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Reputation And CredentialsWhat is your reputation? No, not how big and bad are you – or what circle of friends do you hang with? But what do people think of your faith? What is your spiritual reputation? What is it that sets you or me apart as someone who has been touched by God? For some people their spiritual reputation is strictly their association with a body of believers. They make it known that “I am a member of a certain denomination, or particular group, or that church.” Their entire reputation and witness for Jesus is their association with some organization. Others stand on their own activities, they say, that because they don't do some stuff, or they do certain things, that is what sets them apart for God. I have had people tell me, “I live by the golden rule, so that makes me a Christian.” Or, because they do not partake of blatant and obvious indulgences like excessive drinking, gambling, or cheat on their spouse, their relative morality when compared with other people - in their mind - makes them a Christian. So those types of things become their reputation or the credentials they stand upon. Well during the first century there were some folks who came into the local churches and began to brag about their credentials. Then these same guys bagged on the Apostle Paul's reputation. They bragged about their insight into the law of God. And began to put these young believers who were so free in Christ under systems of religious rules, regulations, and rituals. Well, as we have already seen in our studies of this little letter to the Galatians, these guys did little not bring people to faith in Jesus Christ, but they did bring a lot of destruction to the church with their “gospel of works.” Which Paul told us in the first part of chapter one – “is really no gospel at all.” The Gospel Paul preached is the Gospel we offer -- it is not faith in Jesus plus keeping rules, it is not Jesus and doing regulations, it is not Jesus Christ and rituals. No, the true Gospel is Salvation is by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ. Thats it! Then when a person is born of the Holy Spirit the keeping of the law – the living in holiness and abstaining from certain activities becomes the fruit of the Holy Spirit working in a man's heart or a womans life. So what is your reputation? What are your credentials? What is it that you or I stand on to say we are “justified by God.” Justified means - “right with God.” Alistair Begg Pastor of Parkside Church in Cleavland say: “To understand Justification, consider the opposite of justification – which is condemnation.” Rom 8:1-4 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. There are two laws are at work, the law of sin and death, the Old Testament commandments that show us how far we are from God should draw us to our savior. And the law of the Spirit of life, that law is grace, and it bring us to true saving faith that comes by Jesus who condemns sin and justify sinners. So as we look at our text today we are going to take it is several large sections as we consider our reputations and credentials.
Paul all but repeats himself with his stand upon the Gospel. It is not something he or any man made up. The Gospel is God's plan to justify men, and to make them right with himself. So Paul's example of taking a stand on the Gospel - is our stand. That is why we each message here on Sunday mornings or Wednesday Evenings is not about what we think is good, or about nice behavior, but it is centered in the Word of God, the bible. 1 Cor 2:3-5 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power. Good deeds, the keeping of rules, or following rituals - will not transform anyone, it will not save anyone, it will not justify anyone. So, like Paul, we stand on the word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ as seen in the old and new testaments. I think about when Jesus rose from the dead, as we read the account in Luke. How some followers of Jesus were walking along the road down trodden and discouraged, and suddenly Jesus shows up and begins to walk with them. They didn't recognize him and he begins to speak with them and asks them why they are so down. They say to him “where have you been?” Everyone know what has happened to Jesus. Luke 24:25-27 (Jesus ) said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. “Come on guys haven't you read your scriptures.” The law points to the Gospel, the prophets spoke of the savior, and the Psalms prophesied his atoning death and resurrection. So now Paul, writing to churches that are getting off track, stands on the only hope we have. It's not anything man made up, nor was it something he learned from any man, like you, like me, like all the saints of all the ages, Paul received the gospel by revelation. You might say, “Pastor Rich, I believe in Jesus - but I haven't had a revelation.” Oh, don't bet your bible on that. The scriptures tell us. Eph 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. John 6:44 (Jesus said) "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. Once Jesus asked his men, “who do people say that I am?” The answers was interesting, some say John the Baptist, others, Elijah, or Jeremiah, or one of the Prophets, then Jesus looks at his men and asks them, “what about you, who do you say that I am?' It was Peter who looks at the Lord and confesses him as the Messiah. “You are the Christ, the son of the living God.” Matt 16:17 (Jesus said)... "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. Revelation! For no man/ no woman can come to faith without divine revelation. So Paul does not preach a Gospel of good deeds, nor a Gospel of social helps, nor a Gospel of keeping of Jewish traditions. Rather, so his reputation might not be false, he stands on the Gospel of Grace. Grace is not of yourself, nor is your faith of yourself, both are a gift from God, coming by revelation from the Holy Spirit who draws us to Jesus Christ. That is the reputation I desire. I don't want people to think of me as a good guy, or even a good bible teacher, rather I want Paul's reputation, as someone who stands on the truth, for that is the Gospel. As the song says. “I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus Name!” First your reputation is in Jesus standing on the gospel.
