WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.660 Okay, morning everyone. Hope you're well. 00:00:02.080 --> 00:00:05.440 Pleased to have that passage in Galatians open in front of you. 00:00:05.480 --> 00:00:06.379 ! Do you want to be real for a minute? 00:00:06.500 --> 00:00:08.259 Here's two things. It's boiling hot in here. 00:00:09.620 --> 00:00:11.919 You might fall asleep, but I don't want you to fall asleep. 00:00:12.439 --> 00:00:15.099 Here's being real about the second thing. 00:00:15.919 --> 00:00:16.839 It's this passage. 00:00:18.039 --> 00:00:21.900 So in here, there's names that you might not know. 00:00:22.980 --> 00:00:25.320 There are terms that you might not understand. 00:00:25.719 --> 00:00:29.240 And there's an argument that, if we're honest, is really difficult to follow. 00:00:29.239 --> 00:00:31.959 And it's kept me up all night this week, 00:00:32.600 --> 00:00:34.579 trying to think about what the whole point of this is. 00:00:35.780 --> 00:00:37.420 That's the reality of this passage. 00:00:37.519 --> 00:00:40.640 Some people call this the hardest passage to understand in the book of Galatians. 00:00:40.920 --> 00:00:43.759 Some would even say it's the hardest passage to understand in the New Testament. 00:00:43.859 --> 00:00:46.200 But we're going to give it a shot over the next 25 minutes. 00:00:46.560 --> 00:00:49.099 But here's why I want you to hold on. 00:00:51.099 --> 00:00:54.619 Come with me to verse 1 of chapter 5 and see what the point of all this is. 00:00:54.619 --> 00:01:00.000 The climax of the case that the Apostle Paul has been building over the past few chapters. 00:01:00.259 --> 00:01:05.560 And see why, friends, this well could be the Bible study that changes your life. 00:01:06.819 --> 00:01:07.640 You with me? 00:01:08.799 --> 00:01:10.060 Here's what Paul writes. 00:01:10.140 --> 00:01:13.239 Here's the point of all of this. 00:01:13.239 --> 00:01:34.919 Which means that if you were to ask the Apostle Paul to summarize what it is to be a Christian in one word, 00:01:34.979 --> 00:01:36.939 there's many ways he would answer that question. 00:01:37.299 --> 00:01:39.679 But here's a Galatian way he would answer that question. 00:01:39.680 --> 00:01:43.380 Summarize being a Christian in one word, freedom. 00:01:46.400 --> 00:01:48.180 Now where's he got that from? 00:01:49.960 --> 00:01:54.220 Wham, Robbie Williams, William Wallace, they all spoke about it. 00:01:55.840 --> 00:01:58.880 Nelson Mandela, George Orwell, they both wrote about it. 00:01:58.920 --> 00:02:01.920 But here's the thing that's exclusive and unique about Jesus. 00:02:02.560 --> 00:02:04.540 Only Jesus says I can give you it. 00:02:04.540 --> 00:02:10.659 What's up for grabs in Galatia and what's up for takes this morning? 00:02:12.080 --> 00:02:16.020 In this passage that doesn't make sense to us at first glance is true freedom. 00:02:16.159 --> 00:02:17.580 So that's why you need to hang on in there. 00:02:18.040 --> 00:02:20.439 Let me ask you, do you feel free this morning? 00:02:20.439 --> 00:02:27.400 Maybe you're here and you're just sussing out this whole church thing and you think, listen, I've watched the Vicar of Dibley. 00:02:27.500 --> 00:02:29.859 I watched Father Ted when that was on a decade ago. 00:02:29.859 --> 00:02:35.180 And my first thought when it comes to Christianity and all this business is not the word freedom. 00:02:35.759 --> 00:02:35.840 Right? 00:02:35.979 --> 00:02:37.259 Hang on in there, dear friend. 00:02:37.340 --> 00:02:40.020 Love that you're here and see what this passage has to say to you. 00:02:40.099 --> 00:02:41.280 How has Paul got there? 00:02:41.280 --> 00:02:50.599 But maybe you're here and you are a Christian and you think, actually, that is the last word that I think of again when it comes to my Christian life and walk. 00:02:51.800 --> 00:02:56.620 Listen, Mr. I'm a nurse, Martha, our 15-month-year-old, back to sleep last night at 4 o'clock in the morning. 00:02:56.800 --> 00:03:00.659 Freedom was not the word that came to my mind at 4 o'clock in the morning as a Christian. 00:03:02.199 --> 00:03:06.900 And this is why this needs to be like a cup of coffee, making a cup of coffee in the morning. 00:03:06.900 --> 00:03:07.780 You do what I do. 00:03:07.860 --> 00:03:14.980 You get up and you get the cafetiere, you put the coffee in, you pour the hot water in and you let it percolate. 00:03:16.920 --> 00:03:21.819 And then after five minutes, what you do of percolating, you just get the press and you press it down in. 00:03:23.560 --> 00:03:26.000 And that's what God's word should do to us this morning, friends. 00:03:26.060 --> 00:03:29.560 That's what meditation in the Bible means. 00:03:29.640 --> 00:03:30.740 It means to percolate. 00:03:30.740 --> 00:03:38.780 It means to think about what God is saying in his word and impress it down into our souls and let it transform the way that we think about ourselves. 00:03:39.719 --> 00:03:41.000 It's not how things are going. 00:03:41.080 --> 00:03:44.840 It's not what we think is true of ourselves because of our circumstances. 00:03:44.840 --> 00:03:48.700 It's what God says is true about us spiritually in his word. 00:03:48.800 --> 00:03:50.400 We are free people. 