Dec 1, 2024
The Privileges of Adoption
Series: Galatians
God has lovingly reached out to save us from ourselves and the consequences of our sin.  He sent His Son, Jesus, to redeem and adopt us as His children, offering us the full rights & privileges of being heirs to His promises.
 
In Galatians 4:1-7, Paul presents us with an analogy helping us to understand the relationship we can have with God through faith in Christ.  Paul shows us that: 1) Apart from Christ We Live in a Condition of Bondage; 2) God Sent the Savior to Redeem Us from Slavery and Make us Sons; and 3) Our Adoption Offers Us Full Rights as Family.
 
Faith in Christ frees us from the futility of living by the Law.
 
 
Galatians 4:1-7
Dec. 1, 2024
 
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  • Dec 1, 2024The Privileges of Adoption
    Dec 1, 2024
    The Privileges of Adoption
    Series: Galatians
    God has lovingly reached out to save us from ourselves and the consequences of our sin.  He sent His Son, Jesus, to redeem and adopt us as His children, offering us the full rights & privileges of being heirs to His promises.
     
    In Galatians 4:1-7, Paul presents us with an analogy helping us to understand the relationship we can have with God through faith in Christ.  Paul shows us that: 1) Apart from Christ We Live in a Condition of Bondage; 2) God Sent the Savior to Redeem Us from Slavery and Make us Sons; and 3) Our Adoption Offers Us Full Rights as Family.
     
    Faith in Christ frees us from the futility of living by the Law.
     
     
    Galatians 4:1-7
    Dec. 1, 2024
     
    To watch the video of this message, click here.
  • Nov 24, 2024One in the Son
    Nov 24, 2024
    One in the Son
    Series: Galatians
    There is no hierarchy when it comes to God’s offer of salvation. The ground is level at the foot of the cross. All of us come with equal need of God’s forgiveness, and all are equally offered that forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ.
    In Galatians 3:26-29, Paul makes 3 points about the truth that it is by faith alone that we can enter into a right relationship with God: 1) Faith in Christ Makes You a Favored Child of God; 2) Faith in Christ Makes You Fully Equal with All Other Believers; and 3) Faith in Christ Makes You an Heir to the Father’s Promises.
    All believers are equal heirs to God’s promises through faith in Christ.
     
     
    Galatians 3?26-29
    Nov. 24, 2024
     
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  • Nov 17, 2024Following Where the Law Leads
    Nov 17, 2024
    Following Where the Law Leads
    Series: Galatians
    In chapter 3 of Galatians, Paul has been taking a critical look at the Jewish Law.  While it may have appeared that following the Law would lead to a right relationship with God, Paul has been showing that it is in fact a dead end.  
     
    There are 4 things about the Law which Paul highlights in our passage: 1) The Law Reveals Our Unrighteousness; 2) The Law Promotes God’s Promise; 3) The Law Shows the Grace of the Gospel: and 4) The Law Leads Us to the Lord.
     
    The purpose of the law is to lead us to Christ.
     
     
    Galatians 3:19-25
    Nov. 17, 2024
     
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  • Nov 10, 2024Irrevocable Living Trust
    Nov 10, 2024
    Irrevocable Living Trust
    Series: Galatians
    In the world of legal documents some things can be changed easily.  Other things can be changed with great difficulty.  And then there are some things that simply cannot be changed – Documents like a person’s Last Will and Testament, after they have died, or an Irrevocable Living Trust, where an inheritance is irreversibly left to others.  Once it’s done, it cannot be undone.
     
    This is the sort of example Paul uses in Galatians 3:15-18 as he continues to defend the idea that we receive salvation by faith and not by obedience to the Law.  Paul argues for the superiority of the covenant God established with Abraham, based on faith.  The Jewish Law, which God gave through Moses centuries later, could not in any way revoke or revise God’s covenant with Abraham.
     
    With that in mind, Paul shows us two things in this passage: 1) The Path to Receiving God’s Promises Has Never Changed; and 2) God’s Promises Come to Us Through Faith in Christ.
     
    Faith is still the foundation of a right relationship with God.
     
     
    Galatians 3:15-18
    Nov. 10, 2024
     
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  • Nov 3, 2024Signposts at the Fork in the Road
    Nov 3, 2024
    Signposts at the Fork in the Road
    Series: Galatians
    Signposts can be very important.  They offer direction and warn of dangers.  Just imagine how hard and hazardous it would be to try getting around if there were no street signs or stop signs.  Now, of course, those signs don’t keep us from having troubles by themselves.  We have to heed the warning.
     
    God’s Word does a great job of providing direction and warning for our lives.  Throughout history, people have questioned which road leads to salvation.  In Galatians 3:10-14, Paul draws our attention to 4  signposts at this spiritual fork in the road: Signpost #1 – Those Who Can’t Keep God’s Commands are Under a Curse; Signpost #2 – A Right Relationship with God is Found Only by Faith; Signpost #3 – The Law is Based on Behaving Rather Than Believing; and Signpost #4 – The Curse of the Law is Only Removed by the Cross of Christ.
     