From his defense of the Gospel Paul launches into his personal testimony. What God has done and continues to do in his life. The first thing to know about “your personal testimony” is that it is just that, not what you were, and what you have become, but what God has done – and what he continues to do in your life. He was born blind, for years all he could do was panhandle for his income. He was past the age of being an adult and his parents, although they loved him, could teach him no trade, they couldn't support him forever - so every day he went to his spot and asked for alms from the people going to worship the Lord. When one day, Jesus came by and he did the weirdest thing. He spit on the ground and made some mud and put it into his eyes than Jesus told this blind man to wash in the pool of Siloam, when he did he could see. Well, if you know that story, this poor guy gets the third degree from the religious rulers, and as they interrogate both him and his parents you watch his faith come to life. Finally he gives his testimony. John 9:25 “... One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!" Later Jesus makes sure the man can see spiritually and not just physically. But isn't that all our testimonies? We were blinded by the lie of this world, we were blinded by sin, some of us were involved in all kinds of evil things, possessed by drugs, alcohol, anger, and rage. But now that the savior has shined his glorious gospel into our hearts - we can see. So Paul uses his testimony as his credentials of what God has and is doing in his life. We can read the details of Paul's conversion in Acts chapter nine. But if you recall that, Paul was named Saul and was a leader in the Pharisee group and a persecutor of the church. He had letters authorizing him to interrogate and imprison Christians. When suddenly the light of the gospel shines on him. Literally, he is blinded by a light from heaven and Jesus speaks to him. “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” And Saul the persecutor speaks back. “Who are you Lord?” When Jesus reveals himself - Saul the persecutor, becomes Paul the Apostle. As here today we read what his reputations was. Gal 1:15 But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace... Gal 1:23-24 They only heard the report: "The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy." And they praised God because of me. Notice it is God first, then what God has done second. See your testimony is not that you were an alcoholic and now your not. Rather it is like Paul, like the blind man, like all of us, we were all lost, blind, and far from God, now we are found, we can see, and are “justified by his grace” through this wonderful Gospel of Jesus Christ. See Paul's reputation, was not built on his credentials, his reputation was not built upon his academics, and the degrees he had earned, although Paul was very well educated. Paul's reputation was not because he was popular, and had his face everywhere. For there were many people who did not know Paul's face, but many more who knew of his his faith. So what is your reputation? Are people praising God -V24- because of you and what God has done in your life? I think of some of the greatest men of God and their reputations. C.H. Spurgeon was a great man of God, who during the late 1800s pastored a church of over 6000 people in London. To this day he is called: “The prince of preachers.” Spurgeon had no sound system, no radio program, no TV ministry, yet thousands were effected and are still being effected for Jesus Christ because of his ministry. And Spurgeon had no formal ministerial training. When he applied for Seminary and had an appointment to meet the dean of the school, and sat in a room waiting for more then an hour, when he finally inquired to where the dean was -- he found that he had been in the next room waiting for Spurgeon, but left for another appointment. From that day on, Spurgeon went on to preach the gospel, and work for the Lord, never perusing his own education. Yet C H Spurgeon established a great school of ministry that exists to this day. Or Dwight L Moody the American contemporary of Spurgeon, who was a shoe salesmen when Jesus Christ got a hold of his life. Moody is described as “a devout student of the Bible, uneducated, except in the art of saving souls.” D. L. Moody stands to this day as the foremost evangelist of his century. Moody like Spurgeon established a great school that today is known as The Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. Or consider Martyn Lloyd Jones, who was in medical school, when like Paul, the Gospel of Grace, took hold of his life, and he too went on to be a great and powerful voice for the Lord until his death in 1981. All those great men of our faith had no formal training. Not that formal training is bad, but the idea is that their reputation / their credentials - were not just a peace of paper on the wall. Their reputation was what God has done. And like you and me, our credentials are from the Lord, and what he continues to do in our lives. So what is your reputation? What are your credentials? What do we do that represents the fact we have been justified by God? During the early days of the Salvation Army, William Booth and his associates were bitterly attacked in the press by the religious leaders of his day. Whenever his son, Bramwell, showed General Booth a newspaper attack, the General would reply, “Bramwell, fifty years hence it will matter very little indeed how these people treated us; it will matter a great deal how we dealt with the work of God.” So Paul's reputation is his stand on the Gospel, and his personal testimony, so others will praise God. Finally.
