SERMON: ON SONSHIP
20190825su-SERMON-Sonship In Christ Gal 4: 1-31
SERMON SYNOPSIS
Being a part of the Body of CHRIST is being a part or portion of the whole universe. A Universal Family. One that eternally exists. Just as with our earthly bodies, our parts each play a special, sometimes critical role in our ability to be alive. In our families we each play an important part in the function and success of the whole. My sister and I were three years apart, I was the older. The idea that we were expected to be a part of the family solution usually fell short by several methods of measurement. We disagreed about breathing the same air! As we matured, or at least my sister did, unimportant issues fell away replaced by love, respect, cooperation, understanding, loyalty.....God!
Today, on this Lord's day, we find the Apostle Paul returning to the churches of Galatia. It is a bittersweet reunion because the Gospel that had been originally preached and received has become polluted by heresy, and false doctrine. The deviations in the practice of the faith now needs Fatherly attention, firmness, and a whole-lotta love! Today we will study in the New Testament and the Book of Galatians, with close attention to Chapter Four.
OPENING PRAYER
O Lord, our GOD, we live in a time of enormous distraction and a strong bond with the worldly influence on our SOULS. That is a dangerous place to be in the present times. Father, it is a difficult time for believers and a huge challenge for us just to maintain that which we have gained and that which we have yet to overcome ....by Your wondrous GRACE. Open our ears to the words of Your Servant Paul as he guides the churches of Galatia back to that narrow road, the path to Eternal Glory. Let the TRUTH in SCRIPTURE be on my lips this morning......In the Name above of all names, we pray, AMEN.
SERMON
The Galatian churches were founded by Paul at his first visit, when he was detained among, them by sickness, during his second missionary journey, about A.D 51. He visited them again on his third missionary tour. The people have always been described as "susceptible of quick impressions and sudden changes, with a fickleness equal to their courage and enthusiasm, and a constant liability to that disunion which is the fruit of excessive vanity. {Smith Bible Dictionary}
The Apostle Paul was credited with establishing the first Christian Churches in Galatia, so as a Father figure, he was most concerned when upon his return to the land, the PURITY of the preached GOSPEL had suffered.
We begin our study in Galatians Chapter 1, and Verses 6 through 10:
Gal 1:6-10 [Paul is speaking here] : I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; (7) which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. (8) But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! (9) As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! (10) For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.
Paul's heart was sorely wounded by what he found upon his return. What made it even more distressful was the unacceptable behavior by PETER and to a lesser degree, BARNABAS, shunning the New CONVERTS at ANTIOCH, refusing to eat with the Gentiles when in the presence of the JERUSALEM JEWS who would visit.
Paul continues from Verse 2:11;
Gal 2:11-16 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. (12) For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision. (13) The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. (14) But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, "If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews? ..... Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.
Without exception, Paul is absolutely determined to halt the spread of this HERITICAL CANCER that was seemingly ignored by members of His own team.
Gal 3:1-6 You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? (2) This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? (3) Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? (4) Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? (5) So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
It is difficult for us, you and me, to grasp the constant conflict that presented itself between followers of Jesus and of those whose lives were literally sewn to the fabric of the LAW. Having said this, I proclaim to you that same struggle, that same opposition continues today through out many religious DENOMINATIONS. DENOMINATIONS that teach that which is ABSOLUTELY counter to what is written in HOLY SCRIPTURE. The LAW was written about 430 years after God's Promise to Abraham that his SEED, not seeds, His SEED would become the SAVIOR of the World! That was the very WORD of God.
Open your Bibles to the Book of John, Chapter One, Verses 1 - 5 and 14:
Joh 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) He was in the beginning with God. (3) All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. (4) In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. (5) The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. Joh 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
The PROMISED SEED spoken of to Abraham is the same seed that has always been with God, ETERNALLY. The SEED is also known by His other name, the WORD, and the WORD to which John refers is JESUS. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is absolutely CRYSTAL clear that through the Atoning Death and Resurrection, the shedding of the blood of JESUS, those who call upon His name and hold true to obeying His word until the end, THEY WILL BE SAVED! By Grace, through FAITH in CHRIST, according to SCRIPTURE in glory to GOD!
If ANY presentation of the Gospel tells you that you must have WORKS plus FAITH or any other requirement to be saved, they are preaching a FALSE GOSPEL. Our salvation by GRACE make us Heirs of His promise. Heirs to the Kingdom.
Gal 4:3-7
So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. (4) But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, (5) so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. (6) Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" (7) Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.
Mere words cannot express the grandeur, or the wonder in the fulfilling words that I have just shared with you. Paul shed many tears for these precious converts who were being teased away from the TRUTH of SALVATION--and led
toward a false teaching.
SUMMARY
In Jesus own words: Mat 24:24 "For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. These last three words " even the elect" are scary words even to the well versed Bible student or scholar. Don't let your faith in Christ Jesus be shaken by doubt over sweet sounding words that tickle your ears and make you feel good while leading you straight to Hell. We are saved by GRACE through FAITH in Jesus the Christ, according to SCRIPTURE all for the glory of GOD.
HOW DO I KNOW THIS? IT'S IN THE BOOK!!!!
CLOSING PRAYER
O Mighty Sovereign Creator , In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with YOU, and the Word was YOU. He was in the beginning with YOU. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. He in YOU and YOU in Him. How very blessed we are LORD to have Your very Word available at all times to be our Guide, our Light, our MAP of Life leading to the TRUTH. I pray Your words will be forever anchored in all of our hearts, minds and souls, that we will steel ourselves and be strong in the face of all temptations that fail the tests of Your mighty TRUTH. Be with us, keep us strong, keep us true and in Your Word. IN the name of Jesus the Christ, I pray, AMEN.
BENEDICTION AND CLOSE
Heb 13:20-21 Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, (21) equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
SUPPORTING SCRIPTURE
Galatians 1:6-10, 2: 11-16, 3:1-6, 4:3-7, Mt 24:24, Heb 13:20-21
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