When Christ came, He came to redeem us from the curse of the law.  He came to set us free from the prison of sin with the ransom price of His blood.  And as awesome as freedom from sin is, it is a staggering reality that God “went beyond redemption to adoption.”  He found us as slaves, purchased our freedom and then adopted us into His very own family as sons and daughters.  We have been made heirs with Christ through the gospel!  These were some of the truths we discovered from our text yesterday.  We also found that we must understand that who we are in Christ changes and informs everything!   You can listen to the sermon here.  We hope these questions help you apply God’s word to your life:

1)  Why is it important to understand who we once were before Christ?  How would you describe your life prior to Christ?

2)  Redemption is a powerful word-picture for the gospel.  How would you describe “redemption” to a friend?  Which key words and truths must be included?

3)  What does Paul tell us was the goal of redemption (found in 4:5)?  What is the difference between redemption and adoption?  Why do you think God wants you to understand and believe the reality of your adoption into His family?

4)  Paul himself asks us an application question in 4:9 – “But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?”  I suggested 5 answers to this question.  Do any of  these tendencies back into legalism resonate with you?

• Because the law is safe, objective, tangible, knowable, manageable.  Life by faith in the Spirit seems dynamic, not predictable.  It might be a cage, but at least I know the rules and can do my best to keep them, and can be safe and respectable (and bound).  Can you see the fear and unbelief?

• Because the law gives me something to DO.  Faith only gives me promises to believe.  I like to check off boxes for God, because I can see my progress.  I can also see why God is mad at me when I slack off; so, I can just try harder.  It’s easier for me to work and earn, than to rest and receive.  Can you see the self-sufficiency?

• Because the law gives ME something to do, makes ME a part of the equation.  Faith cuts me out and gives all the credit to Christ.  How can this all be true without some part of it including me?  Can you see the arrogance?

• Because the law helps me to see how I am and can be better than others.  Faith levels the playing field.  And even in places I’m not morally superior to others, the law gives me ammo to judge others back down to size.  Can you see the self-righteousness?

• Because I never understood how God sees me in Christ.  My view of God is slavish not sonish; lawish not gracious; marked by earning God’s love not resting in His love.  From now on, I want to find out more and more about what is true about me in the gospel and how I can live in the freedom purchased for me by the power of His Spirit within me.  Can you see the wonderful opportunity for faith and growth in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ?

Please remember – it is from these very things that Christ came to set us free!   These sins and tendencies don’t define us, who we are in Christ defines us! We are sons and daughters of God our Father, set free from sin to live for Him by the Spirit He has sent into our hearts!

“Paul has just begun to describe not only the gospel, but the reality of our very identity, through faith in Christ.  This is our new identity.  This is who we are!  We are no longer under the cage of the law.  We are no longer under the beating stick of the law.  We have been invited out of the car. And when you get out, what are you under?  You are under grace!  Look up – it’s only the big sky of God’s vast love and grace toward you!  And now, nothing is hanging over your head!  And look who you’re with – you’ve been united with Christ and have a glorious canyon to explore as a son or daughter of the One who made it all.  And look around – you are not alone.  You’ve  been united to a family of brothers and sisters, no one better than the other, no one is superior to the next, no one is more or less deserving, but all are one in Christ.  And all that God promised Abraham, all the blessings of God promised to His people in Scripture, all that God has, and all the God is, and all that God is preparing is yours as His very heir in Christ Jesus!  This is your identity!  This is what is available to you through promise – through the gospel – through faith in Christ.  You did nothing to earn this, He has freely given this salvation and freedom to you!  And there’s nothing you do by your efforts to maintain this.  Leave the law behind and accept and believe who you are.  Leave the car behind and be who God has made you to be in Christ, alive, under the big sky of grace, never condemned by the law again, but now able to live for Him motivated by grace through His Spirit within you.  It is an accurate view of the law that will lead to the magnificent view of the gospel.”

That was the closing paragraph of my sermon yesterday.  Due to time, I was only able to say some of these things, but not all of them.  I do think, though, that this is a faithful conclusion to Galatians 3:23-29 where the Scriptures help us to get the law right so that we can get the gospel right.  You can download or listen to the message here.  We hope these questions will help you apply this message to your life!

1)  How does the car and the canyon illustration help you understand the law and the gospel?

2)  What must an accurate view of the law include (2 things)?  How would you now describe to a friend or your children the job of the law made clear by Galatians 3?

3)  What were the 4 points Paul made about the gospel that are all true, not by law, but by faith?

4)  How does the law obscure this glorious view of the gospel?  How does the law obscure your view of grace?  As a justified Christian, what stick carrying guardians still exist in your life?  What external expectations threaten to beat you down if you don’t comply with their demands?

5)  The law tells us “you have to”; “you better”; “you must”; “thou shalt” or “thou shalt not”; the Spirit helps us with “I want to”.  In what areas of your life do you believe the Lord wants to see a shift from “you have to” to “I want to”?

6)  Do you live your life “under” somthing  or “in” Someone, Jesus Christ?  The gospel creates a completely new identity for us.  What Scriptures will you meditate on this week to remind you of your identity in Christ?  Are there any books or articles or quotes that have helped you in the past?  What can you do to get the truth of the gospel before your eyes everyday (post it note on the bathroom mirror, 3X5 card by the sink, verse or quote as your screen-saver, send an encouraging verse or quote to a friend via text or email….)?

Have a great and grace filled week!

Eric

PS:  Tyler Rhodes helped me with the Grand Canyon picts – boy’s got skills!