Benefits Of Being A Christian

Text: Galatians 1:3-10

Title: The benefits of being a believer

Introduction

·Falling away

·Backsliding

The benefits only a believer in Christ has.

1.No more condemnation because of our new position (v3-5, 8-9)

“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen…But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: if anyone is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!

Bad news given(8-9)

·Apart from Christ man is eternally condemned

·All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

·The wages of sin is death

·Good news given(3-5)

·God does not want anyone to remain eternally condemned

·The will of God is to …rescue us from the present evil age (condemnation)

·How does God rescue us from the present evil age?

·“Through the Lord Jesus Christ who gave himself for our sins” (our sins are what condemn us)

·What does God give those who are rescued from the present evil age?

·God gives grace and peace to all those who are rescued from the present evil age

illustration:Red Cross gives a blanket and hot chocolate

·What is peace? The opposite of condemnation

·What do those whom God rescues give back to God?

·Glory for ever and ever Amen.

What is your position on the Lord Jesus Christ?

Do you accept that Christ came to rescue you from your sins?

·If so then there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)

·I am the way

2.No more confusion because of our new knowledge (V6-7)

“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.”

·Deserting the one who called you/turning to a different gospel

·By throwing you into confusion

·By perverting/changing the gospel of Christ

·Living Bible Translation “You are already following a different way that pretends to be the Good News but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who twist and change the truth concerning Christ.”

·The more knowledgeable we are of the gospel of Christ the harder it is to be deceived.

·I am the truth

·The grace of Christ

·I write these things to you who believe in the Son of God that you might know for sure that you have eternal life (1 John 5:13

3.No more compromise because of our new responsibility (v10)

“Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

·THE PROBLEM Fear of Men

·Can’t we please both God and Man?

·Illustration: Both want you to be at work for 7AM

·Compromise our belief/values

·Our new responsibility is to be a servant of Christ