back to indexBerean Community Church Wednesday Bible Study Galatians 6:16-18
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We're gonna go ahead and get started with some praise. 00:05:13.900 |
I'll just pray for us and then we'll go into it. 00:05:33.520 |
that you would be glorified in these lyrics as we sing them, 00:05:45.520 |
So thank you again, I pray all this in Jesus' name, amen. 00:06:10.240 |
♪ When your love reached down with sovereign hands ♪ 00:06:45.840 |
♪ We are heirs with Christ but by his blood ♪ 00:06:55.400 |
♪ Oh, how great the love that we've been shown ♪ 00:07:09.480 |
♪ To your children now you've made us your own ♪ 00:08:09.560 |
♪ We are heirs with Christ but by his blood ♪ 00:08:19.200 |
♪ Oh, how great the love that we've been shown ♪ 00:08:33.400 |
♪ To your children now you've made us your own ♪ 00:08:48.120 |
♪ We are heirs with Christ but by his blood ♪ 00:09:02.040 |
♪ Oh, how great the love that we've been shown ♪ 00:09:07.040 |
♪ To your children now you've made us your own ♪ 00:09:16.640 |
♪ To your children now you've made us your own ♪ 00:13:23.340 |
Lord, I thank you again for bringing us here. 00:13:34.180 |
God, that your grace was given to us in Christ. 00:13:43.300 |
Lord, as we share what you've been teaching us, 00:13:54.340 |
and a bit of a break, Lord, help us to hold fast 00:14:00.580 |
through this study, and that you would continue 00:14:06.700 |
So Father, just bless the conversations tonight. 01:01:33.500 |
- Okay, for those of you guys who are in the rooms, 01:04:26.380 |
Heavenly Father, we thank you for your precious word. 01:04:30.940 |
We thank you, God, that you grant to us light, 01:04:39.500 |
even if the letter is correcting and rebuking, 01:04:46.400 |
Lord, ultimately, that you exercise your power 01:04:49.860 |
to draw us near and closer to the image of Christ. 01:04:52.660 |
We thank you, Lord, it's in Jesus' name, amen. 01:05:07.180 |
talk about the passage on top of your eating. 01:05:16.820 |
and it says, "And those who will walk by this rule, 01:05:24.780 |
"From now on, let no one cause trouble for me, 01:05:27.420 |
"for I bear on my body the brand marks of Jesus. 01:05:31.220 |
"The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, 01:05:36.500 |
When I think about just concluding segments of any letter 01:05:49.260 |
blessed be God, may he bless you, amen, goodbye, right? 01:06:02.240 |
into those few words, and it's no different here. 01:06:27.100 |
of what he's saying, is you guys saw the way of law, 01:06:31.180 |
you guys saw the way of fleshly righteousness, 01:06:34.780 |
but I wanted you to see the way of true blessing, 01:06:41.920 |
just like summarized into one simple sentence. 01:06:45.060 |
But in a more narrow and specific observation, 01:06:47.520 |
we wanna ask the question, what rule is he talking about? 01:06:54.680 |
Now, I thought the term for rule was quite interesting 01:06:57.900 |
and worthy of our time, because it's the word canon. 01:07:13.860 |
you hang a weight to make sure that something 01:07:16.280 |
is straight and true as it's being constructed, 01:07:27.200 |
it's worthy for us to ask, how would you summarize 01:07:41.200 |
what he was saying in a very specific argument. 01:07:59.260 |
the beauty in just that statement, a new creation, okay? 01:08:06.960 |
It's because then, in contrast, just doctrinal assent, 01:08:19.420 |
oh, I am now part of the crew, I am now part of this camp, 01:08:24.220 |
I am now in this Bible teaching church, is that enough? 01:08:35.780 |
living according to the flesh, once living in slavery, 01:08:44.620 |
One who was living in anger, one who was living 01:08:46.820 |
in fits of rage, in all the deeds of the flesh, 01:08:50.080 |
to one who is going to be living in the newness of Christ. 01:08:57.460 |
is not according to the rule, it doesn't measure up. 01:09:05.400 |
Chapter four, chapter six, if I can actually summarize 01:09:12.440 |
