Book of Galatians - Ch. 4, Vs. 13-Ch. 5, Vs. 3 (08/27/2000)

Church Is Not a Building, but the People of God

Now if I could have everybody's attention, please I want someone here to tell me how it is that a Christian can never go to church. How can a Christian never go to church? Now it's the truth. Leave it up to Nichols.

Most people think of the church as this building. A Christian cannot go to this building and be in church and go to church because they bring the church with them. And as Clarence pointed out we're always in church.

Does that confuse everybody? Confused you? You can go to the church building, you can't go to church because God put you in the church. I begin to think it wasn't for a minute. Just before we get separated, we're bringing the church together by bringing ourselves together.

To encourage, to instruct, to learn, to praise. Alright, come now to Galatians 4, 13. Paul is reminding these people of something that it seems like they have forgotten. He says, you know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.

He is talking about his infirmity, his problem, his illness, his disease. He never spells it out exactly, I think he has though indirectly. That it was a problem with the eyes. And he says I want you to remember that when I first came to you I had this awful disease of the eye.

And that my temptation or my infirmity which was in my flesh. You despised not nor rejected. But received me as an angel of God even as Christ Jesus. Where is then the blessedness you speak of? For I bear you record that if it had been possible.

You would have plucked out your own eyes and hand given them to me. I said that's the way you were when I first come. You received me as you would receive God. The word temptation going back to it for a moment.

The trial made of you by my bodily condition. Paul speaking to them since condition served as to test the love of the Galatians toward Paul. And they passed the test. Am I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth.

Now we're getting rather personal. He said I have not changed. Something has changed. You consider me now to be your enemy. Why is that? Since it is the very same gospel that I'm teaching you. I'm giving you the truth and now you don't like it.

Something had to change. Now we're going to see what it is because he certainly addresses it. They consider him to be an enemy. They zealously affect you but not well. Yea, they would exclude you that you might affect them.

He goes on to say I want you to tell me what is it that has affected you. It has caused you to think that now I'm your enemy. I'm telling you the very same truth. The truth has not changed. Do you now consider me to be trying to mislead you?

Is that what you're saying? I tell you with all assurance of God that it is not I that is misleading you. Somebody has. Somebody has misled you to the point that you now think that I am leading you astray.

He says they are your enemy. They're trying to draw you away from the truth so that they can make money off of you. Greed, pride, money is the root of all evil. These false teachers saw an opportunity in which in the absence of Paul.

They took the opportunity, Verge, to little by little teach an untruth. To depend upon them and to make money off of them. Question, why do false teachers attract large crowds? It tickles their ears. It tickles their ears.

Richard, what do you think? Why do false teachers draw such a large crowd? To take a person away from a good church. Alright, anyone have anything to add? Alright, just a minute. Jessie. You want to say something?

That's good Jessie. That's right, yes. We're all saying exactly the same thing and it's right. But at the same time you're pointing out these things. You're also saying that the truth is hard. The truth is the truth.

And we don't like to hear it sometimes. If we're still in the flesh. And most of us spend a lot of time in the flesh. Even though we would rather not. But it appeals to the carnal man. I was listening to one on the television yesterday for a little bit.

Anytime I want a good laugh I usually go to him. And maybe I shouldn't laugh about it but it's ridiculous. Just pure ridiculous. And such intelligent looking people. And they're so sincere. I pray that the Lord will shake them up.

And cause them to see the truth. If they're saved, if they're not, that's another story. So, anything that attracts a huge crowd. Real quick, be very careful of it. Any movement, any program. Anything, whether it's in the church or out of the church.

If it grows fast, be very very cautious. My little children, verse 19 now. My little children, the very dear term he's giving to them. Remember he's very angry with them. Of whom I prevail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.

Now he's going back to the thought of a child being formed in the womb. And being birthed. And he said it's just like having birth pangs again with you. I went through it once. And now I find that Christ is not even formed in you yet.

Getting your children to believe is like having a prolonged birth. The pain of it almost more than he can bear. He said I would have you to grow up. Hebrews addresses this very problem. Said let's move on away from all of the front end of everything.

Get into the meat of the gospel. Get into the heart of it. Because that's where you should be by now. But you're still babes. He says in Hebrews In verse 20 I desire to be present with you now. And to change my voice.

Bill, what's he mean change my voice? Well it's not the latter. It's the first. He's already pointed out things they're doing wrong. And he knows it. He knows that they're doing it. They know that they're doing it.

And he said I would that I didn't have to do it. But I do. In other words he's saying I've been commissioned to this. And I have no choice. Therefore you'll hear the truth from me. He added I stand in doubt of you.

