Friday, November 30, 2012

Different Motivations Produce Different Results...


This week, we have been looking at the concluding section of a letter that is recorded in our Bibles called the book of Galatians. Wednesday, we discovered that we are to vote no on religion because religion and a religious centered lifestyle is often driven by the motivation to please men, avoid persecution, and to take pride in our performance. We talked about the reality that it is not that a gospel centered lifestyle does not strive to live a life that meets a standard of faithfulness and obedience. The difference between a gospel centered lifestyle and a religious centered lifestyle is the motivation that drives their lifestyle.

Today we will see Paul reveal a second difference between a gospel centered lifestyle and a religious centered lifestyle in verse 16:

 And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

Here we see Paul explain that for the follower of Jesus who is living a gospel centered lifestyle that is driven by the motivation to please and bring glory to God by dying to a religious centered lifestyle that is driven by the wrong motivations, the result is that peace and mercy be upon them, and the Israel of God. When Paul refers to the Israel of God here, he is referring to those who compose the people of God.

While the Jewish people believed that they were in relationship with God as God’s people based purely on their ethnic heritage, Paul is revealing the reality that the people of God are those who live a gospel centered lifestyle, not a religious centered lifestyle. It is the follower of Jesus who is living a gospel centered lifestyle that will experience a state of well being with God and receive the kindness and concern of God that results in them experiencing eternal life with God. Paul then concludes his letter to the members of the churches of Galatia in verses 17-18:

 From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.

Paul concludes his letter with two statements that are addressed to two different groups of people. In verse 17, Paul addresses those who were driven by the motivation to cause trouble or difficulty for him. Paul commands those who wanted to stir up trouble for him not to do so, because he bore on his body the brand-marks of Jesus. Now this sentence, if communicated in the language we use in our culture today, would have sounded something like this: “you might want to think twice about causing trouble for me, because that will not discourage or dissuade me. Just look at the wounds and scars I have already received, yet that has not stopped me”.

In verse 18, Paul addresses those who were driven by the motivation to support and encouraged him. Paul prays for the members of the churches of Galatia who were embracing a gospel centered lifestyle that God’s divine favor would fill the core of their being in a way that would result in their continued rejection of religion and embracing of the gospel.

Because as we have discovered we are to vote no on religion because religion results in a life that is driven by the wrong motivations. A religious centered lifestyle is often driven by the motivation to please men. A religious centered lifestyle is often driven by the motivation to avoid persecution. And a religious centered lifestyle is often driven by the motivation to take pride in their performance. By contrast, a follower of Jesus who is living a gospel centered lifestyle is driven by the motivation to please God and takes pride in what God has done through Jesus in a way that brings glory and honor to God.

So here is the question before us to consider: how have you been casting your ballot? How have you been voting when it comes to the motivation that drives your life? In living a religious centered life that is motivated to please men, to avoid persecution, to take pride in your performance? Or in living a gospel centered life that is motivated to please God and takes pride in what God has done through Jesus in a way that brings glory and honor to God? 

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

What Do You Take Pride In?


This week, we are looking at the concluding section of a letter in the Bible called the book of Galatians. Yesterday we discovered that we are to vote no n religion because religion results in a life driven by the wrong motivations. We saw Paul reveal for us the reality that a religious centered lifestyle is often driven by the motivation to please men. A religious centered lifestyle is often driven by the motivation to avoid persecution. And a religious centered lifestyle is often driven by the motivation to take pride in their performance.

And that is why we must vote no on religion. Today, as Paul continues to conclude his letter, we will see him contrast the motivations that drive a religious centered life with the motivations that drive a gospel centered life in Galatians 6:14:

 But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

Paul explains to the members of the churches of Galatia, and followers of Jesus throughout history, that the only boast, the only thing that those who live a gospel centered lifestyle should take pride in, is the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. But what does that mean? When Paul uses the phrase, the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, he is referring to the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel.

In other words, our source of pride should not be in what we have done for God by living a religious centered lifestyle that is based on keeping a list of rules for God. Instead, our source of pride should be in what God has done for us through Jesus life, death, and resurrection. Paul then states that as a result of placing his confident trust in the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel, “the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

Paul’s point here is that the follower of Jesus who is living a gospel centered life that places their confident trust in what Jesus has done on the cross has died with Christ on the cross to the kind of life that belongs to this world. The follower of Jesus who is living a gospel centered lifestyle is driven by different motivations. They are not driven by the motivation to please men. They are not driven by the motivation to avoid persecution. They are not driven by the motivation to take pride in their performance for God by keeping a list of religious rules. Instead, a follower of Jesus who is living a gospel centered lifestyle is driven by the motivation to please God and bring glory and honor to God.

Paul then reinforces this reality in verse 15 by stating that “neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation”. In other words, Paul is reminding the members of the churches of Galatia, and us here this morning, that what you attempt to do for God by keeping a list of religious rules does not mean anything when it comes to experiencing a right relationship with God. Instead, what matters is whether or not you are a new creation. What matters is whether or not you have experienced God’s transformational intervention and activity in a way that results in you placing your confident trust in Christ and are living your day to day life by faith in Christ.

