Sermon Tone Analysis
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Our theme for 2021 is “Redeeming the Time”
This series on Paul's letter to the Galatians is entitled “No Longer What You Used to Be”
Becoming a follower of Christ is not just a matter of following a religion, it is a supernatural transformation.
You are no longer what you used to be.
The Galatians were people who came to Christ on Paul’s first
and second missionary journeys and the churches that they started.
Meanwhile, there were these Jewish teachers that were following Paul’s trail trying to convert the people back to the old way of Judaism.
They were causing these young Christians to doubt everything that they believed and were taught.
So Paul had to remind them of the powerful encounter that they had with Christ and that they are no longer deceived.
He had to tell them that they are no longer inferior - say it with me, “I am adequate, I am competent and my life is meaningful!”
He told them that they are no longer cursed because Jesus reverses the curses and because the blessing is stronger than the curse.
And he told them that they are no longer captive because they have the key to unlocking their inheritance in Christ.
Then last week’s message is that they are no longer slaves because they have a choice - we have a choice!
You may not feel like you have a choice and your options may be limited, but you always have a choice.
The world, the flesh and the devil all work together to tempt us; to pull us away from God.
But there is always an alternative - Jesus.
Outside of Jesus Christ, human existence is characterized as bondage—bondage to the law, bondage to the evil elements dominating the world, bondage to sin, the flesh, and the devil.
God sent his Son into the world to shatter the dominion of these slaveholders.
Now God has sent his Spirit into the hearts of believers to awaken them to new life and liberation in Christ.
Your choice needs to be to keep your eyes on Jesus.
If you can do that, you will know what it means to be free.
And freedom means the freedom to love and to be loved.
Practical Illustrations: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians (9-233: The Law Serves as a Tyrant (Law))
It was the American patriot Patrick Henry who said, “Give me liberty or give me death.”
Henry knew what it was like to live under the thumb of a tyrant.
Along the way, he had the good fortune to get a small taste of liberty.
And once he tasted liberty, his taste buds exploded with flavor.
The bland taste of bondage would never satisfy him again.
In the same sense, the law serves as a tyrant.
It shows no mercy and hates anything related to freedom.
Anyone who binds himself to the law will be entangled in the chains of bondage.
What is the alternative for the Christian believer?
Liberty in Christ.
No yolks folks!
We could just stop right here and preach a whole sermon just on this verse, but I think we should eventually read further.
But as we do, you will be hearing about circumcision and the law; things that we don’t so easily relate to.
We don’t talk much about yolks either - no not egg yolks!
What’s the matter, you don’t like my yolks?
Looks like the yolks on you!
Seriously, a yolk is a kind of harness usually worn by cattle to be able to pull a wagon or a plow.
But another take on the yolk was to use it on people, like slaves or prisoners of war, to humiliate them and - of course - to control them.
A yolk is not something that someone would choose; it is something that is forced on you.
Hold your ground.
There is a grammatical technique used here that is frequently used by Paul - an indicative followed by an imperative.
It is a factual statement followed by a command.
It’s like saying, “If this is true then you had better...”
If Jesus has set you free (and the language is clear that He, in fact has!)
Then do not let anyone put a yolk on you or treat you like an animal or a slave.
In other words, since Christ has paid the price to give you a choice, don’t let anyone tell you that you have no choice.
The Magna Carta (Latin for “Great Charter”) was a document that gave certain rights to the English people.
King John of England agreed to it on June 15, 1215.
The Magna Carta stated that the king must follow the law.
... It was one of the first documents to state that citizens had such rights.
Paul’s letter to the Galatians is called the “Magna Carta of Christian Liberty”
The Magna Carta was never followed completely.
Only three clauses of the original document are still part of British law today.
The right to a trial is probably one of the most famous clauses.
But is was the very idea that people have rights that stuck.
Once people know that they have rights, they will not allow people to disregard them.
So here is some new information.
All along you may have been wondering, “Why is it such a big deal that Jewish missionaries want Gentile believer to follow the law?
Yes, but they want them to follow the whole law - not just the ten commandments- but to keep the covenant beginning with circumcision.
If you don’t know what circumcision is - google it!
Let’s just say it is a surgical procedure that is fairly simple when you are a baby, but for a grown man it would not be very desirable.
But the Judaizers are saying that without that, you are not really part of God's covenant people.
The gospel plus anything is not the gospel.
Add anything to the gospel and it ceases to be “good news”
It can’t be the gospel plus the law.
Or the gospel plus good works.
Or even the gospel plus church membership and tithing!
I’m not saying you shouldn’t do it, I’m just saying that is not what saves you!
It’s not even the gospel plus baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Sure, I want everyone to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
I think everyone should want more of the Holy Spirit, not just once or twice, but many times.
I even think its good to speak in tongues - but that’s not what makes you a Christian.
Your salvation is a gift from God at Jesus’ expense and nothing you will ever do can change that unless you decide to reject it.
Whatever you do is your response to God.
It is appropriate to build on the foundation of faith, but that doesn’t make it any less a work of grace.
Accepting the grace of God at face value is difficult for many Christians: “How can God be that good to us?
What is the catch?
Surely, we have to add something to what God has done to be saved.”
J. Vernon McGee illustrates this point for us:
Years ago a tonic called Hadacol was advertised.
I don’t think it is sold any more.
I am not sure of the details, but they found it was about seventy-five percent alcohol.
A lot of people were using it.
The company that made it was giving out glowing testimonials about its product.
Now suppose a testimonial read something like this: “I took 513 bottles of your medicine.
Before I began using Hadacol, I could not walk.
Now I am able to run.…
I really have improved.
But I think you ought to know that during that time I also concocted a bottle of my own medicine and used it also.”
Now, my friend, that final sentence certainly muddied the water.
There is no way to tell if it was the 513 bottles of Hadacol that cured him or his own concoction.
The minute you put something else into the formula, you are not sure.
Now notice carefully what Paul is saying.
If you trust Christ plus something else you are not saved … How can He profit you anything when you have made up a bottle of your own concoction rather than trusting Him alone for your salvation?
Faith is best expressed through love.
Faith is faith in Christ, not in a formula or in ourselves or in works.
But faith changes things - and so there are results of faith.
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