|
|
|
|
Tale Of Two CovenantsHow do you view God? What do you think of when we speak of the mercies of God and the goodness of God? Some people see God as restrictive, wanting to spoil their fun, or trying to keep people under rules that squelch their freedom. That view of God is a long way from the freedom found in the gospel of Jesus Christ. In our ongoing studies of Galatians we have seen that “legalistic religion” binds people under rules that can not be kept. Legalism makes people judgmental of others, legalistic religion tries to justify its behavior, and legalism looks down on people who do not conform to their system of religion. That is what Jesus came into in Israel, with the Pharisees and others who were for the most part pious on the outside but hypocrites on the inside. And that legalism was what was creeping into the Galatians churches as the Apostle Paul wrote this letter. So he sound a clear message, “Jesus Christ came to set us free from the bondage of religious rules, as well as the bondage of our sin.” Jesus came to set us free to worship God in an intimate personal relationship. A few years ago, Rolling Stone magazine interviewed a famous Hollywood star and in the interview the star kept referring to religion. "I called religion oppressive," he said, "Religion stifles any kind of personal individual freedom.” He went on: “I dealt with a lot of that, and my family..." This man's ideas of God could have come right from the Judizers in Galatia because that was their religion. It had to conform to rules, and traditions in order for a man or a woman to be right with God. But as we have been journeying through Galatians the Apostle Paul say over and over again: “No way Jose”, “it's not what you do, that makes you right with God, rather it is by faith in what Jesus Christ has done. Gal 2:15-16 "We ... know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. ... and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified. So what about you? How do you view God and his plan for people? Do you see him as resistive, and holding people in tow? Or do you see him as a loving father who desires to provide for his children to be free from bondage? Today we will consider the latter part of chapter four where Paul has been trying to show this freedom to the Galatians. And now he takes another turn in his arguments, he goes back to Abraham, and some events in his life that show us our freedom in Jesus Christ. READ THE TEXT GALATIANS 4:21-5:1 -TALE OF TWO COVENANTS Four things I want us to glean from today's text.
Some folks in the Galatian churches thought the Judizers made sense. After all they spoke about the law, and even Paul said the “law is good.” They talked about the keeping Jewish traditions, about circumcision, and those things came from God to Moses to the Jews. So when they concluded that keeping of the law is how people are made you right with God, these young Christians bought into the whole deal. So Paul carefully exposes to them the truth of the two covenants. Again using Abraham, the example of one who is justified by his faith because Abraham lived before the law. And because when Abraham heard God - he acted in faith. But Abraham also made some decisions that were not from God. Abraham had two sons, one was a work of his flesh, or as I like to say. “Abraham was trying to help God.” The other son was a work of the Spirit, or, he came by faith in what God had promised. 1. First was Ishmael the work of the flesh. Whenever we see the “flesh” in scripture, it is not a good thing. The NIV often translates it our “Sinful Nature.” Meaning the old unconverted person who did not listen to nor follow after the Holy Spirit. Lets consider some facts about Abraham from Genesis 12 through 21. At age 75 God called Abraham to leave his fathers land and goes to Canaan where God promises him many descendants. Both Abraham and Sarah his wife, wanted children, but they were unable to have any. But by faith they left and went to the land God spoke of. Now this is not like going to a retirement village at 75 years old, he did not know where he was going, he did not know what to expect when he got there, but he did know that God told him to go and that was good enough. What about you? Has God told us to do something? Well, yeah. How about. Rom 12:1-2... Offer your bodies as living sacrifices , holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship. (And) Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. By faith, in Jesus we live holy and godly lives, by faith in Jesus Christ, we trust God with our circumstances. Well, God had promised Abraham that he would have a son and through him the world would be blessed. But after waiting on God for and realizing at age 85 that he was getting old, and Sarah was no spring chicken, it was Sarah who came up with a plan to help God fulfill his promise. Sarah says: “Abe- e- pooh, take my maid servant Hagar and have a child with her and that will be God's promise.” And of course Abraham the man of faith... key word being a “man”, goes along with this hair-brained idea and fathers a child by Hagar. The result, at age 86 Abraham gets Hagar pregnant and Sarah gets jealous! Things get so bad in the home that Sarah throws Hagar out of the camp. The story is told of Mark Twain when challenged by a Mormon man to find a scripture against mutable wives. Twain quoted. Matt 6:24 "No man can serve two masters.” God in his mercy brings Hagar back and at 86 years old the son is born, and Abraham calls him Ishmael. This is the son