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Adopted as Sons… (3 things)
Having a relationship with Jesus is about becoming an adopted son of God!
1st – Heirs to the Kingdom of God… vs. 1-7
If a young child inherits his fathers wealth… vs. 1-4
While they are still children they are no different from the servants of the house…
Even though they own everything their father once owned…
They still have obey the rules of those (Yaya) who are watching over them…
Ever wonder – are we really any different from those who do not know Jesus…
We both get up in the morning to go to work – and have to do what our boss says…
We both have fights with our wives – and our children are at times disobedient…
We both struggle to put food on the table – and we get sick from time to time…
We go to church – try to live a good life – but what is the benefit…
Is there really a difference – is there really any advantage to following Jesus…
Before we knew Jesus we were bound to follow the rules…
When are kids are little – we tell them to obey our rules…
We teach our them not to steal / cheat / lie – we tell them to be good…
But they do not understand why they need to obey – they just follow
Before we knew Jesus we were told to follow rules – told to be ‘good’…
Like a child we simply followed the rules without understand their meaning…
We did not know the Law was meant to show us we were sinners – needed Jesus!
When the time was right – Jesus came born of a woman – born under the Law…
Jesus also came as a child – He also was bound to all the rules…
But Jesus understood the rules – knew they could never make us Holy…
He came to save us from the Law – to give us the Spirit of adoption…
By the Grace of God we were adopted as sons – 4 advantages… vs. 5-7
1st – We changed our family name…
Before Jesus were the son of this world – the children of satan – Matthew 12:30
But when we receive the grace of God – we had a change in name…
We are no longer belong to this world – we have been set free…
New life in Jesus means satan and the world no longer have control over us…
We no longer have to follow/obey the example of the world – do what they do!
2nd – Our past is forgotten – because we have a new family…
Whatever mistakes – sins – we committed before – are forgiven / forgotten…
Psalms 103:12 – “As far as the east is from the west…”
No matter how far ‘East’ you go you will never meet ‘west’ – completely forgiven!
As far as God is concerned we have no past – all our sins are gone in Jesus!
Philippians 3:13 – “One thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to… Christ Jesus.”
We like to hold onto our past – our mistakes our failures…
God says the one thing we need to do is forget our past – and press on towards Jesus!
3rd – We can cry out – Abba father…
Abba – the Aramaic word for ‘father’ – 3 times in the NT – Romans 8:26…
Mark 14:36 – “[Jesus] said, ‘Abba, Father, all things are possible for You…’”
It is a word of deep personal intimacy – ‘papa’ / ‘daddy’…
If a stranger wanted to come and talk to you – you might/or might not take the time
If you son wanted to talk to you – no matter what – you would make the time…
Our ‘papa’ in Heaven is always there for us – at any time we can cry out to Him…
He will ALWAYS make the time to be there for us – be there to help us…
4th – We are no longer slaves – but the sons of God – heirs to His Kingdom!
We have become heirs to all that God has – joint heirs with Jesus Christ!
That means God desires to give us EVERYTHING – His KINGDOM – Luke 12:32
To the extent we will even sit on Jesus throne with Him – Revelation 3:21
So is there an advantage to being a Christian – there is a HUGE advantage!
While it is true – while still here / ‘kids’ we look the same as those in the world…
In the end we inherit everything that belongs to our Father!
2nd – You are a Son – do not go back to bondage… vs. 8-11
Before the Galatians knew God – they had served those who were not gods… vs. 8
Before Jesus – the people were bound to superstition and religions…
They worshiped many gods – who were not true gods – I Corinthians 10:20
They had countless customs and traditions they were compelled to follow…
We all know people who are (and perhaps we were) caught up in superstitions…
People who live in constant fear of evil spirits / fear of the supernatural…
They cannot sweep the house at night – they cannot eat chicken when someone dies…
They do not know why they do theses things – they are just bound by fear!
Now that we know God (better said God knows us) – do not go back… vs. 9-11
When the Galatians believed in Jesus – He set them free from rules and superstitions…
They were now the sons of God – so why would they go back into bondage…
If you were sent to prison for a crime – but a judge had mercy and set you free…
After getting out – why would you want to go back into the prison!
If you know you have nothing to fear from the Aswang / or ‘evil spirits’…
If you know the witch doctor is just an agent of satan – has no real power…
If you know the silly rules that used to guide every decision of your life are useless…
All you need is a relationship with Jesus – why would you go back into bondage!