Well Virgie would since they have changed so radically since he left them. He's saying I would really like to be there with you. So that I could look you in the eye as I speak to you. How many would rather talk on a telephone.

As to stand face to face with a person and talk. How many would rather see the person to whom you're speaking. I guess that's why some people stand way back when they speak to me. But he's saying just maybe I would sound more soft if I could but see you.

And then again I doubt it from the way you're acting. 21 tell me. Ye that desire to be under the law do you hear what the law says. Do you even understand the law. So he's putting out a challenge to them.

I challenge you to tell me. What does the law tell you. For it is written That Abraham had two sons. The one by a bond made the other by a free woman. But he who was of the bond woman was born after the flesh.

Now Greg Explain to me and make me understand. That statement that the son that was born to Hagar Which was after the flesh. How is it. Paul uses that as a symbol of the flesh. Why does he take that route.

That's right. They thought that since we're to have a son. And we're way too old to have any children. This must be the way God has planned for us to. Therefore Sarah gave to her husband her maid. And she had a son by that.

We'll get into more of that this afternoon in Genesis. Because we're right at that point. And I hope we understand a little more then. But Ishmael was born of the flesh representing the world. The free woman which was who?

Sarah. How old was she when their son was born? How old? Ninety. That's way too old for a woman to have a child. We know that. She knew that. That only added to her confusion. And it was all a lack of understanding and believing.

Beyond any shadow of a doubt. What God had said. If God says it, is it apt to happen? When we say something, is it apt to happen? See when we say something and then later do it. There's two different things.

When God says something and it happens. It's all one thing. If he says it, it happens. It's just one thing. Which things are an allegory? So he's going to use or is using Ishmael and Isaac now as a picture.

For these are the two covenants. The one from Mount Sinai which gendereth to bondage. The other is Agar or Hagar. For this, Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia. And answereth to Jerusalem which now is And is in bondage with her children.

But Jerusalem which is above is free. John, what did he mean? Jerusalem that is above. David, what does it mean to you? Jerusalem which is now above. Let me ask a question. Which comes first? David, don't answer.

Which comes first? The real thing or the false thing? Clarence. The real. How did you come to that conclusion? That's what I thought. But Why didn't we see false prophets first? Why don't you see counterfeit money before they ever made any money?

That's right. There has to be something to copy. So the false came second. Always second. The false leaders in the Old Testament. Starting with Nimrod. Or even before that Nimrod had a full blown church organization.

Priests Temple virgins. And everything. But it was copied after the real. Who's speaking? That's right. Maybe you should have used Ishmael and Isaac instead of Hagar. Hagar was worldly. It was the flesh.

Gave birth to Ishmael which represents the world. Alright. You didn't need to say that. Alright. But Jerusalem which is above is free. Which is the mother of us all. The us all. Deborah is referring to who?

To Christians. To born again The seed of God in the world. For it is written Rejoice thou barren that bearest not. Break forth and cry. Thou that travailest not for the desolate. Hath many more children than she which hath a husband.

Now Greg how are we going to make sense out of that verse? Well what you saw was backwards. That's right. That's right. You had it right. Only it just turned around. Greg. Yes. Had there not been sin.

Alright. Does everyone understand? The desolate is the wicked. There'll be many more of those Than there will of The wives that had a husband Which was Sarah. Even though they were married He was married to Hagar.

Now we brethren As Isaac was Are the children of promise. But as then he That was born after the flesh Persecuted him that was born after the spirit. Even so it is now. Will it ever be any different In this world.

When did Ishmael start Tormenting Isaac. What makes you say that. When Did that happen. But what. At what occurrence. What was the feast for. Alright but there was something else That took place too. Well look it up.

It started at a feast. Alright but we want to know The feast was for The weaning and something. Now Galatians 5 In this chapter Paul is speaking about grace As daily living. You must get that fixed in your mind.

But I guess they didn't get Copied. Nevertheless What says the scripture. Always go to the scripture. Cast out the bond woman. And her son for the son of the bond woman Shall not be heir with the son of the free woman.

They both cannot Be the seed of God. So then brethren We are not children of the bond woman But of the free. The average church of today. Let me describe it for you. Not this church. We're not average folks.

What. The average church consists of this. A mild mannered man Stands in a mild mannered pulpit Telling the Mild mannered people To be more mild mannered. He says You're doing fine just be better. Now Chapter 5.

In this chapter Paul is speaking about grace As daily living. The grace for daily living Not about saving grace. That's a different subject. What God does in time Is only what he determined In infinity.

His own will be His own will Being the Alone cause. His own will Being the lone cause Of all of his acts and works. I hope you really understand that God's will Is the only cause Of everything that he does.

So that David would make him Sovereign, wouldn't it? He is sovereign God from all infinity did By the most wise and holy Counsel of his own will Freely and unchangeably Foreordain whatever Comes to pass.