00:03:50.400 --> 00:04:00.800 Remember in the context, these false teachers have rocked up in Galatia and they're peddling a very persuasive Jesus plus me and my efforts theology. 00:04:00.980 --> 00:04:03.340 That's what gets you right with God. 00:04:04.939 --> 00:04:08.300 And Paul's been reminding them, guys, come on, you know, that's not how it works. 00:04:08.400 --> 00:04:09.680 You know, that's not what I said. 00:04:09.680 --> 00:04:19.079 And if you want to think about it, this passage, friends, like Sesame Street back in the day, if you're old enough like me to remember that, it is brought to you in association with the number two. 00:04:19.579 --> 00:04:20.519 Do you see it all the way through? 00:04:21.019 --> 00:04:22.480 Two sons, two covenants. 00:04:22.540 --> 00:04:23.800 Just hold on to that thought. 00:04:24.840 --> 00:04:26.220 There's a little bit of a structure. 00:04:26.740 --> 00:04:28.819 It's brought to us by the number two. 00:04:28.899 --> 00:04:29.319 Do you see it? 00:04:29.379 --> 00:04:30.019 Here's why. 00:04:31.399 --> 00:04:35.060 This passage is telling us that it doesn't matter who you are here this morning. 00:04:35.060 --> 00:04:37.680 There are only two ways that we can live our lives. 00:04:37.680 --> 00:04:40.060 That's Paul's point. 00:04:40.180 --> 00:04:44.019 There's only two ways that you can live your life. 00:04:44.139 --> 00:04:45.240 One that makes you free. 00:04:47.220 --> 00:04:52.500 And one that makes you and keeps you a slave. 00:04:54.100 --> 00:04:57.319 And to help them and us see it, Paul uses a story. 00:04:58.540 --> 00:04:59.680 And here's the story. 00:04:59.780 --> 00:05:01.960 Come with me to verse 22. 00:05:01.959 --> 00:05:07.759 A story that he's taken from the book of Genesis, that first book of the Bible. 00:05:08.120 --> 00:05:09.239 Paul says, verse 21. 00:05:09.719 --> 00:05:11.199 Are you not aware of what the law says? 00:05:11.279 --> 00:05:19.099 He's saying that those people who are teaching you, those people that are teaching you, they don't know their Bibles well enough. 00:05:20.039 --> 00:05:21.459 Do you not know what the law says? 00:05:21.539 --> 00:05:22.299 Verse 22. 00:05:22.659 --> 00:05:25.439 Here's the true story from the book of Genesis about two sons. 00:05:26.319 --> 00:05:27.079 Do you follow with me? 00:05:27.079 --> 00:05:33.919 Now turn to Genesis 15 and this is what you will read. 00:05:35.419 --> 00:05:42.759 God makes a promise to Abraham that through his family line, all the nations of the earth will be blessed. 00:05:42.759 --> 00:05:46.699 Not because there's anything special about Abraham. 00:05:46.899 --> 00:05:48.379 Maybe we thought about that a few weeks ago. 00:05:48.459 --> 00:05:52.839 It's not because he's won a kind of talent contest when it comes to holiness. 00:05:53.099 --> 00:05:54.920 God's thought, like the football scout. 00:05:55.560 --> 00:05:56.680 He'll do great on my team. 00:05:56.819 --> 00:05:57.560 Get him signed up. 00:05:57.639 --> 00:05:58.060 No, no, no. 00:05:58.599 --> 00:06:01.139 It's simply because God is a breathtakingly good God. 00:06:02.879 --> 00:06:03.839 Father, Son, and Spirit. 00:06:03.939 --> 00:06:05.060 This is who he is. 00:06:05.120 --> 00:06:06.639 He is breathtakingly good. 00:06:06.719 --> 00:06:10.099 And that promise, if you think about it, of offspring, what does it imply? 00:06:10.100 --> 00:06:13.020 It implies a son. 00:06:14.439 --> 00:06:14.680 Yeah? 00:06:16.040 --> 00:06:17.760 There's going to be many, many, many generations. 00:06:17.920 --> 00:06:18.580 What does it imply? 00:06:18.660 --> 00:06:19.560 It implies a son. 00:06:19.800 --> 00:06:20.660 But here's the problem. 00:06:20.760 --> 00:06:21.420 It's twofold. 00:06:21.879 --> 00:06:23.980 Number one is that Abraham's an old dude at this point. 00:06:26.740 --> 00:06:29.480 And number two, his wife Sarah is also old. 00:06:29.720 --> 00:06:33.700 But for her, she's also barren. 00:06:35.439 --> 00:06:36.500 Now hold that thought. 00:06:36.500 --> 00:06:46.939 And yet God says, despite what you can see, despite what you can fathom, despite what you can reason, I will act so that you will have a son. 00:06:48.740 --> 00:06:50.240 This one is all on me. 00:06:50.399 --> 00:06:51.139 Trust me. 00:06:51.300 --> 00:06:52.420 Walk with me. 00:06:52.420 --> 00:06:55.620 And yet fast forward one chapter to Genesis 16. 00:06:56.259 --> 00:07:01.279 And Abraham and Sarah are suspect of this promise. 00:07:04.180 --> 00:07:05.800 Is God good for it? 00:07:06.500 --> 00:07:09.259 Is he worth waiting on? 00:07:12.220 --> 00:07:18.779 And what they decide to do is to just take matters into their own hands. 00:07:20.779 --> 00:07:22.379 We're going to try and do this ourselves. 00:07:22.740 --> 00:07:25.319 I think we've got a little bit of a helping hand. 00:07:25.439 --> 00:07:30.379 What they try and do is they try and wrestle control back of a situation that's out with their control. 00:07:30.379 --> 00:07:35.139 They try and wrestle it back so that they're the ones that are in control of it. 00:07:36.500 --> 00:07:39.000 They just lose patience with God. 00:07:41.399 --> 00:07:48.199 And if that's the kind of macro story, friends, here's the micro story of what's going on in Abraham and Sarah's lives. 00:07:48.199 --> 00:07:52.939 And this is kind of in between the text, but something really important to see. 00:07:53.040 --> 00:07:55.319 What does childlessness represent? 00:07:55.319 --> 00:08:01.819 What does barrenness represent in a Genesis culture for Abraham and Sarah? 00:08:01.939 --> 00:08:04.040 It represents shame. 00:08:04.040 --> 00:08:16.160 And they think to themselves, when it comes to our shame, when it comes to gathering and getting for ourselves joy, 00:08:16.160 --> 00:08:21.880 we're going to give God a helping hand with that. 00:08:24.240 --> 00:08:28.540 We're not going to trust that God is the one who's completely the one who's going to deal with our shame 00:08:28.540 --> 00:08:31.540 and restore and give us joy. 00:08:31.540 --> 00:08:36.440 Hold on for that, friends, where we're going to finish in 10 minutes. 00:08:36.519 --> 00:08:37.940 Maybe that's exactly where you're at. 00:08:39.240 --> 00:08:44.759 We're going to see how God is the only one who can deal with our shame and give us joy 00:08:44.759 --> 00:08:47.300 in a way that's nothing to do with our circumstances. 00:08:48.740 --> 00:08:49.720 Sarah has this servant. 00:08:49.820 --> 00:08:50.639 She's called Hagar. 00:08:51.580 --> 00:08:52.980 This is the planet they hatch. 00:08:53.420 --> 00:08:56.000 She says to Abraham, how about you sleep with her? 00:08:56.000 --> 00:09:00.100 And we'll get a child that way. 00:09:00.179 --> 00:09:01.139 Because that's what happened in this day. 00:09:01.299 --> 00:09:06.940 If your slave had a child, and if you had a child, that child becomes yours. 00:09:07.779 --> 00:09:11.240 And the way that the story reads, Abraham doesn't need much persuading. 00:09:12.539 --> 00:09:16.039 Like you work out the birds and the bees there, but he doesn't need much persuading. 00:09:16.379 --> 00:09:20.899 In actual fact, if you know the Bible story, what's going on here with Abraham and Sarah is very like Adam and Eve. 00:09:22.460 --> 00:09:24.360 Adam didn't need much persuading. 00:09:26.000 --> 00:09:29.259 And so born to Hagar is this son called Ishmael. 00:09:29.799 --> 00:09:36.480 But God is saying that it's not going to be through his side of the family tree that the blessing of promise will come. 00:09:37.320 --> 00:09:43.000 So if you like, Ishmael becomes, just hold this, he is the son of the slave woman in this story. 00:09:43.120 --> 00:09:45.000 He is son number one, right? 00:09:46.340 --> 00:09:50.259 But God's not forgotten his promise of giving Sarah a son. 00:09:50.259 --> 00:09:57.419 So then in Genesis 17, God reiterates to Abraham years later that his wife Sarah will have a son. 00:09:58.139 --> 00:10:05.319 Conceived in the normal way, but miraculous in that this is not something that the two of them could bring about by themselves. 00:10:05.320 --> 00:10:10.740 And more than that, God means business because he gives that son a name. 00:10:11.120 --> 00:10:13.080 This son will be called Isaac. 00:10:13.480 --> 00:10:15.340 Isaac's name means laughter. 00:10:15.500 --> 00:10:20.100 And I love that because it's almost like we laugh because we could never have done this on our own. 00:10:20.420 --> 00:10:23.020 We laugh because, God, you are so good and great and faithful. 00:10:23.160 --> 00:10:25.379 This son will be called laughter. 00:10:25.379 --> 00:10:31.299 And fast forward to Genesis 21 with Abraham now at the ripe old age of 100. 00:10:32.960 --> 00:10:35.500 Sarah gives birth to Isaac. 00:10:35.939 --> 00:10:38.460 And he is the child of free woman. 00:10:38.580 --> 00:10:39.659 That's son number two. 00:10:39.799 --> 00:10:42.340 Okay, son number one, son number two. 00:10:43.100 --> 00:10:44.320 That's the story. 00:10:45.620 --> 00:10:47.320 So Paul sets up here. 00:10:47.559 --> 00:10:49.179 Remember, there's two ways to live your life. 00:10:49.320 --> 00:10:51.299 There's two ways to try and relate to God. 00:10:52.179 --> 00:10:53.259 That's the story. 00:10:53.259 --> 00:10:56.639 Now, you've got to understand that there's the word allegory here. 00:10:56.720 --> 00:10:57.600 But what's going on here? 00:10:57.679 --> 00:11:00.960 This is not Paul giving a commentary on that Genesis story. 00:11:01.860 --> 00:11:03.179 There's a lot going on there. 00:11:03.259 --> 00:11:04.139 There's lots of mess. 00:11:04.240 --> 00:11:05.220 There's lots of grace. 00:11:06.460 --> 00:11:08.559 There's not a commentary on that story. 00:11:10.259 --> 00:11:13.399 What it is, is Paul's using it like a parable. 00:11:14.679 --> 00:11:21.720 Saying the backstory of those two boys represent two ways that you can try and live your life. 00:11:23.259 --> 00:11:29.080 And as we get into that, here's the three questions to carry with you through this bit. 00:11:30.299 --> 00:11:34.179 He's going to ask them, which son are you when it comes to relating to God? 00:11:34.279 --> 00:11:35.819 Which backstory is yours? 00:11:37.679 --> 00:11:39.679 And which city do you belong to? 00:11:42.179 --> 00:11:43.879 And which future is yours? 00:11:43.879 --> 00:11:48.519 And that's what Paul means there, verse 24, by two covenants. 