Title: Only Faith.
Content ㈆?? Christ is in us. Christ died on the cross and rose again with us. do you believe It's true. Galatians 2:20 testifies to this fact. “Therefore, it is no longer I who bought it. but Christ lives in me.”
But guys, don't we have a question like this? “If God, the Lord, is in us, what is our present life of faith? Why are we so helpless and weak? If God is with us, how can we live like this?” Our reality is very different from the saying that God is with us.
These concerns are not unique to us. There are many people in the Bible who are struggling with this problem. Gideon is one of them. At that time, Israel was being threatened, oppressed, and defeated by its neighbor, the Midianites. One day God appeared to Gideon and said, “The Lord is with you” (Judges 6:12). Gideon couldn't understand. Gideon asked, “If the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us?” God was with them, but they were drinking the bitter cup of tragedy and defeat. They say that God is with them, but poverty, oppression, and ridicule were their reality.
Gentlemen, Gideon's question like this is a good question. Isn't it? “If the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? If God is with us, shouldn't we have proof of that? If the risen Christ is in us, shouldn't we have the evidence of that in us?” I've always had this question too.
Ladies and gentlemen, today's text is giving an answer to our question. It deals with the issues of faith and the law of the Galatian church. It gives the cause and solution of the problems of the Galatia church. We also want our faith to be restored by discovering the cause of the problem and finding the answer through the text.
1. The Galatians had many favors before.
The Galatians were Gentiles. They received the gospel through Paul. What was the content of the gospel? It is the same gospel that has been preached to us. In verse 3:1 Paul describes the gospel as “Jesus Christ crucified”. The gospel is the death and resurrection of Jesus. The gospel is that Jesus died for me and rose again. After hearing the gospel preached by Paul, I became a member of ALE.
When they heard the Gospel and believed, the Galatians experienced the Holy Spirit. In verse 2 Paul says that they received the Holy Spirit. Verse 3 says that they began with the Holy Spirit. When they first believed in Jesus, they had a very exciting life of faith. It seems that we had the so-called first love experience. They experienced the power of the Holy Spirit revealed by Christ in them and lived their faith. Verse 4 proves this fact. Look at verse 4. “Have you suffered so much in vain, or in vain?” The Greek word for “did you receive” here is “epadete”. His meaning seems to be “to have a good or bad experience.” Our King James Version translates it as “an evil experience, afflicted.” However, the contextually correct rendering here “receives good experiences, spiritual marvels,” seems to be correct here. Therefore, verse 4 also says that the Galatian saints experienced many spiritual blessings. This was the life of faith of the Galatians in the past.
2. However, the Galatians did not continue to live this kind of faith.
Folks, here we have to ask a question. "Why did they not maintain the amazing life of faith that experienced the power of the Holy Spirit in the past? Was their past experience a special experience? Are they now back to normal?" Is that so? no. What the Galatians have experienced in the past is a normal form of faith. If God is with us, the presence and power of the Holy Spirit must be revealed. If Christ is in us, it is a normal life of faith for the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit to appear.
Guys, what is your spiritual state? Are you living a Christian life that is victorious by the power of God? Like the Galatians, are you now living the life of a helpless Christian, often speaking of past glories? Are you sitting here dragging your weary mind and body because you can't give up? Folks, we have hope. We have a cure. Because the text gives us its cause and method of treatment. You can. Everyone!
First of all, what is the cause of our lethargic life of faith? What do you think is the cause of our spiritual stagnation? We couldn't pray. didn't get excited didn't try Several causes can be considered. But Paul's diagnosis is different. Our thoughts and attitudes are the problem. That is, it belongs to the works of the law. The first step in believing in Jesus is only faith. We are sinners. I know that we cannot solve my sin problem in our own strength. We acknowledge that only the cross of Jesus is the only way to salvation. Everything is by God's grace. You are justified by faith. We receive forgiveness of sins through faith. By faith, we became sons and daughters of God. At that time, the Holy Spirit came and worked on us. In verse 2 Paul says, “I tell you this only, did you receive the Holy Spirit by works of the law? Did you hear and believe?” Ask a question. We received the Holy Spirit through faith alone, that is, by the grace of God. Not by effort. Not by obeying the law. We are sinners who cannot. I received the Holy Spirit only by the grace of God.
What was the problem with the Galatians? Paul says in verse 3. They first “began with the holy spirit” by faith. Now that I have believed in Jesus, I want to believe even better. When Judaists from Jerusalem taught the law, they wanted God's approval by keeping the law. And now, rather than relying on the Cross and Resurrection of the Lord, I have come to rely on my own body. The intention was good. But they made two mistakes. First, they forgot that they were totally fallen sinners. Second, they could not rely on the power of the cross and the risen Lord. Then, contrary to their intention, the power of the Holy Spirit disappeared, and they only failed to maintain their faith with the strength and effort of their flesh.
For us, these things happen all too easily. We too begin with faith. The power of the Holy Spirit is revealed. Full of joy. Everything is thanks. I am grateful for God's grace. learn the word. We want to please God by obeying the Word. They want to be approved by God. Then, rather than holding on to the cross, we unconsciously rely on our own strength to maintain our faith. This is what Paul is talking about of the flesh. But relying on people, including myself, is legalism. It is natural to be disappointed when you see your own shortcomings. But it is the work of the flesh that weakens the faith because of it. It is natural to be disappointed when you see other saints. But it is also the work of the flesh that weakens faith because of this.
Gentlemen, we cannot receive God's approval by our own abilities. Even after believing in Jesus, we cannot. Only God's grace makes this possible. Maintaining our faith also depends on God's grace. only faith.
3. The Galatians had hope.
This is verse 5. “Is the work of him who gives you the Holy Spirit and works miracles among you, by works of the law, or by hearing, by faith?” In verses 1-4 Paul uses the past tense. However, we are using the present tense here. The verbs of “give” and “do” are present participles. He emphasizes that he continues to work now. It is God who wants to continue to give them the Holy Spirit and to work miracles in them. Because this God is in them, they have hope. God did not leave them. You were waiting for them. They were waiting to work in them as in the past.
Brothers and sisters, we also have hope. God wants to give us the Holy Spirit now. He wants us to continue to give you the Holy Spirit by grace. God wants to give us the Holy Spirit and work miracles among us. do you believe
What is your religious life? We do not do it with our own strength and effort. I started the sermon with Gideon's question. Gideon said to show us the evidence that God was with us. Do you know what God's answer to this question is? God's answer was astonishing. “Go and save Israel from the hand of Midian in your strength.” It is not the strength that Gideon will receive. This is the power that is already in Gideon. That's the power he has. Gideon was astonished and said, “I am the smallest and the weakest. Then how do you tell me to go with my strength?” he replied. God promises Gideon again, “I will surely be with you.” This was the explanation. God Himself was Gideon's strength. Ladies and gentlemen, if God is with us, then to us, God Himself is our strength.
How to use God's power? Very simple. It's a very easy way. It is acknowledging God in our lives. It is believing in the indwelling Holy Spirit that makes the life of a believer live. We only acknowledge and believe this fact. Soon, it will return to faith. It's a path anyone can do.
So, everyone, let's go back to the basics this time. Believe only in the living Christ. I can't believe myself. No one else can be trusted. Only Jesus Christ is the object of our faith. Then God will continue to send the Holy Spirit. He will again work the power of God in us. We will begin to experience the power of God, not the weak and weak power. The work of the Holy Spirit will take place. So, I pray in the name of the Lord that we all have an exciting life of faith.