August 25, 2019

Delivered from this present evil age

Preacher:
Series:
Passage: Galatians 1:4-5
Service Type:

Introduction

  • Today looking at Gal 1:4-5
    • Come to a passage of Jesus calming a storm, then casting out a demoniac
    • Recent preaching on the same
  • Time for a break - to look at Galatians
    • AD 50
    • Paul writes a circular letter to a number of churches in the region of Galatia
    • Modern day turkey - Antioch, Lystria, Iconium, Derbe
    • Paul preached the gospel to those that had never heard of Jesus Christ
    • Paul appointed elders
    • Shortly after Paul left, other teachers with Jewish roots came in and preached a false gospel and traditions
      • Examples
      • A new [false] message - 'You must have faith and follow these Old Testament laws'
    • Paul was extremely concerned about this as the gospel was being distorted
      • v6-8 - He was astonished that so quickly the people were turning away from the gospel
      • Others wanted to pervert the gospel of Christ - twisting the truth
      • Any who preaches a false message/gospel will be accursed
    • Paul is addressing the core of Christianity
  • v4-5: the Gospel is spelled out
    • He speaks about the essential death of Jesus Christ
    • He brings a delivering message
    • He praises God
  • Office of apostle
    • Not usually spoken of by Paul
    • The truth of the gospel is being undermined so he presents his credentials v1
      • An apostle
      • Not by man but by God
      • He met the risen Christ on the road to Damascas
      • God taught him - he received revelation directly from God (v11-12,17)
    • Grace: Paul's desire is not to chastise the disciples but for them to share in the grace of God
  • v4-5
    • The heart of Christianity
    • The death of Jesus Christ to deliver us
  • Gal 6:14-15
    • Paul is clear of the necessity of cross of the Lord Jesus Christ
  • Overview:
    • The Necessity of the Cross
    • The Power of the Cross
    • Our Response to the Cross

The Necessity of the Cross

  • Questions
    • Why should God surrender His only Son to the cross?
    • Why should Jesus Christ freely choose to come into this world?
    • Why should He be prepared to endure and suffer?
    • Could God not have prevented this? - It was God's will (v4)
  • Because of the condition of the human race
    • Personal example of rubbish
    • What about the human race?
      • Are people intrinsically good?
      • Is the human race really proving itself?
      • Is the world now a better place to live in?
    • Statistics and facts
    • Left to ourselves - mankind stinks
      • God made the world perfect
      • Mankind turned its back on God
      • How quickly man turned to evil
      • Man left to himself does not get better
    • There is a present evil age
      • v4 - not a pretty place, but descried as evil
      • God sent Jesus to deliver us from this
      • Personal example
    • Sin has brought a separation between God and man
      • We are cut off from God
      • We fail to overcome sin in our life - without God
  • The present evil age
    • Quote from Dr Martin Lloyd-Jones
    • Eph 2:2
      • We follow the ways of the world
      • The present evil age is a world under the dominion of satan [though God is sovereign]
      • Only God can break the power of satan
      • Nothing can change the heart of man but the gospel of Jesus Christ
    • James 1:14-15
      • Satan without and sin within

The Power of the Cross

  • The greatest news ever
    • Only at the cross you find forgiveness and that the power of sin is broken
    • God sent His Son
      • Jesus loved sinners
      • He came to take their sin and vileness to the cross
      • He detested their sin yet was willing to become sin for us
      • He was willing to go to calvary because of His amazing love for sinners
    • God would send His Spirit
    • Jesus would write God's law on our heart
    • Jesus redeemed us from every evil deed
    • We become His own special people
    • He has saved us and called us with a Holy calling
  • The Cross
    • No returning to tradition
    • Only Jesus
    • By grace you are saved through faith in Him
    • Gal 2:16
      • You do not go to heaven by your good works - a terrible lie
    • Col 1:13-14
      • Moved from darkness
        • Darkness distorts
        • Examples
      • Darkness and evil
      • Fear
      • Christ delivers us from this into the heavenly kingdom
    • Gal 2:20
      • I have died - I no longer live, it is Christ who lives in me
      • I live by faith in Christ
        • Can we say this?
  • Do you believe - give your life today?

Our Response to the Cross

  • Faith in Christ
  • Paul's response - v5
    • Glory for ever and ever
    • Worship
    • He is taken up with the Father and the Son
      • v1,3,4
      • Paul is glorifying the Father and the Son (and the Spirit)
    • Giving God all the glory
  • How much do we praise and glorify God?
    • Examples
  • May we worship God
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