00:11:48.659 --> 00:11:51.120 Take, remember these two sons, take Ishmael. 00:11:52.080 --> 00:11:54.019 Take son number one. 00:11:54.240 --> 00:11:55.240 What's his backstory? 00:11:55.419 --> 00:11:56.379 What does he represent? 00:11:56.639 --> 00:11:59.399 He represents trying to do things in our own strength. 00:12:00.840 --> 00:12:02.679 Trying to give God a helping hand. 00:12:03.340 --> 00:12:07.799 Trying to deal with the shame that's ours on our own. 00:12:08.379 --> 00:12:10.440 Trying to force a future for ourselves. 00:12:10.440 --> 00:12:13.160 Because that's way of relating to God number one. 00:12:14.160 --> 00:12:19.200 Our effort, our logic, our reason, our abilities, our energy, our wisdom. 00:12:19.740 --> 00:12:22.340 That's why in the story he is like verse 24. 00:12:22.580 --> 00:12:24.880 Real life, Mount Sinai. 00:12:24.980 --> 00:12:26.560 Now just go with this, okay? 00:12:28.240 --> 00:12:33.760 Mount Sinai, the very place where God gave the law to his people. 00:12:33.759 --> 00:12:36.779 You see the link? 00:12:38.460 --> 00:12:43.340 Son number one, trying to do it in your own strength, trying to earn God's favor, is like Mount Sinai. 00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:52.120 And Paul's already said, you go that way, you try and earn it, you're going to end up in slavery. 00:12:53.120 --> 00:12:54.399 Spiritually speaking, slavery. 00:12:54.399 --> 00:13:00.539 You know, I've got a fellow dad that I speak to on the school run every morning. 00:13:01.259 --> 00:13:05.639 He works for the People's Postcode Lottery in Charlotte Square. 00:13:05.779 --> 00:13:06.860 I asked him about his job. 00:13:06.939 --> 00:13:07.539 He said this. 00:13:08.259 --> 00:13:10.139 He said, the lottery's all set up. 00:13:11.079 --> 00:13:12.399 It holds out for you the win. 00:13:13.559 --> 00:13:15.879 But the whole thing is set up to make sure that you lose. 00:13:17.639 --> 00:13:18.019 Right? 00:13:18.100 --> 00:13:19.919 That's why they've got their offices in Charlotte Square. 00:13:20.039 --> 00:13:22.399 It's why he gets free tea and coffee and biscuits every day. 00:13:22.399 --> 00:13:25.779 Because the whole thing is, you're on a loser. 00:13:26.939 --> 00:13:27.100 Right? 00:13:27.240 --> 00:13:28.799 And Paul said that about the law. 00:13:29.319 --> 00:13:30.459 Holding out life. 00:13:31.279 --> 00:13:32.600 But we try and do it in our own strength. 00:13:32.679 --> 00:13:37.079 We realize how far short we fall. 00:13:38.459 --> 00:13:39.799 And it gives us death. 00:13:40.740 --> 00:13:41.899 It makes us slaves. 00:13:42.019 --> 00:13:44.659 That's what he said all the way through. 00:13:44.740 --> 00:13:45.779 It holds out for his life. 00:13:45.860 --> 00:13:47.120 The problem is not the law. 00:13:48.059 --> 00:13:51.539 The problem is our inability to keep the law and do what it says. 00:13:53.059 --> 00:13:54.620 It will always find us out. 00:13:54.699 --> 00:13:56.639 It will always leave us being guilty. 00:13:56.799 --> 00:14:01.919 It will always leave us longing for God to act to make us right with him. 00:14:04.480 --> 00:14:08.759 And Paul's saying in the context, these false teachers who've rocked up and are teaching you. 00:14:08.860 --> 00:14:11.579 And they must have sounded really persuasive with their Jewish background. 00:14:11.699 --> 00:14:12.639 With all this stuff. 00:14:12.720 --> 00:14:13.860 All this history going on. 00:14:13.860 --> 00:14:17.519 You can't seriously consider yourselves the adopted sons of God. 00:14:17.600 --> 00:14:18.399 Children of God. 00:14:19.639 --> 00:14:20.580 By doing nothing. 00:14:21.600 --> 00:14:23.600 You've got to come and add circumcision. 00:14:23.720 --> 00:14:24.800 You've got to add all this stuff. 00:14:24.860 --> 00:14:25.919 You've got to do all this stuff. 00:14:25.980 --> 00:14:28.159 You've got to take control back of the situation. 00:14:28.680 --> 00:14:31.419 Paul says, verse 24, if you go that way, you're slaves. 00:14:31.419 --> 00:14:37.779 And the present Jerusalem in Paul's mind. 00:14:38.319 --> 00:14:39.959 Do you see that there at verse 25? 00:14:40.879 --> 00:14:45.959 The real present Jerusalem in Paul's day is full of people who think like that. 00:14:45.960 --> 00:14:53.580 And of course, that's a direct attack on these false teachers who have come from Jerusalem. 00:14:55.660 --> 00:14:57.000 So son one. 00:14:57.340 --> 00:14:58.620 Backstory of son one. 00:14:58.920 --> 00:15:00.200 Mindset son one. 00:15:00.480 --> 00:15:03.240 Is that worldview of self-reliance. 00:15:05.259 --> 00:15:07.840 And in complete contrast, son two, Isaac. 00:15:07.980 --> 00:15:09.660 What's the backstory of Isaac? 00:15:10.240 --> 00:15:13.139 Isaac was not born according to the flesh. 00:15:13.820 --> 00:15:15.280 Not by human reason. 00:15:15.279 --> 00:15:16.500 Not by human ability. 00:15:16.679 --> 00:15:17.699 Not by human wisdom. 00:15:17.860 --> 00:15:24.500 His birth was the result of God's supernatural intervention in fulfillment of his own promise. 00:15:24.579 --> 00:15:26.519 That means that his birth was all of God. 00:15:27.500 --> 00:15:28.519 All of God. 00:15:29.319 --> 00:15:37.100 Which means if you're a Christian here today, your spiritual birth, the only reason we understand Jesus for who he is, all of God. 00:15:39.139 --> 00:15:45.259 Do you see where Paul says, if you're a Christian today, you have been born from. 00:15:45.279 --> 00:15:47.620 Verse 26. 00:15:48.279 --> 00:15:51.799 You have been born from above. 00:15:51.799 --> 00:16:00.859 And the Jerusalem above that Paul's talking about there is the very dwelling place of God. 00:16:00.860 --> 00:16:04.100 And that's why she is the mother of all Christians. 00:16:04.100 --> 00:16:16.320 Of people whose lives are not merely the product of human resources and logic and effort, but people who are the product of God's supernatural work in our hearts. 00:16:16.320 --> 00:16:25.320 And that's why, friends, if you're wondering what on earth that quote there is doing. 00:16:25.320 --> 00:16:28.560 In verse 27. 00:16:28.559 --> 00:16:32.559 That's why he quotes from Isaiah 54. 00:16:33.559 --> 00:16:38.059 Always worth looking in your Bibles about the little asterisks that will tell you where people are quoting from. 00:16:38.159 --> 00:16:39.059 It's not just random. 00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:42.199 He's picked that for a reason. 00:16:43.419 --> 00:16:43.579 Right? 00:16:43.659 --> 00:16:44.799 Be glad, barren woman. 00:16:44.799 --> 00:16:46.219 And you think, okay, I get that. 00:16:46.319 --> 00:16:47.979 Like Sarah barren, this is barren woman. 00:16:48.059 --> 00:16:48.899 I kind of get that. 00:16:50.120 --> 00:16:52.199 But there's so much more going on with this quote. 00:16:52.299 --> 00:16:52.799 You up for it? 00:16:54.959 --> 00:16:58.740 Barren woman being glad, crying aloud with praise and joy. 00:16:58.899 --> 00:17:01.699 God reversing the fortunes. 00:17:01.839 --> 00:17:04.159 God doing the great reversal. 00:17:04.419 --> 00:17:06.579 God giving life the restorer of joy. 00:17:06.639 --> 00:17:10.720 Not to do with circumstances, but because he is this God who delivers on his promise. 00:17:11.099 --> 00:17:12.159 How has he got there? 00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:13.740 Friends, here's the thing. 00:17:13.900 --> 00:17:21.600 Isaiah 54 is in this context, this little bracket in Isaiah. 00:17:22.220 --> 00:17:24.840 It's all about how God is going to bring that about. 00:17:26.019 --> 00:17:27.600 Now, come on, do some maths with me. 00:17:28.360 --> 00:17:30.500 What comes before Isaiah 54? 00:17:33.860 --> 00:17:35.220 Isaiah 53. 00:17:36.940 --> 00:17:37.500 Yeah? 00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:39.140 Isaiah 53. 00:17:39.140 --> 00:17:43.220 All about how God is going to send the suffering servant. 00:17:44.060 --> 00:17:47.340 Whose work is going to bring about this great reversal. 00:17:48.040 --> 00:17:49.759 Who's going to bring about joy. 00:17:49.900 --> 00:17:51.400 Who's going to bring about freedom. 00:17:51.860 --> 00:17:56.620 Who's going to do it because he bears the sin of God's people on himself. 00:17:56.920 --> 00:18:01.800 Who's going to act to be a lamb that's led to the slaughter. 00:18:01.800 --> 00:18:07.060 To act that he's going to be one who's going to bring light and freedom to his people. 00:18:07.059 --> 00:18:12.440 Isaiah 54 is only Isaiah 54 because of Isaiah 53. 00:18:15.179 --> 00:18:17.779 The servant who's going to bear the shame. 00:18:20.460 --> 00:18:22.399 Of the sin of God's people. 00:18:22.519 --> 00:18:25.019 He's going to bear the shame and in its place. 00:18:25.619 --> 00:18:26.500 Because of his work. 00:18:26.759 --> 00:18:29.500 Bring and give joy and freedom. 00:18:30.119 --> 00:18:31.240 And forgiveness. 00:18:31.240 --> 00:18:35.559 That's what comes before Isaiah 54. 00:18:35.859 --> 00:18:37.259 Again, same exercise. 00:18:37.460 --> 00:18:40.000 But what comes after Isaiah 54? 00:18:41.200 --> 00:18:42.500 Come on, someone help me out here. 00:18:43.940 --> 00:18:45.220 Isaiah 55. 00:18:46.140 --> 00:18:48.599 Now if you turn there, here's what you see. 00:18:48.799 --> 00:18:50.799 God says in light of that. 00:18:51.680 --> 00:18:52.079 Come. 00:18:53.440 --> 00:18:54.620 Come to me. 00:18:55.620 --> 00:18:56.500 Come to me. 00:18:57.140 --> 00:18:58.440 Buy bread without price. 00:18:58.539 --> 00:18:59.839 Get water without payment. 00:18:59.839 --> 00:19:01.779 This is not about you earning it. 00:19:02.019 --> 00:19:06.679 This is about coming to me and basking in what I've done to give you this freedom. 00:19:10.139 --> 00:19:12.059 He is the giver of joy. 00:19:17.720 --> 00:19:19.740 Come all you who are first thirsty. 00:19:19.919 --> 00:19:20.240 Come. 00:19:20.959 --> 00:19:21.419 Drink. 00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:22.799 Find life. 00:19:24.099 --> 00:19:25.959 You put your faith in Jesus. 00:19:25.960 --> 00:19:31.079 You are someone who's been given life in the power of the Spirit from above. 00:19:34.240 --> 00:19:37.759 And so Paul says, back to our big thing. 00:19:39.180 --> 00:19:40.279 Which son are you? 00:19:41.319 --> 00:19:42.259 To the Galatians. 00:19:42.340 --> 00:19:42.680 To us. 00:19:42.759 --> 00:19:43.600 Which son are you? 00:19:44.019 --> 00:19:45.299 You're going to try and earn it yourself? 00:19:45.420 --> 00:19:47.660 You're going to try and bring some self-reliance? 