Galatians (14)

Transition: Give background on the Jewish/ Gentile conflict in the first century church. Noting the distinct role that the law had on the Jews and the way they were witnesses to the other nations by the way God ordered their nation.

Gospel equality promotes diversity.

There is much to be appreciated in our individual histories and ethnic backgrounds no matter where we came from. Without a doubt it is those unique backgrounds , whether good or bad, blessings or affliction, that have helped to make us into the persons that we are. It does us no good to try to ignore or sweep under the rug the diverse heritage that we each have. We cannot rewrite our history no matter what that history may hold. This is essential to understanding gospel equality. Each of us, because we exist, have a history that takes us all back Adam. And it is our universal identity with Adam that prepares us to really understand and appreciate our identity in Christ. (Read Romans 5:12-21)

Gospel equality teaches that a person who is guilty of falling short of the glory of their Creator lives in a way that reveals their true identity by attempting to alleviate the problem of their soul by their own efforts. Example: the transgender, American, Atheist business owner is guilty before God just as the Palestinian Rabbinic Pharisee. The heterosexual Indian Hindu untouchable trying to survive by living in a trash heap is guilty before God just as the unconverted Baptist female missionary who is a member of a local church. The gospel of Christ declares that without distinction everyone has fallen short of God’s glory, and without distinction everyone who will be believe in Christ must be born again and by faith trust in Christ alone. Beware of falling into the trap of a false identity.

Gospel equality does not remove diversity, rather the gospel attributes value and purpose the the distinct roles that we have in Christ. We are equally unified in Christ so that no one can boast of their position before God with any human effort. In Christ we are equally justification by faith. However, this does not remove our unique roles.

Examples: Notice what we have already discovered between Paul and Peter. As Paul was relating to the apostles he didn’t hold them in higher esteem , but rather appealed to the fact that God shows no partiality. (Gal. 2:6) Also, though Paul and Barnabas were equal in there position before God as righteous by faith, did not mean they were equality in there service for God. They didn’t do or even try to do the exact same things even though they were the same in relationship to God. No, they had particular roles and duties to fulfill according to God’s work through them.

Galatians 2:6 ESV

And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me.

The husband and wife team Priscilla and Aquila were equal in there relationship with God, but diverse in the way God used them to minister together for the church. Remember they took Apollos aside in Acts 18 and explained the way of God to him more accurately and he ended up being a great help to the believers in Achia by powerfully refuting the Jews and showing from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.

Diversity is not a limitation, rather when empowered by the Holy Sprit diversity becomes a great liberation! This is exactly the opposite of what were are being told by the elementary principles of the world. According the the cultural standard it is stifling and oppressive to suggest people have particular roles and responsibilities.

Apostle Paul also wrote to a guy named Philemon, encouraging him to treat his bondslave Onesimus like a beloved brother in the Lord. Apparently, Onesimus had ran away from Philemon and ended up connecting with Paul and became a Christian. Since Philemon was a Christian, Paul is sending his runaway back to mend the relationship. The gospel was the authority that Paul appealed to when telling Philemon he could no longer treat Onesimus the same way he had before. Why? because now they were beloved brothers in Christ.

Sadly, this little letter has been used by many to try to defend ethic superiority from many different angels. However, it is not Paul’s purpose in the letter to defend chattel slavery. No, rather he was writing to defend the gospel. To show that their relationship with each other had changed because their relationship with God had changed. This letter showcases for us exactly what it looks like to apply the perfect gospel within the context of imperfect people.

Paul is showing us how to approach the various problems of ethic superiority from a gospel perspective. This doesn’t mean Christians should not engage in social reform and civil rights activism, and all the other varieties of problems that exist in our day. No, we should, but we like no other have been equipped to do so with the gospel that deals with more than the symptoms. We can speak to the heart, and when the heart is transformed by the Holy Spirit, all of a sudden the desires and behaviors begin to change. And when our behaviors change we can actually see true reform take place that are permanent and lasting.

