A New Creation Will Bear Its Marks
Notes
Transcript
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Galatians 6:11–18 (ESV)
11 See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. 12 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16 And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
17 From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.
Opening Prayer
Opening Prayer
Pick up from Last Week
Pick up from Last Week
Paul says with every fiber in his being...
My Only Boast is the Cross of Jesus Christ
My Only Boast is the Cross of Jesus Christ
Galatians 6:14–15 (ESV)
14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
The world has been crucified to Paul and Paul to the world.
This is a passive indicative verb something was done to Paul...
Something happened to Paul.
It didn’t happen to him through physical circumcision.
What happens at the new birth?
Jeremiah 31:33–34 (ESV)
33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
What happens is at our new birth, we now know the Lord, we’ve been made anew to truly know Him and His goodness, His forgiveness, His familial love, His worthiness of our worship & adoration.
And, in contrast, we see the fleeting, depreciating value of everything else.
We see the world in its fallenness and in its failure to deliver anything we truly need.
So, Paul is saying, there is nothing in or of the world to boast in.
There is nothing in the world that I’m clinging to—in hope.
There is nothing in this life...
neither death, nor life...
nor angel, nor rulers...
nor things present, nor things to come...
nor powers, nor heights, nor depth...
nor anything else in all creation...
None of these can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus...
But neither can they join us to God.
The only reconciling, redeeming, forgiving, adopting power is found in Christ.
His life, death, burial, and resurrection.
He, Jesus, is our boast.
He is the only One who can join us to the love of God...
Because He is the only One who can remove the wrath of God that we deserve...
And, He did, on the Cross.
So, to be in Christ, by faith, is our only hope.
That is what it means to understand the gospel.
That is understanding the cross of Christ.
The new birth crucifies the world to its recipients.
Meaning, the new birth grants gospel understanding.
And, gospel understanding clings to the cross.
And, it abandons all boasting in the flesh...
Because with new eyes we see the foolishness of such boasting.
Galatians 6:15 (ESV)
15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
Because of the cross circumcision doesn’t matter anymore...
Because the Cross fulfills and makes it possible for us to have what physical circumcision only pointed to.
Physical circumcision was a marker of a probationary people of God...
Who must obey in order to maintain.
But, it also pointed to the impossibility to obey from the heart...
And, so we find out that what we really need is HEART OBEDIENCE...
And, that is what the New Covenant gives...
Positionally and perfectly kept in Christ on behalf of His people.
And experientially through the new birth and HS living within us.
Leading us to the consummation which will enable us to live in perfect obedience to God.
Circumcision is useless…because circumcision falls short.
It’s a brochure to a reality.
Once you have the reality, the brochure is useless.
And, the cross is absolutely necessary.
We needed perfect obedience.
We needed our sins removed, once and for all.
The Cross accomplished and dispensed the reality upon Christ’s sheep.
Because what circumcision pointed to and hoped for is accomplished by the cross...
And, only in the cross.
Physical Circumcision was a covenant sign of outward sanctity...
Being set apart physically for the coming of the One who would reverse the curse...
The One who would crush the head of the serpent.
Physical Circumcision was a sign that was intended to show a longing for inward holiness.
But, the outward sign could not provide inward holiness.
It could only point us to it the need.
The cross accomplishes inward holiness.
The cross accomplishes spiritual circumcision of the heart.
The cross accomplishes all that is needed to be reconciled to God, forever.
So, what Paul is saying is the blessing of the nations is not circumcision.
It is not the Mosaic covenant.
It is not the Abrahamic covenant
It’s not the Davidic covenant.
The blessing of the nations is the promised seed who brings the blessings in a new covenant...
As the True Seed of the woman.
The Better Adam.
As the Promised Seed of Abraham.
The True Israel.
As the True Sacrifice for Sins.
Better than bulls and goats.
As the True King of God’s people.
One who obeys perfectly and brings eternal blessings to His Kingdom.