a nonstop contrast to help you see the difference, right? 01:09:16.760 |
It was like a, hey, do you know what it actually means 01:09:20.220 |
for you to think that you can abide in this good, holy law? 01:09:25.100 |
Slavery, utter slavery, you can't do it, right? 01:09:28.780 |
And it was trying to show us, this is the way of the law 01:09:40.180 |
Do you guys remember this sloppy little comparison 01:09:48.300 |
because I know you know it, you guys memorized it 01:09:51.660 |
This was trying to show us there has been from long ago, 01:09:58.060 |
ages ago, the way of the flesh, the way of the law, 01:10:03.060 |
the way of man's own decisions, our own solutions, 01:10:10.500 |
And he gave example after example and one particularly 01:10:13.340 |
he talked about, back there was the free woman, Sarah, 01:10:22.460 |
because we knew in ourselves there is a huge difference 01:10:25.740 |
operating and trusting God versus making my own 01:10:29.340 |
silly, miniature, small, fruitless, empty solutions. 01:10:36.880 |
Can you tell the difference when a false teacher 01:10:38.660 |
comes to you and say, you gotta be about this new movement 01:10:41.700 |
of secret friendly, this and this, and this is how 01:10:44.100 |
you really make the church go, and you're saying, 01:10:54.940 |
This is how we're gonna solve the woes of the society. 01:10:59.740 |
All we need to do is be about justice and this? 01:11:02.460 |
Can you tell the difference with all the movements 01:11:17.100 |
as we review Galatians was if there is anything, 01:11:21.060 |
anything that takes away from the sufficiency 01:11:23.580 |
and the dire necessity of Christ, that's not faith. 01:11:30.440 |
Another example, if even in your own personal life 01:11:42.420 |
oh my goodness, all of that is just X, Y, and Z 01:11:52.700 |
Are you looking for miniature, small, fruitless, 01:12:00.060 |
Or are you looking for greater faith, sanctification, 01:12:09.260 |
and summary of what the book has been trying to show us, 01:12:26.860 |
and you had better job, better this and better that? 01:12:42.600 |
The rule is new creation in Christ, this is the rule. 01:12:49.420 |
walking by the spirit, and it has to be the spirit 01:12:51.960 |
because it's by faith, and it's by faith because of Christ. 01:12:54.900 |
Christ is all, and therefore, that's the rule, 01:13:04.420 |
in summary, peace and mercy be upon those then 01:13:18.260 |
of what peace and what mercy is he talking about, okay? 01:13:23.160 |
Now, we know that this book in the latter chapters 01:13:33.160 |
we're gonna bear the fruits of the spirit, right? 01:13:35.820 |
So, one of the repeat themes that we hit week after week 01:13:53.500 |
is joy, is peace, patience, kindness, goodness, 01:14:02.540 |
Question, do you as a Christian genuinely value, okay, 01:14:07.540 |
the treasure of your sanctification and maturity 01:14:27.560 |
Do you value the treasure of your own spiritual maturity, 01:14:32.560 |
your heart condition of I know how to be content, 01:14:37.260 |
I know how to have peace, I know how to go through struggle. 01:14:40.520 |
Do you value the growth of your mind, your faith, 01:14:49.420 |
Well, scripture says, you know, your sanctification, 01:15:02.860 |
It's so valuable, bring on all the suffering, 01:15:05.500 |
because if that produces the treasure and gold 01:15:18.980 |
has been all about these fruits must be evident in you, 01:15:23.940 |
and primarily these, peace and the mercies of God. 01:15:37.840 |
but in everything by prayer and supplication. 01:15:40.440 |
With thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 01:15:43.640 |
And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, 01:15:47.180 |
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 01:15:59.940 |
where we can take all our anxiety at the foot of the cross. 01:16:13.020 |
I have learned the secret of being fulfilled. 01:16:16.080 |
Going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. 01:16:21.500 |