The wisdom of the world tells us that we can alleviate the problems of our nation, families, work places, schools, and society by dealing with the symptoms. For example, if you took a survey across our nation of how we should alleviate immigration problems, racism, and gender equality we would get an enormous amount of various answers. Some of those may be very good answers. We have had many people over the years in America devote their lives to giving answers to these kinds of problems. In some respect we ought to be very thankful for these responses. In many ways we are a better kind of people because of the diligent efforts of these civic servants. However, as those who are in Christ we must never be tempted to think that this solutions will ever deal with the root problem. Without the gospel our efforts to help will simply be making people feel better about going to hell. The gospel equips us to address the heart of the problem and not simply attach band aides to moral wounds. We, more than any persons on the planet should realize that our identity in Christ equips us to actually make an eternal difference in our world. We must be concerned about hurting people. The gospel motivates us to be concerned about filling up hungry bellies and clothing naked bodies, and we do not respond to these needs dangling the gospel like a carrot trying to manipulate people into the kingdom. No.. we must by the grace of God speak the gospel of salvation by faith in Christ to anyone who has ears to hear. We do this to not only the socially poor but ultimately to the spiritually poor. Without distinction we offer gospel truth to the rich man on wall street and the poor child on beggar street. Church, the gospel purifies our motives for evangelism. We don’t attempt to take Christ to people because they are American, Australian, African, or Asian… white, black, brown, upper, middle, or lower class, male or female! No, we take the gospel to all without distinction because we all without distinction are dead in our trespasses and sins without out Christ.

I am in no way trying to over simplify the problems that face our world, However ,the equality that comes through the truth of the gospel tells us that in Christ alone, we find exactly the level ground we are looking for. Why, because only at the cross can sinners be made whole. Only by faith in Christ can sinners be reconciled to their Creator. And so long as a person maintains rebellion against God, there will be no proper love for our neighbors. We may make many radical attempts to fix the problems of our day, but without Christ those attempts will all fail like a band aide on a mortal wound.

The church and the Family two more examples of this diverse equality in Christ. In his letter to the Ephesian church Paul describes the unity that we have as the body of Christ. Eph 4:4-6. After revealing this truth bomb about our unity, the letter then follows the ripple waves of the explosion by focusing on the diverse roles we have within the family. Wives, Husbands, children! The illustration of the body equalizes any attempt at boasting in the flesh. We each have a role to fill. We do not all have the same role to fill, but certainly the same purpose through the same Savior, and same faith, and power of the Holy Spirit. Sadly, on Sunday morning rather than equality we see a whole lot of segregation.

Ephesians 4:4–6 ESV

There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

A big one is generational!! [Gather young people up front and speak to them plainly about their identity as a part of the body. Sadly, you have been mislead to find your identity in isolation. To think that if you do not have a peer group to participate in you are a lesser part of this family, or perhaps you should find a different family. That notion comes from a false identity. ]

All of these examples are to say that gospel equality is a result of our new identity in Christ. Being in Christ makes us all children of God without distinction but not without exception. Also, being in Christ makes us all one without distinction, but not without diversity. Just as God the father, Son , and Holy Spirit are tree distinct persons making up One Godhead, so too those who are in Christ are a multitude of distinct individuals making up one church.

Applications:

How should our identity as one in Christ impact our behaviors? How should the truth about what the Scriptures tells us concerning gospel equality effect how we engage our culture, family, friends, co workers? James 2:1-13

In Christ we must practice impartiality. No favoritism on the basis of ethnic, social, or gender status. Rather, since God has impartially demonstrated His grace toward us we should be ready to demonstrate that grace toward others. There is absolutely no room for boasting in our flesh, no matter what nuance of the flesh we prefer to boast in, if we are in Christ Jesus. We are not neutral in our diversity. We are not neutral in our distinct roles and responsibilities. Impartiality simply means we most definitely have no reason to tout any superiority on superficial biases like ethnicity.

Closing: Gospel equality does not deny that ethnic, social, and gender problems exist. However, the gospel does offer the most viable reasons for why these tensions exist. As a result of sin we have since Adam continued to try to boast in ethnic, gender, and social status. We continue to experience in our current generation and American culture the sinful effects of ethnic, gender, and social superiority. The same pride that expelled Lucifer from heaven and brought temptation in the garden of Eden still raises it’s ugly head in our own hearts today. The gospel addresses this sinful favoritism by placing everyone without distinction equally dead in trespasses and sin. We all have like sheep wondered away from God, and are each without distinction guilty of rebelling against Him. So too, without distinction we are invited by the gospel truth to believe in Christ and turn from our sin. When He gives us a new identity we are able then to walk in a new way.

Am I truly identified with Christ?

Am I living out that identity?

Extra:

Essentially, The gospel teaches us that the root of all of our problems is our relationship with God. Because of our sin we each like sheep have gone astray from our Creator. The reason we have such issue getting alone with other people is because we have issue with God. And left to our own attempt sand efforts none of us can repair our relationship with God. Having the right religion will not repair your relationship with God. having the right social status or acceptance will not repair your relationship with God. Having the right gender will not repair your relationship with God. Only having faith in the right redeemer will make a person right with God.

We may be able to sing our national anthem, but can we speak the words of the gospel? We may be able to defend our rights as Americans, or human beings, but as citizens of Heaven can we contend for the gospel? We may be able to articulate and explain all the various details of gender equality, but can we explain the details of gospel equality?

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