You see, it is not that a gospel centered lifestyle does not strive to live a life that meets a standard of faithfulness and obedience. The difference between a gospel centered lifestyle and a religious centered lifestyle is the motivation that drives their lifestyle. But that is not the only difference between a gospel centered lifestyle and a religious centered lifestyle.

Tomorrow, we will see Paul reveals another difference when it comes to the motivations that drive a gospel centered lifestyle and a religious centered lifestyle…

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Vote No on Religion Because Religion Results in a Life Driven by the Wrong Motivations...


For the past several months at the church where I serve, we have been involved in a sermon series entitled “Vote No on Religion”. During this series, we have been looking at a letter in the New Testament of our Bibles called the book of Galatians. This week, I would like for us to look at the concluding section of this letter, where we will see a man named Paul provide a final piece of evidence when it comes to the problems that arise when we choose to live a religious centered life. And it is in the evidence that Paul provides that we will discover another timeless reason why we are to vote no on religion. So let’s look at the evidence together, beginning in Galatians 6:11:

See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand.

Paul begins this final section of his letter to the members of the churches of Galatia with a seemingly strange statement. To understand this statement, we first need to understand something about Paul and something about the members of the churches of Galatia. As we discovered earlier in this series, most scholars believe that Paul suffered from significant vision problems for the rest of his life after his encounter with Jesus Christ on the Damascus Road.  Because of those vision problems, Paul was unable to write with small letters. Instead, when Paul wrote, for him to read what he wrote required that he write with large letters. As a matter of fact, because of this illness, it was a normal practice for Paul to dictate his letters orally to a scribe and then write the concluding greeting in his own hand.

So Paul’s statement here is to let the members of the churches of Galatia know that this letter was actually his thoughts and not someone else’s thoughts. Paul wrote down this statement and what follows to authenticate that this letter was in fact from him. You see, as we have already seen in this series, the members of the churches of Galatia were skeptical of Paul and had begun to show hostility toward Paul as a result of the influence of those who were influencing and leading them to turn away from a gospel centered lifestyle and toward a religious centered lifestyle.  So they would be looking for any reason to discount the contents of this letter. Paul wanted the members of the churches of Galatia to clearly understand that his letter was from him and carried authority as a result of his role as an Apostle and leader of the early church.

After providing evidence to identify himself as the author of the letter, Paul then begins to address those who were influencing and leading the members of the churches of Galatia to turn away from a gospel centered lifestyle and toward a religious centered lifestyle. And it is here that we will see Paul reveal for us another timeless reason why we are to vote no on religion. And that timeless reason is this: We are to vote no on religion because religion results in a life driven by the wrong motivations. In this concluding section of this letter we will see Paul reveal for us three wrong motivations that drove those who were living religious centered lives to attempt to convince those who were living gospel centered lives to instead live religious centered lives. We see Paul reveal those wrong motivations beginning in Galatians 6:12. Let’s discover them together:

 Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh.

To understand what Paul is communicating here, we first need to ask and answer two questions. First, we need to know who are those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh? When Paul refers to those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh, he is referring to a group of people known as the Judaizers. The Judaizers were legalists who advocated a faith plus works basis for salvation. In other words it was faith in Christ plus works for God that resulted in a right relationship with God. In addition, they denied Paul’s authority as an apostle and leader.

Second, we need to understand why they would compel people to be circumcised. Circumcision is a surgical procedure that involves removing the foreskin from the male genitals with a surgical knife, or in this case, a knife made of stone. The reason that circumcision was so significant was that circumcision was a covenant sign that identified the Jewish people as being God’s people. Circumcision was a religious act that was required to be performed under the Law so that you would be able to be identified as being right with God as part of the Jewish religious system. Circumcision was something you did for God in order to be right with God. The Judaizers taught that to become a Christian, one must follow the Mosaic Law’s standards and become circumcised. And the Judaizers were attempting to convince and compel the members of the churches of Galatia to follow their teaching and turn away from a gospel centered lifestyle and toward a religious centered lifestyle.

Paul responds to what was happening at the churches of Galatia by exposing three shady and wrong motivations that drove the Judaizers. First, in the first half of verse 12, Paul explains that the religious centered leaders were driven to make a good showing in the flesh. But what does the mean? This phrase, in the language that this letter was originally written in, literally means to make a good showing before people.
 
In other words, these religious centered leaders were people pleasers. These religious centered leaders had fear of man issues. These religious centered leaders were first and foremost concerned with winning the approval of men, of being popular. And that reality drove their motivation to attempt to lead people away from a gospel centered lifestyle and toward a religious centered lifestyle. The more people followed their religious centered way of life, the more popular they would be in the eyes of the public.

Now has anything changed? You see this is not a 1st century problem; this is a human nature problem. You see, unlike a gospel centered life that is driven to respond to all the God has done through Jesus by giving glory and honor to Jesus, a religious centered life is often focused of receiving the glory and honor from people. Unlike a gospel centered life that is driven to please God in response to what God has done, a religious centered life is often driven to please men in response to what they have done.

Second, in the second half of verse 12, Paul explains that the religious centered leaders were driven to avoid persecution. When Paul refers to the cross of Christ, he is referring to the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel. Throughout the New Testament of our Bibles, we see that the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel are either enthusiastically embraced, or they are violently opposed. The harsh reality is that the preaching of the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel will arouse opposition.
 
