November 8, 2000, WE: Defining the Doctrine of Justification of Faith IV

>> WEEK 4 OF BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION <<

November 8th, 2000, Wednesday Evening

"Defining the Doctrine of Justification of the Faith"
Interpreting the "Heart of the Gospel" - part 4

OPENING: Galatians 1:16-24, KJV

Studying this epistle (the entire book--all 6 chapters) will
- arm you for attacks from false doctrine
Galatians 1:16: Paul's purpose is for GOD to reveal Jesus Christ in you so when folks see you, you will be acting/becoming more like Christ--so that we may be accused of being a Christian.
- Even when in prison, Paul wrote to us to rejoice always.
We need to examine what happened to Paul before his scathing letter to the churches of Galatia.
- Paul is under attack by his critics. This is the poison of GOSSIP. GOSSIP sews discord among brethren, and in here, Paul's messages (sermons) to the people he once preached to. His critics, knowing his past of severe Christian persecution, (Galatians 1:13-14), believe he's only preaching GOD NOW to make money and "get the most of it" for Paul's benefit.
- Paul's argues the message he gives is the authentic message from Jesus Christ by recounting his first few years with Christ after his being saved.
  - Galatians 1:16: Upon being saved (here's a lesson we can all learn), Paul IMMEDIATELY stopped pursuing his earthly, personal desires.
    - (When you get saved, you should put GOD above all personal ambitions.)
      - TRUE STORY: Our pastor, before he got saved, loved bowling more than anything on Wednesday nights. But after being saved, he continued to go bowling and began to feel a sort of emptiness for missing Wednesday evening service. Everyone could sense his loss of energy. His bowling instructor, a man who had a large trophy collection, asked what his problem was. The pastor said he needed to be at church and asked his bowling instructor if he'd been saved ... to which his instructor replied, "Saved? What's that?"
  - Galatians 1:17: After that, he left Damascus where he was saved (Acts 9:3-18), spent three years alone with GOD in the deserts of Arabia to study the Word of GOD and get a revelation from GOD, and returned to Damascus to begin preaching what it took him THREE YEARS to acquire!
    - (You'll do more spiritual growing in your quiet time with GOD and His Word than any time spent with televangelists.)
- Paul, as a Sanhedrin member, hated the church so much because he thought he knew the truth and it didn't. Look at Paul now--being a preacher himself, he's declared ignorant. The same category he, himself, labeled the church before he his eyes were opened (Acts 9:17-18).
Paul spent three years just learning from GOD how to speak to others and how to learn/apply scriptures. We'd be better off if we spent as much time with GOD as we do the biggest distractions of today: #1-TV, #2-the computer.
Too much value is placed on temporal vs. eternal things. GOD didn't put us here to make money or to live for ourselves. There will be plenty of time to live for ourselves when we get into heaven.
Some of the best times a kid can have is at camp--quiet time with no TVs or computers ... just a bible under a tree. Why do we have to have a thought-out, long-planned, bible-reading church program? JUST DO IT RIGHT NOW!
Matthew 14:23: Why do you have to plan a church retreat? Just get on your knees RIGHT NOW!
- 2 Timothy 2:15: This involves reading your Bible.
There's a price for getting close to GOD--cleansing.
- Hebrews 10:22
- James 4:8
Deuteronomy 4:29: You'll find GOD if you search for him with all your heart and soul just like Paul did in Arabia.
End result of having patience with GOD (i.e., believing he'll answer your prayer when He wants to and not when you want Him to):
- Psalm 25:5
- Psalm 27:14
- Psalm 62:5
- Psalm 73:28
- Psalm 91:1
- Isaiah 40:31
Acts 9:22: More proof Paul's teaching was directly from Christ after his return from his three years solitude (Galatians 1:18) with GOD in Arabia.
Galatians 1:18: It took guts for Paul (remember--formerly named Saul) to come back to his same home town (Jerusalem) to make up for his wrongdoings.
- That's what the world lacks today: forgiveness AND RESTITUTION. Paul did both in Galatians 1:17 when he went to correct wrongs in Damascus.
- Matthew 5:23-24: This is Jesus' principle Paul followed. He went back to make peace with those whom he persecuted before he did GOD's work.
Acts 15:3: Paul was not preaching a different gospel message than others. He preached the (always has been) one, true message and had as many Gentile converts as he did Jewish converts.
LESSON TO BE LEARNED: Believers should seek to share Jesus Christ with former associates/friends--especially those friends who are lost so they may "see Jesus in you."
- Isn't Paul going to testify of his blessings from his revelation in Arabia in his sermons to all the people? Of course he is!
- Mark 5:19: When you're saved, wouldn't you want all your friends to have the same great gift? If you can't talk to your friends about the LORD, then you can't talk to your friends.
- Acts 1:8: ...and don't stop with your friends! Tell to the "uttermost" parts of the world--meaning every last unseen crack!
How do we know Peter and Paul are teaching the same gospel? Because it's exactly the message Paul (formerly Saul) was trying to destroy!
RESULTS OF QUIET TIME WITH GOD:
- A good testimony (that spreads) that glorifies GOD.
  - Galatians 1:24
  - Matthew 25:16: This is a part of one of Jesus' parables. The context of the story is that GOD gave us the gospel (as the master, here, gave some money to his servant) and if you preach the gospel and save others, then you bring in newfound fruit to GOD (just as the servant brought back twice the money his master gave him).
- Paul's resultant being 100% for GOD.
- A life honored of GOD.
CLOSER
We see GOD's changes in Paul, here ... just as the bible said in 2 Corinthians 5:17.
Today, people want to live a sub-standard Christian life ... where being saved is enough and life the rest of their life through video games and television--cheap, easy entertainment and distractions.
GOD knows what wood shed to take you to if you won't repent of your sins and transgressions ... and if GOD's "paddling" doesn't work--death will.