AM Galatians 3:1-3

[0:00] It's good to be back with you all this morning and to be leading the worship. For those who don't know, my name is Thompson McKenzie. I'm a student at ETS and just about ready to finish your second year.

[0:15] I'd like to give you all a warm welcome this morning and especially to any friends or visitors that have joined us this morning. A few intimations. This evening's service will be at 6pm and it will be led by myself.

[0:34] Wednesday at 7pm will be a prayer meeting and Bible study led by Jonathan Kenyon. And the entrance will be in the lower hall with the entrance from the car park.

[0:47] A summary of the financial statement for the three months to the end of the 31st of March. It's available on the table on the right as you go out after service.

[0:58] So please collect one. And the next Lord's Day at 11am and 6pm the Reverend Robert Dale will lead us in worship. When Moses and Israelites sang this song to the Lord.

[1:17] I will sing to the Lord for He is highly exalted. The Lord is my strength and my defence. He has become my salvation. He is my God and I will praise Him.

[1:31] He is my Father's God and I will exalt Him. Exodus 15 verses 1 and 2. Let us join together in worship and listen to and reflect in the words of Psalm 145.

[1:48] O Lord thou art my God and King. Thee will I magnify and praise. Psalm 145 from the Scottish Psalter.

[2:02] Page 144 in verses 1 to 8. O Lord thou art my God and King.

[2:17] Thee will I magnify and praise. I will be blessed and glory say.

[2:32] Until thy holy name always.

[2:43] Peace, dear, I rise. I will be blessed and praise.

[2:54] I will attend. Much to thee praise and great for this.

[3:09] Misses dependence. Their greatness nigh and calm September.

[3:20] Thee build of Her身, of Absolutely. O Lord, our hinder need, O Mary, O thy goodness great.

[3:34] God bless you.

[4:04] God bless you.

[4:34] Let us pray. Father, great is your holiness beyond our understanding or comprehension.

[4:48] We give you thanks for every blessing you bestow upon us. Father, thank you that through your Son, whom you so freely gave, we once more have direct access to you.

[5:05] We thank you that we can come before you to praise your name and ask forgiveness of our sins. We thank you we can once more share in communal worship.

[5:18] To meet again and give praise to your name while studying your word together. Father, thank you that Christ our Lord, your Son, acts as our intercessor.

[5:31] That he pleads our case before you. That he is the only way to you, our Father. Father, our sins block us from having a derelict relationship with you.

[5:45] Our sin has caused the chasms between us. But from the fall of Adam, despite our sinful ways, you have acted out your plan of salvation for us and all mankind.

[6:00] That your creation may once again be in union with you. You are our unchanging God. Your love for us has never altered.

[6:12] Despite our sinful desires in nature, you sent your Son not to condemn us, but to save us. To pay the price of our wrongdoings and to be our Redeemer.

[6:29] We thank you for the forgiveness of our sins. That we are cleansed by Christ's blood. That we share in his resurrection, which we celebrated the last Lord's Day.

[6:49] Today we bring before you, O Lord, the needs of humanity and pray for our church. We pray this morning for our monarch, Queen Elizabeth.

[7:01] Having been bereaved of her husband in support for 20 of 73 years. We pray for her family. That you will uphold them in their time of loss.

[7:16] We commit to her majesty and the members of the royal family. To you, O Father of compassion. The God of all comfort.

[7:30] Praying that they will know the closeness of Christ during this sad time. We pray for those in the wider society.

[7:44] And for those known personally to us who have suffered bereavement. That they may be upheld by your love and feeling of closeness. The feeling of your presence through the Holy Spirit in their lives.

[7:59] Lord, we also pray for the governments of this nation. For the governments of Westminster and for Edinburgh.

[8:12] And we think particularly at this time of our governments in Edinburgh. That as they begin once more in their canvassing.

[8:28] And for the elections in May. That among those many seeking election will be fellow Christians.

[8:44] People committed to you, Lord. And we pray that their acts and words will reflect your love for humanity. That they can bring glory to your name in the service that they give.

[9:02] We pray for the health service and other frontline staff. That as this Covid virus appears to decline.

[9:13] People will remain vigilant and alert. We also pray for the many background staff, Lord. The staff who are often unseen and forgotten.

[9:28] That you will renew their strength. And they may know your comfort. We pray for others within our church.

[9:41] Suffering for illness and ill health. We pray that they may know the healing of Christ.

