3. Galatians: Starting Over {Yet Again}
The Promiser

4. The Ultimatum… How did it work out?

5. When love and acceptance Are conditional commodities That can be withheld Grace suffers and Damage is done

6. Last week: God designed the Gospel To apply to all of life Jesus is enough

7. We've believed in Something Greater Than Old Testament Law Or Man-made Religion

8. And Christ calls us to create Relationships that mirror His grace

10. Why Faith is superior to Law Unconditional vs
Why Faith is superior to Law Unconditional vs. Conditional Precedence With God vs. With Man Cure vs. Diagnostic

11. Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith” - Gal. 3

12. To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified

13. Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring

14. There is a Covenant in place And it's not man-made God has made a Promise And it is unconditional

15. Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring - Land - People - Redemption

17. “By myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son…

18. I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore

19. …and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed - Genesis 22

20. Everything after this Points to Jesus

21. - Circumcision - Passover angel - Sacrificial system - Sabbath - Firstfruits - Jubilee

22. Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath Mosaic Law

23. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ - Colossians 2

24. For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities…

25. …it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near - Hebrews 10

26. Judaizers: "Follow the shadow Or you won't find reality" Paul: "You have the reality in Jesus"

27. "You can't be accepted by God and…"

28. "You can't be accepted by God and…" "Jesus is your acceptance And his cross guarantees it"

29. Christ calls us to create Relationships that mirror His grace

31. Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring

32. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ

33. So God the Father Makes a Promise to Abraham Concerning & with God the Son That we get in on By grace through faith in Jesus

34. Put another way God's unconditional covenant Is not with you But with his Son

35. You can't mess it up If you are in Christ…

36. Jews: Priority of the Firstborn Advantages and Promises

37. This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the Promise void

38. God keeps his Covenant Which came first: God’s Promise to Abraham Or the Jewish Law?

39. Judaizers look at The Faith - Gentile Christians- As unplanned, unaccepted…new And point back to the Law As the original standard

40. But Faith is the standard The Law came 430 years later So God's Covenant of Faith Takes Precedence over the Law

41. Did God accept you fully When you placed your faith In Jesus?

42. Did God accept you fully When you placed your faith In Jesus
Did God accept you fully When you placed your faith In Jesus? Then why accept religious rules As a basis for God's acceptance?

43. Christ calls us to create Relationships that mirror His grace

44. For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise

45. If you have to earn it It's contingent upon you If God promises it It's contingent upon His willingness to keep his Word

46. So grace is better Because it came first and Because we can’t screw it up By not doing enough

47. Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made…

48. To keep sin in check To expose sin and name it And show our need for Forgiveness

49. Fall: Life will war against you - Spouse - Ground - Body "thorns and thistles"

50. Gift: If we're paying attention… Shows us our constant need For Christ Mission Drift

51. Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made…

52. …and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary
…and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one

53. Mosaic Law= Mediator plus God and man/Conditional Blessings and Cursings Tied to Land

54. …but God is one Promise is to Abraham Between Father and Son And we get in on it

55. Christ calls us to create Relationships that mirror His grace

56. - The Mosaic Law: Comes later Is conditional Comes through a man (Rather than straight from God)

57. Abrahamic Covenant: Comes from God Ratified by God Based on Faith We can't mess it up

58. Abrahamic Covenant Kills fear because it's Not performance-oriented

59. When you follow Jesus: You are called to Create the same type of relationships

60. Unconditional love Not performance-based Grace over rules I'm not your judge- I have lumber in my eye

61. How might that change: Marriage? Parenting? Friends? Work? Family?

62. The people who have had The greatest impact in my life Have been unconditional In their love and acceptance - Be that person -

63. Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not!

64. For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law

65. But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe

66. Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed

67. Kept on short leash For our own protection Noah, anyone?

68. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith

69. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith

70. Guardian= Paidagogos House slave for Greeks/Romans 6-16 yrs old Take to the place where taught But did not teach

71. Couldn't do what was needed But simply show the need And bring to the One Who could do it

72. The Law was a Diagnostic: Shows the need for a cure Until the Cure is here No more need for a diagnostic

73. Diagnostic: Marriage Kids Job Health Money

74. If I solve it outside of Jesus I missed the point And the blessing God had for me In seeking Christ

75. Relationship: I just want it to be better God: I just want you to rely on Me

76. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ

77. Judaizers: Conversion to Jewish Faith - Circumcision - Offer Sacrifice - Be baptized

78. Cut hair and nails, undress Confession of faith before 3 fathers of baptism In water- Law, encouragement Then…new garment

79. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ Jesus is your new garment Your new life

80. When we put on Christ… It changes all relationships Including marriage/romantic Parental Friends

81. I'm not your judge I don't put your weaknesses Up against my strengths And find you lacking

82. I don't keep account Of the wrongs you've done I forgive quickly and completely Because I need The same forgiveness

83. If this Faith doesn't affect My relationships It's not real

84. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus

85. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise - Galatians 3:15-29

86. Are my relationships Built on Law? Or Grace? What needs to change?

87. Am I trying to earn what Jesus has already given
Am I trying to earn what Jesus has already given? Am I making people earn My love and favor?

88. Let's Pray…

89. Questions, Comments Disagreements

91. Baptism Layman Family

92. MCW Men's Retreat iMarriage