The Unnecessary Struggle

Part 1 of the Keep in Step message series

 

Our "Keep in Step" message series will examine in-depth what Paul's letter to the Galatians tells us about walking in the guidance of God's Holy Spirit. As God the Father is, so we are meant to be. We see throughout the New Testament that we can only be like the Father by imitating the life of the Son (Jesus) by walking hand in hand with the Holy Spirit.

⁵ For we, through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. ⁶ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love. ⁷ You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? ⁸ This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you.⁹ A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. Galatians 5:5-9 (NASB)

The BIG Idea

To keep in step with the Holy Spirit, we must first rely on the work of Jesus Christ. We must let go of our natural desire to take over and instead submit to the work of Christ in our hearts and minds. We are saved by grace through faith apart from works! We must remember that we do not need to bow to the pressure of the legalists who demand we do certain deeds (haircuts, clothing, etc.) to be saved or accepted by God. If we have accepted Christ as Lord, Christ has made us His.

Important Background

Paul s letter to the Church in Galatia was probably penned around 49-50 CE while Paul was planting a congregation in Antioch. The region of Galatia from the Roman Empire is in modern day Turkey. The Galatian Church started strong, but later had Judaizers infiltrate the leadership who were teaching that Gentiles needed to follow the Levitical Law to be saved by Jesus. This was confusing the people of the early Church and putting a burden on the new believers that was not necessary. Paul wanted to straighten the misunderstanding out by going into great detail in his letter now known as the New Testament book of Galatians.

The foundation of our faith is formed by one basic truth We cannot do it in our own power. We fully rely on the Resurrection power of Jesus!

Many followers of Jesus and those exploring Christianity still believe that we can achieve righteousness by our own efforts.

The presence of the Holy Spirit in us is what enables us to call God our Father; those without the Holy Spirit do not have God as their Father.

The Holy Spirit implores us not to turn back to our old ways.

If we are to stay in step with the Holy Spirit, then we must let this notion of works righteousness go!

*Book Recommendation: The Grace Awakening by Charles Swindoll

Tell you what, son . . . you can have the car for two hours, all on your own. Only four words, but how wonderful: All on your own. I thanked him. My pulse rate must have shot up to180 as I backed out of the driveway and roared off. While cruising along all on my own, I began to think wild stuff like, this car can probably do 100 miles an hour. I could go to Galveston and back twice in two hours if I averaged 100 miles an hour. I can fly down the Gulf Freeway and even run a few lights. After all, nobody s here to say Don t! We re talking dangerous, crazy thoughts! But you know what? I didn t do any of them. I don t believe I drove above the speed limit. In fact, I distinctly remember turning into the driveway early . . . I had my Dad s car all to myself with a full gas tank in a context of total privacy and freedom, but I didn t go crazy. Why? My relationship with my Dad and my Granddad was so strong that I couldn t, even though I had a license and nobody was in the car to restrain me. Over a period of time, there had developed a sense of trust, a deep love relationship that held me in restraint. Charles Swindoll in the Grace Awakening

To choose Law-Keeping meant that one would be obliged to obey the entire Law.

The Mosaic Law was given specifically to the nation of Israel (Exodus 19; Leviticus 26:46; Romans 9:4). It was made up of three parts: the Ten Commandments, the ordinances, and the worship system, which included the priesthood, the tabernacle, the offerings, and the festivals (Exodus 20-40 and Leviticus 1-23).