[9:56] The closeness of your spirit. We pray for our wider society and its elves. Which are tearing it apart.

[10:09] We think of this past week in Northern Ireland. A country that has taken so many steps towards peace. Yet, man can once more have it on the brink of tearing itself apart.

[10:28] We ask that they may not know just a human peace. But the peace granted by your spirit.

[10:39] The peace that comes from a knowledge of Christ. That no one can tear apart. The harmony that has been built up.

[10:52] Between communities. For private to illegal gain. We pray for those who are working for peace in that land.

[11:07] That they may reflect your love. Let us remember that you have provided the solution to our selfish and sinful divisions. You have provided your son that he may bring healing to our lives.

[11:24] He will remove our sin. And the barriers. To union with you. We pray for your church at home and abroad, Lord.

[11:41] That in these days when so often. We dwell. On the sadness of falling numbers. Attending services. Here in the UK.

[11:52] We think and remember your growing church across the world. And especially in Asia.

[12:07] Expanding at a rate never seen before. But a church that is still persecuted for a belief. In your son, their Lord Jesus Christ. Lord be upholding them.

[12:22] And strengthen them. That they may continue to witness and win souls for you. Prepare us Lord for renewal.

[12:35] Let us examine in prayer and in spirit. What we need to do. Guided by you. What is required to renew our church at home.

[12:48] And once more. Make this a nation that can be called a nation of the book. Where you are central.

[13:01] Not just to the religious life of a Sunday. But to the civic life of the nation. These things we ask through Christ our Lord and Saviour.

[13:12] Amen. Good morning boys and girls. It's good to be back with you this morning. So obviously travelling down from Ayrshire this morning.

[13:28] It was a beautiful morning with the sun shining. On the fields. And the frost slowly lifting. What do you think I've seen in the fields this morning?

[13:46] What did we see? This morning. This morning I saw some things. But I'm sad on the wall.

[14:00] But I never have here. And I saw something on the wall. And there was something like a statue. A statue.

[14:11] Ah right. And did you see any animals in the field this morning? I saw. The other day I saw some. Mm hmm.

[14:23] I saw some sheep. You saw some sheep. Yes. That's right. Sheep. And did you see lambs this morning? Yes. Yes. That's right.

[14:34] So. What do we call someone who cares for sheep and lambs? Sorry?

[14:45] Uncle David. Uncle David. Ha ha ha ha. Uncle David. Okay. And what would his job title maybe be? Okay.

[14:57] We call people who look after sheep shepherds. Okay. In the Bible. Jesus is portrayed at times. Or in the image of a shepherd.

[15:09] In Matthew and Luke. We hear the parable or the story. Of a shepherd. Who has a flock of a hundred sheep. And he's got them all gathered in.

[15:22] And he's counted his ninety-nine sheep. But one's missing. What do you think he does? When he finds it's got one missing sheep. Sorry?

[15:36] Yep. There's one sheep missing. And the shepherd. Leaves his ninety-nine sheep. And goes to find the missing sheep. The lost sheep.

[15:46] And in John chapter ten. Jesus is depicted as a good shepherd. And we are his sheep.

[15:57] Okay. He's not just any shepherd. He is a good shepherd. He is the example that all should follow. And we are the sheep. And he sets out to find the lost sheep.

[16:16] But he's not just like any shepherd. He will go beyond the realms of all others. And he will lay his life down for his sheep.

[16:29] If you remember last week at Easter. We celebrated on the Friday that God had gave his son to lay his life down for us.

[16:40] And on the Sunday we celebrated his resurrection. And that's what Jesus the great shepherd did for all of us. To rescue us from the penalty and the power of sin.

[16:58] Okay. So Jesus did that to make sure that we could remain with him.

[17:09] And that we would always be with him. Let's pray. Father we thank you for the gift of your son.

[17:23] Our shepherd. Who gave himself. In his entirety. Even to death. To save us. And to bring us back to you.

[17:37] We thank you not only for his death. But for his resurrection. Through which death was defeated. That as he is also.

[17:51] Alive. So we may share in his resurrection. And of eternal life. These things we ask through Christ our Lord and Saviour.

[18:02] Amen. Now. Is it. Right.

[18:16] Is it. All things bright and beautiful next? Yeah. So. Let's. Sing. Sorry. We can't sing. Let's just reflect on.

