By Faith
“And
the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God”
(Galatians
2:20 – Part 3, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, March 25, 2018)
Paul's
Old Life
To
understand how we are to live “by faith,” we need to start with
the man who penned these words so long ago, the Apostle Paul. He did
not always introduce himself with the word “apostle” (Galatians
1:1). He was once Paul the Pharisee, a dedicated follower of what we
have been calling scribal Judaism. Scribal Judaism is all over the
New Testament. For instance, here are two verses from our gospel
reading today that give us examples of this false way of thinking and
living where a religious person insists on scrupulous obedience to
holy appearances while committing glaring sins against the weightiest
matters of God's Law.
Matthew
26:59 Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking
false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death.
But
what about the commandments against false witness and murder?
Matthew
27:6 The chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It
is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is blood
money.”
But
who gave Judas the blood money? (Matthew
26:14-16)
We
read about the involvement of the old Paul in a different unjust
death, not long after this:
Acts
7:58–8:1 [58] Then they cast him out of the city and stoned
him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a
young man named Saul. [59] And as they were stoning Stephen, he
called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” [60] And falling to
his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this
sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. [8:1]
And Saul approved of his execution.
Paul's
New Life
(The
one called “Saul” in Acts 7 is none other than Paul. See Acts
13:9.) The old life was gone for Paul, and the new life had arrived.
What did that look like? Paul was honest even when it made him
look bad. He was also truthful in teaching God's Word even when
others might take offense. Yes, he was bold for His Savior and
Lord, not caring too much about what other people thought of Him, but
caring deeply about obeying the Lord. He was also loving
toward God's children, including being discerning enough to protect
sheep from wolves. Honest, bold, loving, genuine, holy... these are
words we would use to describe God. There's something there about
living by faith...
Paul
says things in this letter that he never would have said in the old
days. Once he hated the message of Jesus, but now he insisted it was
the only good news (Galatians 1:9). Once he insisted that the only
way to be right with God was through being a careful follower of the
Old Testament ceremonial Law. Now he boldly pleaded with the churches
in Galatia to reject that trap. He insisted that the gift of the Holy
Spirit came to them not through the “works of the Law” but by
“hearing with faith” the promise of the gospel of Jesus Christ
(Galatians 3:1–2). He confronted them boldly about their old
life as idol worshipers, showing them that they should not turn again
to powerless ceremonies just because the customs now being promoted
in their hearing were Jewish traditions rather than Gentile
superstitions (Galatians 4:8–9). He reminded them that they could
have a confident expectation of a future of perfect righteousness,
and that the old rituals could never give them that hope (Galatians
5:5–6).
Union
and Communion with the Son of God
Paul
was a new creation. He was united with Jesus, the Son of God, and he
grew in his new life through communion with Christ in prayer, hearing
the truth, and living it out—all by the Spirit of God. That was
Paul's new life, but it was also for the Galatians. He did not say to
them, “I have found that Jesus and the resurrection work for me,
but if you find help in Jewish ceremonies, enjoy.” No, he said
regarding those who were trying to move the church toward trusting in
circumcision, “I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate
themselves!” (Galatians 5:12). He insisted, “If anyone is
preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him
be accursed” (Galatians 1:9).
Your
Old Life, Your New Life in the Present Age, and Your Perfected Life
in the Age to Come
1. For
those who have rejected any kind of life of faith: In the Name of
Jesus, the Son of God, I call you to the only new life that God has
authorized me to present to you.
2. For
those who imagine that some kind of faith is all that counts: The
truth or falsehood of any belief system is of absolute importance.
There is only one true gospel.
3. For
all who are here to embrace what God declares in His Word: Your
old life is gone, and your new life in Christ is worth everything.
Bear fruit that comes from the Spirit of God now in this current era,
and believe that God has more than you could ever imagine in store
for you in the age to come. This is the Christian hope, and it is
yours. Enjoy! The truth matters, and you have found Him. Relax and
obey.
Living
by Faith in the Son of God Now
Sermon
point: The same Jesus who died and rose again will be with
us today and forever. You are wise to put your trust in the Son of
God.
In
this life you will face tribulation. The Bible urges Christians to
live “by faith in the Son of God.” Faith is trust—relaxing in
Jesus. It has a mind, the mind of Christ given to us in the
Scriptures. It has a heart, the heart of the Son of God who loves
you. It has legs and feet, arms and hands, for we walk by faith and
not by sight as the body of Christ.
Where
does faith come from and how can we get more of it to help in our
daily lives? This entire life, the resting and obeying God has for
us, is a gift built on the foundation of what Jesus has done. Ask for
that gift and that Man, and may the resurrection of Christ be on
display in your life. In the last words of Paul's letter to the
Galatians, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your
spirit.” (Galatians 6:18)
Old
Testament Reading—Psalm 50 – A Covenant by Sacrifice
Gospel
Reading—Matthew 26:57-27:14 –
Jesus before Caiaphas and the Council / Peter denies Jesus / Jesus
Delivered to Pilate / The Death of Judas / Jesus Before Pilate