Call to
worship, Psalm 30
worship, Psalm 30
Children, 2
Kings 5.1-14 (Naaman)
Kings 5.1-14 (Naaman)
Message, Galatians 6.7-18
This conclusion has the most
damning assessment of the preachers of this no-gospel that Paul is refuting:
They preach circumcision because it makes them more acceptable and removes the
risk from following Jesus: Galatians 6:12 only that they may not be persecuted.
damning assessment of the preachers of this no-gospel that Paul is refuting:
They preach circumcision because it makes them more acceptable and removes the
risk from following Jesus: Galatians 6:12 only that they may not be persecuted.
Again,
Paul points to the cross: Galatians 6:14 May I never boast of anything except the cross
of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to
the world.
Paul points to the cross: Galatians 6:14 May I never boast of anything except the cross
of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to
the world.
Again,
Paul points to the Spirit – “sow to the Spirit”, “eternal life from the
Spirit”.
Paul points to the Spirit – “sow to the Spirit”, “eternal life from the
Spirit”.
Galatians 6:8-9 If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap
corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal
life from the Spirit. 9 So
let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time,
if we do not give up.
corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal
life from the Spirit. 9 So
let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time,
if we do not give up.
Naaman
could have quoted these verses
could have quoted these verses
Sow
to his flesh – his pride
to his flesh – his pride
Sow
to the Spirit – humility
to the Spirit – humility
Galatians 6:15 For neither circumcision
nor uncircumcision is anything; but a new creation is everything!
nor uncircumcision is anything; but a new creation is everything!
Creation/new:
It is God’s work, not our work
It is God’s work, not our work
Neither
circumcision (purely outward, “spit and polish”)
circumcision (purely outward, “spit and polish”)
(Mt
23.3, MSG)
23.3, MSG)
Nor
compulsive obedience and discipline
compulsive obedience and discipline
2 Corinthians 5:17-18 So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new
creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! 18 All this is from God
creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! 18 All this is from God
“I
don’t drink, smoke, or chew, and I don’t go with girls who do”
don’t drink, smoke, or chew, and I don’t go with girls who do”
PARALLEL:
Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor
uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working
through love.
uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working
through love.
Our
participation in God’s work of new creation
participation in God’s work of new creation
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through
faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God– 9 not the result of works, so that
no one may boast.
faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God– 9 not the result of works, so that
no one may boast.
Interior,
not exterior
not exterior
The most important aspects of who
we are and who we become are mostly hidden
we are and who we become are mostly hidden
Transformation
occurs from the inside out
occurs from the inside out
Multiplication
occurs from the inside out
occurs from the inside out
Squirrel
finding the seeds inside the
pine cone
finding the seeds inside the
pine cone
Matthew 13:31-32 The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed
that someone took and sowed in his field;
32 it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown
it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air
come and make nests in its branches.
that someone took and sowed in his field;
32 it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown
it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air
come and make nests in its branches.
Galatians 6:17 I carry the marks of Jesus branded on my body.
STIGMATA
Hansen, 202, branding of slaves or
tattooing of devotees
tattooing of devotees
Lethal Weapon 3, scar
comparison
comparison
My theory: pain and love
1 Corinthians 15:36 What you sow does not come to life unless it
dies.
dies.
Naaman, enters the Jordan
River (a metaphor for death)
River (a metaphor for death)
Saint Francis (stigmata), traditional prayer
O Lord Jesus Christ,
two graces I ask of you before I
die:
die:
the first, that in my lifetime I
may feel,
may feel,
as
far as possible,
far as possible,
both
in my soul and body,
in my soul and body,
that
pain which you, sweet Lord,
pain which you, sweet Lord,
did
endure
endure
in
the hour of your most bitter Passion;
the hour of your most bitter Passion;
the second, that I may feel in my
heart
heart
as
much as possible
much as possible
that
excess of love by which you,
excess of love by which you,
O
Son of God,
Son of God,
were
inflamed to suffer so cruel a Passion
inflamed to suffer so cruel a Passion
for
us sinners.
us sinners.
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.
