Message of Galatians – Part VI

Time of Testing

Galatians 6 is where the rubber meets the road in testing whether our hearts are truly operating on the basis of righteousness by faith in the cross, or whether we are really operating on the basis of righteousness by our own actions. Many a religious person has professed the first and lived the second. Out day-to-day actions reveal all.

Test #1: The Restoration Test. Should you meet a brother or sister caught in a sin, what sort of attitude kicks into gear? Does the brother or sister genuinely feel your loving, non-judgmental support as you gently restore him or her and help them recover? Or is there a bit of looking-down-one’s-nose at them with that slightly disgusted attitude towards the pathetic predicament they have got themselves into? Do you find yourself thinking “I would never do that” as you mop up their mess, or are you closer to “There but for the grace of God go I”. Jesus touched on this in Luke 18:9-14. Is providing spiritual help an opportunity to serve (Gal 6:2) or an opportunity to scorn? The real test is whether or not the struggling friend feels his load lightened by your assistance and ongoing support, or is his spirit cowed even further after an encounter with you? Are you a blamer or a burden-bearer?

Test #2: The Self Test. How are you actually doing? Actually? No really? What would others say? We are told in Gal 6:3 that is possible to be deceived about the value of our contribution; an inflated view most likely. Instead we are told to test our own actions (Gal 6:4).  At first glance this sounds like a crazy proposition. If we are decieved in 6:3 have we turned into unbiased detectives by 6:4? The answer must lie in the fact that we aren’t marking our own exams to our own standards. The standard against we are to test our own actions is God’s word. Surely the place to be is to be deliberately putting yourself in the situation where you can regularly examine your own heart in the mirror (Jas 1:23-25). Am I living an obedient life? Am I walking by the Spirit? Does my life look more like Gal 5:19-21 or more like Gal 5:22-23? A sobering process potentially, but one you can come away from knowing how you stack up against God’s standards.

Test #3: The Investment test. We tend to invest ourselves in what we believe in. Be it an investment of time, money or focus. Are we making spiritual investments along the way? Gal 6:6 is talking about supporting our biblical instructors. Gal 6:7 reminds us that even though salvation has been secured by the cross, we are still in the battle against our sinful nature. This whole letter is testimony to the fact that even apostles can fall prey to the never-ceasing attacks of sin (Gal 2:11-14). Are we investing in pleasing our sinful nature with growth evident there, or are we investing in strengthening our spiritual walk? We might take some detours along the way at times, but over the long haul, we will reap the harvest of salvation if we have persevered – holding on to the hope of eternal life. In the fiscal world, the analogy would be that we haven’t cashed in our superannuation so we can spend it all on a holiday or some such, but continued to make regular investments for the future. These investments take the form of doing good (Gal 6:9) which might be financial in nature – assisting others in need, but would also include encouraging, comforting, teaching and strengthening others. Jesus taught that we should store up treasure in heaven, rather than piling up the cash on earth (Mt 6:19-21). Money always tests and reveals our heart. Are we giving freely to others, supporting our teachers, or jealously hoarding our finances?

Test #4: The fellowship test. The idea of doing good to all people, but especially to those who belong to the family of believers. The test here is about how we feel and act towards our fellow family members of faith. Am I deeply connected with the others in my church or do I see them as being a pack of losers, an unfortunate corollary to my faith? Do I agree with the priorities outlined in Gal 6:10 which places fellow believers ahead of others? Verses such as this one help paint a picture of Biblical priorities. We can easily agree that God comes first, but what is the pecking order after that? Is it God – No. 1, Church – No. 2, Family – No. 3, World – No. 4? Maybe it goes God,Family,World,Church? Gal 6:10 says it’s God,Family,Church,World.

