Galatians 5:16-26

Galatians is the Magna Carta of Christian liberty. It’s a powerful little book. We’re studying it this year at Church of the Open Door. In Chapters 5 and 6 Paul applies the messages of justification and sanctification by faith.

In the first section of the epistle proper, 1:11-2:21, Paul defended his apostleship. In 3:1-4:31 the Apostle clarifies the implications of justification and sanctification by faith and why it’s true. His final section (5:1-6:10) demonstrates how this grace works in life. Grace works through liberty. Christ set us free to demonstrate His righteousness in ways that transcend any enslaving set of rules or moral codes (5:1-12). This liberty isn’t so that we can indulge the self-centered desires of our flesh as we did before we trusted in Christ. Using our freedom in that way will cause us to lose our inheritance in the coming kingdom (5:13-21). We’ve been set free to walk in the Spirit (5:16-18) so that we can display Christ’s righteousness through the fruit of the Spirit (5:22-26). But even this transformation isn’t about us; it’s about Christ and others. What we’ve really been set free to do is to love and serve others (6:1-10).

In one of the most important passages on the Christian life in the Bible, Paul explains the grace alternative to the law. By walking in the Spirit, Christians overcome the self-indulgent sins of the flesh and express their faith through love, a love that glorifies God by displaying the character of Christ:

Here’s the link to the sermon, study notes, and discussion notes from my exposition of  Galatians 5:16-26:

Walk in the Spirit!

What Tempts You?

What would you consider the most serious and debilitating temptation to a true Christian?

Sexual sin?

Lying?

Spiritual laziness?

How about none of the above?

The most serious temptation that derails Christians is the temptation to return to the law once they’ve received new life by trusting in Jesus. It’s a “Now that Jesus saved me, I better get to work to clean up my life and make Him proud of me!” temptation. And the so-called Christian culture cheers them on, “That’s right. Get to work for Jesus you sorry-little-sinner. That’s what we’re doing!”

No They’re Not!

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This is a great post by our friend, Lee Ann Jackson. Lee Ann has been a part of Church of the Open Door since  before Judy and I arrived in 1996. She’s a single mom and an important part of Judy’s cherished group–her courageous His Alone community. Lee Ann is a part of the team at Ambassador Advertising, and wrote this encouraging piece for their insightful website.

Thanks, Lee Ann.

Pinky Promise

I made my first pinky promise last night.  I made it with a 6 year old girl.  She made me pinky promise she could lead prayer in AWANA.

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Retirement?

A few years ago I spent an hour with one of the most important men in my life—Professor Howard Hendricks. I was in Dallas for a few days and scheduled some time in his office at Dallas Theological Seminary.

Prof has had a lot of health problems over the last few decades. On the outside he’s obviously not the dynamo I remember quickstepping across campus from one classroom to another where he kept us spellbound with the most effective teaching I ever sat under.

Back then, his energy seemed limitless, his strength seemed unrestricted, and his mind undiminishable.

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Remember the Olympic Games?

What would you think if when the sprinters lined up and gun went off, six of the athletes ran down the course straining toward the finish line, but four of them casually stood up and walked down their lane waving at the crowd, talking and laughing with one another, listening to their ipods, and passing a big greasy bag of Peanut M&M’s back and forth?

Would you be surprised and maybe even a little appalled at their brash disregard for all the Olympics means to the world? Would you wonder how they could so offhandedly disregard and neglect the great privilege they have as gifted athletes?

If you’re upset, what do you think their teammates must be feeling? What about the countries they represent? Can you imagine the disappointment of their coach, and what he might say to them after the race?

Go for the Gold

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The Un-me

If your life looks anything like mine, you know that most of the time there is a “you” that is there for others—problem is, it’s often not the “real” you.

The “you” at work doesn’t have permission to tell others that you don’t know how you’re going to make payroll, or your plans to let some of them go if business doesn’t pick up. As a supervisor or owner, you can’t let them know how much this economy frightens you.