[18:28] The words of. All things bright and beautiful. And. Let's just think of. The beauty of God's creation. Which renews itself.

[18:39] Day by day. Amen. All things bright and beautiful.

[18:50] All creatures great and small. All things wise and wonderful. The Lord God made them all.

[19:03] Each little flower that opens. Each little bird that sings. God made their glowing colors.

[19:15] God made their glowing colors. And made their tiny wings. All things bright and beautiful.

[19:26] A creature's great and small. All things wise and wonderful. The Lord God made them all.

[19:38] The purple headed mountains. The river running by. The sunset and the morning.

[19:51] That brightens up the sky. All things bright and beautiful.

[20:02] All creatures great and small. All things wise and wonderful. All things wise and wonderful. The Lord God made them all.

[20:13] The cold wind in the winter. The pleasant summer sun. The ripe fruits in the garden.

[20:26] God made them everyone. The sun. All things bright and beautiful. All things bright and beautiful.

[20:37] All creatures great and small. All things wise and wonderful. The Lord God made them all.

[20:49] God gave us eyes to see them. And lives that we might tell. How great is God almighty.

[21:04] God has made them all. The light is good and beautiful. All things well. The hesitancy there before that last hymn.

[21:18] I had made a slight error when I gave William the original music for this morning. But as ever he's pulled out the bag and put it together for us.

[21:32] This morning's reading. Readings are taken from Ezekiel. Chapter 36. Verses 22 to 32. Ezekiel.

[21:45] Chapter 36. Verses 22 to 32. Therefore say to the house of Israel.

[22:04] Thus says the Lord God. It is not for your sake. It is not for your sake. O house of Israel. That I am about to act. But for the sake of my holy name. Which you have profaned among the nations.

[22:17] To which you came. And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name. Which has been profaned among the nations. And which you have profaned among them.

[22:29] And the nations will know that I am the Lord. Declares the Lord God. When through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. I will take you from the nations.

[22:42] And gather you from all the countries. And bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you. And you shall be clean from all your uncleanliness.

[22:54] And from all your idols. I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart. And a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh.

[23:09] And give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you. And cause you to walk in my statutes. And be careful to obey my rules.

[23:20] You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers. And you shall be my people. And I will be your God. And I will deliver you from all your uncleanliness.

[23:33] And I will summon the grain. And make it abundant. And lay no famine upon you. I will make the fruit of the tree. And the increase of the field abundant.

[23:46] That you may never again suffer the disgrace of famine among the nations. Then you will remember your evil ways. And your deeds that were not good.

[23:57] And you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities. And your abominations. It is not for your sake that I will act. Declares the Lord God.

[24:08] Let that be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded. For your ways O house of Israel. And our second reading is taken from the New Testament.

[24:19] From Galatians 3 verses 1 to 9. Galatians 3 verses 1 to 9.

[24:36] O foolish Galatians. Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed and crucified.

[24:52] Let me ask you only this. Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law? Or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish?

[25:05] Having begun by the Spirit. Are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain? If indeed it was in vain.

[25:17] Does he who supplies the Spirit to you? And works miracles among you do so? By works of the law? Or by hearing with faith?

[25:29] Just as Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteous. Righteousness, sorry. Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.

[25:45] And the scripture. For seeing this, God would justify the Gentiles by faith. He preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham saying, In you shall all the nations be blessed.

[26:00] So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. Thanks be to God for the readings of his holy word. And to his name be the glory and praise.

[26:12] Amen. The next piece of music is from Stuart Townsend. It is an adaptation, a rearrangement of Psalm 23, The Lord's My Shepherd.

[26:29] Thank you for now. Thank you for you.

[27:00] And I will trust in you And I will trust in you For your endless mercy follows me Your goodness will be all He guides my ways in righteousness And He anoints my heavenly home And my cup is over Oh sweet joy I'll be started to delight

[28:00] And I will trust in you And I will trust in you For your endless mercy follows me Your goodness will be me all And though I'm on the darkest hour I will not fear the evil one For you are with me And your all and sound All the comfort I need to know

[29:05] And I will trust in you And I will trust in you For your endless mercy follows me Your goodness will lead me all And I will trust in you And I will trust in you And I will trust in you And I will trust in you For your endless mercy follows me For your endless mercy follows me.

[30:00] Your goodness will lead me home. For your endless mercy. For your endless mercy follows me.