 Wrapping it up

This letter deals with the outward versus the inward. The world values and is preoccupied with grooming the outward. God sees right through all of that and is concerned about the inward – the heart. Paul takes up his scribe’s pen and jots a few sentences (Gal 6:11). Standing back from the page he can’t help but notice the large ungainly letters from his hand when compared with the practiced and beautiful hand-writing of his amanuensis. Maybe he is just writing a personal note, but perhaps there is a parable here too. Good impressions and boasting are the preserve of the outward and mean very little. Gorgeous calligraphy could simply be a type-face on meaningless twaddle. The true beauty of the written text is more than skin-deep; what counts is the spirit inspired truth of the words.

Paul can’t boast about his ugly script, but he will boast about the cross of Jesus Christ (Gal 6:14). Boasting about circumcision stats (or baptism stats for that matter) is off-target (Gal 6:13); what counts is the new creation inside. It’s about new hearts fellas. Peace and mercy to all who subscribe to this way of thinking!

Galatians was written to address serious errors in thinking that led to serious errors in practice. At its core was the notion that salvation can be controlled. Conditions added to the gospel by those with vested interests. Paul has stripped this approach naked and forces us to confront the true condition of our own hearts. Once we do that, then we too can gratefully feel that the only thing worth boasting about in our spiritual lives is the cross of Christ.

Message of Galatians – Part V

Take some responsibility

There are powerful forces out there wanting to expand their tally of circumcisees. They are active and persuasive, confusing many and succeeding with some. They cut into your running lane determined to trip you up. God will penalise them for it. There might be some powerful influences lurking about, but that doesn’t take away from our need to take individual personal responsibility for the spiritual decisions we make. When Paul says “do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” he is indicating the Galatians have the ability and responsibility to resist. Particularly in this case of letting yourselves be circumcised. Such is the invasive nature of the task, unless the surgeons actually kidnap and tie you down, being circumcised means being complicit. If you get to the point that you subject yourself to circumcision, “Christ will be of no value to you at all”. Why? Because you have chosen the path of justification by something else. This is not just a medical or cosmetic procedure like getting a nose job or a tattoo – this is a serious act of commitment to anti-faith. This is an initiation into a gang of gospel-denyers and anti-Christs. Don’t do it. We can know there is responsibility involved because there are obligations that come with it. If you let yourself be circumcised, you are obligated to obey the rest of the Law also (Gal 5:3). Paul feels very strongly about all of this. He wishes the circumcisers wouldn’t stop with a self-inflicted foreskin nick but go all the way. Such depth of feeling underscores the significance and weight of the issue.

Defence and Offence

Perhaps ironically, Paul talks of the “offence of the cross” being abolished by the practice of circumcision. That challenges our sensibilities, doesn’t it? Most people would find circumcision a fairly offensive act all by itself. However, the “offence of the cross”, ghastly though crucifixion is, is perhaps being overshadowed by the combined effect of the deep spiritual gruesomeness of circumcision coupled with the gory physical gruesomeness of the procedure. Make no mistake – there is no worse possible spiritual error than attempting to replace justification by faith with some man-made technique. The best defence against such error is for the church to join hands together to repel the invader. Allow no unguarded entry-way. Look out for each other in this battle for the gospel.

Personal responsibility is a factor as mentioned above, but the most powerful weapon in their arsenal is love for each other. Evidently it wasn’t that way at the time of writing – news of their internal squabbles had reached Paul’s ears (Gal 5:15). They had confused personal freedom with individualism. Don’t use your freedom to simply indulge yourself. Make godly choices with it and serve one another instead! (Gal 5:13). Self (with its sins in tow) is to be replaced by outward-oriented deeds of love (Gal 5:19-23). They were on the track to mutually assured destruction (Gal 5:15); there was something wrong with this picture. Certainly the Spirit seemed to be out of said picture and the result was a mess.