00:19:47.720 --> 00:19:51.319 You're going to try and deal with your shame and your guilt by yourself? 00:19:51.319 --> 00:19:56.740 Or are you going to trust completely in the promise of God and the work of God to give you that? 00:19:58.000 --> 00:19:58.439 Ishmael. 00:19:59.039 --> 00:19:59.960 Self-reliance. 00:20:00.139 --> 00:20:00.599 Isaac. 00:20:00.859 --> 00:20:01.679 All of God. 00:20:02.379 --> 00:20:04.000 Which city do you belong to? 00:20:04.139 --> 00:20:05.159 Present Jerusalem. 00:20:06.200 --> 00:20:07.359 In slavery. 00:20:07.980 --> 00:20:08.980 Heavenly Jerusalem. 00:20:09.319 --> 00:20:10.079 Born from above. 00:20:10.220 --> 00:20:11.419 Which future is yours? 00:20:12.779 --> 00:20:13.339 Inheritance. 00:20:13.599 --> 00:20:14.839 Or no inheritance. 00:20:14.839 --> 00:20:16.459 And here's Paul's point. 00:20:16.699 --> 00:20:17.419 Verse 28. 00:20:21.419 --> 00:20:21.879 Galatians. 00:20:21.959 --> 00:20:23.480 Because you've been born from above. 00:20:23.639 --> 00:20:26.319 Because you are son number two. 00:20:29.059 --> 00:20:30.980 You are children of the promise. 00:20:36.599 --> 00:20:37.679 You are free. 00:20:37.680 --> 00:20:46.060 I don't think anyone gets this better than the old hymn writer Augustus Top Lady. 00:20:46.279 --> 00:20:48.360 They just don't do names like that anymore, do they? 00:20:50.900 --> 00:20:54.380 In his famous old hymn, many of us will know it, Rock of Ages. 00:20:54.660 --> 00:20:58.039 And he's got this line and it's just like, did you perceive this? 00:20:58.680 --> 00:20:58.860 Right? 00:20:58.860 --> 00:21:05.120 Let the water and the blood from thy riven side which flowed. 00:21:05.740 --> 00:21:05.940 Right? 00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:07.600 Got a track with the old English there. 00:21:07.699 --> 00:21:08.500 But you know what he's saying? 00:21:08.959 --> 00:21:10.459 Be of sin the double cure. 00:21:10.659 --> 00:21:13.059 Save me of its guilt and its power. 00:21:13.539 --> 00:21:16.219 And you say Christ has saved us for freedom. 00:21:16.419 --> 00:21:17.579 What does freedom mean? 00:21:18.939 --> 00:21:26.119 Friends, I wonder if some of us need to wonderfully recapture the sweet smelling aroma of what Augustus Top Lady talks about in his hymn. 00:21:26.319 --> 00:21:28.159 Of that double cure. 00:21:29.419 --> 00:21:29.679 Right? 00:21:29.919 --> 00:21:30.539 Double cure. 00:21:30.919 --> 00:21:34.079 Free me from its penalty and its power. 00:21:34.079 --> 00:21:37.939 Because maybe you're here and you're like me. 00:21:38.399 --> 00:21:40.019 Your life is unspectacular. 00:21:40.019 --> 00:21:41.019 It is mundane. 00:21:41.019 --> 00:21:42.339 It is ordinary. 00:21:43.339 --> 00:21:44.859 And you live your life for Jesus. 00:21:44.980 --> 00:21:45.940 Particularly in this world. 00:21:46.039 --> 00:21:47.759 And friends and family think you're bonkers. 00:21:47.960 --> 00:21:51.220 Peers and neighbours think that you're the one that's a slave. 00:21:51.220 --> 00:21:56.819 With your limiting stance on sexuality and gender. 00:21:56.819 --> 00:21:58.559 Following Jesus and that stuff. 00:21:58.639 --> 00:22:01.599 With your dated views on when life begins and it ends. 00:22:01.980 --> 00:22:05.240 With your restricting belief that there's only one way to God. 00:22:05.240 --> 00:22:10.039 What constraints put on you because you follow this old dated book. 00:22:10.120 --> 00:22:12.460 See if there's anyone living their lives in the world that's a slave. 00:22:12.539 --> 00:22:13.059 It's you. 00:22:15.559 --> 00:22:19.720 I take it there's something of that persecution language that he talks about there. 00:22:20.539 --> 00:22:23.960 Which is true because you follow Jesus and you believe this stuff. 00:22:24.059 --> 00:22:26.180 And Paul would say in this passage. 00:22:26.279 --> 00:22:30.019 If people are making you feel like the slave because you follow Jesus. 00:22:30.140 --> 00:22:31.599 You're completely relying on him. 00:22:33.079 --> 00:22:34.079 It's not true. 00:22:34.079 --> 00:22:34.779 Here's the thing. 00:22:34.879 --> 00:22:37.339 Jesus has freed us from something. 00:22:37.879 --> 00:22:39.399 From the penalty of sin. 00:22:40.179 --> 00:22:42.480 From the shame that is ours. 00:22:42.559 --> 00:22:44.720 From the mistakes that dominated our lives. 00:22:44.799 --> 00:22:46.799 We'll think more about this next week. 00:22:46.879 --> 00:22:49.079 Because these guys are from a Greek background. 00:22:49.659 --> 00:22:50.339 Pagan background. 00:22:50.679 --> 00:22:52.960 All sorts of stuff would have gone on in their lives. 00:22:53.220 --> 00:22:53.379 Right? 00:22:54.740 --> 00:22:56.859 But Jesus has freed you from all that stuff. 00:22:56.939 --> 00:22:57.519 From regrets. 00:22:57.679 --> 00:22:58.319 From mistakes. 00:22:58.439 --> 00:22:59.419 He's freed you from it. 00:22:59.439 --> 00:23:02.179 The suffering servant paid for it all on the cross. 00:23:02.180 --> 00:23:05.539 And Jesus didn't just save us from something. 00:23:07.279 --> 00:23:10.120 He saved us for something. 00:23:10.220 --> 00:23:10.840 Do you see that word? 00:23:10.900 --> 00:23:11.720 It's really important. 00:23:11.860 --> 00:23:13.100 It's for freedom. 