And because these religious centered leaders did not want to be harassed because of what they believed, they instead chose the path of least resistance. You see, a gospel centered lifestyle is driven by the recognition of the possibility of persecution, but treasures eternal life with Christ far greater than the temporary troubles of persecution. A religious centered lifestyle, however, can be driven by a rejection of the possibility of persecution because they treasure a temporary freedom from persecution over an eternity with Christ.

Third, in verse 13, Paul explains that the religious centered leaders were driven to take pride in their performance. Paul begins by exposing the hypocrisy of the religious centered leaders. As we have previously talked about in this series, a hypocrite is someone who creates a public impression that is at odds with ones real motivations or purpose. A hypocrite is someone that says “here is the message and teachings of Jesus, or here is a list of rules to follow, and you need to follow them, but I am not going to follow them”. A hypocrite fails to follow the message and teachings that they impose on others.
 
And that is exactly what these religious centered leaders were doing. Instead of keeping the list of religious rules that they were imposing on others, Paul then explains that they “desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh.” In other words, the religious centered leaders were attempting to convince and compel the members of the churches of Galatia to turn away from a gospel centered lifestyle and toward a religious centered lifestyle that was based on following a list of rules for God that they themselves did not follow, so they could take pride in all the new converts that they had.

Now has anything changed? You see this is not a 1st century problem; this is a human nature problem. You see, unlike a gospel centered life that is driven to take pride in all that God has done through Jesus to bring people into a gospel centered lifestyle, a religious centered life is driven to take pride in what they have done to bring people to their religious centered lifestyle. Unlike a gospel centered life that is focused on God’s activity, a religious centered life is focused on man’s activity.

And that is the problem with religion. A religious centered lifestyle is often driven by the motivation to please men. A religious centered lifestyle is often driven by the motivation to avoid persecution. And a religious centered lifestyle is often driven by the motivation to take pride in their performance. And that is why we must vote no on religion. We must vote no on religion because religion results in a life driven by the wrong motivations.

Tomorrow, we will see Paul contrast the motivations that drive a religious centered life with the motivations that drive a gospel centered life…

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Trying To Pull The Wool Over God's Eyes?


This week, we have been looking at a section of a letter in the Bible called the book of Galatians. In this section, we have seen Paul reveal several different aspects of what makes up a gospel centered community. Today, we see Paul reveal a third aspect of gospel centered community in Galatians 6:7:

 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.

Now when Paul uses the phrase do not be deceived, God is not mocked, this phrase, if communicated in the language we use in our culture today, would sound something like this: “Do not fool yourself into thinking that you can fool God. You can pull the wool over your momma’s eye’s; you can pull the wool over your daddy’s eye’s; you can pull the wool over your community group’s eyes; you can even pull the wool you’re your pastor’s eyes; but you cannot pull the wool over God’s eyes”. 

Paul then reveals the reason why you cannot pull the wool over God’s eyes with a timeless but true principle: “for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.” Have you ever heard the phrase “you reap what you sow”? Now you know that that phrase actually comes from the Bible. This phrase is often referred to as the Law of the Harvest. And as with any law or principle, this principle is not good; this principle is not bad; this principle just is.

Paul uses this principle as proof that you cannot deceive, mock, or fool God. Whatever drives the actions of our lives will drive the results that are produced in our lives. Whatever fruit, or results, that are produced in our lives, are the direct results of our attitudes and actions in life. We see Paul unpack this reality in verse 8:

For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

To fully understand what Paul is communicating here, we first need to define and understand some terms. When Paul refers to the flesh here, he is referring to our old nature apart from Jesus that is dominated by the evil and destructive power of sin. The word corruption refers to the total destruction of something. The Spirit that Paul is referring to is the Holy Spirit, who takes up residence in the life of the person who believes, trusts, and follows Jesus as Lord and Leader. When Paul refers to eternal life, he is referring to the transcendent eternal life that we experience for all eternity with God in Heaven.

Now, with these definitions in mind, let’s look at what Paul has to say here. Paul here is revealing the stark contrast that arises between those who live gospel centered lives and those who live religious centered lives. For those who are living religious centered lives that are controlled and influenced by our old nature apart from Christ and are attempting to do things for God in order to be in a right relationship with God by keeping a list of rules for God, Paul explains that the fruit, or the results of their lives, will be to experience eternity apart from God. 

For those who are living Spirit-filled, gospel centered lives in community with one another, Paul explains that the fruit, or the results of their lives, will be to experience the relationship with God that they were created for throughout all eternity. Because you reap what you sow. Whatever drives the actions of our lives will drive the results that are produced in our lives. Whatever fruit, or results, that are produced in our lives, are the direct results of our attitudes and actions in life.

And here we see Paul reveal for us the reality that gospel centered communities are focused on helping others cultivate a genuine and growing relationship with Christ. Gospel centered communities are communities where people are challenged and encouraged to experience a genuine and growing relationship with Christ. And gospel centered communities are communities that reveal and reflect the results of a genuine and growing relationship with Christ.