Whatever has already been fixed It is a done deal. Everything's finished. He cannot change Without undoing everything. It is perfectly And divinely true That God has ordained For his own glory Whatever comes to pass.

Verse 1. Stand fast therefore In the liberty wherewith Christ Hath made us free. Now Greg to stand fast Means what? Not move. Don't keep looking around For some place to jump. Stand fast. Stay. Be not Entangled again with the yoke Of bondage.

Jesse, what was the Yoke of bondage? The law Are we to make sure of where we are And where we stand and who we are. Is that any concern to us? Maybe. How do you determine who you are Through the word.

Is it Of much importance Then to study the word. How important is it This man sitting with you. I don't recognize him this morning. How important is the word Richard? It can be no more important. Can it?

It's just, it is. It is God in printed form. So do not let anyone Teach you to return again to the Living of the law. We are free From the yoke of the law. Now in this chapter We're going to see some Small things that lead To the law that actually are Under the law.

Behold I Paul say Unto you that if ye be Circumcised Christ Shall profit you nothing. So if you have to do Anything then Christ is not going to be Of any benefit to you whatsoever. If you do anything for salvation The joining of circumcision With the gospel As a thing necessary to justification And salvation Christ's Undertaking will profit you nothing.

For embracing Circumcision After Christ's coming is virtually To deny and disown That he has come. You follow? If you think You have to add something to it It's the same as saying that he Did not come Or that what he did was not sufficient.

And in effect It is to renounce And disclaim him because of his Coming. The promise was fulfilled And circumcision of Its own nature ceased. So learn this To join Anything and I stress That to join anything With Christ And faith in him.

For justification Of a sinner before God is a plain denial Of Christ And a despising of his ability And sufficiency to justify And to save us. If You know someone that says Well salvation Is of God. Alright but I must Do and then tell You what they must do.

That cannot be and you be a child Of God It has got to be his way His method only. He will not accept Part man in it. It requires no movement On part Of man for salvation. You understand that? Is anyone here A little bit foggy On that.

Now I'm talking about Baptism or anything Else. It cannot be added to Salvation. There's a place for baptism but not For salvation. For I testify Again to every man That is circumcised that he is a debtor To the whole law.

He's a debtor Not a debtee. A debtor. Clarence Means what? He's a debtor to the law. Alright. And we Do not. What did Christ do to the law? Fulfilled it. Did he do away with it? He fulfilled it. It's fulfilled in him.

Then how is it that The father can say There can be no one Spend eternity with me Unless they keep the law. And we're in him. Therefore Did he save? Did he keep The law for us? Why did he keep the law?

For the heavenly father. Everything he did while he was here was for the father. He came to save and to Redeem that which Was lost. What is it that was lost? Who's talking? Is that all? Well what you're saying is true.

But I want to get down to the very heart The basis of exactly why he came. David. Can you help us? Everything that had been lost. I didn't hear you Jesse. You need to stand up and wave I guess. Now He came to seek And to save that which was lost.

If you go back to Genesis You find out what was lost. It was the entire creation. It tells us in the New Testament that the creation Is waiting, groaning Waiting on the Manifestation of us. So that the creation Can get a new body.

Does this creation Belong to God? Alright. Is this creation Under a curse? Why? Because of man. So he had to come in the form of man Because man is the one that sinned. He didn't come in the form of a tree Or a rock Because creation was made The subject of the curse.

But not willingly God put it under that curse. Now What I want you to understand Is that He did not come Just to save you and me. He came to redeem everything That belongs to God. And He did When it says He so loved the world.

The word is cosmos That is all of His creation. Are you following me? So the Bible plainly tells us That everything Jesus did While He was here was to please the Father Not to please you and I But to please the Father.

Now it so happens In God's wisdom and plan That in the saving Of the entire creation It included us We that are His Because we were lost Along with everything else. So fix it in your mind this morning That He came to save Everything Or to redeem.

The very word redeem Means to buy back Meaning once it was And now it wasn't. And now He bought it back And it is. So He came to redeem everything That belonged to the Heavenly Father. That in itself Indicates that there is something That does not belong to the Father.

Virg what is that? The seed of Satan. They will not be redeemed. Is there any questions? Well we're going to stop here And see if there's any more questions. Where did we get to? Three? Okay We'll start with four next time.

Now Did you have something That you thought of while going through this? You want to voice it? Was that a hand up or just somebody Scratching their head? Then everybody understands everything perfectly.

Think about it this week. Keep it in your computer. Pull it up every once in a while. Look at it. Make a copy of it. Let's stand. I'm going to ask Richard if you'll dismiss us today. Please sir.