[30:16] Your goodness will lead me home. Let us pray.

[30:33] Father, as we come to study your word, you say that your word shall go out and not return empty. We pray, Lord, that the thoughts of our minds and hearts and the words of my mouth will be acceptable in your sight.

[30:52] Through Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Do you have faith in yourself?

[31:09] Or do you have faith in the Spirit? Over the past couple of months, when I've had the privilege of being with you, we've looked at the first two chapters of Galatians.

[31:24] And we've seen how Paul has defended his position as an apostle and his preaching of the gospel. He highlighted that the gospel was complete and needed nothing added.

[31:40] And vindicated this in his visit to Jerusalem. He had closed off any possibility of additions or alterations to the gospel.

[31:55] In chapter 2, he showed how God can produce a not guilty verdict on us because Jesus died in our place for our sins. He was the substitute for the atonement of our sins.

[32:12] The sins of each and every one of us present today. Paul now goes on to look at the arguments for the Galatians of the visible truth of the gospel and the viability of the gospel truth from their own experience.

[32:29] Paul had preached to the Galatians so that they could visually see the crucified Christ before them. He had in chapter 2 shown the gospel is the way we enter the kingdom of heaven.

[32:46] But now that the gospel is much more than that. We're not simply saved by the gospel. But we grow by the gospel.

[32:56] The gospel is the focal point of our lives. Paul is saying we don't begin by faith and then proceed and grow through our works of obedience to legalistic acts.

[33:12] We're not only justified by faith in Christ, but we're also sanctified by faith in Christ. The gospel is always central.

[33:22] This is Paul's message in the first five verses of chapter 3. The gospel is by faith and by the spirit.

[33:37] And Ezekiel touches also on that. He is clear that God's works are done for his glory by him and by the spirit he places in us.

[33:52] Not by our efforts alone. But now Paul fears for the Galatians adherence to that message. Paul is worried that they're about to lose their newfound freedom in Christ.

[34:07] Because he fears of being hoodwinked. And that false teachers are leading them back into bondage. Paul once more does not mince his words.

[34:19] He starts verse 1 with the phrase, O foolish Galatians! Or, as Professor Lorimer's New Testament St. Scott puts it, My poor Galatians.

[34:33] They had lost their senses. They had lost their judgment. Paul was concerned that they had been bewitched. He reminds them that his preaching had made the crucifixion of Christ so central, so public, so visible.

[34:52] How can you forget it so quickly? And go after false teachers? What power have they false teachers over them? He asks. Paul goes on to ask them in verse 2, How did they come to receive the Holy Spirit?

[35:09] Was it by works of law? Or by faith? Certainly teaching the truth is central. But the Spirit comes by faith alone.

[35:20] Not by knowledge. Jesus was the greatest teacher of all time. But it is not his teaching alone that saves us.

[35:30] It is the cross and the hill by which we are saved. The symbol of Christ is the cross. It is not the blackboard of our days at school or the smartboard of today.

[35:44] It is the cross. It was the cross on the day of the crucifixion. It was the cross in the days of the apostles. Of Peter, Paul and John.

[35:56] It was the cross in the days of the reformers. Of Luther, Calvin and Knox. And it is still the cross today. It has never changed.

[36:08] And Christ's message has never changed. Because God's promise to us has never changed. And so the Spirit's teaching and power will not change.

[36:21] Unfortunately for those who are not committed fully to Jesus' teachings, you cannot pick and choose what to follow. Or what teachings that you like or don't like.

[36:33] You cannot simply adopt some of his principles, lead a good life, and believe that will be sufficient for salvation. It's not sufficient for salvation just because we have a loving God who wishes to have, to re-establish through Christ a new union with humanity.

[36:55] Yes, we do have a loving God who sacrificed his own son. But he is also a just God who requires fulfilment of his laws.

[37:10] And Jesus is clear that there are conditions to salvation. It is not enough to know Jesus, but you need to believe in him. He says so himself in John 3, 16 and 17.

[37:23] For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. The crucial word or phrase for me there being that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

[37:46] For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. You cannot make a half commitment.

[38:00] You need to take the step of faith of the Galatians. The step of commitment and accepting Christ as the Saviour. So that in the words of Isaac Watts, we can know a love so amazing and so divine that it will demand our souls, our lives, our all.