May this be the treasure that is blessed for the Christian. 01:16:25.880 |
When we are parents, we want our kids to have all things. 01:16:45.120 |
that some of your parents went overboard, right? 01:17:10.980 |
If you think about, if you think about Galatians, 01:17:18.720 |
is a temptation to compromise the gospel, why? 01:17:22.200 |
Because they thought they were gonna be ostracized. 01:17:45.200 |
be blessed simply with acceptance from the world, 01:17:48.520 |
but rather, they would know this secret, amen? 01:17:54.560 |
In verse 16, there is this interesting portion 01:18:01.760 |
Now, initially, I was gonna just say like a statement 01:18:40.320 |
Jews and Gentiles, meaning the New Testament church, 01:18:52.940 |
Those who think it's number one, raise your hand. 01:18:59.940 |
Those who think it's number three, raise your hand. 01:19:04.300 |
And then a bunch of you did not heed my request, 01:19:12.100 |
there was a good amount of people who thought it was one, 01:19:14.420 |
and a good amount of people who thought it was three. 01:19:17.460 |
I am going to take five minutes to talk about this, 01:19:24.700 |
but also, this particular passage, chapter six, verse 16, 01:19:39.020 |
We are the new Israel, we're spiritual Israel, okay? 01:19:43.940 |
at interpretive struggles, you want to look at, first, 01:19:53.360 |
So we take a look at this, and we ask this question. 01:20:00.940 |
we have those who take this rule and walk by it, 01:20:11.280 |
If we're talking as many people who would do this, 01:20:13.440 |
believe on Christ as the only way to be a new creation, 01:20:17.160 |
to be sanctified, which is the promise of the gospel. 01:20:20.040 |
We're then talking about probably Gentiles, anybody, right? 01:20:25.040 |
These, okay, them, may peace and mercy be upon them, 01:20:36.240 |
which is just a conjunction, and then the Israel of God. 01:20:45.360 |
that the and actually creates a distinction, not a unity. 01:20:56.680 |
which means that there are as many as, and Israel, 01:21:10.000 |
you would never say that Bia is the new Mark. 01:21:13.280 |
Yes, even though she is my better half, and all of that, 01:21:17.920 |
and yes, spiritually we are one, because before God we are, 01:21:21.560 |
and yes, we are joined together in an unbreakable covenant, 01:21:28.240 |
So I think the immediate text actually shows us otherwise, 01:21:37.600 |
meaning both Jews and Greeks, I mean, Jews and Gentiles, 01:21:45.180 |
The other way that you would expect it to be read is, 01:21:56.540 |
you would just have like a parenthetical statement, okay? 01:22:04.200 |
it's always good to take a look at the letter, 01:22:16.640 |
Abraham, while being physically the father of the Israelites 01:22:19.920 |
is genuinely spiritually the father of those who believe, 01:22:23.620 |
is a statement found in Galatians, namely here. 01:22:26.480 |
Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith 01:22:48.640 |
saying all the nations will be blessed in you, 01:22:53.080 |
are blessed with Abraham, the believer, right? 01:22:58.300 |
that Abraham actually, before he was even circumcised, 01:23:03.680 |
and therefore, if you're of faith, you are in his line, yes? 01:23:08.380 |
The other passage in Galatians chapter three said, 01:23:10.540 |
for you are all sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ, 01:23:14.140 |
and therefore, verse 29, if you belong to Christ, 01:23:27.940 |
like sonship, you have therefore the promises. 01:23:31.220 |
Those are all yours without any doubt or hindrance. 01:23:38.340 |
Other parts of scripture, now what we do is a systematic. 01:23:45.220 |
In Romans chapter two, it tells us he is not a Jew 01:24:06.620 |
There is no individual who's gonna be a descendant 01:24:14.500 |
This is the way that the question will phrase itself 01:24:19.300 |
Since we are spiritual children of Abraham by faith, 01:24:24.700 |
and two, not all physical descendants of Abraham 01:24:27.480 |