00:23:13.220 --> 00:23:15.279 There's a purpose that Jesus saved us. 00:23:15.279 --> 00:23:20.019 Not so that you can wander aimlessly around living your life. 00:23:21.379 --> 00:23:23.599 God called out a people for himself. 00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:24.879 Jesus saved a people. 00:23:25.000 --> 00:23:27.099 He called us out of the kingdom of darkness. 00:23:27.259 --> 00:23:28.139 As Stuart started. 00:23:28.680 --> 00:23:31.480 And he's placed us in his kingdom of marvelous light. 00:23:31.859 --> 00:23:32.480 And he said, 00:23:32.480 --> 00:23:36.819 I've saved you so that you would live for me in the power of the spirit. 00:23:36.920 --> 00:23:40.960 And the rest of this letter is about what that looks like in our lives. 00:23:42.460 --> 00:23:48.220 I've saved you out of this self-obsessed wall of mirrors that your heart has built around itself. 00:23:48.460 --> 00:23:51.839 That we think, friends, that we are the center of the world. 00:23:52.839 --> 00:23:53.620 And that's the thing. 00:23:53.740 --> 00:23:59.360 Serving and worshiping Jesus wasn't on any of our radars before he got involved in our lives. 00:23:59.680 --> 00:24:00.480 We just weren't interested. 00:24:00.480 --> 00:24:04.140 We were spending our days pursuing dead idols. 00:24:04.339 --> 00:24:06.120 Things that will just get us nowhere. 00:24:07.220 --> 00:24:08.500 And Jesus has saved us. 00:24:08.579 --> 00:24:09.700 The Father loves us. 00:24:09.779 --> 00:24:10.900 The Spirit lives in us. 00:24:10.920 --> 00:24:16.680 So that we would live our lives to serve and love and worship the living and the true God. 00:24:21.039 --> 00:24:23.220 Because there's an inner desire now. 00:24:24.680 --> 00:24:26.680 That I want to live my life for him. 00:24:27.680 --> 00:24:29.079 Because he loved me. 00:24:29.079 --> 00:24:30.519 He gave himself for me. 00:24:30.559 --> 00:24:31.839 His Spirit lives inside me. 00:24:32.240 --> 00:24:33.699 He's taken out that heart of stone. 00:24:33.779 --> 00:24:35.939 He's putting in a heart of flesh. 00:24:36.079 --> 00:24:39.539 And he's transforming me, us, into Jesus' image. 00:24:39.539 --> 00:24:46.940 So, friends, if you're a follower of Jesus, you're free. 00:24:49.500 --> 00:24:50.359 United to him. 00:24:50.639 --> 00:24:52.399 Your life has got a different purpose now. 00:24:52.400 --> 00:24:55.800 Had our eyes opened. 00:24:55.800 --> 00:25:01.480 Now we are living, adopted children of our Father. 00:25:01.620 --> 00:25:06.400 And so, Paul says to these Galatians, as he brings his kind of argument to a close before he moves. 00:25:07.340 --> 00:25:11.180 At the end of this letter to get really practical, he just says, listen, which son are you? 00:25:13.820 --> 00:25:16.019 Trying to do it in your own strength, self-reliance. 00:25:16.580 --> 00:25:17.440 See where that gets you? 00:25:17.440 --> 00:25:20.820 Are you completely reliant on Jesus? 00:25:20.980 --> 00:25:22.120 Are you born from above? 00:25:22.720 --> 00:25:23.980 Are you filled with the Spirit? 00:25:24.100 --> 00:25:25.340 Do you see the future that's yours? 00:25:25.920 --> 00:25:26.480 You're free. 00:25:29.200 --> 00:25:35.160 You know, just as we close, I was trying to think of any free people that I could think of who God has used in my life. 00:25:35.160 --> 00:25:36.900 And I was thinking this week of my friend Trevor. 00:25:38.100 --> 00:25:42.580 Trevor and his wife Val were here about 18 months ago. 00:25:42.660 --> 00:25:44.259 They lived down in Chessington in London. 00:25:45.160 --> 00:25:48.340 And he once gave me this one bit of advice about life as a Christian. 00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:53.680 And he was thinking about Christian ministry, but his life as a Christian, about how his life has transformed over the years. 00:25:53.700 --> 00:25:54.480 And he said this. 00:25:55.720 --> 00:25:59.000 He said, you've got to live your life as someone who doesn't take yourself seriously. 00:26:01.420 --> 00:26:03.279 Because you take the gospel really seriously. 00:26:03.279 --> 00:26:07.139 Don't take yourself too seriously. 00:26:07.299 --> 00:26:10.700 Because the gospel has freed you to take the gospel really seriously. 00:26:13.099 --> 00:26:16.079 And I thought to myself, do you know one thing I'd love more of in my life? 00:26:16.180 --> 00:26:17.960 It's that spirit of self-forgetfulness. 00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:21.960 And Trevor just articulated it. 00:26:22.920 --> 00:26:23.079 Right? 00:26:23.599 --> 00:26:26.619 And it struck me that that's the opposite of what people in our world say. 00:26:26.740 --> 00:26:29.839 It's the opposite of the drumbeat of this culture in which we live. 00:26:29.839 --> 00:26:31.759 Which says, take yourself really seriously. 00:26:32.139 --> 00:26:33.480 But don't take truth seriously. 00:26:36.799 --> 00:26:39.199 And no wonder, friends, we're living in a burnout culture. 00:26:40.359 --> 00:26:41.579 I have to prove myself. 00:26:41.679 --> 00:26:42.639 I have to earn my way. 00:26:42.740 --> 00:26:43.720 I have to show my worth. 00:26:43.779 --> 00:26:44.819 I have to find my purpose. 00:26:44.939 --> 00:26:46.059 I have to seek my happiness. 00:26:46.259 --> 00:26:48.000 I even have to define who I am. 00:26:48.839 --> 00:26:50.459 No wonder we live in a burnout culture. 00:26:50.460 --> 00:26:58.380 How different then the Christian is free. 00:27:01.120 --> 00:27:03.500 Rejoicing in the love that the Father has shown us. 00:27:04.660 --> 00:27:07.840 Resting in the work that Christ has done for us. 00:27:08.180 --> 00:27:12.079 Reveling in what the Spirit inside of us is doing in us. 00:27:12.539 --> 00:27:13.259 We're free. 00:27:13.259 --> 00:27:18.680 And so Paul says, which son are you? 00:27:22.259 --> 00:27:26.099 Jesus said, if you hold to my teaching, you really are my disciples. 00:27:27.319 --> 00:27:28.819 Then you will know the truth. 00:27:29.599 --> 00:27:33.319 And the truth will set you free. 00:27:34.559 --> 00:27:35.240 Let's pray. 00:27:35.240 --> 00:27:35.279 Let's pray. 00:27:43.259 --> 00:27:48.420 And so Lord, we give you all the praise and all the glory this morning. 00:27:49.859 --> 00:27:51.900 That because of the work of Jesus. 00:27:52.160 --> 00:27:54.799 Because of the truths of Isaiah 53. 00:27:56.700 --> 00:27:59.559 That we can come to you today trusting in him. 00:28:00.420 --> 00:28:01.900 As those who are free. 00:28:02.220 --> 00:28:03.259 Those who are forgiven. 00:28:04.240 --> 00:28:05.900 Those who have been cleansed. 00:28:06.259 --> 00:28:07.220 Those who are pure. 00:28:07.359 --> 00:28:09.079 Those with a future that's ahead of us. 00:28:09.079 --> 00:28:10.619 Because we are united to him. 00:28:10.720 --> 00:28:12.619 And Lord, so often we just don't feel like it. 00:28:13.740 --> 00:28:16.879 So often our circumstances just clouding our view. 00:28:17.039 --> 00:28:19.259 But Lord, whatever's going on in our lives today. 00:28:20.079 --> 00:28:22.259 I pray that that identity. 00:28:22.519 --> 00:28:24.339 That freedom that we have in him. 00:28:25.079 --> 00:28:28.279 Would come with a unique freshness. 00:28:31.480 --> 00:28:33.140 And a wonderful glory today. 00:28:34.240 --> 00:28:35.460 So Lord, we love you. 00:28:35.519 --> 00:28:38.379 But thank you that this letter's constantly told us. 00:28:38.799 --> 00:28:41.299 That we can say that because you loved us first. 00:28:42.279 --> 00:28:46.240 Father, be with us as we journey now onto that time of communion. 00:28:46.379 --> 00:28:49.440 As we celebrate and remember what Jesus has done for us. 00:28:49.519 --> 00:28:50.079 Be with us. 00:28:50.500 --> 00:28:51.359 Heavenly Father. 00:28:51.960 --> 00:28:52.879 We pray these things. 00:28:52.960 --> 00:28:54.119 And Jesus is powerful. 00:28:54.460 --> 00:28:55.319 And it's his strong. 00:28:55.779 --> 00:28:57.279 And in his immovable name. 00:28:57.960 --> 00:28:58.240 Amen. 00:28:58.240 --> 00:28:58.339 Amen. 00:28:58.339 --> 00:29:00.000 Amen. 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.000 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.000 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.000 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.000 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.000 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.000 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.000 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.000 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.000 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.000 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.000 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.000 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.000 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.000 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.000 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.000 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.000 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.000 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.000 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.000 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.000 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.000 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.000 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.000 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.000 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.000 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.000 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.000 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.000 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.000 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.000 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.000 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.000 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.000 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.000 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.000 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.000 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.000 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.000 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.000 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.000 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.000