[38:27] Driving down the road this morning, between watching the lambs in the field, I was listening to UCB2 radio. And a good illustration had came to mind to this, we can't be in two camps, we can't come to Christ through faith and then rely on our own efforts.

[38:53] And it was this sort of image of mind the gap. If you're on trains in London, there's constant stuff as you step on the subway or even in Glasgow, there's a phrase mind the gap.

[39:06] We can't have one foot on the train ready to journey. We can't have one foot in faith in Christ ready for a new life. And then have the other foot still on the platform.

[39:19] Have the other foot still believing that our efforts are sufficient for salvation. A Christian is not someone who knows about Jesus, but someone who has visualised Jesus on the cross.

[39:37] They're not someone who is moved when they hear that he died, but sees that Christ died for them. That he died for you, me, and everyone else who confesses their sin and accepts him into their lives.

[39:59] And it is at this point that the Holy Spirit enters our lives. It all begins with the forgiveness of sin accomplished by God in the death of Jesus our Saviour.

[40:12] In verse 2 and 3 Paul uses repetition to drive home the contrasting questions he has asked. In verse 2 he asks did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by hearing with faith?

[40:28] In verse 3 having begun in the Spirit are you now being perfected by the flesh? Paul is sure that their initial conversion was by faith.

[40:40] he had painted the picture of Christ crucified which they had accepted. And if that was the case Paul is now asking in verses 3 and 4 why are you now depending on human effort to complete the job?

[41:02] Is that any different for many of us today? this is an old problem that still troubles the church today. How many of us start our Christian life clearly in Christ and the Spirit and then slowly start to rely on ourselves to finish the task of becoming more Christ-like?

[41:25] We accept our justifications by faith but look to ourselves for sanctification. We are saved by God's grace but we look to come more Christ-like by our own efforts.

[41:43] The Galatians justified by faith are now contemplating circumcision and adopting Judaic law. They are looking to finish the Christian life by the law rather than the Spirit.

[41:57] This was not a new challenge for the church. In Acts 15 1 we read that in Antioch some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers unless you are circumcised according to the law of Moses you cannot be saved.

[42:14] In 2 Corinthians Paul gives ample warning of false teachers and Satan's role in leading people astray. In chapters 11, 14 to 15 he writes for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

[42:33] So it is no surprise if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. And so today we require in our churches to guard against a false gospel.

[42:48] Remember Paul in chapter 1 in verses 79 that there is but one gospel and that anyone who teaches otherwise was to be accursed.

[43:00] Even if Paul or an angel came and preached a different gospel it was a false gospel. These servants of Satan may appear good intentioned preaching a gospel of salvation that anyone can sign up to regardless of faith that a good life is what is important.

[43:25] These teachers are not genuinely following Christ though some may believe that they are. They do not preach the gospel as a life changing event. As we've mentioned in the words of Isaac Watts demands my soul, my life, my all.

[43:46] And so teaching must be tested against the teachings of scripture. If it cannot then it is false teaching. And there is no new revelation and there is no addition to scripture.

[44:01] But like the Galatians we know that it was not by following laws and traditions that we received the Holy Spirit. So how does the Spirit come?

[44:16] When Peter was preaching to Cornelius and his household, the Spirit came upon them as Peter was speaking. Acts 10 verses 44 and 45 tells us while Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word.

[44:37] And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles.

[44:49] How did the Spirit come upon the Galatians on the Gentiles in Cornelius house? Not by works of the law but unhearing with faith.

[45:05] It happens at the point of conversion for all believers. The Galatians began this Christian life like us with faith.

[45:17] So that is how they must carry on. And like us, it is how we must carry on in our life. The Spirit fills a Christian's life when they are responsive to the word of the gospel.

[45:33] Just like our first experiences of coming to faith in Christ. Religious activities in themselves do not mediate the presence of the Spirit.

[45:43] we can engage in all sorts of Christian activity. Attending prayer meetings, Bible studies, Sunday worship. But if our heart is not working and worshipping by faith, if we are not driven by the Spirit within us to become more Christ-like, all we have is lots of activity.

[46:09] Does this describe us? do we busy ourselves yet lack the presence of the Spirit?

[46:22] Without the Spirit we cannot grow and bear fruit. In John 15, 1-6, Jesus once again uses an agrarian image to teach his disciples.

[46:34] he uses the things of nature around him. Jesus compares himself to a vine and his Father is a vine dresser or gardener. As a branch cannot bear fruit by itself, so he states that whoever abides in him and he through the Spirit in them shall bear much fruit.