But the Galatians went back to the law – the Sabbath days / Jewish festivals…
They totally missed the fact the Laws were only there to point them to Jesus…
Colossians 2:16-17 – “Do not let anyone condemn you… for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality.”
If you see the shadow of your best friend – you do not run up and hug the shadow…
But the shadow does tell you your friend is very close by…
They were so caught up in their traditions/shadows they missed Jesus!
Paul was afraid for them – that his work among them was lost…
I have know many people who are so caught up in religion – they miss Jesus…
They know when to stand up – when to sit down – the gestures to make…
They know everything – but the one thing they need to know – Jesus!
3rd – Follow a good example… vs. 12-20
Paul encouraged them to be like him… vs. 12
Paul was born a Jew – and had been raised on all the Jewish customs and traditions…
But Jesus had set Paul free from the bondage of the Law…
He had in a sense become like the Gentiles – free from the Law…
So Paul encouraged the churches to become like him – free from the Law!
We need to be careful whom we spend time with – who we are influenced by…
We all follow someone’s example – they lead us either towards or away from God…
I Corinthians 15:33 – “…bad company corrupts good character.”
Be careful not to follow men who lead you into religion / superstition / and rules…
But spend you time with those who encourage you in a relationship with Jesus!
When Paul first came to Galatia… vs. 13-16
He was VERY sick – some say he contracted malaria (common in that area)…
Others believe that Paul had a problem with his eyes – a severe infection…
It was so bad that his very appearance was repulsive – oozing / pussy / eyes!
Paul did have bad eyesight – and dictated many of his letters – Romans 16:22
Paul did had not intended to stay long in Galatia – but the sickness changed his plans…
God used something as common – and uncomfortable – as sickness to guide Paul…
I am sure Paul questioned his sickness – why God – perhaps even discouraged…
But Paul was able to see beyond the trial – to the opportunity to share Jesus!
Often when we are looking for God to lead us – we expect something extraordinary…
But the Lord can often use very ordinary means to lead and guide us…
He can use something as simple as a cold – to keep us where He needs us to be…
Our challenge is to not get caught up in the ‘sickness’ and miss the opportunity!
The Galatians did not turn Paul away – but received him as an Angel / or Jesus…
They were thrilled to hear the Gospel of Grace – the saving message of Jesus…
In fact they loved Paul so much – they would have given him their eyes!
Yet now they were treating Paul as an enemy – because he spoke the truth…
He was confronting them on their sin – challenging their false teachings!
People do not like it when we point out their sin – they quickly get offended…
They will do their best to avoid us – not because of what we have done…
But because of what we are saying – they are convinced because they are in sin!
That is why many people do not like going to church – reading their Bible…
They are convicted of their sin – so they stay away from the conviction!
We are called to confront others when they get caught up in sin…
But our motivation is not to condemn them – we are not trying to ‘beat them up’…
Our motive should always be love – we want to see them clean – forgiven!
Ephesians 4:15 – “Speaking the truth in love…”
These false teachers were anxious to win the Galatians favor… vs. 17-18
Not because they wanted to draw the Galatians closer to God – not for good…
But because they wanted them to stop listening to Paul…
Because these false teachers knew Paul would give them the Bible…
Their whole purpose was to keep the Galatians from the hearing the Word!
Satan’s tactics have not changed – he still tries to keep us from the Word…
He tries to keep us from church from the Bible – from listening to the Bible!
The world is full of false faiths posing to be from God – but denying the Gospel…
They talk about a Jesus but they are cults – their Jesus is not THE Jesus of the Bible…
Mormons believe Jesus is a created being – not God – but the brother of satan…
Jehovah witnesses – believe Jesus is Michael the arch angel – He is not God…
Just because someone says they go to church – does not make them a Christian…
Just because a man says he is a pastor – does not mean he is from Jesus…
I John 4:1 – “Don’t believe every spirit, but test the spirits…”
We need the discernment of God – to know what is truly from God!
Paul wished he could be there in person again – so they could hear his voice… vs. 19-20
Paul was frustrated – he did not know what else to do for them…
But like a pregnant mother – waiting for a child to be formed and born…
Paul would not have peace until the believers in Galatia matured in Christ…
He was not going to give up on them – let these false teachers win!
If we know people who are caught up in superstition / religion…
People we love – but when we talk about Jesus they start to avoid us…
Even if you get frustrated – not sure what else to do – do not give up on them…
What we are fighting for is too important – we are talking about eternity…
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