 with any
00:26:08 --> 00:26:08 temptation.
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 temptation
00:26:09 --> 00:26:11 because King
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 Jesus has
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 called us to
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 be holy.
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 It's about
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 being alert
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 to the fact
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 that we
00:26:19 --> 00:26:19 all have
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 weak spots
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 and if you
00:26:21 --> 00:26:21 don't know
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 your weak
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 spots, you
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 need to go
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 home and ask
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 the Lord what
00:26:25 --> 00:26:25 your weak
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 spots are.
00:26:26 --> 00:26:26 Where do you
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 get tempted
00:26:27 --> 00:26:27 most?
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 What lies do
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 you believe
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 in your head
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 that make you
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 cause you to
00:26:33 --> 00:26:33 live in a
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 different way?
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 Because once we
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 know our weak
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 spots, then we
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 can resist the
00:26:39 --> 00:26:39 temptations when
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 they come.
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 Well, these
00:26:42 --> 00:26:42 last verses of
00:26:42 --> 00:26:44 our passage help
00:26:44 --> 00:26:47 us with how
00:26:47 --> 00:26:47 we are to
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 live.
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 You need to
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 believe.
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 You need to
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 know what you
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 believe.
00:26:54 --> 00:26:54 Okay?
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 We need to
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 read God's
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 word.
00:26:58 --> 00:26:58 We need to
00:26:58 --> 00:27:00 pursue Jesus.
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 Be active in
00:27:01 --> 00:27:03 our response to
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 the freedom that
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 Christ has won
00:27:04 --> 00:27:06 for you and he
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 has won it on
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 your behalf.
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 It's about this
00:27:09 --> 00:27:11 active pursuit,
00:27:11 --> 00:27:13 being alive to
00:27:13 --> 00:27:13 Christ.
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 If you are not
00:27:15 --> 00:27:17 actively pursuing
00:27:17 --> 00:27:19 Christ, then you
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 will be sliding
00:27:20 --> 00:27:22 back either into
00:27:22 --> 00:27:24 legalism or
00:27:24 --> 00:27:26 into license or
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 maybe both,
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 depending on how
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 you wake up on a
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 particular day.
00:27:31 --> 00:27:33 Friends, we don't
00:27:33 --> 00:27:35 grow by accident.
00:27:35 --> 00:27:38 If we never read
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 our Bible, we
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 never pray, we
00:27:40 --> 00:27:42 never apply what
00:27:42 --> 00:27:44 we learn, if we
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 limit when we're
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 around Christian
00:27:46 --> 00:27:48 community, we
00:27:48 --> 00:27:50 will focus on what
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 are worldly
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 things and we
00:27:52 --> 00:27:54 will not focus on
00:27:54 --> 00:27:54 Jesus.
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 You won't grow
00:27:56 --> 00:27:58 because you are not
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 pursuing Christ.
00:27:59 --> 00:27:59 Christ.
00:28:00 --> 00:28:02 You can allow sin
00:28:02 --> 00:28:04 to reign or you
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 can choose to
00:28:05 --> 00:28:07 confess and to
00:28:07 --> 00:28:07 grow.
00:28:08 --> 00:28:08 Trying to deal
00:28:08 --> 00:28:10 with sin on your
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 own will just get
00:28:11 --> 00:28:13 you into trouble and
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 you will constantly
00:28:14 --> 00:28:14 fail.
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 You need to
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 confess to the
00:28:17 --> 00:28:19 one who has taken
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 it on the cross for
00:28:20 --> 00:28:20 you.
00:28:21 --> 00:28:23 But remembering the
00:28:23 --> 00:28:25 gospel, preaching it
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 to yourself day by
00:28:26 --> 00:28:28 day, you will
00:28:28 --> 00:28:30 know that the
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 Spirit of God
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 will empower you
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 to receive the
00:28:33 --> 00:28:35 grace of God,
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 to not only
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 confess the sin
00:28:37 --> 00:28:39 when needed,
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 but will give you
00:28:40 --> 00:28:42 a heart to
00:28:42 --> 00:28:44 serve, a heart
00:28:44 --> 00:28:46 to love, a
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 heart that will
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 live not wanting
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 there to be
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 anything that
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 stands in the
00:28:51 --> 00:28:53 way of you
00:28:53 --> 00:28:55 encouraging,
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 and loving
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 others as
00:28:57 --> 00:28:59 Christ desires
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 for you to be
00:29:00 --> 00:29:00 doing.
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 Why can we be
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 confident in this?
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 Because Jesus in
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 his death and
00:29:06 --> 00:29:08 resurrection gave
00:29:08 --> 00:29:10 up his life and
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 by this life gave
00:29:11 --> 00:29:13 us a freedom to
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 love to the
00:29:14 --> 00:29:16 full, to be
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 loved and he
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 gave us a
00:29:18 --> 00:29:20 heart to serve
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 others beyond
00:29:21 --> 00:29:23 anything that we
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 would naturally
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 choose by
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 ourselves.
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 The world will
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 have different
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 views on what
00:29:30 --> 00:29:32 freedom is really
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 about and what
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 it looks like.
00:29:35 --> 00:29:37 But friends, we
00:29:37 --> 00:29:39 have freedom to
00:29:39 --> 00:29:39 love.
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 It's a freedom
00:29:40 --> 00:29:42 that comes with
00:29:42 --> 00:29:42 the gospel.
00:29:43 --> 00:29:45 Let's be the
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 church that
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 reflects the
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 freedom that
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 Christ has given
00:29:49 --> 00:29:49 us.
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 Amen.