Oct 13, 2024
How Not to Be Saved
Series: Galatians
When it comes to the Gospel, we rightly focus most of our attention on how a person can be saved from the punishment they face for their sins.  This morning, let’s talk some about how not to be saved.  The fundamental issue in our passage this morning is the basis of one’s right standing with God.  Are we right with God on the basis of works, or through faith in Christ?  Paul’s argument will be that human obedience to commandments cannot serve as the basis of a right relationship with the Lord.
 
I’m going to focus on the negatives in our passage first, then we’ll finish up with the positive.  Negatively, 1) You Are Not Saved by Birth – salvation is not a birthright or inheritance; and 2) You Are Not Saved by Working for It – we can’t earn even a small portion of God’s forgiveness.  Positively, then, 3) You Are Only Saved Through Faith in Christ – it is by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
 
Right standing with God comes only through faith in Christ.
 
 
Galatians 2:15-21
Oct. 13, 2024
 
To watch the video of this message, click here.
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  • Oct 13, 2024How Not to Be Saved
    Oct 13, 2024
    How Not to Be Saved
    Series: Galatians
    When it comes to the Gospel, we rightly focus most of our attention on how a person can be saved from the punishment they face for their sins.  This morning, let’s talk some about how not to be saved.  The fundamental issue in our passage this morning is the basis of one’s right standing with God.  Are we right with God on the basis of works, or through faith in Christ?  Paul’s argument will be that human obedience to commandments cannot serve as the basis of a right relationship with the Lord.
     
    I’m going to focus on the negatives in our passage first, then we’ll finish up with the positive.  Negatively, 1) You Are Not Saved by Birth – salvation is not a birthright or inheritance; and 2) You Are Not Saved by Working for It – we can’t earn even a small portion of God’s forgiveness.  Positively, then, 3) You Are Only Saved Through Faith in Christ – it is by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
     
    Right standing with God comes only through faith in Christ.
     
     
    Galatians 2:15-21
    Oct. 13, 2024
     
    To watch the video of this message, click here.
  • Oct 6, 2024Standing Firm in the Faith
    Oct 6, 2024
    Standing Firm in the Faith
    Series: Galatians
    Whenever we have questions about Christian life and living, we should go to Scripture for our answers. If what we’re doing is in line with God’s Word, we’re doing good; if not, we need to make some changes.  
     
    In Galatians 2:11-14 we find Paul having to confront another apostle for failure to live according to God’s instruction.  There are 3 things which stand out to that we too can take to heart as we strive to live God-honoring lives: 1) Be Willing to Boldly Stand for Biblical Truth; 2) Conduct Yourself in a Consistent Christ-Honoring Way; and 3) Humbly Consider Christian Correction.
     
    God’s Word is the authority for assessing our Christian walk.
     
     
    Galatians 2:11-14
    Oct. 6, 2024
     
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  • Sep 22, 2024United We Stand
    Sep 22, 2024
    United We Stand
    Series: Galatians
    Christians are encouraged to strive for unity in the Church.  In his letter to the Galatians, Paul demonstrates this same striving after unity as he meets with the apostles in Jerusalem to share with them the content of the Gospel message he had been preaching.
     
    Three things about the Gospel show up in Paul’s example found in Gal. 2:1-10: 1) We Are to Be Centered on the Gospel; 2) We Are Set Free By the Gospel; and 3) We Are to Share the Gospel.
     
    The Gospel of grace brings unity and freedom.
     
     
    Galatians 2:1-10
    Sept. 22, 2024
     
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  • Sep 15, 2024Insisting on Integrity
    Sep 15, 2024
    Insisting on Integrity
    Series: Galatians
    Have you ever had someone question your honesty or integrity?  It can be frustrating and even hurtful.  You know you’re telling the truth, but you are put in a position where you have to somehow prove that you’re telling the truth.  God, of course, wants us to be people of honesty and integrity.  He wants us to be people of our word who can be trusted to always tell the truth. 
     
    Paul gives us a good example of that sort of Godly integrity in his letter to the Galatians.  In our passage today, Paul continues to defend his ministry and his message.  He outlines his travels and seeks to underline the truthfulness of his words.  But it’s not just the basic details of Paul’s travels which we find here; we see an example of the kind of people God wants us to be, people of integrity.  
     
    There are 3 key components to pursuing integrity in our lives which are revealed by Paul’s words here – 1) Let God Lead You; 2) Tell the Truth; and 3) Give God the Glory for His Transforming Grace. 
     
    Honor the Lord by living a life of integrity.
     