He brings covenant blessings that purify us from the inside out.
And, Paul is saying that within the new covenant, it’s membership is not founded on whether you’re circumcised or not.
The new covenant is for new creations, changed by the by the HS.
Galatians 6:16 (ESV)
16 And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
Those who understand the gospel.
Those who are in the new covenant.
Those are the true Israel of God.
The spiritual offspring of Abraham.
This is the rule we live by...
The just shall live by faith...
Those who have faith and are justified are so because of the new birth.
The new birth is possible through the New Covenant.
The New Covenant is possible because of the work of Jesus Christ.
The New Covenant is effectuated upon us by the power of the HS.
We respond in and By Faith.
Open hands to receive the gift.
Which is why we sing “Worthy is the Lamb”...
And not “Worthy is ‘the church roll call’”.
Galatians 6:17–18 (ESV)
17 From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
Paul is saying, I’ve preached the gospel in so many locations...
I’ve defended the gospel against so many false teachers.
The proof that I am not a man pleaser is in the pudding, if you will.
And, I bear on my body the marks of suffering that show that I boast only in the cross.
If you are a new creation...
If you are in the new covenant...
There will be a life lived that will bear its marks on us.
Oh, but its worth it.
To one day be made whole, perfect...
And to live among the Saints in the presence of the Lamb...
To worship Him in unhindered bliss.
Believe in Jesus. Boast only in the Cross.
And...
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.
Prayer & Final Song
Prayer & Final Song
Cut the Livestream
Cut the Livestream
The reason I want to cut the livestream is because I want to be careful to not say the wrong thing...
Or to say too much.
So, what I say about this trip is between everyone in this room.
Not that the trip is secretive or that I’ll be in any danger...
But, just in case.
I’ll be posting people’s pics on the screen...
So, for the sake of those who live there...
And, because I don’t want to do any harm to them, unwittingly...
It’s just safer to cut the livestream.
El Salvador
El Salvador
Handouts
Slides:
El Salvador zoomed in.
El Salvador zoomed out (see Texas).
Our hosts for the Mission Trip.
Staying at their house.
Also, Pastor Job is the pastor of the Church that we will be using for the Training.
My group or class.
Most of these men are Pastors.
Most of the women are Women’s Ministry Leaders.
One is a Children’s SS Teacher.
One is a Leader for the girls in the Youth Group.
Missions Team:
Mark Patterson w/TLI (visited us in October 2021)
Todd Kelly w/TLI
Myself
Each of us will have a Translator
My Schedule:
Leave Thursday, October 20 —> Arrive in El Salvador same day (3hr drive to site)
Every morning, but Sunday, we will have a Team Meeting & then meet with a few Pastors.
Every afternoon, we will have a Teacher’s Meeting to discuss the next Lesson(s) being taught.
Each Lesson will be given 3 hours to teach.
Friday evening, we will teach Lesson 1.
Saturday, we will teach Lessons 2 & 3.
Sunday, each teacher will go to a different church w/Translator (give greetings from us).
Sunday night we will visit a Church Plant together as a group.
Monday through Friday, we will teach 1 Lesson per night, except Friday we will teach 2 Lessons.
Saturday morning, we drive to the Airport and start out journey home.
I should be home sometime around 9-10pm Saturday night, October 29.
Our Goals for this Trip (we’ve been Zoom meeting for three months now):
Obviously to teach the Curriculum.
More so, to point them to Christ and find their joy in Him.
For us to be refreshed in our joy in Christ.
To minister to these dear Christians through the Class and outside of it.
By building friendships with them that go deeper than the classroom.
For Christ to be honored in all that we do.
Missions – Sunday Evening, Nov. 6
Missions – Sunday Evening, Nov. 6
Lord willing, I will preach a devotional sermon...
And, report to the church how the mission trip went, etc.
So, please plan on being here for that Evening service.
Closing Prayer
Closing Prayer