Religious centered communities, on the other hand, are communities where people are challenged and encouraged to attempt to do things for God in order to be in a right relationship with God by keeping a list of rules for God. And religious centered communities are communities that reveal and reflect the results of a life that lacks of relationship with Christ. Paul then concludes this section of his letter by revealing a fourth aspect of gospel centered community in verse 9:

Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

Paul commands the members of the churches of Galatia to not lose heart in doing good. Now this little phrase to not lose heart literally means to not lose one’s motivation to continue to do something. What they were not to lose motivation about was in doing good, which refers to living a life of high moral quality. But why would the Apostle Paul have to command followers of Jesus to not lose their motivation when it comes to living a life of high moral quality that reveals and reflects Christ?

Paul provides that answer for us in the second half of verse 9 when he states that for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. Paul is commanding followers of Jesus to not give up or give out when it comes to living a life that reveals and reflects Christ, because over time the motivation that drives the actions of our lives will drive the results that are produced in our lives and through our lives. But why does Paul even have to say that? What is going on here?

To understand why Paul would give this command, we first need to understand something else about the principle of the Law of the Harvest. What we need to understand about the Law of the Harvest is that we reap later and we reap greater. Since most of us today do not farm, let me give you an example to help unpack this reality. I grew up in the Midwest and in the Midwest corn farming usually begins in late March or early April. During the early spring, famers plant a tiny corn seed into the ground and begin to water it.

Then the farmer waters and watches what he has sown. March-nothing. The month of April-nothing; the month of May- a little plant begins to sprout; June- seemingly very little growth. Growing up in the Midwest, we had a little saying “knee high by the 4th of July”. In other words, the hope was that by the 4th of July, the corn plant would be knee high. So for four months, this corn seed would have grown only this high. I don’t know about you, but that is not a lot of progress.  

But in the months of July and August, the corn plant grew from knee high to being over 6 feet tall. And by September, farmers are beginning to harvest multiple ears of corn from this large plant that started off as a little seed some six months earlier. You see, as a farmer, you know that you reap greater and you reap later. You reap something that is much greater than what you have sown. And you reap much later than when you have sown. You do not sow and then reap the next day; it takes time. But in time, your efforts produce fruit.

And that is why, in verse 10, Paul encourages the members of the churches of Galatia to stay motivated and take advantage of every opportunity to live lives that reveal and reflect Christ to those around us. And it is here that we see that gospel centered communities are communities where people are challenged and encouraged to and have an ongoing impact for Christ. Gospel centered communities are communities that are marked by a driving motivation to invest in the lives of others in a way that reveals and reflects Christ. Gospel centered communities are communities that are marked by a driving motivation to love and serve others in a way that meets both pressing and profound needs. Gospel centered communities are communities that are marked by a driving motivation to have an ongoing impact for Christ in a way that advances His kingdom and enhances his reputation.

And that is why we must vote no on religion. We are to vote no on religion because religion does not produce gospel centered community. We are to vote no on religion because religion does not produce gospel centered communities that are focused on helping others stay on track when it comes to their relationship with Christ. We are to vote no on religion because religion does not produce gospel centered communities that are focused on supporting and encouraging one another when it comes to their relationship with Christ. We are to vote no on religion because religion does not produce gospel centered communities that are focused on helping others cultivate a genuine and growing relationship with Christ. We are to vote no on religion because religion does not produce gospel centered communities where people are challenged and encouraged to and have an ongoing impact for Christ.

So how are you casting your ballot? How have you been voting? Have you been casting your ballot to live as a religious centered person? Or have you been casting you ballot to live as a gospel centered person?

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Gospel Centered Community Supports and Encourages One Another In Our Relationship With Christ...


This week, we are looking at a section of a letter in the Bible called the book of Galatians where we see Paul reveal for us the timeless reason that we are to vote no on religion because religion does not produce gospel centered community. Yesterday, we saw Paul reveal the reality that gospel centered communities are focused on helping others stay on track when it comes to their relationship with Christ. Gospel centered communities practice loving accountability in community with one another that is focused on the goal of every follower of Jesus living a gospel centered lifestyle that is influenced and controlled by the Holy Spirit and that reveals and reflects Jesus in their character and conduct. Today, we see Paul reveal for us a second aspect of gospel centered community in verse 2:

 Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.

Here we see Paul command followers of Jesus throughout history to bear one another’s burdens. Now this command conveys the sense of sustaining and supporting one another through the difficulties that come about as we follow Jesus here on earth. And it is here that we see Paul reveal for us the reality that gospel centered communities are focused on supporting and encouraging one another when it comes to their relationship with Christ. Gospel centered communities are communities that are marked by deepening relationships that strive to support and encourage one another as we live life in community with one another.

That is why we are such strong proponents of community groups here at City Bible Church. Community groups are intentional environments that afford the opportunity for us as followers of Jesus to develop supportive and encouraging relationships where people can grow in their relationship with God as they experience the loving accountability of gospel centered community. It is in community groups that we can experience gospel centered community that is focused on supporting and encouraging one another when it comes to our relationship with Christ.

Paul then reveals for us the reality that when we focus on supporting and encouraging one another in our relationship with Christ, we fulfill the law of Christ. Now this word fulfill literally means to carry out an obligation. And that obligation is the law of Christ, which refers to the standard that Christ set on earth. Paul’s point here is that when we live gospel centered lives as part of a gospel centered community that is marked by deepening relationships that strive to support and encourage one another, we reveal and reflect Christ’s character and conduct. We are living in such a way that meets Christ’s standard to love God with our total being and that shows our love for God by how we love and treat others.  However, as Paul continues, we see him confront a potential danger and threat to gospel centered community in verse 3. Let’s look at it together:

For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. For each one will bear his own load.

Now verse three, if communicated in the language that we use in our culture today, would sound something like this: “Anyone who thinks that they are somebody when they are a nobody is only deceiving themselves. Just because you have not needed to be supported and encouraged through difficult circumstances as a follower of Jesus here on earth, you are only misleading yourself if you think that you are better than others”.

You see, a potential danger that can threaten gospel centered community is when we begin to compare our circumstances and struggles with others circumstances and struggles. A potential danger that can threaten gospel centered community is when we begin to compare how well we are staying on track with others around us who may be getting off track when it comes to living a gospel centered lifestyle. And that potential danger, according to Paul, is that we become full of ourselves and think we are somebody spiritually.

Instead of deceiving ourselves into thinking that we are somebody when we are nobody, in verse 4 Paul commands followers of Jesus throughout history, to examine his own work. Now this phrase literally means to make a critical examination so as to put to the test. What we are to put to the test is how we are living our lives as followers of Jesus. Paul’s point here is that instead of comparing ourselves with others, we are to focus on whether or not we are living a gospel centered lifestyle that is influenced, controlled, and empowered by the Holy Spirit to reveal and reflect Jesus in their character and conduct.

If their close examination of their lives reveals that they are living a gospel centered lifestyle, Paul explains that they can boast, or take pride, in something. But what they can boast in is only in regard to how they are doing when it comes to meeting the standard of Jesus. Paul’s point here is that if you want to compare yourself with someone, your comparison is to be against the example of Jesus and not other followers of Jesus. 

Paul hammers his point home in verse 5 when he states that “For each one will bear his own load.” Paul’s point here is that at the end of our lives, when we stand before Jesus, there will no comparison of our character and conduct with other follower of Jesus character and conduct. Paul is saying “you better focus on your own character and conduct instead of comparing yourself with others”. Paul then provides a practical example of how followers of Jesus live gospel centered lives as part of a gospel centered community that strive to support and encourage one another as we live life in community in verse 6:

 The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him.

Here we see Paul provide a practical example of how a gospel centered community strives to support and encourage one another in community. When Paul commands the readers of this letter to share all good things with the one who teaches, this phrase literally means to give or contribute a share financially in order to meet the material needs of the person who preaches and teaches the message and teachings of Jesus.

Now while this passage most specifically applies to providing material support for a pastor, I want to expand the application of this verse to the church as a whole. You see, when we worship the Lord through giving, we are acknowledging God as the one who owns everything and as our provider, and we are responding to the generosity of God by reflecting His generosity as an act of worship. And that act of worship was divinely designed by God to be the means by which His Kingdom Mission would be funded.

And that Kingdom mission is not just about paying the salaries of the staff at church. That Kingdom mission is also about providing the resources so that churches can continue to create environments where people can explore faith, grow in their faith, and experience genuine and authentic community. So when we affirm a budget at a church, we are agreeing to live gospel centered lives as part of a gospel centered community that is striving to support and encourage this community financially. The vast majority of the ministry that occurs here is accomplished through you’re your willingness to support the ministries financially, because all of these ministries require resources. And these resources are provided as a result of your commitment to the mission and ministry of the church as we worship the Lord through giving.  A gospel centered community that is striving to support and encourage one another as we live life in community, does so in every aspect of their lives, including financially.

Tomorrow, we will see Paul reveal a third aspect of gospel centered community…

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Vote No On Religion Because Religion Does Not Produce Gospel Centered Community...


During this election season, we have been looking at a letter that is recorded for us in the New Testament in our Bibles called the Book of Galatians. And just as it was for the members of the churches of Galatia, we discovered that, every day, we cast a ballot in an election for one of two candidates. Either we choose to live our day to day lives as a gospel-centered person whose life is driven to respond to what God has done for us through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection by placing our confident trust in Jesus and following His message and teachings by faith. Or, we choose to live our day to day lives as a religious centered person who follows one of two different forms of religion.

However, as we have seen throughout this series, there are several reasons why we must vote no on religion. Last week, we discovered that a religious centered lifestyle that is that is controlled and influenced by our old nature apart from Christ produces rotten results when it comes to our sexuality, to our relationship with God, to our relationship with others, and a lack of self control. By contrast, a gospel centered lifestyle that is influenced and controlled by the Holy Spirit produces the fruit, or results, that a religious centered lifestyle could never do, which is to fulfill the requirements of the Law and reveal and reflect Christ to others.

This week I would like for us to spend our time together picking up where we left off last week where we see the Apostle Paul continue to unpack the positive fruit, or results that a gospel centered lifestyle that is influenced and controlled by the Holy Spirit. And it is in this section of this letter that we will see Paul reveal for us another timeless reason why we are to vote no on religion. And that timeless reason is this: We are to vote no on religion because religion does not produce gospel centered community.

Now maybe you are reading this and a question was raised in your mind. If we were having a conversation about what you just read, this question would sound something like this:  “Well Dave, what do you mean that religion does not produce gospel centered community? I mean, I don’t even know what you mean when you say ‘gospel centered community’. That sounds like church mumbo-jumbo talk. What is gospel centered community anyways?

Maybe you are wondering why a religious centered lifestyle does not produce what a gospel centered lifestyle produces. Maybe you are here and you are wondering what the phrase “gospel centered community” even means. If those questions are running through your mind, I have some good news for you. And that good news is that in Galatians 6:1-10, we are going to see the Apostle Paul reveal for us four timeless aspects of gospel centered community. And as Paul reveals these aspects of gospel centered community to us, we will discover why a religious centered lifestyle cannot produce a gospel centered community. So let’s look together as Paul reveals the first aspect of a gospel centered community, beginning in Galatians 6:1:

Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.

Paul begins this section of his letter to the members of the churches of Galatia with a situation: Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass. What is so interesting is that the word caught literally means to be surprised and overtaken by something. Paul here is referring to a follower of Jesus who has been surprised and overtaken by the evil and destructive power of selfishness and rebellion that results in them acting in a way that hurts God and others.

This is not a person who has embraced a selfish and rebellious lifestyle of sin. Instead this is a person who has been caught off guard by the evil and destructive power of selfishness and rebellion in a way that has resulted in them getting off track when it comes to their relationship with God.

After revealing the situation, Paul then provides the members of the churches of Galatia a command in terms of how they are to respond to the situation. Paul commands those in the churches who are spiritual to restore such a one. When Paul refers to those who are spiritual, he is referring to those who are living a gospel centered lifestyle that is influenced and controlled by the Holy Spirit. Those who are living Spirit-filled, gospel centered lives are to restore the person who has gotten off track as a result of being surprised and overtaken by the evil and destructive power of selfishness and rebellion so that they can get back on track when it comes to their relationship with God.

But notice how Paul says that followers of Jesus who are living Spirit-filled, gospel centered lives are to help those who have gotten off track get back on track when it comes to their relationship with God. First, Paul explains that we are to display a spirit of gentleness. In other words, followers of Jesus are not to use their Bibles like a sledge hammer to beat the person who has gotten off track back on track.

Instead, for the person who is striving to live a gospel centered life but has gotten knocked off track by our old nature apart from Jesus that is dominated by selfishness and rebellion, we are to lovingly and gently come alongside and guide them and encourage them in a way that results in them getting back on track.

Second, Paul explains that we are to be “looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.”  Now if Paul was making this statement in the language we use in our culture today, this statement would sound something like this: “As you are helping those who have gotten off track get back on track, pay attention and look out that you don’t end up being enticed by your old nature apart from Jesus as well.”

Here we see Paul reveal the reality that gospel centered communities are focused on helping others stay on track when it comes to their relationship with Christ. Gospel centered communities practice loving accountability in community with one another that is focused on the goal of every follower of Jesus living a gospel centered lifestyle that is influenced and controlled by the Holy Spirit and that reveals and reflects Jesus in their character and conduct.

You see, in most cases, the difference between a gospel centered community and a religious centered community is not the concept of accountability. The difference between a gospel centered community and a religious centered community is how accountability is measured and administered.

Religious centered community measures accountability by a scorecard of rules that are focused on externals; gospel centered community measures accountability by Christ like character focused on the heart. Religious centered community administers accountability in a legalistic, graceless way where the Bible is used like a sledgehammer; gospel centered community administers accountability in a progressive manner that is centered on grace and delivered in a gentle and loving manner.

Tomorrow, we will see Paul reveal for us a second aspect of gospel centered community…

Friday, November 16, 2012

The Positive Fruit of a Spirit Filled Life...


This week, we have been looking at a section of a letter in the Bible called the book of Galatians, where a man named Paul has been explaining that we are to vote no n religion because religion produces rotten fruit. Wednesday, Paul revealed the rotten fruit, or results that are produced by a religious centered lifestyle that embraces the religion of license or rebels from the religion of legalism.

Today, as Paul continues in this section of this letter, we will see the fruit, or results that are produced by a gospel centered lifestyle that is led, influenced and controlled by the Holy Spirit. So let’s look together beginning in Galatians 5:22:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Here we see Paul reveal the fruit, or what is produced, by a gospel centered lifestyle that is led, influenced, and controlled by the Holy Spirit. In these verses we are introduced to a list of nine different fruit, or results that are produced. In verse 22, the word love here describes an other-centered warm regard and interest in someone. The word joy refers to a mindset that entails an experience of gladness. When Paul uses the word peace, this word describes a state of well being and harmony that one has with God and others.

The word patience refers to the ability to bear up under provocation. The word kindness describes the quality of being helpful or beneficial to someone. When Paul uses the word goodness here, this word, in the language that this letter was originally written in, refers to one’s generosity toward others. Faithfulness is a state of devotion to Christ that is based on one’s confident trust in the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel.

