Sunday Words of Encouragement October 29, 2017

We had a good Sunday School lesson on The Great Deception. I’ll share those notes another day.

Pastor continued with his sermon series “Illuminate” from Galatians.
Last week the point was: The purity of the simple gospel is primary. Everything else is secondary.

But people are drawn to two things The Law and the flesh.
The world is full of a variety of personalities with all different levels of expressiveness. God brings together all different people to be the church to accomplish the work. Some people are planners and others are “pantsters” (that’s my 'book-minded' phrase as pastor used “spontaneous”). Pastor is quiet but in the spontaneous camp. He prefers freedom and choice instead of rigid guidelines. He doesn't like ruts and routines.

In Galatians Chapter 2:1-10 Paul told the church that he was traveling there to make sure of the purity of the gospel. He even referred to the fact that there were people sent in to spy and a create trouble and division. Galatians 2:4.
Paul reminded the church that the gospel is not about traditions and the law, but about faith in Christ. He stressed the importance of preserving the truth of the message. Paul even confronted Peter to challenge his pulling back from sitting with the gentiles. v11- 21. He admonishes saying ‘don’t rebuild the law’. v18.

The purity of the Gospel is simple, but it is a big leap for the Jews to move from the law they were taught all their lives to the gift of grace.

The Point: Those who are FREE are completely free.
Free is free, not in stages.
The foundation of your belief has to be right. You can't be more free by adding law. God's grace is all that matters. If faith in Christ isn't enough to set us free, then the message means nothing.
The old self has been crucified with Christ; I no longer live but Jesus lives in me. Christ lives, not me. Don't pick up or dig up the habits of the dead. Brokenness is meant to remain in the grave. Don't enslave yourself again.

If you're not free, why not?

This song is new to me but it is beautiful and fits today’s message.

Verses for Today.
Galatians 2:19-21
19 “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

Thank you, God, for Your Grace. Help me to stay free and not dig up bad habits from my past.