Galatians 3:23-25;4:4-7

Bought in the market, brought to the family

Intro: boy builds boat, loses it, has to buy it back (now, you’re twice mine)

Prisoners

23, Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law,

The purpose of the Law—never to save us

24, the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ

Locked up until faith should be revealed

Sin enslaves us

If there was any other way, Christ died in vain (Gal 2.21)

It is human nature to want to DO something for salvation

24b, That we might be justified by faith.

Declared righteous

Salvation is past (justified), present (sanctified), and future (glorified)

Free

25, Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision (schoolmaster) of the law

The law convicts, restrains, and condemns, but does not save

No longer in bondage.

4, But when the time had fully come,

Jesus: Not my time

God sent his Son

Erupted on the scene for a 33-year period

born of a woman (Gen 3:15)

born under law,

He fulfilled the law

He did what no one else could

5, To redeem (agorazo) those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.

Regeneration gives us the relationship

Adoption gives us the position

Indwelt

6, Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father."

7, So you are no longer a slave, but a son;

and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

No longer need a schoolmaster—believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit

Conclusion: boy loses boat and buys it back. We were lost, but God has bought us back into His family

Gal. 5:22 1 Cor. 13:4-8

Love Charity never fails

Joy Rejoices in the truth

Peace Envies not; not easily provoked

Longsuffering Suffers Long

Gentleness Kind

Goodness Thinks no Evil

Faith Bears/Believes/Hopes/Endures all things

Meekness Vaunts not itself; is not puffed up

Temperance Does not behave unseemly

Preached by Rev. Rick Blue, BBC Chapel, Nov. 12, 1986

Preaching portion: Gal. 6:11-17

Subject: Legalism

Theme/Proposition:

Introduction:

Legalists tried to corrupt the gospel of grace. They emphasize the external for salvation or Christian living. They try to impress people.

The world is not impressed with what we do or don't do. The world is impressed with what God does. Short hair and long dresses--hare krishnas have us all beat. Ps. 126--not what they did, but what God did.

1A The motive of Paul's ministry vv. 12-14

1B To glorify God

2B Legalist's motive is self-glorification (fair show in the flesh)

3B Don't blame car salesman when car fails, but maker. Not what my brethern think of me, but God.

• "God can do great things through the man or woman who cares not who gets the credit"--Anon.

2A The measure of Paul's ministry vv. 15&16

1B Rule--measured in a straight manner. External is not a true measure

2B 2 Cor. 10--the only measure is what God gives

3B Gal. 5:26--man's standards mean nothing; God's do

3A The marks of Paul's ministry v. 17

1B Marks--stigmata: puncture wound that keeps on bleeding; carried with you always; stigma

2B Ph'p. 2:5-9--Jesus had to go through cradle and cross before the crown

3B Gal. 2:20

Conclusion:

Check you motive. Leave the measuring to God. Prepare yourself for the marks