Continuing his testimony and his personal experience with Jesus Christ, Paul fights for what is right-- the truth of grace. How God set him in a place of ministry to others. This Jewish leader - zealous for all the rules, regulations, and rituals, goes to the non-Jewish world, and brings them the message of salvation by grace and grace alone. After fourteen years of ministry he finally talks with the leaders of the church in Jerusalem. Even then false brothers were trying to add to the gospel. In V3 he speaks about Circumcision -the Jewish tradition of marking the body as a sign of being set apart for God. But Paul understood that circumcision like all rituals, was a picture of what Jesus Christ wants to do. Followers of Jesus are marked with a much different mark, instead of cutting away a piece of flesh, God cuts away at the heart. Rom 2:29 ...Circumcision is circumcision of the heart , by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God. So the gentile believers with Paul feel compelled not to follow the traditions, for they knew that those things were shadows and the reality was found in Jesus. So Paul fights for grace, and grace alone. He understood that good works, the keeping of laws, the denying of the body, abstaining from alcohol, or any social thing – are the fruit of God working in our lives and not something that makes anyone right with God. See - the Gospel transforms, it takes a Saul and makes him a Paul, it takes a drug addicted man or woman and makes them clean. The Gospel is what changes, the gospel is what Paul offered in his ministry, and what we offer today. The gospel message isn’t just pie in the sky by and by - but a message of New life Now! Gal 1:4 (Jesus ) gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age , Jesus may find you in the ditch
but he doesn’t leave you there. When you come to him by faith, he gives you a
new heart, he sends the Holy Spirit to live within you, he empowers you to live
a life for Him. Real life, because the Gospel transforms. 1. ATTITUDE OF THE HEART. Gal 2:6b ...God does not judge by external appearance. If you are trying to perform your way to God, by the things you do or you do not do, we need to remember that like we read about circumcision, it is the cutting away of the heart. God wants to control your heart, the inner most person, and not just have you follow rituals and rules. When we understand God does not judge by external things we stop trying to perform, and we desire to please. Eph 5:10 (Speaking of holy living and the evidence of salvation) “And find out what pleases the Lord.” 2. FOCUS OF THE MIND. Col 3:2-3 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. Fill your mind with the things of God. The four elements of spiritual growth. Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. The word of God. The fellowshipping of the saints. The breaking of bread (communion, worship) and prayer. First, the attitude of your heart, second the focus of your mind. 3. SURRENDER TO THE SPIRIT. Gal 5:25 Since we live by the Spirit , let us keep in step with the Spirit. The Holy Spirit abides with the church, he calls out his cadence to the church, the call of the Spirit is for Holy living, to live in love, Joy, Peace. To set your reputation of what Jesus has done, and what he continues to do. Look at our final verse today. Gal 2:10 All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. The church leaders in Jerusalem recognized the work of God in Paul and his ministry, all they asked of him was not that he keep any tradition, or rules, but that there would be good fruit and they would bless the needy. Paul says, That's exactly what my hearts desire is. So what is your reputation. Some of you have ruined your wittiness for Christ by sinful behavior. Some have ruined your reputation by being too legalistic. But that can change, turn back to the grace that you were called to. Turn away from sinful behaviors, turn to the Lord. Maybe some of you have no reputation for Christ. INVITE. PRAY, INVITE, BENEDICTION, SING. Series: Galatians -Through the Bible |
(C) High Sierra Fellowship 2008 |
