Bewitched By Naturalism!

BEWITCHED BY NATURALISM!

Gal. 3:1-3

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR

1. I heard about a high school teacher named Mark Jordan who was pulled over by the police for speeding right in front of the High School where he works.

2. The police officer came to his window and asked him for his driver’s license and registration. As the minutes ticked by, Mark’s students began to drive past. Some honked their horns, others hooted, and still others stopped and wagged their finger at him or shouted, “Look who’s in trouble now!”

3. Finally the officer asked Mark if he was a teacher at the school, and he told him “Yes.” The officer smiled and said, "I think you've already paid for your speeding violation!” and left without giving him a ticket.

B. TEXT

1 “You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2 This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by [Gr. “in”] the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” Gal. 3:1-3, NIV, NASB.

C. THESIS:

1. Paul says, “You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.”

2. Paul was shocked; the Galatians were turning away from the true gospel. He was so astonished by their docile acceptance of NATURALISM that he wondered if some sorcerer had bewitched them.

3. This is so similar to the American Church, who are often anti-supernatural. Many of these Christians don’t believe the miracles of the Bible. And of those who do believe in them, they don’t believe God does them today! They have been bewitched away from God’s present-day working!

4. The Galatians weren’t victims of a magical spell or incantation, but were misled by the belief they could live as Christians through natural means; that being a Christian was something THEY could do in their own power! Paul protested that it was impossible!

5. So the title of this message as “Bewitched By Naturalism!”

I. WE MUST BEGIN “IN THE SPIRIT”

A. MANY AMERICANS GET SALVATION WRONG

1. They think being a Christian just means to attend a church, take the Lord’s Supper, be water baptized, join a church, or give in the offering. No! Those are all physical effects of being saved.

2. The key to be a Christian is beginning “in the Spirit” is found in John 3:3,6-7; Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’” WHY?

3. Because our spirit is dead in sin. When Adam & Eve sinned, they infected every man, woman, boy, and girl ever born with sin and a fallen nature.

4. Someone asked, “Isn’t being forgiven enough?” No. Even if God forgave you, you’d still have the fallen nature – that is, a propensity, a inclination or a “bent” toward evil.

5. “For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.” Mark 7:21-23. “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” Jer. 17:9.

B. OUTWARD CHANGE WON’T WORK: THE CULTURED PIG

1. Henry Moorhouse, as a boy, was walking down the

streets of Manchester, England. His attention was arrested by shouts, "Come see the Great American Pig."

2. He paid his fee and saw, "the most Wonderful pig, which could perform feats (he could spell "good pig") and exhibited intelligence, unlike other pigs.

3. He was washed and scrubbed, and dressed in fine clothing. He walked on his hind legs and could shake hands. But nevertheless, he was only still a pig.

4. Once he was let loose from his performance, he immediately ran back to the mud trough and wallowed in it. All his "culture" hadn't changed his basic nature."

5. ONLY TWO GROUPS -- all humanity in 2 groups:

those dead…………those alive to God;

those in darkness……….those in light,

those who’re aliens…………those who’re heirs,

children of wrath…………children of God,

those who are enemies……….those who are reconciled.

C. BEING “BORN AGAIN”

1. “Born Again” is defined as “The creative life-giving operation of the Holy Spirit in response to faith in Christ. The believing one, before "dead in trespasses and sins" (Eph. 2:1), is quickened into spiritual life, and made a partaker of the divine nature and of the life of Christ himself.”