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Rescued Series
Contributed by Carl Willis on Apr 25, 2007 (message contributor)
Summary: The opening of Paul’s letter to the Galatian churches reminds us that we have been rescued from the snares of sin.
Rescued
Galatians 1:1-5
April 25, 2007
Background
• Paul and Barnabas had just completed their first missionary journey
• Visited cities in Galatia (modern day Turkey)
• Paul had been accused of diluting the gospel to make it more appealing to Gentiles
• Galatians was written to respond to these accusations
Galatians 1:1-2 (HCSB)
Paul, an apostle – not from men or by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead – and all the brothers who are with me.
To the churches of Galatia.
Under What Authority?
• Paul was an apostle
– Not by his own creation
– Not by the vote or election of any body
– By the selection of Jesus himself
• Your authority
– Found in Christ
– Given by God
Galatians 1:3 (HCSB)
Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ,
Recognizing the Source
• Grace
– The unmerited favor of God towards man
• Revealed in Christ Jesus
• Peace
– To be complete
• Only possible through the redemptive work of Christ
Galatians 1:4-5 (HCSB)
Who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.
Rescued
• Jesus gave Himself
– Willingly
– Sacrificially
– To pay the price of sin
– According to God’s eternal plan
• The rescue
– From this present age
• Not a removal from
• A removal of the bondage
– Saved to serve