Sermon Tone Analysis

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Intro
Last week we began a new series called “Stand Firm.”
We’re examining Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia.
Paul visited Galatia, led a small group to Christ and planted a church.
Unfortunately, some others came to Galatia and said, “If you want to be a real Christian, you need to...” Paul says, “Absolutely not.”
Please open to Galatians 1.
Paul gives a plumb line.
The gospel is the good news of God saving us in spite of ourselves, not some strange mixture of his work and mine.
Paul opens his letter Grace and Peace.
It’s the cause and effect of the gospel.
God, instead of giving us what we deserved, sent his Son to pay the price.
The Bible says, “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
That’s grace.
Because of his grace, we have peace.
The effect of grace is peace.
It’s a state of life - peace with God and peace with others - enjoyed by those who have effectively experienced diving grace.
I don’t have to worry about eternity because Jesus has covered me.
I don’t have to worry about today because Jesus has that as well.
There isn’t a story bad enough that the grace can’t redeem.
There’s not a story good enough where grace isn’t needed.
Committing to stand firm in the gospel of grace
Paul pleads with the church to stand firm in the gospel of grace.
Do you want change in your life
People are attempting to twist the gospel and say that Paul isn’t really an apostle and that he hasn’t told them the complete truth.
If they would only...
Paul is saying that he’s not a people-pleaser
Is he trying to win the approval of people?
Absolutely not.
His job is bring the good news of grace, not to win people’s approval.
On the other hand, is he trying to win God’s approval?
Absolutely not!
Jesus did that by living a perfect life and dying an innocent death.
By God’s grace, my approval is bought and paid for.
If I was up here trying to add something to the gospel by telling you that you could make God happy with you if you’d just…I wouldn’t be a servant of Christ.
On the other hand, when people tell me that God is mad at them or something like that, I want to say, “have you really considered the cross?”
Once you really get the gospel, you realize there’s more.
There is a certain humility in knowing that you didn’t earn salvation that provides freedom.
Because of God’s grace I have freedom from the tyranny of wondering if I’ve done enough.
Of course I haven’t, but Jesus has.
Paul’s purpose is the gospel.
Only the gospel can bring real change.
Paul has little interest in trying to impress people.
God laid it on my heart after I’d been here about a year that I was spending way too much time trying to please people.
He’s given me a different job.
So to demonstrate how grace changes lives, Paul gives a brief, autobiographical sketch.
He briefly tells his story not to say, look how bad I was.
He tells his story to tell look how great God is.
The true Gospel belongs to God
Paul is saying, “We’re not playing the telephone game.”
This isn’t tradition (he didn’t receive it from one of the 12), and it isn’t an invention.
Paul’s message came directly from God.
The gospel Paul preaches is the yardstick that we measure everything against.
The “Gospels” are the narrative account of Jesus redemption.
Paul’s letters explain their purpose and function.
Both originate from Jesus.
Galatians 1:13-14
Life before Jesus.
Paul was better and worse than most.
In reality, Paul represents both the best and the worst of us.
What we’ll see is that his best was insufficient for salvation.
His worst was insufficient to keep him from salvation.
Better?
I was advancing in Judaism “religion” beyond many of my own age.
If going to church and doing the right thing is how you define “good”, Paul is better than all of us.
When it came to being religious, he was Michael Jordan and I’m the water boy.
Worse?
I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.
Paul violently attempted destroy the church.
He had them arrested and gave his approval when it came time for Christians to die.
Let’s call it what it is, Paul was a terrorist who attempted to systematically eliminate the Christian church, just like ISIS is attempting to do to the Coptic church right now.
There is no one so good that they don’t need the grace of God that comes in Jesus.
if you’re here and you’re thinking; I’m a decent guy I don’t need all this.
Please here me on this, you’re using yourself as the standard.
Scripture is clear on this, God is the standard.
We all need grace.
If you think that’s not fair; you’re absolutely right!
It’s not fair that Jesus should pay for every sin that we’ve ever committed, but he did.
God loves you that much.
That means that those of us who know Jesus as Lord need to stop judging who does and doesn’t need to hear the good news.
Everyone needs grace.
There’s a flip-side to this as well; there isn’t anyone so far gone, or so bad, that the gospel can’t peal back the callouses of their hearts and they experience salvation.
Only God decides when someone is too far gone.
That’s way above our pay-grade.
There is no one so bad...
if you’re here today and you’re thinking, man you don’t know my story.
You’re right, I don’t.
And you don’t need to tell it to me.
You need to come to God, who already knows, and tell him that you’re ready to walk a different way.
Ask for his forgiveness.
Place your trust in his Son who has already paid the price, and know FREEDOM.
It’s for freedom that Christ set us free.
Freedom from hell.
Freedom from labels that have been placed on you.
Freedom from fear and insecurity.
Freedom comes through God’s grace.
That also means that if you have loved ones that are out there and you’re not sure they’ll ever come, don’t miss the obvious.
As long as they are living, there’s still time.
God can soften the hardest heart.
Watch what he does with Paul.
Galatians
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