[46:57] at the end of verse 5 he says and warns us that apart from me you can do nothing. Jesus in John's Gospel 14, 15-28 says he will send a helper to assist us.

[47:20] Verse 16 he says and I will ask the Father and he will give you another helper to be with you forever. even the Spirit of truth in whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him.

[47:36] You know him for he dwells with you and will be in you. And in verse 26 John writes but the helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

[48:00] The Spirit comes as the paraclete, as our comforter and helper promised by Jesus. We are saved by God's grace and redeemed in Christ's sacrifice.

[48:15] But it is the Spirit who moves us to accept Christ by his prompting and moving of our hearts. It is the Spirit that is at the centre of our renewal, who daily transforms us to be more Christ-like in our lives.

[48:33] If we are to fulfil the Father's plans for us to serve Christ, we must submit to the Spirit's sanctifying work in us. Jesus is clear that we do not earn our salvation.

[48:47] It came through faith in Christ, by God's grace and the moving of the Holy Spirit. So, we cannot grow in our own efforts.

[48:59] We may plant ourselves in the soil, but we need to be fed and watered by someone else to grow and bear fruit. We need to be fed and led by the Holy Spirit.

[49:12] We may strive in our own abilities to obtain our goal. Our normal lives may revolve around completing our tasks and yet we feel as if we are lacking something.

[49:26] We strive to make ourselves acceptable to God, acceptable to ourselves and to others. We trust in our own efforts to maintain this through moral, vocational and relational achievements.

[49:46] But Paul highlights that believing the Gospel means abandoning that entire approach. Jesus is clear, we cannot attain anything apart from the Spirit.

[50:02] Before we became Christians, we relied on our own personal efforts. But when by God's grace we believe the Holy Spirit enters our lives, he enters a personal relationship with us.

[50:18] He starts a process of recreation. We are daily transformed through the working of the Holy Spirit to be more Christ-like. It is not a one-off experience but a daily process of transformation.

[50:36] As Christians we need a fresh reply of the Spirit every day. We can only live the Christian life by the Spirit but by relying upon his presence and power.

[50:53] Some of us have been trying to lead the Christian life in our own strength. And that's why at times it can seem so taxing and so laborious.

[51:06] We are trying to live for God apart from the empowering presence of God. We have separated and closed out the Holy Spirit.

[51:19] Timothy Keller urges us to go back again and again to the gospel of Christ crucified so that our hearts are more deeply gripped by the reality of what he did and who we are in him.

[51:34] He substituted himself for us. He took on our sin and bore the penalty. He died for us that we may be redeemed.

[51:48] He has sent the Spirit that we may grow in him and become more Christ-like. Like the Galatians, too often we have depended on our own abilities.

[52:05] We have looked to our own outward actions to attain and support our growth. God's love. The only way to live for God is to no longer rely on ourselves but to have Christ through the Spirit living in us.

[52:26] As Paul earlier declared in Galatians in chapter 2 verses 19 to 20, 10. For through the law I died to the law so that I may live to God.

[52:40] I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by flesh, sorry, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me let us pray Father we thank you that you have given your son to die for us and to reunite us with you and we give you thanks for the gift of the spirit who comes through you and through your son Jesus Christ we give you thanks it is by the spirit that we are saved it is by the spirit that we grow that we cannot attain things by our own desires by our own efforts let us be open to your spirit moving in our lives directing us and making us more

[54:04] Christ like each day and that as we become more Christ like we may be a growing witness for you in this world these things we ask through Christ your son amen let's close our service this morning with psalm 51 from sing psalms page 68 and we'll sing verses 7 to 15 so psalm 51 verses 7 to 15 page 68 oh oh Let the bones in crowds be joyful, may I joy and madness know.

[55:13] From my failure I knew grace, blotters all my wickedness.

[55:31] Lord, create a new heart in me, and a steadfast mind renew.

[55:47] Do not take your spirit from me, pass me not away from you.

[56:03] Give me back the joy I might, keep my willing spirit light.

[56:23] Then I'll teach you ways to sinners, rebels will turn back to you.

[56:39] Free me from the guilt, my Savior, God most merciful and true.

[56:54] Then I'll praise you, righteous bless.

[57:06] Teach my lips, your name to bless. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

[57:27] Amen.