Aug 25, 2019
Two Kingdoms, Two Ways Or, How can we be in the world, but not of it?
By: (All)
First, let’s make sure we know what is at stake.        Psalm 1:1, 2 speaks of two ways, describing each. . .   Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers.   Note the progression from thoughts to behavior to character. Wrong thoughts and deeds are rooted in cynicism (unbelief).        In contrast, verse 2 presents the positive side of the blessed. . .   But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.                      The blessed person thinks and lives by God’s Word, His promises.             His acts are based upon and energized by God’s commandments.                    His character is rooted in truth because He delights in God’s word.
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  • Aug 25, 2019Two Kingdoms, Two Ways Or, How can we be in the world, but not of it?
    Aug 25, 2019
    Two Kingdoms, Two Ways Or, How can we be in the world, but not of it?
    By: (All)
    First, let’s make sure we know what is at stake.        Psalm 1:1, 2 speaks of two ways, describing each. . .   Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers.   Note the progression from thoughts to behavior to character. Wrong thoughts and deeds are rooted in cynicism (unbelief).        In contrast, verse 2 presents the positive side of the blessed. . .   But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.                      The blessed person thinks and lives by God’s Word, His promises.             His acts are based upon and energized by God’s commandments.                    His character is rooted in truth because He delights in God’s word.
  • Aug 18, 2019The Bottom Line of Law vs. Grace “In summary. . .” Galatians 6:11-18
    Aug 18, 2019
    The Bottom Line of Law vs. Grace “In summary. . .” Galatians 6:11-18
    By: (All)
     Similarly, some in the Galatian churches wanted to live under the Law, but Paul explains that love fulfills the law. But how does that work? Pretend that the break between chapters five and six does not exist, and so our 6:1-10 is really a continuation on what it means to live by the Spirit, keep in step with the Spirit, and bear the fruit of the Spirit. This passage shows us how to obey Galatians 5:26.                Without the constraints of the Law, can’t we be hurt? Can’t people take advantage of us? Will we still have any boundaries to our emotional vulnerability? Paul assures us that God is watching, and will bring all people to account, and so it is safe for us to let our hearts go out to others, allowing Him to be the judge. Our job is to sow the good seeds of the Spirit, and leave the harvest to Him.   Last week we saw that. . . Freedom from the Law brings love, not lawlessness. . .
  • Aug 11, 2019Free to Risk Loving Others “Live as God’s family!” Galatians 6:1-10
    Aug 11, 2019
    Free to Risk Loving Others “Live as God’s family!” Galatians 6:1-10
    By: (All)
  • Aug 4, 2019New Covenant, not Old Commandments “Keep in step with the Spirit!” Galatians 5:13-26
    Aug 4, 2019
    New Covenant, not Old Commandments “Keep in step with the Spirit!” Galatians 5:13-26
    By: (All)
  • Jul 28, 2019“It is for freedom Christ has set us free!” Galatians 5:1-12
    Jul 28, 2019
    “It is for freedom Christ has set us free!” Galatians 5:1-12
    By: (All)
  • Jul 21, 2019“You are children of the Promise, not slaves of the Law.” Galatians 4:21–31
    Jul 21, 2019
    “You are children of the Promise, not slaves of the Law.” Galatians 4:21–31
    By: (All)
  • Jul 14, 2019A Gospel Grace Reality Check: Or, “Once free from a life of slavery, why would you reapply?” Galatians 4:8-20
    Jul 14, 2019
    A Gospel Grace Reality Check: Or, “Once free from a life of slavery, why would you reapply?” Galatians 4:8-20
    By: (All)
  • Jul 7, 2019Why Sinai? Or, “If the Law can’t save anyone, why did God give it?” Galatians 3:19–4:7
    Jul 7, 2019
    Why Sinai? Or, “If the Law can’t save anyone, why did God give it?” Galatians 3:19–4:7
    By: (All)
  • Jun 30, 2019The Only Way to Be Right with God! Galatians 3:1-18
    Jun 30, 2019
    The Only Way to Be Right with God! Galatians 3:1-18
    By: (All)
  • Jun 22, 2019Made Right To Do Right Galatians 2:15-21
    Jun 22, 2019
    Made Right To Do Right Galatians 2:15-21
    By: (All)
    The Transforming Power of the Cross Galatians: How the Gospel Sets Us Free       Made Right To Do Right Galatians 2:15-21                  When Gentiles were being saved and given the Spirit, many Jewish teachers argued that now that they were saved by Jesus, they needed to follow Jesus in keeping the Law of Moses. Wasn’t He circumcised? Didn’t He keep kosher? Didn’t He attend the feasts?             Still others wondered how Jesus’ death alone could make someone right with God. They knew, perhaps, that Jesus’ death was relevant, but surely keeping the Torah’s commands helped make us right with God.             They would say, “Too much grace is the problem. If you tell people they are forgiven, they will go wild! If they don’t have laws to obey, they won’t do right. Forgiveness is not free; you must earn it.              They didn’t grasp that the Cross changed everything, for Jesus AND His followers. Jesus’ death FOR sinners also was His death WITH sinners. His death FOR sin was also His death TO sin. And because we were “in Him,” we are now dead to sin and the Law that condemned us, but alive with His life which gives power to do what the Law could not. Here is how Paul is reasoning, explaining his rebuke of Peter’s hypocrisy: