WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.600 We've been working our way through this book and we come to Galatians chapter 5. 00:00:07.600 --> 00:00:14.800 ! It's page 975. Galatians chapter 5, let me read you verse 1. 00:00:19.280 --> 00:00:29.839 ! For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm therefore, and do not submit 00:00:29.839 --> 00:00:41.679 again to a yoke of slavery. I'm not sure freedom is the first word that comes to people's mind 00:00:41.679 --> 00:00:47.799 when they think of Christians. I think if we were going to do a poll on the streets today 00:00:47.799 --> 00:00:54.760 and we asked people what impression they had of us, I'm guessing that the words that would 00:00:54.759 --> 00:01:08.120 come up are words like careful, and for some of us uptight, a little stuffy. For others, 00:01:08.120 --> 00:01:13.799 people might say, well they're quite happy, they're quite joyful, but probably way down 00:01:13.799 --> 00:01:21.859 the list would come the word free. I might be wrong about that. I might hear this week 00:01:21.859 --> 00:01:28.959 about a young man that I know who's decided to abandon his Christian faith. He did it back in 00:01:28.959 --> 00:01:34.099 November, and a few weeks afterwards he told friends of mine that his giving up the Christian 00:01:34.099 --> 00:01:43.340 faith was in verse 5. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of 00:01:43.340 --> 00:01:50.460 righteousness. For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, 00:01:51.600 --> 00:01:54.560 but only faith working through love. 00:01:57.700 --> 00:02:03.879 The book of Galatians is, I want to say, mainly about this doctrine of justification by faith. 00:02:03.879 --> 00:02:16.639 Justification, being declared right with God, is a future event which is made present in our lives 00:02:16.639 --> 00:02:26.240 today, right now, by faith. Justification is the verdict of God on the last day. It's going to be 00:02:26.240 --> 00:02:32.939 on the day of judgment when we appear before him. God will say, he looks at us and he will say, 00:02:32.939 --> 00:02:38.379 this is my child, this is my son whom I love, with whom I'm well pleased. That's what he'll say of all 00:02:38.379 --> 00:02:46.879 those who are in Christ. There is no record of any sin here put to that account. She is clothed 00:02:46.879 --> 00:02:55.780 in the righteousness of my son. He is innocent and pure and beautiful before me. You are justified. 00:02:55.780 --> 00:03:04.699 And the greatest test about whether you have begun to understand this is, do you eagerly hope for that 00:03:04.699 --> 00:03:11.860 righteousness? The verdict's been declared to us already. And do you eagerly wait for that last day? 00:03:15.159 --> 00:03:16.719 And I don't think that's an easy thing to do. 00:03:16.719 --> 00:03:27.759 If you're anything like me, I look at my own life and what do I see? I see failure and sin and lost 00:03:27.759 --> 00:03:35.699 opportunities. As we worked through the early part of the service this morning and we hear the law of 00:03:35.699 --> 00:03:42.719 God read. As we hear Jesus' summary of the law, that I'm to love the Lord my God with all my heart 00:03:42.719 --> 00:03:47.659 and soul and mind and strength and I'm to love my neighbor as myself. That summary of the law. 00:03:48.519 --> 00:03:53.000 I don't know about you, but I never think when I hear those words, I've done it this week. 00:03:53.280 --> 00:03:59.719 I've nailed it this week. I've done great this week. None of us feel that. If you feel like that, 00:03:59.799 --> 00:04:04.599 come and talk to me afterwards, all right? None of us think, I've done really well, 00:04:04.599 --> 00:04:06.239 as Reuben read the Ten Commandments this week. 00:04:09.400 --> 00:04:15.599 And to say, I look forward to that day when I will stand before him can only be said 00:04:15.599 --> 00:04:24.439 when you are basing that on the death of Jesus Christ for me. So false teachers, false apostles 00:04:24.439 --> 00:04:29.240 have come into Galicia and they've agreed, they've agreed that we become Christians by justification. 00:04:29.240 --> 00:04:38.139 The problem comes after that. Because we're sinful people, because we sin every day, and if you don't 00:04:38.139 --> 00:04:42.040 think you sin every day, well again you need to come and chat with me, our consciences condemn us. 00:04:42.100 --> 00:04:47.819 We've got so much to condemn us for, haven't we? Satan accuses us and he's got so much to work with 00:04:47.819 --> 00:04:53.800 in my heart and your heart. But here's the thing, the certain way back into slavery is what Paul calls 00:04:53.800 --> 00:05:00.759 here the way of circumcision. I don't think any of you here are tempted to be circumcised this morning. 00:05:02.600 --> 00:05:06.000 So what is he talking about? It's talking about the way of religious obligation, 00:05:06.560 --> 00:05:09.740 which is beginning not to look at the death of Jesus, 00:05:10.480 --> 00:05:17.420 but to look at what I've done, to look at my moral achievement or my religious sincerity, 00:05:17.420 --> 00:05:25.160 or to look at anything that is within me. You see, in the cross of Jesus Christ, he gives us a freedom 00:05:25.160 --> 00:05:33.020 which is from outside the world, and that stretches from eternity to eternity, and it comes directly from him. 00:05:34.420 --> 00:05:40.240 And this freedom is being able to look at our own lives, and look at God, and say, 00:05:40.240 --> 00:05:48.420 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me, 00:05:48.600 --> 00:05:53.480 and I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. 00:05:55.240 --> 00:05:56.740 And it is freedom, 00:05:57.400 --> 00:06:06.699 because it is a process of transformation inside of us. It is completely different to moral reformation. 00:06:06.699 --> 00:06:10.800 It is being redeemed and not improved. 00:06:11.740 --> 00:06:12.779 It is true freedom. 00:06:14.159 --> 00:06:21.180 And God does not set me free from my bad record in order for me to start achieving and building a better one. 00:06:22.319 --> 00:06:24.800 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. 00:06:26.879 --> 00:06:30.360 And I find it hard to describe. It is the purest form of freedom, 00:06:30.480 --> 00:06:34.539 that I am absolutely and completely righteous before God, 00:06:34.540 --> 00:06:36.800 and so are you through faith in Christ. 00:06:39.340 --> 00:06:41.480 And so it is not the level of my surrender. 00:06:43.720 --> 00:06:45.640 It is not the strength of my faith, thank goodness. 00:06:47.400 --> 00:06:49.100 It is not the number of my prayers. 00:06:49.220 --> 00:06:50.540 It is not the length of my obedience. 00:06:50.939 --> 00:06:52.439 It is not the level of my purity, 00:06:52.560 --> 00:06:54.360 nor is it the depth of my repentance. 00:06:54.360 --> 00:07:01.080 But it is Christ and Christ alone who loved me and gave himself for me. 00:07:03.060 --> 00:07:05.020 So you see, when I do something good, 00:07:06.020 --> 00:07:10.680 when I've kept up with my New Year Bible reading plan, 00:07:11.500 --> 00:07:12.879 and I'm up to date, 00:07:12.879 --> 00:07:16.540 and when I do something good on those occasions, 00:07:16.920 --> 00:07:17.839 when I do something good, 00:07:17.899 --> 00:07:20.139 it doesn't change God's love for me. 00:07:22.259 --> 00:07:26.339 He does not accept me anymore if I've had a good week. 00:07:28.480 --> 00:07:29.819 And if I fail him, 00:07:30.680 --> 00:07:32.399 it does not change his love for me. 00:07:34.040 --> 00:07:36.959 He doesn't love me any less than he did before, 00:07:36.959 --> 00:07:39.579 because through the Spirit, by faith, 00:07:39.719 --> 00:07:41.379 we wait for the hope of righteousness. 00:07:44.019 --> 00:07:45.500 We do not obey 00:07:45.500 --> 00:07:48.180 because he will accept us more, 00:07:50.000 --> 00:07:52.539 but because he will never leave us nor forsake us. 00:07:54.579 --> 00:07:56.079 And so it is very possible, isn't it? 00:07:56.079 --> 00:07:57.919 It's very possible to start out by faith, 00:07:58.000 --> 00:07:59.459 to experience the grace of God, 00:07:59.599 --> 00:08:02.500 and then suddenly to want to go back to the law. 00:08:02.500 --> 00:08:07.240 To be thinking that God is in my debt. 00:08:07.480 --> 00:08:10.000 I deserve what he gives me. 00:08:11.259 --> 00:08:13.459 And we begin to think about what we might have given up. 00:08:14.240 --> 00:08:16.899 And then we begin to compare ourselves horizontally with others, 00:08:17.060 --> 00:08:20.100 and we resent that my life is not as good as their life. 00:08:20.339 --> 00:08:22.740 Why hasn't God treated me like he's treating them? 00:08:26.180 --> 00:08:30.379 You see, Jesus did not owe it to us 00:08:30.379 --> 00:08:31.899 to die upon the cross. 00:08:32.500 --> 00:08:36.279 Jesus did not deserve to die, 00:08:36.720 --> 00:08:40.519 but he determines freely to go to the cross 00:08:40.519 --> 00:08:42.759 out of the freedom of his own grace. 00:08:43.899 --> 00:08:45.500 And the man nailed to the cross, 00:08:45.659 --> 00:08:46.679 offering himself for us, 00:08:46.840 --> 00:08:50.100 that is the freest action that the world has ever seen. 00:08:51.980 --> 00:08:53.620 And that's why Paul says in verse 6, 00:08:54.059 --> 00:08:54.980 in Christ Jesus, 00:08:55.419 --> 00:08:58.500 neither circumcision or uncircumcision 00:08:58.500 --> 00:08:59.960 is of any relevance, 00:08:59.960 --> 00:09:02.960 but only faith 00:09:02.960 --> 00:09:06.320 expressing itself through love. 00:09:10.920 --> 00:09:13.340 They are remarkable words, aren't they? 00:09:13.340 --> 00:09:17.120 How do you live the Christian life? 00:09:19.000 --> 00:09:19.420 Somebody says, 00:09:19.500 --> 00:09:21.139 how is it that you live the Christian life? 00:09:21.280 --> 00:09:22.420 What does the Christian life look at? 00:09:22.620 --> 00:09:23.060 Look at it. 00:09:23.120 --> 00:09:24.840 There are five words 00:09:24.840 --> 00:09:26.840 at the end of verse 6. 00:09:29.340 --> 00:09:30.879 Faith working through love. 00:09:30.920 --> 00:09:31.660 That's four words. 00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:33.720 You might notice faith expressing itself through love. 00:09:33.720 --> 00:09:36.060 But faith working through love. 00:09:38.060 --> 00:09:40.220 Faith will express itself through love. 00:09:40.220 --> 00:09:44.279 We are justified. 00:09:44.420 --> 00:09:45.680 We are declared right with God 00:09:45.680 --> 00:09:47.879 by faith alone. 00:09:48.660 --> 00:09:50.139 By faith alone. 00:09:50.540 --> 00:09:52.460 But if faith is real, 00:09:52.600 --> 00:09:53.980 and if faith is genuine, 00:09:55.220 --> 00:09:57.700 it will always be accompanied by love. 00:09:57.700 --> 00:10:01.280 And so we're going to look at next week 00:10:01.280 --> 00:10:02.379 from verses 13 onwards, 00:10:02.680 --> 00:10:03.240 we're going to see, 00:10:03.840 --> 00:10:06.240 here's the thing for the Galatians 00:10:06.240 --> 00:10:07.100 and the false teachers. 00:10:07.460 --> 00:10:08.100 They were saying, 00:10:08.460 --> 00:10:09.700 you've been justified, 00:10:11.020 --> 00:10:11.920 and you've got to make sure 00:10:11.920 --> 00:10:13.960 you're accepted before God 00:10:13.960 --> 00:10:15.980 through your religious observance, 00:10:16.120 --> 00:10:16.960 through your acts. 00:10:16.960 --> 00:10:19.540 And Paul says, 00:10:19.639 --> 00:10:19.800 no, 00:10:20.160 --> 00:10:21.700 it's the cross of Jesus Christ 00:10:21.700 --> 00:10:22.580 which brings us in, 00:10:23.500 --> 00:10:25.200 and it's the cross of Jesus Christ 00:10:25.200 --> 00:10:26.200 which keeps us on track, 00:10:27.080 --> 00:10:28.840 and it's the cross of Jesus Christ 00:10:28.840 --> 00:10:30.420 that will bring us home to heaven. 00:10:31.879 --> 00:10:33.379 It's the cross that brings you in, 00:10:33.460 --> 00:10:35.000 it's the cross that keeps you on track, 00:10:35.379 --> 00:10:36.800 it's the cross that will take you to heaven. 00:10:37.860 --> 00:10:38.720 And in the end, 00:10:38.820 --> 00:10:40.920 it is all of Christ. 00:10:42.680 --> 00:10:44.540 And our freedom comes from the fact 00:10:44.540 --> 00:10:45.700 that we are justified 00:10:45.700 --> 00:10:48.480 the hope of righteousness. 00:10:51.340 --> 00:10:52.460 Now how can the Holy Spirit 00:10:52.460 --> 00:10:53.820 live in you and in me 00:10:53.820 --> 00:10:55.520 with all the sin of our lives? 00:10:56.600 --> 00:10:58.140 How can he live in us 00:10:58.140 --> 00:10:59.259 with all the sin 00:10:59.259 --> 00:11:00.200 and all the mess of our lives? 00:11:00.259 --> 00:11:01.000 And it can only be 00:11:01.000 --> 00:11:01.860 because we're justified. 00:11:03.800 --> 00:11:04.980 How can we pray this morning? 00:11:05.040 --> 00:11:05.759 How can we sing? 00:11:06.060 --> 00:11:06.940 How can we live? 00:11:07.280 --> 00:11:09.140 It's only because we've been justified. 00:11:10.640 --> 00:11:12.520 And this is the gospel work 00:11:12.520 --> 00:11:13.960 of freedom in us. 00:11:13.960 --> 00:11:15.860 And Paul says, 00:11:16.040 --> 00:11:16.560 do not budge, 00:11:16.700 --> 00:11:17.240 do not move, 00:11:17.560 --> 00:11:18.560 stand firm 00:11:18.560 --> 00:11:20.920 in that freedom. 00:11:24.120 --> 00:11:24.960 Secondly, and more briefly, 00:11:25.060 --> 00:11:26.080 let's look at making slaves. 00:11:27.500 --> 00:11:29.100 How does slavery happen to you? 00:11:29.560 --> 00:11:30.860 How did it happen to the Galatians? 00:11:31.540 --> 00:11:32.160 How does that happen to us? 00:11:32.200 --> 00:11:32.519 Verse 2, 00:11:32.519 --> 00:11:33.199 Paul says now, 00:11:33.199 --> 00:11:34.240 I, Paul, 00:11:34.399 --> 00:11:35.279 say to you 00:11:35.279 --> 00:11:37.659 that if you accept, 00:11:37.779 --> 00:11:39.340 if you receive circumcision, 00:11:39.939 --> 00:11:40.379 Christ 00:11:40.379 --> 00:11:43.439 will be of no advantage 00:11:43.439 --> 00:11:44.199 to you. 00:11:47.000 --> 00:11:48.639 I testify again 00:11:48.639 --> 00:11:49.419 to every man 00:11:49.419 --> 00:11:50.740 who accepts circumcision 00:11:50.740 --> 00:11:52.899 that he's obligated, 00:11:52.980 --> 00:11:53.740 that he is bound 00:11:53.740 --> 00:11:56.079 to keep the whole law. 00:11:56.080 --> 00:11:58.840 You are severed, 00:11:58.879 --> 00:11:59.879 you are cut off 00:11:59.879 --> 00:12:00.680 from Christ, 00:12:00.780 --> 00:12:02.259 you who would be justified 00:12:02.259 --> 00:12:03.300 by the law. 00:12:03.700 --> 00:12:04.800 You have fallen 00:12:04.800 --> 00:12:06.920 away from grace. 00:12:07.879 --> 00:12:08.660 Four times there, 00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:09.700 he mentions circumcision. 00:12:12.040 --> 00:12:13.160 That cutting off 00:12:13.160 --> 00:12:13.820 of the flesh. 00:12:15.220 --> 00:12:16.160 Four times, 00:12:16.420 --> 00:12:16.980 he talks about 00:12:16.980 --> 00:12:18.879 that Jewish historic right 00:12:18.879 --> 00:12:20.400 of the covenant. 00:12:21.400 --> 00:12:22.520 The sign of the covenant. 00:12:22.519 --> 00:12:24.939 A circumcision 00:12:24.939 --> 00:12:26.000 that's got impeccable 00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:26.879 religious pedigree. 00:12:28.019 --> 00:12:28.539 And Paul says 00:12:28.539 --> 00:12:30.019 in the starkest possible terms 00:12:30.019 --> 00:12:31.340 that if you go ahead 00:12:31.340 --> 00:12:33.000 and you receive circumcision, 00:12:33.120 --> 00:12:33.720 remember they've come 00:12:33.720 --> 00:12:34.819 from a pagan background, 00:12:36.259 --> 00:12:36.579 and he says, 00:12:36.699 --> 00:12:37.439 if you think that 00:12:37.439 --> 00:12:38.639 by being circumcised 00:12:38.639 --> 00:12:39.319 you keep going 00:12:39.319 --> 00:12:40.299 as the people of God, 00:12:40.759 --> 00:12:41.220 Christ 00:12:41.220 --> 00:12:43.000 will be of no value to you. 00:12:44.179 --> 00:12:45.139 You'll be severed, 00:12:45.179 --> 00:12:46.039 you'll be cut off. 00:12:46.559 --> 00:12:47.480 It's a play on words 00:12:47.480 --> 00:12:48.220 from Christ. 00:12:48.779 --> 00:12:49.480 You will have fallen 00:12:49.480 --> 00:12:50.379 away from grace. 00:12:50.379 --> 00:12:53.419 And you might think 00:12:53.419 --> 00:12:55.120 that's a bit strange, 00:12:55.200 --> 00:12:55.439 isn't it? 00:12:56.519 --> 00:12:57.360 That's strange 00:12:57.360 --> 00:12:58.460 in the light of the fact 00:12:58.460 --> 00:12:59.379 that the apostle Paul 00:12:59.379 --> 00:13:00.120 took Timothy 00:13:00.120 --> 00:13:01.200 in Acts chapter 16 00:13:01.200 --> 00:13:04.799 and Paul had him circumcised 00:13:04.799 --> 00:13:06.500 when he joined 00:13:06.500 --> 00:13:07.279 the mission team. 00:13:09.700 --> 00:13:10.419 But the reason 00:13:10.419 --> 00:13:11.039 is very simple. 00:13:12.220 --> 00:13:13.179 Is that the teachers, 00:13:13.320 --> 00:13:14.039 these new teachers, 00:13:14.200 --> 00:13:15.059 they are saying 00:13:15.059 --> 00:13:17.440 that the death of Jesus, 00:13:17.720 --> 00:13:18.659 it is enough 00:13:18.659 --> 00:13:19.279 to get you in, 00:13:19.340 --> 00:13:20.000 yeah, okay, 00:13:20.379 --> 00:13:22.120 but it is not enough 00:13:22.120 --> 00:13:22.939 to help you grow 00:13:22.939 --> 00:13:23.960 and to continue. 00:13:24.200 --> 00:13:25.279 And they are insisting 00:13:25.279 --> 00:13:28.139 on this impeccably fine 00:13:28.139 --> 00:13:29.820 religious way 00:13:29.820 --> 00:13:31.960 to help Jesus along. 00:13:33.720 --> 00:13:34.679 And it's really important 00:13:34.679 --> 00:13:35.120 for you and I 00:13:35.120 --> 00:13:35.860 to see this 00:13:35.860 --> 00:13:38.659 because false teaching 00:13:38.659 --> 00:13:39.379 in the church 00:13:39.379 --> 00:13:41.879 very rarely denies 00:13:41.879 --> 00:13:43.860 that Jesus is the Son of God. 00:13:43.860 --> 00:13:47.159 or it does not deny 00:13:47.159 --> 00:13:48.039 that Jesus died 00:13:48.039 --> 00:13:48.740 on the cross. 00:13:51.139 --> 00:13:52.019 But what it does 00:13:52.019 --> 00:13:52.740 is it says 00:13:52.740 --> 00:13:54.720 that we would be safer 00:13:54.720 --> 00:13:55.200 with God 00:13:55.200 --> 00:13:56.460 if we just add 00:13:56.460 --> 00:13:57.560 a little bit to that. 00:13:59.139 --> 00:14:00.080 If we add 00:14:00.080 --> 00:14:01.419 some religious practice 00:14:01.419 --> 00:14:04.159 or some virtue 00:14:04.159 --> 00:14:05.960 that we can do, 00:14:06.039 --> 00:14:06.860 we add that 00:14:06.860 --> 00:14:07.720 to what Jesus has done. 00:14:07.720 --> 00:14:11.399 And it's the constant temptation 00:14:11.399 --> 00:14:11.960 of my heart 00:14:11.960 --> 00:14:12.600 and your heart. 00:14:13.879 --> 00:14:15.360 The constant danger 00:14:15.360 --> 00:14:16.120 throughout the history 00:14:16.120 --> 00:14:16.879 of the church 00:14:16.879 --> 00:14:18.700 has been to try 00:14:18.700 --> 00:14:19.560 and complete 00:14:19.560 --> 00:14:21.500 what Jesus has done. 00:14:22.899 --> 00:14:24.120 To begin to operate 00:14:24.120 --> 00:14:25.399 as if we've got something 00:14:25.399 --> 00:14:26.460 to add to the ministry 00:14:26.460 --> 00:14:27.019 of Jesus 00:14:27.019 --> 00:14:28.800 on the cross. 00:14:28.799 --> 00:14:31.059 And what we do 00:14:31.059 --> 00:14:31.579 is we take 00:14:31.579 --> 00:14:32.740 perfectly good things 00:14:32.740 --> 00:14:33.279 in themselves 00:14:33.279 --> 00:14:35.859 and we begin 00:14:35.859 --> 00:14:36.299 to insist 00:14:36.299 --> 00:14:37.219 that my effectiveness 00:14:37.219 --> 00:14:39.240 and my usefulness 00:14:39.240 --> 00:14:40.879 and my growth 00:14:40.879 --> 00:14:42.620 as a Christian 00:14:42.620 --> 00:14:43.120 depends 00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:44.620 not on Jesus Christ 00:14:44.620 --> 00:14:46.419 but on 00:14:46.419 --> 00:14:47.639 that something else 00:14:47.639 --> 00:14:48.679 in addition to Christ. 00:14:51.299 --> 00:14:52.120 And Paul says here 00:14:52.120 --> 00:14:52.579 everyone 00:14:52.579 --> 00:14:54.159 who receives circumcision 00:14:54.159 --> 00:14:54.819 is bound. 00:14:55.159 --> 00:14:55.799 They are obligated 00:14:55.799 --> 00:14:56.299 to keep the whole 00:14:56.299 --> 00:14:56.679 of the law. 00:14:58.799 --> 00:14:59.500 And I think 00:14:59.500 --> 00:15:00.359 that's quite devastating. 00:15:02.379 --> 00:15:03.779 Why is Paul 00:15:03.779 --> 00:15:04.659 the apostle 00:15:04.659 --> 00:15:06.120 making such a fuss? 00:15:06.759 --> 00:15:07.019 I mean 00:15:07.019 --> 00:15:08.939 all the teaching 00:15:08.939 --> 00:15:09.500 of the Bible 00:15:09.500 --> 00:15:10.439 all the teaching 00:15:10.439 --> 00:15:10.919 of the gospel 00:15:10.919 --> 00:15:11.719 hones in 00:15:11.719 --> 00:15:13.120 on this one little point. 00:15:14.179 --> 00:15:15.379 On this one 00:15:15.379 --> 00:15:17.079 absurd 00:15:17.079 --> 00:15:19.000 trivial 00:15:19.000 --> 00:15:19.959 religious right. 00:15:22.219 --> 00:15:23.679 And so in every age 00:15:23.679 --> 00:15:24.439 there have been teachers 00:15:24.439 --> 00:15:25.019 in the church 00:15:25.019 --> 00:15:25.500 who've said 00:15:25.500 --> 00:15:27.279 it's a very small thing. 00:15:27.279 --> 00:15:29.620 why make such a fuss? 00:15:31.480 --> 00:15:32.319 If you've been 00:15:32.319 --> 00:15:33.100 on the eldership 00:15:33.100 --> 00:15:33.759 in Galatia 00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:36.379 in one of the churches 00:15:36.379 --> 00:15:37.079 and there's teachers 00:15:37.079 --> 00:15:37.439 of the law 00:15:37.439 --> 00:15:37.959 who'd come along 00:15:37.959 --> 00:15:38.139 and say 00:15:38.139 --> 00:15:38.339 listen 00:15:38.339 --> 00:15:39.439 we just need 00:15:39.439 --> 00:15:39.879 to keep 00:15:39.879 --> 00:15:41.079 certain feast days. 00:15:43.439 --> 00:15:44.559 We need to abstain 00:15:44.559 --> 00:15:45.379 from certain foods. 00:15:45.539 --> 00:15:47.139 We need 00:15:47.139 --> 00:15:48.419 just the 00:15:48.419 --> 00:15:50.059 boys of the church 00:15:50.059 --> 00:15:50.980 to be circumcised. 00:15:51.779 --> 00:15:52.279 I wonder 00:15:52.279 --> 00:15:52.959 what we'd have done. 00:15:52.960 --> 00:15:56.680 Maybe we would have 00:15:56.680 --> 00:15:57.120 welcomed it. 00:15:57.180 --> 00:15:57.560 Maybe we would have 00:15:57.560 --> 00:15:58.139 thought well it's an 00:15:58.139 --> 00:15:59.340 alternative understanding 00:15:59.340 --> 00:16:01.160 of Christian spirituality. 00:16:01.840 --> 00:16:02.879 It's not my position 00:16:02.879 --> 00:16:03.500 but I understand 00:16:03.500 --> 00:16:04.300 where you're coming from 00:16:04.300 --> 00:16:06.360 and it's not going to hurt 00:16:06.360 --> 00:16:07.139 anyone else. 00:16:09.860 --> 00:16:10.660 But what is really 00:16:10.660 --> 00:16:11.120 at stake 00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:12.700 when you do that? 00:16:14.519 --> 00:16:15.259 A few years ago 00:16:15.259 --> 00:16:15.740 I was working 00:16:15.740 --> 00:16:16.700 upstairs in 00:16:16.700 --> 00:16:17.220 Cafe Nero 00:16:17.220 --> 00:16:18.220 at Ealing Broadway 00:16:18.220 --> 00:16:20.580 and I began to notice 00:16:20.580 --> 00:16:21.180 there were people 00:16:21.180 --> 00:16:22.080 at the tables 00:16:22.080 --> 00:16:23.000 at the cafe 00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:23.720 in 00:16:23.720 --> 00:16:25.340 Cafe Nero 00:16:25.340 --> 00:16:25.940 who had 00:16:25.940 --> 00:16:27.080 their Bibles opened. 00:16:27.740 --> 00:16:28.440 I don't know if you've seen that. 00:16:29.259 --> 00:16:29.779 And so what do you do 00:16:29.779 --> 00:16:30.259 when you see somebody 00:16:30.259 --> 00:16:30.860 with a Bible open? 00:16:30.980 --> 00:16:31.700 You're so glad 00:16:31.700 --> 00:16:32.540 you go over to them 00:16:32.540 --> 00:16:32.840 and you say 00:16:32.840 --> 00:16:34.500 you say it's quite as you can 00:16:34.500 --> 00:16:35.360 I'm actually a Christian 00:16:35.360 --> 00:16:36.279 it's a great book isn't it? 00:16:36.480 --> 00:16:36.820 It's a great book. 00:16:37.139 --> 00:16:38.460 And they were very very friendly 00:16:38.460 --> 00:16:39.360 they began to talk to me 00:16:39.360 --> 00:16:41.340 they began to talk about 00:16:41.340 --> 00:16:41.860 the Lord Jesus 00:16:41.860 --> 00:16:44.480 they found out I was a minister 00:16:44.480 --> 00:16:45.879 they found out I came to this church 00:16:45.879 --> 00:16:47.379 and they wanted to know about it 00:16:47.379 --> 00:16:48.639 and we exchanged numbers. 00:16:49.580 --> 00:16:50.620 They go to a Bible study 00:16:50.620 --> 00:16:51.820 in central London 00:16:51.820 --> 00:16:53.399 loads and loads of young people 00:16:53.399 --> 00:16:54.200 20s and 30s 00:16:54.200 --> 00:16:54.980 and it would be great 00:16:54.980 --> 00:16:55.939 why don't you come along 00:16:55.939 --> 00:16:56.860 why don't you bring 00:16:56.860 --> 00:16:57.759 some of your people to come along? 00:17:00.259 --> 00:17:01.320 And we began to engage 00:17:01.320 --> 00:17:02.399 they began to ask 00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:03.759 what I thought about different things 00:17:03.759 --> 00:17:04.960 and then they began to ask 00:17:04.960 --> 00:17:05.640 about baptism. 00:17:08.160 --> 00:17:09.319 And what was really interesting 00:17:09.319 --> 00:17:10.220 is they were part of a church 00:17:10.220 --> 00:17:10.819 called the London 00:17:10.819 --> 00:17:11.680 well it isn't the church 00:17:11.680 --> 00:17:12.059 it's a sect 00:17:12.059 --> 00:17:12.759 they're called the London 00:17:12.759 --> 00:17:13.980 International Church of Christ 00:17:13.980 --> 00:17:14.759 I don't know whether you've met them. 00:17:14.759 --> 00:17:18.220 And what they're teaching was 00:17:18.220 --> 00:17:18.920 was this really 00:17:18.920 --> 00:17:19.720 when you boil down to it 00:17:19.720 --> 00:17:21.279 that you could not be saved 00:17:21.279 --> 00:17:23.019 unless you'd been fully baptised 00:17:23.019 --> 00:17:24.599 by one of their authorised leaders. 00:17:25.599 --> 00:17:26.960 You could not be 00:17:26.960 --> 00:17:27.819 a Christian 00:17:27.819 --> 00:17:29.640 you could not be a child of God 00:17:29.640 --> 00:17:30.519 unless you had been 00:17:30.519 --> 00:17:31.900 fully baptised 00:17:31.900 --> 00:17:33.480 by one of their recognised leaders. 00:17:35.960 --> 00:17:38.200 It was a gospel plus. 00:17:38.200 --> 00:17:41.580 It was Jesus plus. 00:17:43.740 --> 00:17:45.940 You've got to be baptised by us. 00:17:46.920 --> 00:17:48.200 You've got to do what 00:17:48.200 --> 00:17:49.980 we tell you to do. 00:17:51.940 --> 00:17:53.059 And the Apostle Paul says 00:17:53.059 --> 00:17:54.200 something very very simple 00:17:54.200 --> 00:17:54.900 he says this 00:17:54.900 --> 00:17:58.100 if you add something to Jesus 00:17:58.100 --> 00:18:00.019 Jesus vanishes. 00:18:02.019 --> 00:18:04.539 Christ plus circumcision. 00:18:04.539 --> 00:18:07.740 Christ plus anything 00:18:07.740 --> 00:18:08.819 leaves you with nothing. 00:18:10.500 --> 00:18:12.779 And if you add circumcision to Christ 00:18:12.779 --> 00:18:14.759 you're seeking to complete 00:18:14.759 --> 00:18:16.440 the work of Jesus on the cross. 00:18:18.700 --> 00:18:20.180 You cannot have Jesus 00:18:20.180 --> 00:18:22.039 do half the work of saving us. 00:18:23.180 --> 00:18:25.039 Either he does all the work 00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:25.779 of saving us 00:18:25.779 --> 00:18:27.799 or none at all. 00:18:29.279 --> 00:18:29.859 And you see the way 00:18:29.859 --> 00:18:30.259 that it works 00:18:30.259 --> 00:18:30.960 look at verse 9 00:18:30.960 --> 00:18:31.619 Paul says 00:18:31.619 --> 00:18:32.519 a little leaven 00:18:32.519 --> 00:18:34.199 leavens the whole lump. 00:18:36.419 --> 00:18:37.339 And do you remember lockdown? 00:18:37.500 --> 00:18:38.619 Those glorious days of lockdown. 00:18:39.839 --> 00:18:40.559 Different things went there. 00:18:40.599 --> 00:18:41.659 People got into making bread. 00:18:42.599 --> 00:18:42.839 Remember that? 00:18:43.559 --> 00:18:44.719 And everyone was making bread 00:18:44.719 --> 00:18:46.859 and I didn't make it surprisingly. 00:18:47.819 --> 00:18:49.359 But you get a little bit of yeast 00:18:49.359 --> 00:18:49.899 don't you? 00:18:50.059 --> 00:18:51.919 And you put it into the 00:18:51.919 --> 00:18:54.259 pan pot. 00:18:55.859 --> 00:18:58.279 And you put it into the dough 00:18:58.279 --> 00:19:00.219 and it was amazing wasn't it? 00:19:00.220 --> 00:19:01.180 The shapes that came out 00:19:01.180 --> 00:19:01.940 before people knew 00:19:01.940 --> 00:19:02.440 what they were doing? 00:19:02.779 --> 00:19:03.759 You'd have these monsters 00:19:03.759 --> 00:19:04.839 growing in the oven. 00:19:05.620 --> 00:19:08.680 Because a tiny, tiny little bit of yeast 00:19:08.680 --> 00:19:11.539 affects the whole dough. 00:19:11.960 --> 00:19:12.740 The whole lump. 00:19:14.539 --> 00:19:15.480 And it's exactly here. 00:19:15.600 --> 00:19:16.339 The same here isn't it? 00:19:16.360 --> 00:19:17.759 Paul says this tiny little thing. 