The cross of Christ must mean something in the life of the believer. It calls and enables us to be freed from the constrictive thinking of rampant individualism to the higher calling of loving others to the same extent that we love ourselves. Receiving God’s spirit (Acts 2:38, Rom 8:9) calls and enables us to remain in step with the drum-beat of the Spirit (Gal 5:25). Those who truly belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires (Gal 5:24). That must mean that the attitude we have towards Biblically-defined sin in our lives (e.g. Gal 5:19-21) must of the same kind of blind hatred/kill-him-at-all-costs style of police action that got Jesus to the cross in the first place. Whew! Is that my attitude as a believer? Let’s just pause and reflect on that for a while.

Acts 3 – The Time Has Come

      

(Acts 3 NIV)  One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer–at three in the afternoon. {2} Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. {3} When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. {4} Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” {5} So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. {6} Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” {7} Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. {8} He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. {9} When all the people saw him walking and praising God, {10} they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

 {11} While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. {12} When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? {13} The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. {14} You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. {15} You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. {16} By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.

 {17} “Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. {18} But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. {19} Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, {20} and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you–even Jesus. {21} He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. {22} For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. {23} Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people.’ {24} “Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have foretold these days. {25} And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’ {26} When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”

Recap

 3:1-10  Healing of the crippled man

• Time of prayer – 3 times as day. 9,12,3pm. Morning and evening sacrifices.
• The man. Born crippled. Over 40. Lifelong condition.
• Was being carried by friends or family to his begging position at the beautiful gate.
• Almsgiving – act of personal religious merit for the Jews. Giving to the poor emphasised in Jewish writings eg Tobit. Beggars strategically station themselves to receive some of these alms.
•  Money can’t buy it.
• Jewish law would not have allowed the cripple man into the temple court area. One of the many gates would have been as close as he could have gone. (Lev 21:19) So now, for the first time in his life, he was able to enter  the temple courts. He was able to cross that forbidding threshold and walk, and leap and praise God in the temple. The picture we get is of a man who was deliriously happy, jumping around, excited, exultant!
• Wonder and amazement

 3:11-16            How he was healed

• “Lame excuse for a sermon”
• You don’t think it’s us do you?
• God of our fathers has glorified his servant Jesus.
• You killed him, We are witnesses. > accusation. Witnesses? This is a trial. You are on trial for murder.
• Jesus’ name and faith > complete healing.

 3:17-26 Response to the healing

• Men acted in ignorance.
• The forgiveness of sins proclaimed by the early church is a forgiveness that comes to people who realize that they stand condemned.
• God has fulfilled the prophets words : Christ would suffer.
• Repent then and turn to God.
• Blessing of God: turning you from sin.

 WHY?

We have discussed the “what” of this passage. Now we come to the question “why.”

Why has this incident been recorded for us? And why here at the beginning of Acts? What function does the passage serve in the overall sweep of the book of Acts and the whole Bible? 10 things.

1. What does the life of the crippled man show?

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  • 40 years of going to the temple had achieved nothing.

2.  What does the healing show?

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  • Similarities to Jesus’ healing of the paralytic. (Mk 2, Lk 5)
  • What is the connection between physical healing and forgiveness of sins? Both take a special power. And the evidence of the healing is evidence that the sins can be forgiven also. Also, we can easily relate to the human need of the paralysis and how much better it would be to be able to work. It helps us understand the very real but no so easily seen spiritual condition.

3.  Power of the Name of Jesus demonstrated.

4.  Wonder and amazement

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  • continuing theme in Acts.  Acts 2:43 Everyone was filled with awe. There is something really special going on here.

5.  Connection between Jesus and the Apostles.

The authority of the apostles was being established. Peter was perhaps recognised by a servant girl in the courtyard of the high priest’s house the night Jesus was betrayed, but his life certainly lacked authority back then. Now, the other side of Jesus’ resurrection and the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost, Peter has started to be established as a central figure. The apostles teaching was becoming important – people were devoting themselves to it in Acts 2. Miracles such as this show God testifying to their authority. Everyone in Jerusalem heard about it. Even their enemies recognised this healing as an ‘outstanding miracle’ that could not be denied. (Acts 4:16). Next chapter – they took note that these men had been with Jesus. The connection between Jesus and the apostles was firming up.