born of the flesh, is not what God had in mind, so Ishmael is not going to fulfill God's promise. Have you ever gave birth to something of the flesh? The churches in Galatia were doing just that by trying to finish in the flesh what God began in the Spirit. Going back to legalism is just that type of thing. But there a thousands other ways people today try to help God in the flesh every day. We get impatient like Abraham, some people move into a relationship, a marriage, or a business deal without hearing from God. The result is an Ishmael, and like any work of the flesh and excuse the pun, but “it smells.” Others, like the Galatians, move into legalism – that Hollywood star is right religion without relationship does make people “tow the line.” How many religious systems make their members conform to a set of rules. “Pay your tithes, dress a certain way, act like this, be married in our temple, knock on doors, be here every week, light a candle, don't do these things, talk like us, act like us, dress like us, and you will be right with God. But that is not true, the bible tells us that. Gal 5:5 You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. A young man was sincere in his question and said. “I am in earnest about forsaking ‘the world’ and following Christ. But I am puzzled about worldly things. What is it I must forsake?” The answer came. “Colored clothes, for one thing. Get rid of everything in your wardrobe that is not white. Stop sleeping on a soft pillow. Sell your musical instruments and don’t eat any more white bread. You cannot, if you are sincere about obeying Christ, take warm baths or shave your beard. To shave is to lie against Him who created us, to attempt to improve on His Work.” Elizabeth Elliot comments on that dialog in her book, The Liberty of Obedience: She says, “Does this answer sound absurd?” But that was the answer given in the most celebrated Christian schools of the second century! First was Ishmael the work of the flesh. 2. Isaac the work of the Spirit. When Abraham was 99, God again promises that he will have a son by Sarah. And after God appears to Sarah - and Abraham is 100 - the son is born and they name him Isaac ("laughter.") What else could Abraham do, but laugh, this son, was born to an old man, and an old woman in a miraculous way, so what else can you do but laugh. Whenever you or I birth anything of the Spirit of God, it is a joyous and wonderful thing. It might be a step of faith that God has led you into. It might be a commitment in your faith journey. It might be a relationship, a business deal, but when we are led by God's Spirit like Isaac being born it is a joyous thing. Well the arrival of Isaac created new problems in the home. Ishmael is now fourteen years old and has been his father's only son and very dear to his heart and this new baby creates some tension. Then at the ripe old age of 103 – Abraham and Sarah hold a feast and worship God because its time for Isaac to be weaned and in that culture that was a big deal. But the worship feast is just the place that “flesh and Spirit” come in conflict. Because that is when Ishmael starts to mock Isaac. So there is only one solution to the problem, and its a costly one, Hagar and Ishmael have to go, so with a broken heart, Abraham sends his son away, because the Lord told him to. On the surface, this story appears to be a heavy tale of a family with tough problems, but beneath the surface are meanings that carry tremendous spiritual power. Abraham, had two wives, and Abraham had two sons. One son was born to a slave woman, the other came by the free woman. Theses represent spiritual realities and teach us important lessons, about the two covenants. So Paul ties them together to legalistic religion, or following the law is like - slavery. Slavery in that you will never be good enough, nor will you ever be able to obtain the God's promise. First we see legalism exposed.
The example is that of the the two covenants. One covenant came from Mt Sinai where the law was given, Hagar the slave woman, Ishmael the son born to the flesh represent the old covenant. We have seen the heart of the old covenant. Gal 3:10 All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." The curse of the law is that you must do it all, and do it all perfectly or you will are not fulling the law. That's the example of legalism you can not perform your way to God. Rules from the bible, or rules from a church, or self imposed rules will not make you right with God. Only faith in the perfect savior will make anyone justified. Charles Spurgeon, said: “I have found, in my own spiritual life, that the more rules I lay down for myself, the more sins I commit. The habit of regular morning and evening prayer is one which is indispensable to a believer’s life -- but the prescribing of the length of prayer, and the constrained remembrance of so many persons and subjects, may gender unto bondage, and strangle prayer rather than assist it.” Legalism's example is that it can not be kept. When your friends say, “I keep the commands, I'm a moral person”, they are only fooling themselves. For the law, the commands are much more then outward actions - and if anyone fails in one point of the law they are guilty of breaking it all. But there is a new covenant, the new covenant did not come from Mt. Sinai, it came from Mt. Calvary. It is found in faith, from the new Jerusalem- from Heaven. Jesus spoke about it this way. Luke 22:20 “This cup is the new covenant in my blood , which is poured out for you.”