00:19:19.440 --> 00:19:21.519 This little bit of false teaching. 00:19:22.319 --> 00:19:23.700 Doesn't deny who Jesus is. 00:19:24.039 --> 00:19:25.120 Doesn't deny what he's done. 00:19:25.440 --> 00:19:26.779 But you just need something extra. 00:19:26.779 --> 00:19:30.079 And it ruins the whole lump. 00:19:33.240 --> 00:19:36.399 The devil very, very rarely 00:19:36.399 --> 00:19:38.879 goes for a full frontal attack 00:19:38.879 --> 00:19:39.399 on the gospel. 00:19:41.180 --> 00:19:42.160 But what the devil does 00:19:42.160 --> 00:19:42.839 is he just adds 00:19:42.839 --> 00:19:43.700 a little something to it. 00:19:44.819 --> 00:19:46.359 He adds something fine to it 00:19:46.359 --> 00:19:47.599 and the yeast spreads 00:19:47.599 --> 00:19:49.399 through every part. 00:19:49.400 --> 00:19:52.580 And it's very interesting 00:19:52.580 --> 00:19:53.780 is that what he does 00:19:53.780 --> 00:19:54.920 is the way that he does it 00:19:54.920 --> 00:19:55.600 is he does it 00:19:55.600 --> 00:19:56.920 through individual teachers. 00:19:58.140 --> 00:19:59.420 Individual men and women. 00:19:59.519 --> 00:20:00.220 Look at verse 10. 00:20:04.300 --> 00:20:04.680 He says, 00:20:04.780 --> 00:20:05.840 I have confidence in the Lord 00:20:05.840 --> 00:20:06.660 that you will take 00:20:06.660 --> 00:20:08.060 no other view than mine 00:20:08.060 --> 00:20:10.019 and he who is troubling you. 00:20:10.480 --> 00:20:11.880 I wonder whether he was there 00:20:11.880 --> 00:20:12.640 when this was read. 00:20:13.340 --> 00:20:14.600 It's an individual, isn't it? 00:20:14.599 --> 00:20:18.019 He who is troubling you 00:20:18.019 --> 00:20:23.799 and the one who is troubling you 00:20:23.799 --> 00:20:25.119 will bear the penalty 00:20:25.119 --> 00:20:25.839 whoever he is. 00:20:28.019 --> 00:20:28.859 I mean, until now, 00:20:28.959 --> 00:20:29.939 it's been a group of teachers. 00:20:31.559 --> 00:20:35.079 But this gospel plus teaching 00:20:35.079 --> 00:20:36.119 never enters a church 00:20:36.119 --> 00:20:37.679 in some kind of abstract form. 00:20:39.659 --> 00:20:40.480 This kind of gospel, 00:20:40.659 --> 00:20:41.279 Jesus plus, 00:20:41.399 --> 00:20:42.480 never enters, 00:20:42.599 --> 00:20:43.899 just floats its way in. 00:20:43.900 --> 00:20:45.100 It comes through individuals 00:20:45.100 --> 00:20:46.700 and this individual is clearly, 00:20:46.860 --> 00:20:47.019 isn't he, 00:20:47.040 --> 00:20:47.860 an eminent person. 00:20:47.940 --> 00:20:48.700 They know who he is 00:20:48.700 --> 00:20:51.019 and he's teaching the gospel plus. 00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:54.120 Paul earlier on has said, 00:20:54.259 --> 00:20:55.480 I don't care if it's an angel 00:20:55.480 --> 00:20:56.100 from heaven 00:20:56.100 --> 00:20:59.480 but if he teaches another gospel, 00:20:59.600 --> 00:21:00.100 whoever he is, 00:21:00.160 --> 00:21:00.920 God will judge him. 00:21:00.980 --> 00:21:01.600 Let him be accursed. 00:21:05.000 --> 00:21:05.940 And you might think, 00:21:06.100 --> 00:21:07.320 after all this kind of 00:21:07.320 --> 00:21:07.960 what we've done, 00:21:08.120 --> 00:21:09.280 kind of digging into Galatians, 00:21:09.820 --> 00:21:10.820 that the gospel plus 00:21:10.820 --> 00:21:12.180 is such a silly thing. 00:21:12.840 --> 00:21:13.880 Why is it so tempting? 00:21:13.900 --> 00:21:16.440 Why is it so tempting 00:21:16.440 --> 00:21:17.420 for churches like us 00:21:17.420 --> 00:21:18.940 just to add a little something 00:21:18.940 --> 00:21:19.380 to the gospel? 00:21:19.500 --> 00:21:20.519 It's because of verse 11. 00:21:22.880 --> 00:21:24.120 The reason is 00:21:24.120 --> 00:21:24.900 because it neutralizes 00:21:25.800 --> 00:21:27.160 the scandal of the gospel. 00:21:29.720 --> 00:21:30.980 The Christian gospel 00:21:30.980 --> 00:21:32.440 begins by offending you. 00:21:34.180 --> 00:21:36.160 It's why people don't just slide 00:21:36.160 --> 00:21:37.300 into becoming Christians. 00:21:37.880 --> 00:21:38.780 They need to feel 00:21:38.780 --> 00:21:40.060 the offense of the gospel. 00:21:40.340 --> 00:21:41.780 And if you have never been offended 00:21:41.779 --> 00:21:43.200 by the cross of Jesus Christ, 00:21:43.319 --> 00:21:44.460 you've not understood it. 00:21:45.960 --> 00:21:47.240 Because the cross of Jesus Christ 00:21:47.240 --> 00:21:47.980 comes to you and I 00:21:47.980 --> 00:21:48.240 and says, 00:21:48.440 --> 00:21:49.940 you are so far from God, 00:21:50.660 --> 00:21:52.240 you are so far from God 00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:54.700 that it required his son 00:21:54.700 --> 00:21:55.839 to be slaughtered for you. 00:21:57.319 --> 00:21:58.299 You are so lost, 00:21:58.399 --> 00:21:58.960 you're so weak, 00:21:59.039 --> 00:21:59.779 you're so rebellious 00:21:59.779 --> 00:22:00.500 that nothing less 00:22:00.500 --> 00:22:01.859 than the death of his own son 00:22:01.859 --> 00:22:03.660 is enough to free us. 00:22:03.660 --> 00:22:07.460 But the gospel plus message 00:22:07.460 --> 00:22:08.480 comes to you and says, 00:22:08.740 --> 00:22:11.320 well, it downplays the negatives 00:22:11.320 --> 00:22:12.540 and it says, 00:22:12.640 --> 00:22:13.860 you're not so radically lost. 00:22:15.100 --> 00:22:15.600 And there are things 00:22:15.600 --> 00:22:16.140 that you can do. 00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:16.620 There are things 00:22:16.620 --> 00:22:17.420 that are visible. 