    Believing is the pathway to blessing.
     
     
    Galatians 3:10-14
    Nov. 3, 2024
     
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  • Oct 27, 2024It Has Always Been About Faith
    Oct 27, 2024
    It Has Always Been About Faith
    Series: Galatians
    Why is it that we sometimes think things are more complicated than they actually are?  We can unnecessarily complicate tasks or relationships, when they actually may be quite simple.  This seems to also be the case when it comes to the topic of salvation.  Throughout the centuries and continuing today, people have added “requirements” to salvation, ultimately doing nothing more than complicating a simple issue, and thereby making it ineffective.
     
    God has given us a simple solution for salvation from the consequences of our sin – believe in His promises.  Salvation from sin comes by faith.  This always has been true, and always will.  In Gal. 3:6-9 Paul points back to Abraham as proof that this is true.  With a couple of quotes from Genesis, focusing on Abraham’s life, Paul shows his readers that: 1) Right Standing with God is a Result of Faith; and 2) God’s Greatest Blessing is Received by Those Who Believe.
     
    We are saved on the basis of belief in God’s promises.
     
     
    Galatians 3:6-9
    Oct. 27, 2024
     
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  • Oct 20, 2024A Good Work Ethic Won’t Get You There
    Oct 20, 2024
    A Good Work Ethic Won’t Get You There
    Series: Galatians
    In Galatians 3:1-5 Paul uses a series of rhetorical question posed to these believers in an attempt to shake them up and bring them back to the truth of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ. In a sense, these questions are not really questions because the answers are obvious, so obvious that they don’t need to be answered. The basic question Paul is driving at is, “How can you know that you are a Christian?”
     
    Three truths show up in what Paul has to say: 1) Christ Crucified is the Cornerstone of the Christian Faith; 2) God Gives His Spirit to Those Who Seek Him by Faith; 3) Christian Maturity is Not a Result of Self-Righteous Effort.
     
    God’s Spirit sanctifies us and seals our salvation, not any outward sign.
     
     
    Galatians 3:1-5
    Oct. 20, 2024
     
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  • Oct 13, 2024How Not to Be Saved
    Oct 13, 2024
    How Not to Be Saved
    Series: Galatians
    When it comes to the Gospel, we rightly focus most of our attention on how a person can be saved from the punishment they face for their sins.  This morning, let’s talk some about how not to be saved.  The fundamental issue in our passage this morning is the basis of one’s right standing with God.  Are we right with God on the basis of works, or through faith in Christ?  Paul’s argument will be that human obedience to commandments cannot serve as the basis of a right relationship with the Lord.
     
    I’m going to focus on the negatives in our passage first, then we’ll finish up with the positive.  Negatively, 1) You Are Not Saved by Birth – salvation is not a birthright or inheritance; and 2) You Are Not Saved by Working for It – we can’t earn even a small portion of God’s forgiveness.  Positively, then, 3) You Are Only Saved Through Faith in Christ – it is by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
     
    Right standing with God comes only through faith in Christ.
     
     
    Galatians 2:15-21
    Oct. 13, 2024
     
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  • Oct 6, 2024Standing Firm in the Faith
    Oct 6, 2024
    Standing Firm in the Faith
    Series: Galatians
    Whenever we have questions about Christian life and living, we should go to Scripture for our answers. If what we’re doing is in line with God’s Word, we’re doing good; if not, we need to make some changes.  
     
    In Galatians 2:11-14 we find Paul having to confront another apostle for failure to live according to God’s instruction.  There are 3 things which stand out to that we too can take to heart as we strive to live God-honoring lives: 1) Be Willing to Boldly Stand for Biblical Truth; 2) Conduct Yourself in a Consistent Christ-Honoring Way; and 3) Humbly Consider Christian Correction.
     
    God’s Word is the authority for assessing our Christian walk.
     
     
    Galatians 2:11-14
    Oct. 6, 2024
     
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  • Sep 22, 2024United We Stand
    Sep 22, 2024
    United We Stand
    Series: Galatians
    Christians are encouraged to strive for unity in the Church.  In his letter to the Galatians, Paul demonstrates this same striving after unity as he meets with the apostles in Jerusalem to share with them the content of the Gospel message he had been preaching.
     
    Three things about the Gospel show up in Paul’s example found in Gal. 2:1-10: 1) We Are to Be Centered on the Gospel; 2) We Are Set Free By the Gospel; and 3) We Are to Share the Gospel.
     
    The Gospel of grace brings unity and freedom.
     
     
    Galatians 2:1-10
    Sept. 22, 2024
     
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