Gentleness is the quality of not being overly impressed by a sense of one’s self importance. In other words, a gentle person is not full of themselves, but demonstrates strength under control.  Paul concludes this list with self control, which is the restraint of one’s impulses. Paul then explains that, for the person who lives a lifestyle that is gospel centered and influenced and controlled by the Holy Spirit, there is no Law. But what does that mean?

Paul here is revealing the reality that a Spirit filled, gospel centered lifestyle fulfills the Law. A gospel centered lifestyle that is influenced and controlled by the Holy Spirit does what a religious centered lifestyle could never do, which is fulfill the requirements of the Law. Think of it this way: If you always lived a gospel centered life that was influenced and empowered by the Holy Spirit in a way that produced the fruit of the Spirit, would you break any of God’s rules? Does a life of love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self control, lie, cheat, steal, sleep around, or worship something other than God as God? You see a Spirit filled, gospel centered lifestyle fulfills the Law and reveals and reflects Jesus to others.

Now, so often, there is a tendency to look at the list of the fruit of the Spirit and use it like a scorecard. In other words, we look at our life and go “o.k. love-good; joy-good; peace-good; patience-not so much; goodness-o.k.; kindness-o.k.; gentleness-nope; faithfulness-most of the time; self control-except at Coldstone. So let’s see. I scored 6 out of 9 so I am doing o.k.

But here’s the thing: When Paul refers to the fruit of the Spirit, the fruit of the Spirit is singular. In other words, you either score 9 out of 9 or you score 0 out of 9 at any given time. Here’s what I mean: If my life is not producing the Spiritual fruit of love, am I going to have joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, self-control?  If my life is not producing the Spiritual fruit of patience, am I going to have love, joy, peace, goodness, kindness, gentleness, self-control?  No you are not.

You see, at any point in time, when we live gospel centered lives that are led, controlled and influenced by the Holy Spirit, we will produce the results of all of the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. When one of the fruit, or the results is not produced in our lives, then none of the fruit is produced in our lives, because we are beginning to attempt to live a lifestyle that is either embracing the religion of license or rebelling from the religion of legalism. Paul hammers this point home in verse 24:

 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

If Paul were having a conversation in the courtyard coffeehouse this morning, verse 24 and 25 would sound something like this: “Those who live a gospel centered lifestyle that are controlled and influenced by the Holy Spirit are destroying our old nature that is dominated by selfishness and sin and that craves and desires to rebel against God and the word of God. So, if we have been rescued from our selfishness and rebellion and have experienced forgiveness and the relationship with God that we were created because of the Holy Spirit’s activity in our lives, then let’s keep in step with and live our lives in the power of the Holy Spirit”. 

Paul here is reinforcing the reality that a growing and maturing relationship with Christ that results in revealing and reflecting Christ is not the product of our activity for God. Instead, a growing and maturing relationship with Christ that results in revealing and reflecting Christ is the product of the Holy Spirit’s activity as God in our lives. This leads Paul to conclude this section of his letter with a final contrast in verse 26:

Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.

Here we see Paul exhort the members of the churches of Galatia to not become boastful. Now this word boastful literally means to have an exaggerated self concept. In other words Paul is saying “Hey do not be full of yourselves. Don’t forget that what is produced in your life is because of the Holy Spirit’s activity and not your activity”. Paul then reveals two ways that we reveal that we have become full of ourselves.

First, Paul reveals that we become full of ourselves when we are challenging one another. Now this phrase means to provoke or challenge someone. In our culture we would refer to this as when we call someone out so as to show that we are better than someone else. Second, Paul reveals that we become full of ourselves when we are envying one another. We are envious when want what others have or when we want others not to have what they have. Now whether it is challenging or envying, both behaviors are produced as the result of comparison, aren’t they? Both challenging and envying are the products of comparing our performance with others, aren’t they?

Paul’s point here is that the boastfulness that flows from challenging and envying others reveals that we are no longer living gospel centered lifestyle that produces the results of the Holy Spirit’s activity in our lives. Instead, we have shifted to live religious centered lifestyle that is controlled and influenced by our old nature apart from Christ. And that is why we must vote no on religion. We must vote no on religion because religion produces rotten fruit.

So what does the fruit, or what is produced by your life, reveal when it comes to how you have been casting a ballot to vote? Do the rotten results that your lifestyle is producing reveal the reality that you are living a religious centered lifestyle that that is controlled and influenced by our old nature apart from Christ that is either embracing the religion of license or rebelling from the religion of legalism? Or does the fruit, or what is produced, by your life reveal the reality that you are a follower of Jesus who has embraced a gospel centered lifestyle that is led, influenced, and controlled by the Holy Spirit?

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

The Rotten Fruit of Religion...