Every leader or coach realizes that the “you” who stands in front of your team must not sweat…even when the challenges or the failures make you feel like you’re going to throw up.

A dad struggling with self-doubt or regret knows he can’t let it show. The “you” at home doesn’t have permission to ask the children to “help daddy through this crisis.”

You single moms know that there is a “you” that is always on. If your children had any hint at what’s really going through your mind late at night when you finally get to bed—the desperation, the loneliness, the exhaustion—their little lives would be wounded even more.

A husband’s shielding love presents the “you” that assures the wife of your confidence in God…even when your heart is screaming, “What do we do, Lord?”

A wife’s devoted love asks God for the courage to be the “you” that supports her husband’s tough decisions…even when you’ve voiced your reservations and your heart is crying out to the Lord, “What if this isn’t what we should do? How can we know this doesn’t put us at risk?”

The Me-me

But there is one place that is different, that place where you and I never have to be the impressive me, the confident me, the strong me, or the “spiritual” me—it is the only place safe enough to totally let down our guard.

It’s the safest place in the universe.

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It doesn’t add up.

The God of the Universe sent His only Son to die for me so that He could give me His life, care for me, teach me, and encourage me to follow Him.

It just doesn’t add up.

I’m a failing failure.

I was a totally hopeless failure when it came to holiness before I met Jesus.

And even with all the growth and healing Jesus has brought into my life, I continue to fail Him.

Just last week I told Him I felt like my life was a hopeless, sinful, joke. I told Him it was a mistake to ever give me eternal life. I told Him I didn’t think I could go on and that He should find some other follower to represent Him.

I mean, really, how does He tolerate someone who’s been a Christian so long and still has these nights of deep depression, these bouts with anger and doubt, these envious-of-other-Christians’-better-deal-in-life pity parties, and this less-than-I-really-want-to-be-for-you life?

Guess I’ll just have to give up and receive His love, and risk it that He’s telling the truth when He says that I’m His special concern.

Despite all my sinfulness and the messiness of my stumbling steps of following Him, I don’t have anyone else to go to.

He has the words of eternal life.

I’m just going to go ahead and keep risking everything on Jesus.

Routine Garbage

Every Sunday evening I fill a gray recycle bin with assorted cardboard boxes, empty bottles, crushed beverage cans and other stuff they tell me I shouldn’t throw away. Just before I close the lid and wheel it to the curb I notice that the contents look just like the junk I put in there last week. There’s something about the rhythm of the Underwood household that produces the same garbage, day in and day out, week in and week out, every month, every year.

I’m okay with that, as long as it’s only physical garbage that’s stinking up our lives.

Stinking Personal Garbage

What I don’t want to recycle is the spiritual rubble of my soul–my sin. There are some things I just want to throw in the bin and roll it to the curb, never to return. Like my threatened male ego, my need to be right, my selfish ambition, my insensitivities to Judy….

This is what I love about being a Christian. The Lord Jesus set me free from the most garbage-filled person in my life–me! I don’t have to deal with the same old garbage every week because I’m not who I use to be before I met Jesus. I’m a brand new person with brand new power that is stronger than my temptations, failures, and weaknesses.

Grow to New Garbage!

I wouldn’t want you to think that my garbage bin is ever empty. The more I get to know Jesus, the more junk He tells me belongs in the bin. But the wonderful truth is that I don’t need to recycle. The more I trust Jesus, the more stuff He cycles out of my life.

The next time you fill your recycle bin with the useless junk your life produces, think about the useless stuff in your heart Jesus wants you to stop recycling. And make the choice to trust Jesus and His power to deliver you from that sin. Or better yet, stop recycling right now, by asking Him for help.

Lord Jesus, I’m tired of living this way. I’ve been ignoring your power too long. Please help me. I’m going to trust you more today by confessing that this is wrong. And then, before I have time to change my mind or hide again, I’m going to tell someone who loves me about my problem. I feel safe with you, Lord. Help me feel safe enough to trust others with this. Show me how your love and their’s can protect me and deliver me from this sin.

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2).