(Sorry, no video this week.)
2016/07/17 Christ Church,
Mountain Top
Mountain Top
Call to
worship, Psalm 22, selections
worship, Psalm 22, selections
Children, Luke
8.26-39 (Gerasene demoniac)
8.26-39 (Gerasene demoniac)
Message, Galatians 3.1-29
Review: Freedom theme
People
pleasing
pleasing
Guilt
trips – discussion of the racial divides in our nation
trips – discussion of the racial divides in our nation
This week: (human experience)
Living
under a curse
under a curse
Living
as captives
as captives
Intro story:
Sisyphus
Background:
Abandoning
the gospel
the gospel
Paul’s
frustration
frustration
Galatians 1:6-9 I am astonished that you are so quickly
deserting the one who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a
different gospel– 7 not that
there is another gospel, but there are some who are confusing you and want to
pervert the gospel of Christ. 8
But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary
to what we proclaimed to you, let that one be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so now I
repeat, if anyone proclaims to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let
that one be accursed!
deserting the one who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a
different gospel– 7 not that
there is another gospel, but there are some who are confusing you and want to
pervert the gospel of Christ. 8
But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary
to what we proclaimed to you, let that one be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so now I
repeat, if anyone proclaims to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let
that one be accursed!
Galatians 3:1 You foolish Galatians! Who
has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly
exhibited as crucified!
has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly
exhibited as crucified!
Theological
question:
question:
The
applicability of Jewish law to Gentile Christians
applicability of Jewish law to Gentile Christians
Law
as a path to righteousness
as a path to righteousness
Law
as a boundary for the covenant community
as a boundary for the covenant community
Law
as a path to righteousness.
as a path to righteousness.
Law
exposes, names, and condemns sin
exposes, names, and condemns sin
Righteousness
only comes through Jesus
only comes through Jesus
Galatians 3:22 the scripture has imprisoned all things under
the power of sin
the power of sin
Galatians 3:23-24 Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and
guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our
disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith.
guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our
disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith.
Law
as a boundary for the covenant community
as a boundary for the covenant community
All boundaries are broken by Jesus
Galatians 3:26-28 in Christ Jesus you are all children of God
through faith. 27 As many of
you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is no longer Jew or
Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female;
for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.
through faith. 27 As many of
you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is no longer Jew or
Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female;
for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.
Yet, we live under the curse, we
live as captives:
live as captives:
trying
with all our might to be righteous under our own steam
with all our might to be righteous under our own steam
pouring
every effort into being “acceptable” –
every effort into being “acceptable” –
whether
simply acceptable to ourselves or to others.
simply acceptable to ourselves or to others.
We’re cursed and in captivity
like Sisyphus
like Sisyphus
All
our effort is doomed to failure
our effort is doomed to failure
Galatians 3:9-10 those who believe are blessed with Abraham who
believed. 10 For all who rely
on the works of the law are under a curse
believed. 10 For all who rely
on the works of the law are under a curse
Internalized:
What did I do to deserve/cause
this?
this?
No matter how hard I try, I’m
still not good enough
still not good enough
I can’t be seen as a failure
I’ll never fit in, be accepted
Projection:
They’ll
never change
never change
What
did they think would happen?
did they think would happen?
They
have no place here
have no place here
Living under judgment
The
assumed judgments of others (perception)
assumed judgments of others (perception)
The
actual judgments of others
actual judgments of others
The
assumed judgment of God
assumed judgment of God
Self-condemnation
Living under a standard which we
cannot meet
cannot meet
Legal
perfection in every way?
perfection in every way?
A
vague “good Christian”? How do we know if we are?
vague “good Christian”? How do we know if we are?
Forced to conform to something
that does not “fit”
that does not “fit”
Rejecting others who do not
conform to my standards
conform to my standards
Robin and the AC not turned on:
Yes, but after I cursed you.
Yes, but after I cursed you.
Prison break: visiting in prisons
…
…
Living life on the inside as if
it is not your home
it is not your home
Living life on the inside with a
clear plan for a new life
clear plan for a new life
Galatians 3:1 It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was
publicly exhibited as crucified!
publicly exhibited as crucified!
“Publicly
exhibited” – legal
exhibited” – legal
“Portrayed”
– art or drama (Hansen, Thayer’s lexicon)
– art or drama (Hansen, Thayer’s lexicon)
Cross is proof
We
cannot be saved by our efforts to conform
cannot be saved by our efforts to conform
We
cannot become righteous by self-improvement
cannot become righteous by self-improvement
Otherwise, Jesus’ death was a
tragic mistake
tragic mistake
Cross is proof
We
are equals when it comes to needing grace
are equals when it comes to needing grace
We
are equals when it comes to receiving grace
are equals when it comes to receiving grace
Not
human differences matter when it comes to grace
human differences matter when it comes to grace
Otherwise, Jesus’ death was a
tragic mistake
tragic mistake
If you want a way out of your
curse, your captivity, look to the cross.
curse, your captivity, look to the cross.
Resources:
Hansen, G.
Walter. 1994. Galatians. IVP New
Testament Commentary Series. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
Walter. 1994. Galatians. IVP New
Testament Commentary Series. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