are actually spiritual descendants of Abraham, 01:24:30.420 |
then is the New Testament church the new Israel, okay? 01:24:43.000 |
the church absorbed or fulfilled or superseded 01:24:47.520 |
To make that argument is to follow this diagram. 01:25:14.760 |
This, therefore, here is the new Israel, okay? 01:25:30.440 |
all of his physical promises to the nation of Israel. 01:25:35.080 |
He gave them promise that they'd be a great nation. 01:25:38.560 |
He promised them that they would have a leadership role 01:25:53.100 |
There are 73 references to Israel in the New Testament. 01:25:57.080 |
None of them call the church the new spiritual Israel. 01:26:05.700 |
or we did not prove that God has no other plans 01:26:26.080 |
of the greatness and the grandeur of the mystery. 01:26:31.640 |
God gave specific promises to a chosen people, 01:26:55.760 |
we were able to receive the promises of the inheritance, 01:27:01.760 |
that you too can be adopted into the household of God. 01:27:08.420 |
for the adopted child to look at the natural born, 01:27:21.520 |
is because this question was actually addressed 01:27:26.340 |
Now, I'm gonna read to you a last couple of verses, 01:27:38.120 |
that salvation is by the sovereign choice of God 01:27:43.180 |
Then he starts to describe how the Israelites he rejected, 01:27:55.560 |
So then, God has not rejected his people, has he? 01:28:05.400 |
a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 01:28:08.320 |
He's talking about his biological, physical lineage. 01:28:13.760 |
God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. 01:28:25.680 |
They have torn down your altars, and I alone am left. 01:28:55.700 |
But if some of the branches were then broken off, 01:28:59.460 |
and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them, 01:29:13.100 |
remember that it is not you who supports the root. 01:29:17.940 |
You guys follow along what he's saying, right? 01:29:27.780 |
And if you all of a sudden think we are the main stem, 01:29:39.260 |
Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, 01:29:47.000 |
for if God did not spare the natural branches, 01:29:51.820 |
Behold, then, the kindness and severity of God, 01:29:56.240 |
to those who fell severity, but to you, God's kindness. 01:30:16.420 |
they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. 01:30:19.460 |
For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 01:30:30.420 |
So the promises of nation, the promises of land, 01:30:45.660 |
For just as you were once disobedient to God, 01:31:08.460 |
Because there's supposed to be in our hearts, 01:31:16.140 |
Here is this tree which is symbolic of the nation of Israel. 01:31:34.660 |
We had earlier the arrow pointing the other way. 01:31:52.540 |
And so that's why the scripture said in Ephesians, 01:32:02.980 |
The Gentiles could actually have God through Christ, 01:32:14.380 |
that I would have fulfillment in everything in Christ. 01:32:24.100 |
because if you think about the book of Galatians 01:32:30.180 |
he was trying to show us just what a treasure 01:32:36.620 |
That no other temptation of glory, good showing, 01:32:44.260 |
even the world, could have any sway on us, amen? 01:32:59.140 |
"From now on then, let no one cause trouble for me, 01:33:04.060 |
"for I bear on my body the brand marks of Jesus." 01:33:24.700 |
And he's just like showing them his scars, right? 01:33:28.500 |
It kinda sounds like don't mess with me, right? 01:33:46.460 |
And in some sense, he has every right to be like, 01:33:48.180 |
"You know what, all you guys, you guys need to be quiet. 01:33:53.860 |
And in some sense, in other parts of scripture, 01:34:02.340 |
And any defiance of teaching is so bad for the community, 01:34:06.980 |
and the second time they do it, kick 'em out, right? 01:34:15.740 |
because he particularly, or I guess specifically says 01:34:19.140 |
that he, right, "I don't want you to trouble me," 01:34:22.820 |