6.  A Judgment message is being spelled out .

The crucifixion of Jesus cannot just go unpunished. Justice had to be done. It mattered that Jesus died.And Peter was laying it out to them : You killed Jesus. You disowned Him. You killed the Author of life. You didn’t want to know. … You are soooo guilty. You are far from God. Your ways are wicked.

Understand the certainty of our condemnation with Jesus.

(Rom 8:1-3 NIV)  Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, {2} because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. {3} 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,

7.  God’s eternal plan is being played out.

Fulfillment of God’s promises to Abraham: V13: The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus.

Luke has already used this phrase recounting the words of Jesus  :A,I and J:

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  • (Luke 20:37-38 NIV)  But in the account of the bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ {38} He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”

 Fulfillment of the words of the prophets: But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer

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  • (Luke 13:28-30 NIV)  “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. {29} People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. {30} Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.”

A,I and J and the prophets will be there in the kingdom. Will you be there too?

The covenant promise given to Abraham (v25):

(Gen 22:16-18 NIV)  and said, “I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, {17} I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, {18} and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”

Abraham was willing to sacrifice his only son Isaac. He didn’t have to do it in the end because God provided a ram for the sacrifice. But it’s an amazing demonstration of faith on Abraham’s part because he reasoned that God could raise the dead (Heb 11:19). So God made him this promise that through his offspring all the nations would be blessed. Jesus was a descendant of Abraham. And it’s through Him that all the nations will be blessed. God is wanting to pour out the blessings of salvation to the whole world : Jews and Gentile nations which is now available because of the death and resurrection of Jesus. Events and promises from 2000 years before were being fulfilled before their very eyes. God’s promise had not failed. God’s plan was unfolding.

8.      The nature of true blessing is being revealed.

When you read “blessing”, what do you think of? What’s a blessing to you? He Bible teaches us that a wife is a blessing from the Lord. Children are blessings of God. About a third of the mentions of “blessing” occur in Genesis by the way. But there is a spiritual dimension of “blessing” that we see in this passage.

 {25} And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’ {26} When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”

The promise God made to Abraham was that all the nations wold be blessed through one of his offspring. We have seen that this blessing has come through great-great-great… grandson Jesus. But what is this blessing exactly? V26 : God will bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.

The best thing God can ever do for you is to move you to repentance. The greatest blessing God can bestow on your soul is the forgiveness of your sin. True blessing is when God breaks into your life wit his truth and turns you away from your wickedness. In one action, he reveals your sin to you, he reveals the condemnation that goes with it to you, but then also provides the remedy and salvation.

We see it here in Peter’s preaching. He stuck it to them. You guys killed Jesus. You did it. We saw it. You’re guilty as charged. Do you get that? You do? Good… Now there’s some good news. The murdered man has been brought back to life again. The man’s father is now prepared to offer you a tremendous blessing. He is offering release from prison and a full pardon. He is giving you the blessings of repentance. God is showing his grace.

9.      The role of faith

V16:  By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.

Peter says that is through Jesus name and the faith that comes through him that this complete healing has come. Jesus’ name is central, but it is also needed that we believe his promises. Whose faith? The beggar’s? Or Peter and John? Well I don’t think the beggar had a chance to have faith. Peter just grabbed him by the arm, and bang! Healed. It was the faith of Peter that provided the opportunity for God’s power to work.

 10.     The Time has come: All these things point to one thing. The time has come. For the promises of God to be fulfilled and the power of God revealed. What a moment in history. The pent-up blessings were being released.