This week, we are looking at a section of a letter in the Bible called the book of Galatians where a man named Paul was revealing the reality of spiritual warfare in the lives of followers of Jesus. Today, we are going to see Paul begin to reveal and contrast for us the fruit, or what is produced, from a life that is influenced and controlled by the Holy Spirit and a life that is influenced and controlled by our old nature apart from Jesus. So let’s look together beginning in Galatians 5:19:

 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,

When Paul uses the phrase the deeds of the flesh, he is referring to the fruit, or what is produced, by a lifestyle that is influenced and controlled by our old nature apart from Jesus that is dominated by the evil and destructive power of sin. And in Galatians 5:19-21, we see Paul provide a list of fifteen different fruit, or results, that are produced by a religious centered lifestyle that attempts to do things for God in order to be in a right relationship with God by keeping a list of rules. Now these fifteen different fruit or activities that are produced can be divided into four categories.

We see Paul reveal the first category in verse 19 when he refers to immorality, impurity, and sensuality. The word immorality describes any unlawful sexual intercourse, which would be any sexual activity that occurs outside of a marriage relationship, whether it is sex before marriage, sex in addition to marriage, which is adultery, homosexual activity, any sexual activity outside of God’s design for marriage, which is one man, one woman for one lifetime.

Paul then uses the word impurity to describe the state of moral corruption that surrounds sexual sin. Sensuality is a lack of self constraint that results in sexual behavior and conduct that violates all bounds of what is socially acceptable. This would be a girl’s gone wild type of licentiousness. And whether it is behavior that flows from embracing the religious lifestyle of license or rebelling from the religion of legalism, these three words aptly describe the rotten results that are produced when it comes to our sexuality by a religious centered lifestyle.

So here is a question to consider: Are you seeing these results in your life? Are you seeing a lack of self constraint when it comes to how you engage in sexuality? Are you being morally corrupted by pornography or sexual activity outside of God’s design for sexuality? Because, these results are the result of a lifestyle that is controlled and influenced by our old nature apart from Christ that is either embracing the religion of license or rebelling from the religion of legalism. Paul then reveals for us a second category of rotten fruit or results, in the beginning of verse 20:

            idolatry, sorcery,

Idolatry, simply put, is worshipping something other than God as God. When Paul refers to sorcery here, he is referring to the cultic practices of magic and sorcery that were used in the worship of false gods. Paul uses these words to describe the rotten results that are produced when it comes to our relationship with God by a religious centered lifestyle.

So here is a question to consider: Are you seeing these results in your life? Now almost immediately, you might respond by saying “well Dave I don’t worship idols?” Are you sure? Because we commit idolatry when we take good things and make them God things. We commit idolatry when we pursue position, possessions, pleasure, or pride more passionately then we pursue God. Idolatry is giving something other than God more attention, more honor, or more glory than God.

And when our performance for God becomes more important than God; When our pursuit of possessions and pleasure becomes more important than our pursuit of God; When our position in life becomes more important than God’s position in our life, we produce the rotten fruit of a religious centered lifestyle. Paul then reveals a third category of rotten fruit or results, in the rest of verse 20:

 enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying,

Enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, and envying all are the rotten results that are produced when it comes to our relationships with others by a religious centered lifestyle. When we have hostility toward one another; when we engage in rivalry regarding the positions taken by others; when we have negative feelings over another’s achievements or success; when we demonstrate intense displeasure or anger; when we have divisions and disputes that flow from selfishness or selfish agendas; when we want what others have or when we do not want others to have what they do have, we see what is produced by embracing the religious lifestyle of license or rebelling from the religion of legalism,

So here is a question to consider: Are you seeing these results in your life? Have I just described what your relationships with others look like? Because, these results are the result of a lifestyle that is controlled and influenced by our old nature apart from Jesus that is either embracing the religion of license or rebelling from the religion of legalism. Paul then reveals for us a final category of rotten fruit or results, in the second part of verse 21:

drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

When Paul refers to drunkenness and carousing, he is referring to excessive drinking and excessive feasting when it comes to eating. Here we see Paul revealing for us the rotten results that are produced when it comes to a lack of self control by a religious centered lifestyle. So are you seeing these results in your life? Are you unable to demonstrate any self control when it comes to how much you drink? Are you the type of person who is no longer welcome at any of the buffets in your area?

Now you may laugh and joke and think that I just made a funny, but here’s the thing: so often we will point a finger at others who display rotten results when it comes to their sexuality or their relationship with God or their relationship with others, but are totally unwilling to point our thumb at ourselves while they eat or drink themselves under the table to fulfill their selfish lack of self control. Because, a lack of self control is the result of a lifestyle that is controlled and influenced by our old nature apart from Christ that is either embracing the religion of license or rebelling from the religion of legalism.

Paul then hammers his point home by stating “and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” This statement, if communicated in the language we use in our culture today, would have sounded like this: “For those of you who consistently live a lifestyle that produces these rotten results because you are controlled and influenced by your old nature apart from Christ that is either embracing the religion of license or rebelling from the religion of legalism, here’s the thing? Your fruit, the rotten results that your lifestyle is producing, is revealing the reality that you have not come into possession of you place as part of the kingdom of Heaven. Your production is contradicting your profession. Your life does not produce a lifestyle that is consistent with someone who is living a gospel centered lifestyle that is led, influenced, and controlled by the Holy Spirit.”

Now you might be wondering “well Dave what does a gospel centered lifestyle that is led, influenced and controlled by the Holy Spirit look like? What are the results that are produced by such a lifestyle?”

Friday, we will see Paul provide us the answer to these questions…