for, "because I have the brand marks of Christ," 01:34:27.340 |
he is actually saying something a little different. 01:34:32.780 |
The emphatic point is, "I belong to Christ," right? 01:34:54.300 |
I pray that we would have the same kind of conviction 01:34:59.720 |
"It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. 01:35:14.740 |
"I have been identified by the brand marks of Christ. 01:35:21.860 |
"I so belong to the Lord that I bear his branding." 01:35:33.900 |
How many times throughout our study did we talk about, 01:35:36.840 |
"Hey, do you guys struggle with the fear of man?" 01:35:41.000 |
about Apostle Peter and how he succumbed to the pressure 01:35:43.720 |
and he's like, "Yeah, maybe we don't eat with them." 01:35:48.500 |
And then we think about the pressures of the people, 01:35:59.120 |
But Apostle Paul, remember, way at the beginning 01:36:03.440 |
"Am I now trying to be pleasing in the eyes of men 01:36:14.600 |
I pray that this book was challenging to you. 01:36:16.840 |
In however you want to present yourself to the world, 01:36:21.960 |
in however you want to be accepted at school, 01:36:24.000 |
at work, and in your family, and even at church, 01:36:33.320 |
And let that be the power that we live by every day. 01:36:42.560 |
Heavenly Father, Lord God, actually, if we feared you more, 01:37:06.920 |
In this letter, they're receiving so much harsh rebuke, 01:37:12.260 |
a tone of urgency, and in many ways, a shaking up, 01:37:23.280 |
I pray, Father God, that we would be humble enough to know 01:37:31.640 |
just to pursue Christ with everything we have. 01:37:36.800 |
and we would readily be identified with Christ, 01:37:43.480 |
And in that way, Lord, I pray that our church 01:37:50.600 |
Listen, because we hit upon a couple different things, 01:37:54.440 |
I am gonna take just like two, three minutes of questions. 01:38:01.020 |
including the, you know, are we the New Testament Israel, 01:39:08.700 |
there's Hagar, there's et cetera, and then he mentions, 01:39:13.180 |
like you follow the context of that line he was saying, 01:39:23.920 |
And if an individual, that line is talking about, 01:39:27.460 |
there are people who believe, like having, right? 01:39:32.780 |
there are people who believe in solutions of, 01:39:37.340 |
It'd be very similar to seeking earthly blessings 01:39:47.740 |
There is a heavenly mindedness, a spiritual mindedness, 01:39:54.100 |
if you want to use that argument to, let's say, 01:39:56.900 |
draw an analogy to why the New Testament church is Israel, 01:40:04.660 |
because those two thoughts are actually quite separate, 01:40:25.440 |
If you guys have questions and stuff like that, 01:40:28.060 |
That's kind of a quite long running question and debate, 01:40:34.860 |
And in some sense, in my mind, it's very simple, right? 01:40:52.400 |
because we're trying to reconcile so much of scripture, 01:40:57.480 |
Please know that our doors are open to you, okay? 01:40:59.780 |
Well, I'll turn it over to Pastor Peter for announcements. 01:41:02.680 |
Can we thank Pastor Mark for leading us this? 01:41:23.560 |
It takes a lot to prepare just for the Bible study, 01:41:30.180 |
for leading us through the latter three chapters. 01:41:45.580 |
so if you guys have been married three years and under, 01:41:49.240 |
The Women's Softball, the fellowship is on Sunday, 01:42:03.700 |
and you already were planning to do softball, 01:42:07.100 |
If not, just go on our app and then find the contact people, 01:42:13.940 |
Next week, we aren't meeting on Wednesday for Bible study, 01:42:25.940 |
It was actually a time where we get together, really, 01:42:32.440 |
so it's just as important as the Bible study, right? 01:42:38.420 |
and so not just for the summer, but going forward, 01:42:42.180 |
if there's a praise and prayer, please do prioritize that, 01:42:45.780 |
'cause that's the only time that we really get together 01:42:48.440 |
on a monthly basis just to lift up the needs of the church.