The purpose of the Mosaic Law was to accomplish the following:

-        Reveal the holy character of the eternal God to the nation of Israel. (Leviticus 19:2, 20:7-8)

-        Set apart the nation of Israel as distinct from all the other nations. (Exodus 19:5)

-        Reveal the sinfulness of humanity. (Galatians 3:19) Although the Law was good and holy (Romans 7:12), it did not provide salvation for the nation of Israel. (Romans 3:20; Acts 13:38-39)

-        Provide forgiveness through the sacrifice/offerings for the people who had faith in the Lord in the nation of Israel. (Leviticus 1-7)

-        Provide God s direction for the physical and spiritual health of the nation. (Exodus 21-23; Deuteron0omy 6:4-19; Psalm 119:97-104)

-        Reveal to humanity that no one can keep the Law but everyone falls short of God s standard of holiness. That realization causes us to rely on God s mercy and grace. When Christ came, He fulfilled the Law and with His death honored the Blood Covenant with Abraham and paid the penalty for our (humanity) breaking the covenant with God. (Galatians 3:24; Romans 10:4). By faith in Jesus, the believer has the very righteousness of Christ imputed to him or her.

ILLUSTRATION: Lifeguards rescuing folks who are drowning.

ILLUSTRATION: Yeast leavens the whole batch of dough.

The doctrine of law plus faith is not compatible with the doctrine of faith alone.

Paul knew the futility of following the Law as the way to obtain salvation.

The Law highlights the sickness of our sin but offers no cure for it.

³⁰ and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.  ³¹ The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. Mark 12:30-31 (NASB)

A lifestyle which follows the Law does NOT lead to salvation, but salvation lived out does lead to a lifestyle which follows the path of righteousness intended by the Law.

Trying to save ourselves by keeping all the Law only separates us from God.

God allows no middle ground it is Christ or the Law NOT both.

There is a way which seems right to a person, but its end is the way of death. Proverbs 14:12 (NASB)

Jesus said to him,  I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6 (NASB)

God s hand holds, guides, and puts us to work.

We can experience great freedom in acknowledging that we can t do it all by ourselves.

God sets the direction and the gait of our walk; we merely participate.

Following Jesus does have moral demands, but we cannot be saved by measuring up to those moral demands. Our salvation motivates and energizes us to love and to live right.

When we realize we cannot do life on our own and need the Holy Spirit of God, God gets the glory, and we get the joy because God is where the joy is!

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 (NASB)

Questions for Reflection:

How has the idea of self-reliance played a role in your life?

Is it difficult for you to give the idea of self-reliance in your life up so you may follow God s Holy Spirit?

What would it mean for you to fully rely on God s Holy Spirit in your relationship with God?

What does it mean for you to allow God to be at work in you, both to will and to work for God s good pleasure (as described in Philippians 2:13)?

Are you trying to make up for your sin with your good deeds and works, or are you resting in the finished work of the cross and His Resurrection?

 

The Follower of Jesus has identity only in Christ!

We are justified (declared not guilty of sin). (Romans 3:24)

We await no condemnation. (Romans 8:1)

We are set free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2)

We are sanctified and made acceptable in Jesus Christ. (I Corinthians 1:2)

We are righteous and holy in Christ. (I Corinthians 1:30)

We will be fully alive with eternal life because of His Resurrection. (I Corinthians 15:22)

We are new creations. (II Corinthians 5:17)

We receive God s righteousness. (II Corinthians 5:21)

We are one in Christ with all other followers of Jesus. (Galatians 3:28)

We are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3)

We are holy, blameless, and covered with God s love. (Ephesians 1:4)

We are adopted as God s children. (Ephesians 1:5-6)

We are forgiven our sins are taken away. (Ephesians 1:7)

We will be brought under the headship of Christ. (Ephesians 1:10-11)

We are marked as belonging to God by the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 1:13)

We have been raised up to sit with Christ in glory. (Ephesians 2:6)

We are God s work of art. (Ephesians 2:10)

We have been brought near to God. (Ephesians 2:13)

We share in the promise of Christ. (Ephesians 3:6)

We can come with freedom and confidence into the presence of God. (Ephesians 3:12)

We are members of the Body of Christ the Church! (Ephesians 5:29-30)

We have been given fullness in Christ. (Colossians 2:10)

We are set free from our sinful nature. (Colossians 2:11)

We will have eternal glory because of Jesus. (II Timothy 2:10)