Sunday Words of Encouragement November 12, 2017

Our Sunday School teacher continued the “series” on Death. We celebrated communion and our Pastor continued his Sermon series in Galatians called Illuminate.

Last week covered the first half of Galatians. The Point was: We are powerless to atone for our sin. God makes us right with Him when we put our trust in Him. We spend our lives trying to redeem ourselves when we cannot.

We often make promises but we learn that promises are meant to be broken. At some point we have to learn that we can't really promise because we don't know what will happen. We can do our best but we can't promise to be perfect. We make promises to those we love and others but we live in a world where we are allowed to break promises. Sadly, promises lead to lies; even promises to God. Making promises over estimates our ability to control things that are not within our control.

Galatians 3:19-29 explains that the Law was given only until the promise which was given to Abraham (v16-18). We were prisoners to sin and the Law was guardian. But the Law was only needed until God's promise was fulfilled. The law had an expiration date.

The Point: God's promises are proof of His faithfulness and generosity. Only faith in Christ brings fulfillment of the promise.

Satan lies saying that God’s promises are not true and will not be fulfilled. When we put our faith in the law this shows sin. There is a clear contrast between law and God’s grace and holiness.

We are children of God through faith, Galatians 3:26. We put on our new “clothing” (v27); our new identity. See Colossians 3:12. We see God's generosity again and again not through an ancestral lineage but through Christ's lineage.

A person gets to distribute assets as they want when they prepare their Last Will and Testament. They can leave everything to their favorite heir or equally divide among all heirs. The Galatians were trying to get a more favored position with God by applying the law.

God owns the estate of heaven and He gets to say that all become heirs equally. No one can earn more access. We have the promise of Equal access given by faith which gives full access.
We don't get to make up promises like “believe in God and you will have health, wealth and wisdom.”

God’s true promises are salvation; all things work for good to those who believe; comfort; peace; met needs; rest; abundant life; eternal life; protection; blessings; seek Him and you will find Him. When we look to God's promises rather than our needs, our needs are dwarfed by the faithfulness and generosity of God.

I found this song that fits this message!

Verses for Today
Galatians 3:26-29 (NIV)
26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Lord, Thank You for your sacrifice that gives me the HOPE of eternal life. Thank You also for my faith that trusts in You alone.