The prophet Isaiah looked forward to this time:

(Isa 35 NIV)  The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, {2} it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God. {3} Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; {4} say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.” {5} Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. {6} Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. {7} The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow. {8} And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it. {9} No lion will be there, nor will any ferocious beast get up on it; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, {10} and the ransomed of the LORD will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Isaiah said a time’s a-coming where weak knees become strong. Desert become lush, the blind will see, the fearful become string. A road to heaven – the highway of holiness will be prepared. And the redeemed will be on it. Walking, singing, gladness and joy will overtake them.  Isaiah looked forward to that. And now here, in Acts 3 at the gate called beautiful, a lame man leaps like a deer because the power of God to restore and strengthen is being revealed. The message of salvation is being revealed. People are starting to hear. Soon this message will go out to the whole world. The time had truly come.

 APPLICATION

 ARE YOU THE CRIPPLED MAN AT  THE GATE TO THE TEMPLE?

40 years of being just outside the kingdom. The crippled man knew the temple-worshippers. He saw them go in each day to the temple. Some of them would have given him money. He survived from day to day. But his condition never improved. He could probably inside, but no access. Until one day, the power of Jesus Christ burst into his life and changed it in a moment. For the first time he himself was able to enter the temple.  Healed. Changed. Deliriously joyful. God had broken into his life through Peter and John.

You might be like him. Perhaps you have friends or a spouse who is A Christian. You see them go to church, live their lives for Jesus Christ. But you yourself have never “gone in”. You’ve sat at the gate watching the lives of others change though God’s grace, but not your own. If that is you, then it is time for you also to be blessed  through repentance. Become a recipient of God’s promised blessings. Understand that you too are condemned by your own sin, but that grace is there for you to turn to God and receive his blessing. Ask your friend or spouse to study the Bible with you and find out about all of this.

PREACH LIKE AN APOSTLE

If you are a Christian here today, then preach like an apostle. How does an apostle preach? Well, like Peter in Acts 2, and now here in Acts 3, and then in Acts 4…. Your preaching must exalt the name of Jesus. “In the name of Jesus Christ, walk – verse 6. . {16} By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.- verse 16.

How else does an apostle preach? He knows the story. We’ve just finished Guard the gospel series in our mid-week classes, and I have really enjoyed them.But my challenge to us now is not to limit our understanding of God’s plan to those studies alone. We must learn how the gospel message is the message of the whole Bible. That God is the god of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. That the prophets spoke about Jesus. That he Had to suffer. That there is an eternal plan playing out. The apostles preached about Jesus in the context of all God’s dealings with mankind.

How else does an apostle preach? It’s not about us. “Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk”. Hey if you think it’s anything to do with us, you’re crazy. The glory must go to God. Jesus must be lifted up. Not ourselves. Not the church. Not what the church is doing. Please don’t exalt the church – it’s flawed! Exalt Jesus instead. He is perfect.

REPENTANCE

Perhaps you are close to making a decision to become a Christian. You’ve studiedthe Bible. You’ve come to some services. You believe Jesus is the son of God. Then all that is left is for you to “Repent and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out”. Allow God to bless you by turning you from your wicked ways.

I’ll neve forget how this happened for me just over 24 years ago now. London single, travelling, 1985. Religious background. …. Face to face with the repentance decision… For me, the most challenging thing about that was accepting I had never actually repented before. Accepting that the church community I had been part of weren’t serious about it either. And now, before me was the opportunity to really repent and give my life to Jesus Christ. Challenging. Daunting. But exhilirating.and pleased to do it ultimately because I loved God and believed the Scriptures.

Has the time come today for you to repent? Turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out,  and times of refreshing may come.

CONCLUSION

 We’ve been talking about the healing of a crippled man outside the temple and how God has shown us his grace, his power and his glory through this event.

I hope you have been able to see afresh and be inspired this morning by the amazing plan of God that has come down to us through time. How God earnestly desires to bless each of us by parting us from our sin. And how that comes about through the power and name of Jesus.

If you are the beggar sitting outside the temple for years, allow the faith of others and the words of the Scriptures to strengthen your weak knees and help you across that threshold into the temple. If you are a Christian, may you preach like an apostle with a full understanding of God;s plan. And may repentance be a continuous part of all of our lives, so that God’s blessings may continue to be poured out in our lives.