00:22:17.800 --> 00:22:18.220 There are things 00:22:18.220 --> 00:22:18.759 that are physical 00:22:18.759 --> 00:22:20.220 that you can do 00:22:20.220 --> 00:22:21.240 to show your sincerity 00:22:21.240 --> 00:22:22.900 that can gain your salvation. 00:22:25.400 --> 00:22:26.800 Is it not the role of religion 00:22:26.800 --> 00:22:28.420 to make you more morally responsible? 00:22:28.420 --> 00:22:31.900 Of course, the New Testament, 00:22:32.279 --> 00:22:34.300 it does call us to good works, 00:22:34.380 --> 00:22:34.779 doesn't it? 00:22:36.180 --> 00:22:37.480 But our motivation 00:22:37.480 --> 00:22:39.180 is the thing that demonstrates 00:22:39.180 --> 00:22:41.480 our freedom or our slavery. 00:22:43.080 --> 00:22:44.440 Do I do good works 00:22:44.440 --> 00:22:46.259 to assure me of God's acceptance? 00:22:48.259 --> 00:22:49.539 If I do good works 00:22:49.539 --> 00:22:51.100 to assure myself of God's acceptance, 00:22:51.539 --> 00:22:52.620 then loving other people 00:22:52.620 --> 00:22:54.060 becomes a way of manipulating you 00:22:54.060 --> 00:22:56.720 because I am loving you 00:22:56.720 --> 00:22:58.039 so that I can build my account 00:22:58.039 --> 00:22:58.579 with God. 00:23:00.379 --> 00:23:01.299 And the problem 00:23:01.299 --> 00:23:03.099 with living that way 00:23:03.099 --> 00:23:05.000 is it is a life of slavery 00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:07.859 because when something gets 00:23:07.859 --> 00:23:09.079 in the way of my loving you, 00:23:09.839 --> 00:23:10.920 I become blocked 00:23:10.920 --> 00:23:12.220 and I become angry 00:23:12.220 --> 00:23:13.240 or I become frightened 00:23:13.240 --> 00:23:14.299 or I become depressed. 00:23:16.879 --> 00:23:17.920 But when we act 00:23:17.920 --> 00:23:19.420 on the basis of Jesus Christ, 00:23:21.420 --> 00:23:22.899 then I am acting 00:23:22.899 --> 00:23:23.839 out of the fact 00:23:23.839 --> 00:23:25.920 that God has accepted me 00:23:25.920 --> 00:23:28.800 and God loves me 00:23:28.800 --> 00:23:31.600 and there is nothing 00:23:31.600 --> 00:23:32.759 that I can do 00:23:32.759 --> 00:23:34.539 that can change that. 00:23:35.740 --> 00:23:37.660 And so I am free. 00:23:37.660 --> 00:23:40.940 I am free to love 00:23:40.940 --> 00:23:42.420 for the sake of love 00:23:42.420 --> 00:23:43.420 because it is only 00:23:43.420 --> 00:23:44.580 through Jesus Christ 00:23:44.580 --> 00:23:46.120 and it is only 00:23:46.120 --> 00:23:46.759 through the cross 00:23:46.759 --> 00:23:47.380 of Jesus Christ 00:23:47.380 --> 00:23:48.200 that I am brought in. 00:23:49.620 --> 00:23:50.680 And it is only 00:23:50.680 --> 00:23:51.400 through the cross 00:23:51.400 --> 00:23:52.220 of Jesus Christ 00:23:52.220 --> 00:23:53.620 that we are grown up 00:23:53.620 --> 00:23:54.259 and it's only 00:23:54.259 --> 00:23:55.000 through the cross 00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:55.500 of Christ 00:23:55.500 --> 00:23:56.580 that we are brought 00:23:56.580 --> 00:23:57.120 to heaven. 00:23:57.119 --> 00:24:01.559 it is gloriously liberating. 00:24:02.679 --> 00:24:03.479 But I don't have 00:24:03.479 --> 00:24:04.500 to be afraid of you. 00:24:04.619 --> 00:24:05.519 I don't have to be afraid 00:24:05.519 --> 00:24:06.339 of what people think of. 00:24:06.399 --> 00:24:07.339 I don't have to be afraid 00:24:07.339 --> 00:24:08.059 of failure 00:24:08.059 --> 00:24:12.879 because the life I live, 00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:13.899 I live by faith 00:24:13.899 --> 00:24:14.859 in the Son of God 00:24:14.859 --> 00:24:15.559 who loved me 00:24:15.559 --> 00:24:16.979 and gave himself for me 00:24:16.979 --> 00:24:18.459 and God could not 00:24:18.459 --> 00:24:19.219 love me anymore. 00:24:22.139 --> 00:24:23.239 And so for freedom, 00:24:24.659 --> 00:24:25.619 Christ set us free. 00:24:27.119 --> 00:24:28.939 Stand firm, therefore. 00:24:30.219 --> 00:24:32.739 And do not submit again 00:24:32.739 --> 00:24:35.559 to the yoke of slavery. 00:24:36.619 --> 00:24:37.979 And all the people said, 00:24:38.939 --> 00:24:39.179 Amen. 00:24:39.519 --> 00:24:40.019 Let's pray.