Uncategorized – Page 49 – BIBLE COMMUNITY CHURCH

Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? Gal 4:21

In an age where the reach of man’s feats are boundless, there remains one thing that is impossible with man – salvation. Salvation can never be earned by man’s effort, and Jesus did not save those who by man’s moral measure was worthy. (Jer 13:23, Matt 11:28) The doctrine of grace sets Christianity apart from every false religion. Grace is God’s unmerited favor- as sinners, we are debtors to God, unable to pay. Though there is nothing good of us that God would love us, He paid this debt for us through Christ Jesus. (Rom 4:4-8) Grace is not an idea- grace is a person, a power fully presented in Jesus. Apostle Paul understood the grace of God in his own life, and as we continue in his letter to the Galatians, we examine the reasons why God’s grace is so necessary for man’s salvation. (1 Cor 15:10)

Everyone is dead. God’s perfect law judges us rightly. By practicing unbelief, we are under God’s condemnation. (Acts 2:36, Rev 20:12-13) Under the power of the world, sin nature, and Satan, we are deceived and dead in our sin. We are under the wrath of a holy and just God. (Ps 51:5, Gal 5:19-21) The agonizing reality of God’s wrath was on complete display in Jesus’ crucifixion. As Jesus suffered and died in our place, God’s wrath was poured out on His perfect and holy Son. Jesus came to us, full of grace and truth, ready to lavish His grace on anyone who repents and trusts in Him. (Jn 3:17-18, 1:14)

Without God’s grace, everyone would think they are good. God’s grace is based on our total depravity. We are dead, with no desire to seek Him. Even after we are saved, in our sin nature we constantly desire to go back to our old ways. (Ecc 7:20) This is every man’s condition. Arminianism is wrong- man can not choose God. We have no desire to be saved, and we have no merit in our nature to be saved. Salvation is by God’s grace alone. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost, and it only by grace that we can even understand and accept this blessed truth. Without grace, we are hopeless. (Rom 3:11, Lk 19:10)

Without God’s grace, we would not have the assurance of salvation. Even though we are saved, we sin, but it is God who continually sustains us by His grace. God has promised us eternal life in Christ Jesus. His steadfast love for us never changes. (Jn 6:39)

Although we know it is by grace alone that we are saved, we often forget and limit God’s grace in our lives. This is the same issue that Paul addresses to the Galatians. The Galatians were confused with Scripture, and they lost their conviction of God’s truth. They placed their emotions, self convictions, and circumstances above God’s Word, and were no longer able to understand and experience God’s grace. Grace comes through the Word of God. We must know Scripture faithfully, putting it into practice by following Christ and His teaching. (Matt 8:1-2) We must know Christ accurately, studying Scripture diligently to gain understanding, and handling the text literally within its context. We can not compromise on the teachings of the Bible, and we must not use it for our own personal agenda and gain. Finally, we must see the Bible prayerfully. Scripture is the living word, inspired by the Holy Spirit. We need to pray for understanding and conviction, so that we do not become confused with Scripture and lose sight of grace.

God’s grace is truly amazing. Salvation is a gift of God, given to those whom He chose before the foundation of the world. God has called us by His grace, in His grace we are sustained, and by His grace, He will bring us home. Amazing grace!

However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are no gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again? … (Gal 4:8-9)

A stunted spiritual growth in the life of a believer is a dire matter that may stem from false beliefs and unbiblical doctrine. It is the issue Paul contends with in his letter to the Galatians, and it is a dilemma many Christians struggle with today. False teachings are often subtle, obstructing us from God, and hindering us from living by faith to be formed into Christ. (v. 19) Through Paul’s earnest admonishment to the Galatians, we examine what believers resist when they harbor false teachings in their heart.

Many Christians resist sound doctrine. No one can avoid doctrine. How we live reflects what we believe, and if it is not biblical, there can be no spiritual growth. (2 Tim 3:16-17) Adam fell because he believed Satan’s twist on doctrine. It is a matter of life and death, and each and every one of us is responsible to pay the price for what we believe. Paul questioned the Galatians on their regression in faith towards false teachings, baffled at how they shifted from the gospel of Jesus Christ to a false religion of salvation by works. (Gal 1:6-7) Rejecting sound doctrine keeps you under the power of sin- you forsake to confess sin, disbelieving that God will make you pure. Children of God hear and believe sound doctrine, and they are empowered by God to live in holiness. (Jn 10:27, 2 Tim 2:19) Those who reject sound doctrine still don’t know God, because the Bible is the only way to know Him. (Hos 4:6) Moreover, if you reject sound doctrine, you are still following unbiblical doctrine- there is no neutrality. We must examine all things against Scripture to verify what the Bible says on any matter. False teachings will cause you to believe in false doctrine.

Believers resist sound criticism and judgment. Being a Christian does not mean you are perfect- it means you now understand how sinful you are. Christianity is humility, for we can not live with pride and arrogance as we see ourselves in truth. The Galatians loved Apostle Paul when they first received the gospel, but when Paul confronted them on their false gospel, they began to hate him. We must not do the same. God sent the Holy Spirit to confront and convict us, and sound judgment is absolutely necessary for our spiritual growth as we are perfected in Christ. (Ecc 7:5, Prov 29:1) Biblical confrontation shows sins we may be blind to, and it can help us turn away from sin, saving our lives from God’s judgment. (2 Sam 12:7, 13) In confronting fellow believers, we must first get the facts before making any judgment. We must be led by the Holy Spirit to choose the right words as well as the right timing, and we must have fearless courage to love our brothers and sisters at whatever cost.

Believers resist a biblical life. Many Christians pursue the world and their own goals, seeking their best life now. We all have our own ambitions and visions of an ideal life, but if it’s not biblical, there is no way to grow. The Galatians were passionate in their beliefs, but their passions were displaced and wasted due to false teachings.The fullness of Christ must be our life- He is Lord, and He will lead you as you live by, for, and of Christ alone. (Gal 2:20) Everything outside of Christ is dead; only Christ is the source of life. If our passion in this life is not for Christ, our faith is not in Him.

Our ideal life is the pursuit to be like Jesus. We must exercise faith as we examine all things according to Scripture, welcome sound criticism, and strive to live a sound life. God has given us this blessed truth- Christ is being formed in us. (Rom 12:1-2, Acts 7:59-60)

Category: Uncategorized

Amazing Grace (Part 1) | Galatians 4:21

Damage Caused by False Teaching | Galatians 4:8-20