After exposing the fruit of legalism and giving an example of legalistic fruit, Paul moves into what the Lord desires to give -freedom. He says, V28 “like Isaac, you are children of promise.” When some men argued with Jesus about their roots and how they were not in bondage to anyone because they were “Abraham's children”, Jesus told them. John 8:34-36 ..."I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” He goes on to tell them, if they were truly Abraham's decedents they would live by faith and do the things that Abraham did. But since they were living by law, and since they were trying to kill the Lord they were not Abraham's children, even though they were Jewish by blood. That is how it is to this day, you may have great roots spiritually. You might have a long list of powerful pastors in your genes, you might go to a good church, but if you are not living in God's grace, and producing fruit by the Holy Spirit you need to examine your religion. Freedom in Christ, is freedom not to sin it is being free not to be bond by rules or traditions. Freedom is being free to worship the Lord in Spirit and in Truth. Being free is being set free from the world, the flesh, and the devil who lead us into temptation. So Paul shows how those who live after the flesh are going to persecute those who want to live by grace. They will say things like – “where's the holiness in your grace.” Your grace is - cheap grace, if you are not bound by the law, you are going to live wild and ungodly lives.” But in reality the opposite is often true. Often the one pounding the pulpit is the one who is in hidden sin. Often the sin that people want to expose in others is the very thing they are struggling with in their own lives. So God says, get rid of the slave woman's son, get rid of the works of the flesh. A Couple works of the flesh we see today are. 1. Keeping the law – to be right with God. Now don't leave here saying the commands are bad. We have seen that they are there to show us our sinfulness, to bring us to Jesus Christ, and to guide us into right living. But when we like the Galatians try to follow God by rules and traditions, we are trying to complete in the flesh a work that God began in the Spirit. It will not work. 2 Cor 3:6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant- — not of the letter but of the Spirit ; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. When the law came from Mt Sinai it came with power to kill, “do these things or you will die.” “Touch the mountain and you will die.” But the Spirit gives life, eternal life. 2. (Work of the flesh) License to sin. I don't know what is worse, legalism, or license. Christians who refuse to look at their own back heart, and ungodly behaviors as a work of the flesh. Freedom in Christ is not license sin. As we go thorough this important section of scripture, it would be easy to conclude, “I'm saved by grace, so I can live anyway I want.” But nothing could be farther from the truth. Speaking about this same concept of law and Grace. Rom 6:1-2 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? The book of Jude tells us: “That to change the grace of our God into a license for immorality is to deny Jesus Christ as Sovereign and Lord.” Rom 8:12-14 Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation — but it is not to the sinful nature , to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature , you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Those led by the Holy Spirit produce a crop of from the Spirit and harvest the fruit of the Spirit in their lives, as we live in obligation to our Lord and not the sinful nature. We have seen, legalism exposed, legalism's example, and freedom exposed, finally lets consider.
The example of living in freedom is that of obedience. Like Abraham getting rid of the slave's son, we get rid of everything in our lives that is not from God. For Abraham that was a real test of faith, he had to take his son, and send him out, of course we know God provided for him. Be that as it may, like Abraham by it may be a real test of faith to trust God and get rid of the results of your work of the flesh. To quit that habit, to move out from an immoral relationship, to trust God to comfort your pain, to not give up when everything says to. Like Abraham those are all tests of faith. 1 Cor 5:7 Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast — as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Get rid of the yeast of immorality and tolerance for sin. Get rid of evil that permeate through your life, and through the church. Eph 4:31-32 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Bitterness, rage, slander, gossip, malice, un-forgivenesses, are to be placed on the alter of God. When you do, God will replace them with kindness, compassion, and forgiveness. You might say, “But Pastor Rich, you don't know what those people have done to me, I have every right to be bitter toward them, I have every right to hold a grudge.” Really? Look at what Jesus Christ did for you. When you were far from God, not concerned about him or his ways, Jesus died for your sins, and he bore in his body the penalty due to you. James 1:21 ...Get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Throw away the booze that enslaves you, get rid of the drugs that have you bound, toss out the pornography that captivates you, as well as the legalism that has you burdened, and in humility accept what Jesus has said. Matt 11:28 "Come to me , all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. “Rich you don't understand how hard those things have a hold on my life.” Friends, when you give your burdens to Jesus Christ, he will give you rest from trying to overcome and power to overcome. Rom 13:11-14... Let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. Church, its time to leave the works of the flesh, let them go, send them out and be free in Christ, free from sin, free from performance and free to worship the Lord. Then as we clothe ourselves with Jesus and you will not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. Look at chapter 5:1. Gal 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Too many religious people want to live under law believing that their performance somehow makes their possession in Christ more. In this section of scripture we see the tale of two covenants, given to us in the life and times of Abraham. Just a few final thoughts about what we see here. The Old Covenant is law, it was cast in stone. Represented by Hagar a slave who produced Ishmael as a work after the flesh. These things are earthly, seen in Jerusalem, Mt. Sinai and they lead to slavery, or bondage. The New Covenant is Grace, written on the heart. Represented by Sarah the free woman who brought forth Isaac, born of the Spirit. Grace is seen in the Heavenly Jerusalem, Mt Zion, and grace leads to freedom. Freedom from things, and freedom to worship God. Isaac was born by God's power, by the Spirit and, came into the world by faith. The bible says. 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. Isaac came by the Spirit and he was weaned. When you come to Jesus for salvation in repentance and confession that is the beginning, not the ending. After you are born again, we must grow and are weaned from "childish things." But one last lesson from Isaac was persecuted - Ishmael caused problems for Isaac, just as our old nature causes problems for us. You will battle with your flesh until the day you are with Jesus. What do we do with that battle? Gal 5:16-18 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. Are you led by the Spirit or the flesh? Are you living under the old or the new covenant? INVITE, PRAY, BENEDICTION, SING. Series: Galatians -Through the Bible |
(C) High Sierra Fellowship 2008 |