     
    Galatians 1:18-24
    Sept. 15, 2024
     
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  • Sep 8, 2024Changed by the Truth
    Sep 8, 2024
    Changed by the Truth
    Series: Galatians
    Truth matters.  We live in a day and culture in which it is increasingly common to hear that truth is subjective and personal.  Whatever you want to believe is true is true for you, even if it’s not true for someone else.  But, truth must be objective for it to mean anything at all.  Something that is objectively true is true not because a majority of people, or even an individual, believe it to be true – it is true even if no one believes it at all.  Truth has the power to challenge us, correct us, and change us.
     
    One truth which stands tall above all others is the truth of the Gospel – the Good News – God’s loving offer of forgiveness for sin through faith in the life, death, and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ.  This was the truth Paul had presented to the Galatians.  It was the truth they had received.  But, it was also the truth which they were now in danger of abandoning.
     
    Join us as Paul shares with us that he did not receive the Gospel from any human being, but by revelation from Jesus Christ.  He goes on to demonstrate that truth by reviewing the radical change which took place in His life by God’s grace.  Along the way, he shows us that God’s truth has the power to truly humble the hardest heart.
     
     
    Galatians 1:11-17
    Sept. 8, 2024
     
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  • Sep 1, 2024Prone to Wander
    Sep 1, 2024
    Prone to Wander
    Series: Galatians
    The Apostle Paul had personally shared the Good News of salvation from sin through faith in Jesus Christ with the Galatians during his 1st missionary journey.  Having just returned from that journey, Paul was distressed to learn that they had already begun to turn away from the truth he had presented to them.  
     
    In Galatians 1:6-10, we can find 3 things to help us avoid wandering from the truth: 1) Carefully Consider What You are Being Called to Believe; 2) Judge the Biblical Truth of the Message – Don’t Just Blindly Trust the Messenger; and 3) Live Your Life for God’s Glory Rather Than People’s Praise.
     
    God’s Good News is all about grace.
     
     
    Galatians 1:6-10
    Sept. 1, 2024
     
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  • Aug 25, 2024A Sneak-Peek Salutation
    Aug 25, 2024
    A Sneak-Peek Salutation
    Series: Galatians
    Those of you who have ever had to write a paper for school or give a presentation for work know that there is a basic format to most of those things – introduction, body, conclusion.  As we start into a study of the book of Galatians today, we'll find that it’s a very practical letter by the apostle Paul encouraging believers to live by faith.  
     
    In the first 5 verses of Galatians, Paul gives us a great introduction, which touches on and summarizes the entire contents of the letter.  After taking some time to consider the background of both Galatians and the Apostle Paul, we'll see that he gives us the perfect preview of what he will have to say.
     
    God’s authoritative Word reveals the gift of His grace and the promise of His peace .
     
     
    Galatians 1:1-5
    Aug. 25, 2024
     
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  • Aug 4, 2024A Look Back to the Future
    Aug 4, 2024
    A Look Back to the Future
    Series: Daniel
    With the final 10 verses of Daniel 11 there seems to be a shift in who the subject is – no longer are we looking at Antiochus Epiphanes, but a more severe example of the type of person he was.  In chapters 7+9  Daniel labeled this person as the “little horn” in his vision, and “the prince who is to come.”  In the New Testament he is known as “the man of lawlessness” (2 Thess. 2:3-12), the “antichrist” (1 Jn. 2:18), and the “beast” of Revelation (Rev. 11-20).
     
    There are 3 things we can draw from this passage about this tyrannical future ruler: 1) The Coming Antichrist is Corrupt in Character; 2) The Coming Antichrist is Cruel in Conduct; and 3) We Can Be Confident of Christ’s Final Triumph.
     
    We can endure the coming conflicts because we know that Christ wins in the end.
     
     
    Daniel 11:36-45
    Aug. 4, 2024
     
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  • Jul 28, 2024A Prophetic View of Our Past
    Jul 28, 2024
    A Prophetic View of Our Past
    Series: Daniel
    The world often feels like a scary place, doesn’t it?  So much of our news over the past couple of decades has focused on reporting things that make us fearful.  In fact, one glimpse at any news site is enough to make you think that the end must be near – wars, financial crises, crime, disease, fires, political extremism, and more give us plenty to fear.  If that’s not enough, the fear of the unknown certainly fills in the gaps.
     
    Our lives can feel filled with fear, but God wants to give us hope.  In Daniel 11, we are introduced to the details of the terrifying vision Daniel received.  But, there is also a great deal of hope that shows up amidst the coming crises.  What becomes incredibly clear in these verses is the simple truth that God Knows: 1) God Knows the Big Picture; 2) God Knows the Details; and this helps us see that 3) God Cares. 
     
    God knows what’s coming and controls its ultimate outcome.
     
     
    Daniel 11:1-35
    July 28, 2024
     
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  • Jul 21, 2024Learning to Fight on Your Knees
    Jul 21, 2024
    Learning to Fight on Your Knees
    Series: Daniel
    Wait on the Lord with persistent prayer.
     
     
    Daniel 10:1-21
    July 21, 2024
     
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